What Changed on 9 September
Singapore residents can now apply for a Japan tourist visa entirely online. VFS Global switched on the JAPAN eVISA route on 9 September 2026 for single entry tourist visas only. Business and family-visit applications still need the visa centre in person.
Flights to Japan
Decide your travel window before you start the form. Pick a Japan gateway below to see a sample fare from Singapore.
Look for hotels in Tokyo or Kyoto for the same window, and hold off on anything non-refundable until the visa is issued.
Who Can Use the Online Route
The online route covers only single entry tourist visas for Singapore residents travelling for tourism or sightseeing. Business travel, family visits, multiple entry visas and long-term categories like a Certificate of Eligibility, medical stay or spouse visa still need the in-person centre.
Singapore passport holders need no visa: Japan exempts Singapore for stays of up to 90 days (Indonesia and Malaysia too, Indonesia capped at 15 days). This change is for Indian, Chinese, Vietnamese, Filipino, Bangladeshi, Pakistani and Sri Lankan residents of Singapore, who still need one.
What It Costs and How Long It Takes
VFS Global’s Singapore fee table lists a SGD 22 service fee for everyone. The visa fee itself is SGD 26 for most nationalities, SGD 7 for Indians, and free for Philippine passport holders, though fees can change without notice.
Processing takes a minimum of 10 business days from submission, excluding weekends and embassy holidays, longer if documents are incomplete.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Singapore citizens need a visa for Japan?
No. Japan’s foreign ministry lists Singapore among the countries and regions with a visa exemption arrangement, for stays of up to 90 days.
Can I apply online for a business trip to Japan?
No. The online route covers a single entry tourist visa for tourism or sightseeing, and business travel and visits to relatives still go through the visa application centre.
How long does a Japan tourist visa take from Singapore?
A minimum of 10 business days from the date you submit, excluding weekends and embassy holidays. Missing documents or extra checks can add to that.
Do I still have to visit the visa application centre?
Not for an eligible single entry tourist visa, which can now be submitted and paid for online. Every other visa category is unchanged.
Sources
- Alo Japan, Japan eVISA Applications Are Now Fully Online for Eligible Singapore Residents
- VFS Global, Japan Visa Information for Singapore
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, The JAPAN eVISA System (Electronic Visa)
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Countries and Regions With Visa Exemption Arrangements
- Embassy of Japan in Singapore, Visa to Japan
- Japan National Tourism Organization, Japan Visa Requirements
- Wego flight search, Singapore to Tokyo, Osaka and Sapporo, sampled 15 to 22 Oct 2026 in SGD.
