Visit Japan Web at the Airport: QR Codes, Kiosks, and Backup Plans
Quick answer
As of September 2026, Visit Japan Web is the official online preparation route, but it is not required. Save each traveller's QR code and passport details before departure. If it fails, use the official paper customs declaration and ask airport staff about immigration.
What should you prepare before leaving for Japan?
Visit Japan Web is a browser service for preparing arrival information before you reach the immigration and customs areas. As of September 2026, the practical preparation is simple: use the official service, register the traveller and arrival details, complete the immigration and customs sections that apply to you, then open the resulting 2D code before boarding.
Do not rely on one person remembering everything for a whole group. Prepare a short record for each traveller:
| Before departure | What to check |
|---|---|
| Passport | Name and passport number match the document |
| Arrival | Flight or vessel, arrival date, and intended address in Japan |
| Immigration | The traveller’s own entry information is complete |
| Customs | The declaration answers are reviewed honestly |
| Phone | The code is open, or a screenshot is saved after checking it |
Japan Customs says the existing paper customs declaration can still be used. That means a weak connection at the airport is a reason to switch procedures calmly, not to enter guessed information into a paid third-party website.
What does the QR code actually do at the airport?
The code is a 2D code containing the information you submitted. It is not a visa, an entry permit, or a guarantee that you will skip inspection. At airports with the relevant electronic equipment, you may be asked to show the code with the traveller’s passport at a terminal or integrated kiosk.
The general order is:
- Follow the signs for immigration after leaving the aircraft.
- Keep the traveller’s passport and matching 2D code ready.
- Scan them when the terminal or staff directs you to do so.
- Follow the result shown on the screen: immigration, the electronic customs gate, or a staffed counter.
- Collect checked luggage and complete any customs inspection requested.
An electronic declaration does not mean that baggage cannot be inspected. It also does not mean that every airport has the same kiosk layout. Treat the screen and the uniformed staff at that airport as the final instruction.
Do family members share one code or complete the process separately?
Each traveller needs their own matching information. Japan Customs states that all passengers, including family and group members, complete the terminal procedure one by one. A parent can help a child prepare the information, but the passport and code must still correspond to the person being processed.
Before the queue, arrange the group in document order. Keep each passport with the right phone screen or saved image, and avoid passing a single unlocked phone through a crowded line without checking whose code is displayed. If a family member’s details change, update that traveller’s record and create the code again.
What should you do if the page will not load?
First decide whether the code already exists. If it does, use the saved screenshot or offline copy, check that the details are still correct, and follow the signs. A screenshot is not a substitute for correcting a wrong record: if the flight, passport, arrival date, or address changed, update the registration and recreate the code when you have a connection.
If the service cannot be opened or the code cannot be created, use this fallback sequence:
| Problem at the airport | Next action |
|---|---|
| Code was prepared but the page is offline | Show the saved, matching code and passport |
| Phone battery is low | Ask staff where to charge or use the paper procedure |
| No code was created | Use the official paper customs declaration available at the airport |
| Immigration information is incomplete | Ask immigration staff for the current paper entry process |
| A site asks for payment | Close it; use only the official Digital Agency or Japan Customs route |
Japan Customs has warned about fake Visit Japan Web sites and says electronic customs procedures do not require a payment to Japan Customs. Check the domain before entering passport or payment information.
What are integrated kiosks, and are they everywhere?
An integrated kiosk combines several information steps at selected airports and terminals. Japan Customs describes a flow in which the traveller scans the Visit Japan Web code and an IC passport, follows the terminal instructions, and is then guided toward immigration or the electronic customs gate. Facial images may be taken for identity verification at the terminal and gate.
This is a convenience route, not a universal promise. Japan Customs lists selected airports for electronic customs gates, and the available equipment or operating hours can change by terminal. If you arrive somewhere without a kiosk, use the ordinary immigration and customs signs. If the kiosk sends you to a staffed counter, follow that instruction rather than repeating the scan.
The safest airport checklist is therefore: official service, correct code for each traveller, passport in hand, a saved offline copy, and a paper-form fallback. The code can make the arrival sequence smoother, but it never replaces truthful declarations, a passport check, or the instructions of immigration and customs officers.
FAQ
Is Visit Japan Web mandatory for entering Japan?
Do not treat the website as the only possible route. As of September 2026, Japan Customs recommends Visit Japan Web for electronic customs declarations, while the Immigration Services Agency accepts the required entry information electronically or on paper depending on the traveller's situation. You still need to complete the immigration and customs procedures themselves, so ask an official counter if you cannot use the online service.
Does each family member need a separate QR code?
Yes. As of September 2026, each traveller, including accompanying family members, should have their own Visit Japan Web information and 2D code. At an electronic customs terminal, passengers complete the procedure one by one. Keep each person's passport with the correct code instead of trying to use the organiser's phone for everyone without checking the names.
What should I show at immigration and customs?
Keep the traveller's passport and the 2D code created after registering the arrival, immigration, and customs information. At airports using integrated kiosks, the code and an IC passport can be scanned together. Customs may still inspect baggage or direct you to a staffed counter, even after an electronic declaration.
What if Visit Japan Web will not load after I land?
Do not pay a third-party site to create a code. If a code was already created, use the saved screenshot or other offline copy, then follow the airport signs. If you cannot create or retrieve the code, Japan Customs says the paper customs declaration remains available on the plane, ship, or at Customs. Ask immigration staff about the paper entry procedure rather than guessing.
Can I use a screenshot of my QR code?
A saved screenshot can be useful when the code itself is already correct, but recreate the code if any registered detail changes. Before departure, check the name, passport number, flight, arrival date, and intended address. Keep the live service available when possible because airport equipment and procedures can vary.
Are Visit Japan Web kiosks available at every airport?
No. As of September 2026, Japan Customs lists integrated kiosks and electronic customs gates at selected airports and terminals, not every arrival point. If your airport does not have one, follow the normal immigration and customs signs. A kiosk can speed up information submission, but it does not remove the need for a passport check or a possible baggage inspection.