Can you still travel to Japan if your passport is valid for less than two months? Japan: Just don't let it expire.

▲ The validity period of passports has also recently sparked discussion online!(Photo/Chen Ming-ren, file photo)）

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

Whether travelers holding a Republic of China passport can enter Japan with less than six months of validity on their passport has sparked online discussion. In response, the Interchange Association, Japan clarified that there is no official regulation, but having more than 91 days of validity is relatively safer.

The depreciation of the Japanese yen and visa-free convenience have driven more Taiwanese to travel to Japan. Although the government has promoted the “international practice” of requiring at least six months of passport validity when traveling abroad, online opinions vary — some say they successfully entered Japan with just two months left on their passport, while others claim airlines won’t allow boarding if the passport is valid for less than six months. This debate has stirred up controversy.

Officials from the Interchange Association, Japan in Taiwan explained in an interview with CNA that the main requirement for Republic of China passport holders entering Japan is that they must hold a "valid passport for entry and exit," but there is no official rule regarding the length of the passport’s validity.

The official explained,Since there is no official regulation, some people have been able to enter even with only two months left on their passport, or even just three weeks. It mainly depends on the discretion of the visa officer at the time — for example, whether they can clearly explain the purpose of their urgent trip to Japan and provide a return flight ticket. However, these are individual cases and not guaranteed to be approved.

Japan pointed out that it currently grants Taiwan a 90-day visa-free entry, so a relatively safe approach is to have more than 91 days of passport validity upon entry. The shorter the validity period, “the more issues you may encounter upon entry.”

In response, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that generally, having more than six months of passport validity is an “international practice.” There have been cases where although the destination country had no official rule, visa officers refused entry because the passport was about to expire. Therefore, the ministry still advises the public that having more than six months of passport validity is a safer choice.
(Source: Central News Agency)