Malaysians can stay in Japan without a visa for up to 90 days per visit under the visa exemption program. This applies only to short-term, non-remunerated activities such as tourism, transit, visiting family or friends, and attending business meetings or conferences. The 90-day period starts from the day of entry and cannot be extended while in Japan. If your total visits exceed 180 days within a year, future entries may be denied. To stay longer than 90 days, you must apply for the appropriate visa in advance.
The 90-day period starts from the date of entry and applies only to non-remunerated activities such as tourism, unpaid business meetings, transit, or visiting friends and family. This period is not extendable once inside Japan. Malaysians who wish to stay beyond the 90 days must apply for a suitable visa, such as a Work Visa, Student Visa, or Dependent Visa, before traveling.
In addition to the single-visit rule, Japanese immigration monitors cumulative stays. If a traveler’s total time in Japan exceeds 180 days within a 12-month period, future entries under the visa exemption may be refused, even if each visit was under 90 days. This rule is designed to prevent abuse of the visa-free system.
Overstaying your welcome, even by a single day, can lead to deportation, entry bans, and a record of immigration violation, which may affect travel to Japan or other countries in the future. To avoid issues, always plan your itinerary carefully and monitor your stay period. If you anticipate needing more time in Japan, it’s best to explore long-stay visa options in advance.
For more information on Japan’s entry rules or to compare visa-free limits for Japan and other countries, visit our Malaysian Visa guide to Japan.