Visit Japan Web 2026: How to Register and Use Your QR Code
How to set up your official immigration & customs QR code, avoid fake paid app scams, and breeze through Japanese airport arrivals.
The single biggest change about arriving in Japan over recent years isn't the airports themselves — it's how you clear immigration and customs. Setting up Visit Japan Web (VJW) before every trip saves significant time standing in terminal lines.
First, the Basics That Trip People Up
Visit Japan Web (vjw.digital.go.jp) is the official digital portal for Japanese immigration and customs paperwork. Two crucial facts to keep straight:
- It is web-only — there is NO official mobile app. If you see an “app” in the App Store or Google Play, or any third-party site asking for an application fee, it is not the legitimate service. The official Japanese government portal is 100% free and accessed directly via your mobile web browser.
- It is not strictly mandatory, but strongly recommended. While paper arrival cards are still accepted on planes, completing VJW beforehand lets you skip handwriting forms in cramped airline seats.
What It Looks Like on Arrival
Once registered, the portal generates an integrated QR code covering both immigration inspection and customs declaration:
- Immigration Booth: Present your passport and display your QR code on your phone screen. The officer scans it to retrieve your pre-registered entry details.
- Baggage & Customs Gate: Walk up to the electronic customs gate, scan your passport photo page and your VJW QR code, look at the facial recognition camera, and walk straight out.
How to Register in 3 Quick Steps
1. Create an Account
Go to the official portal (vjw.digital.go.jp), sign up with your email address, and enter the verification code. You only need to create this account once.
2. Register Your Personal Details & Passport
Type your full name exactly as it appears in the machine-readable zone of your passport. For your address in Japan, entering the name and postal code of your first hotel is sufficient, even if you are touring multiple cities.
3. Register Your Flight Itinerary & Generate QR
Add your airline flight number and arrival date, complete the standard customs questionnaire, and your QR code will be generated instantly.
Airport Wi-Fi when you land can be congested. Take a high-contrast screenshot of your QR code and save it to your phone's photo favorites before you board your flight. The offline screenshot works perfectly on airport scanner terminals.
Family Registrations & Edits
You can register traveling family members (spouse, children) under a single primary account. Each traveler receives their own QR code, but you only need to manage one account.
If your flight schedule or accommodation changes, you can edit your information freely in the portal right up until you reach the immigration counter.