Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has officially confirmed that only three African countries—Lesotho, Mauritius, and Tunisia—are eligible for visa-free entry into Japan, according to a policy notice on the ministry's official short-stay visa exemption page. The information appears in a footnote outlining conditions under which nationals of select countries may enter without a visa.
Conditions for Visa-Free Travel
The exemption applies exclusively to holders of Machine-Readable Passports (MRP) that comply with standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). Lesotho and Tunisia have held this status since April 1, 2010, while Mauritius is also listed among the qualifying African nations. However, the privilege is not automatic; citizens of these countries who travel on non-MRP passports must obtain a visa in advance. Those arriving without one will face thorough examination at entry and may be refused admission.
Visa Fee Increase for Other Countries
In a related development, Japan announced a 400% visa fee increase for Nigerians and other nationalities. The government raised multiple-entry visa fees to ¥30,000 ($187.97) from ¥6,000, marking the first revision in 48 years since 1978, according to the Japan Times. The decision was approved at a cabinet meeting on Friday, June 19.
