An official source at the Department of Consular Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the Japanese authorities decided to start applying procedures for exemption from entry visas for holders of ordinary passports of the State of Qatar, as of April 2, 2023.
According to the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, holders of ordinary passports of the State of Qatar are exempted from entry visas according to the following procedures:
- The applicant must submit (by himself or his representative) his ordinary passport and the passport registration application form to any Japanese diplomatic mission, provided that the validity of the passport is more than six months.
- The Japanese diplomatic mission returns the passport with a stamp attached " Visa Waiver Registration" to the applicant on the business day following the date of submission of the application.
- Citizens of the State of Qatar who hold an ordinary passport with a stamp attached " Visa exemption registration" Entering Japan multiple times without obtaining a new visa, to stay in Japan for a period not exceeding (30) consecutive days during the registration validity period of three years or according to the validity period of the passport if it was less than three years.
Ordinary passport holders of the State of Qatar, who plan to stay in Japan for more than (30) consecutive days or for business purpose, need to obtain a pre-entry visa.
If holders of ordinary passports previously registered in the State of Qatar obtain a new passport or if there is a change in the names of the holders, they must complete the passport registration again.
Applicants who applied for passport registration but were refused registration are advised to apply for a regular visa.
