Do I need a visa for a connecting flight to Japan?
I'm going to the Philippines this October and would like to layover in Japan. I found a reasonably priced ticket with a 15-hour layover to Haneda, however, I have to transfer to Narita. Do I need a visa since I'm going to have to stay at a hotel and ride a bus to travel to Narita airport? Thank you!
Best Answer
Because your connecting flight is the next day and you are changing from HND to NRT, you can get a Shore Pass from Japan immigration on arrival.
Timatic, the database which airlines use to verify passenger travel documents, states in relevant part:
TWOV (Transit Without Visa):
Passengers with a passport and a confirmed onward ticket to a third country within 72 hours can obtain a Shore Pass on arrival if there are no connecting flights on the same calendar day. They must:
have documents required for the next destination; and
have proof of sufficient funds to cover their stay; and
- arrive at and depart from an airport or seaport located within the same group below.
- Group A:
Airports: Narita (NRT), Haneda (HND), Nagoya (NGO), Niigata (KIJ), Komatsu (KMQ) and Yokota (OKO).
Seaports: Tokyo, Yokohama, Niigata and Nagoya.
Timatic doesn't mention it, but the actual Japanese law also suggests that they may require you to have a biometric passport.
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Do I need transit visa for Japan layover?
No visa required for all nationalities if you are transiting through Japan within the same airport without leaving the secured area. If you are visiting someone in Japan, or if your main purpose is for sightseeing or business, you need a Temporary Visitor's Visa regardless of the length of your stay.Is there a transit visa for Japan?
A transit visa to Japan is granted to applicants who are travelling to the 3rd country through Japan. Transit visa can have a single- or double-entry, where each entry cannot exceed 15 days.Can foreigners transit in Japan?
Please note that foreign nationals are, in general, prohibited from entering Japan for flight connections purposes. Additionally, for passengers transiting via Japan to another country, please refer to the Entry restrictions for each country and Quarantine Measures information.Do I need a visa to catch a connecting flight?
In general, travelers in transit through the United States require valid C-1 visas.TOKYO NARITA Airport INTERNATIONAL TRANSFER during COVID-19
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