JAPANESE PASSPORT

 Description

A Japanese passport (日本国旅券, Nihonkoku ryoken) is an official travel document issued by the Japanese government to its citizens. Here’s what you need to know about it:

Purpose:

• Identification: It serves as a primary form of identification of Japanese citizenship.
• International Travel: It allows Japanese citizens to travel to other countries, subject to entry requirements and visa regulations.

Features:

• Security: Includes high-tech security features to prevent counterfeiting, such as watermarks and biometric data integration.
• Passport Booklet: Traditionally issued as a physical booklet with an embedded chip containing holder information.
• Validity: Typically valid for 5 or 10 years, depending on the age of the applicant.

Significance

• Global Mobility: The Japanese passport is a highly respected travel document. Due to Japan’s strong international relationships and visa-free agreements, it consistently ranks among the most powerful passports in the world.
• Benefits: Japanese passport holders can travel to numerous countries without obtaining a visa in advance. This simplifies travel and provides greater freedom of movement.

How to obtain a Japanese passport:

1. Eligibility: Be a Japanese citizen with legal residence in Japan (or have the intent to return if residing abroad).
2. Gather Documents:
   • Completed application form.
   • Proof of citizenship (e.g., birth certificate, Family Registry).
   • Recent passport photos meeting specific requirements.
   • Valid government-issued photo ID.
3. Submit Application: Visit a designated passport office or consular office in Japan, or certain Japanese embassies or consulates if residing overseas.
4. Fees: Pay the required passport issuance fee.
5. Processing Time: Varies, but typically take a few weeks.

Resources:

• Official Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan website: [invalid URL removed]
• Passport Index: https://www.passportindex.org/passport/japan/ – For up-to-date information on visa requirements.

Important: Remember that information on passport applications and requirements can change. Always refer to the most updated information on the official Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan website for the latest details.

In January 2020, British consulting company Henley & Partners placed the Japanese passport at the top of its Passport Index Global Ranking.

The index ranks passports by how many of 199 countries and regions around the world people holding them can visit without a prior visa. Japanese passport holders can enter 191 countries without a visa. Singapore, with 190 countries came second, followed by South Korea and Germany with 189.

In 2019, Japan and Singapore tied for first place; however, in June 2019 Japanese passport holders no longer required visas for Brazil, putting Japan in sole first place. The weakest passport was Afghanistan with visa-free access to only 26 countries.

RANKING OF PASSPORTS WITH THE GREATEST VISA-FREE ACCESS
Number of Countries Passport
191 Japan
190 Singapore
189 Germany, South Korea
188 Finland, Italy
187 Spain, Denmark, Luxembourg
186 France, Sweden
185 Austria, Ireland, Netherlands, Portugal, Switzerland
184 United States, Britain, Belgium, Greece, Norway
PASSPORTS WITH THE LEAST VISA-FREE ACCESS
29 Syria
28 Iraq
26 Afghanistan
Although Japan slipped behind China in 2010 to become the third largest economy in the world, it is still a major power and countries hope that spending by Japanese tourists will boost their own economies. Japan’s stable society and low crime rate means that its visitors are perceived as very unlikely to overstay, work illegally, or apply for refugee status.

So how much are Japanese people travelling the world with their powerful passports? As of the end of 2018, there were almost 30 million valid passports, or just one for every four citizens, so many are not using them at all.