Home  ›  Vatican  ›  Japan
Visa requirements · updated Aug 2026

Do Vatican citizens need a visa for Japan?

Visa required

Vatican citizens need a visa to enter Japan. Apply in advance at an embassy or visa centre.

VISAXSAug 2026
Visa required
Vatican → Japan
Embassyapply

Everything for your trip to Japan

Partner links — we may earn a commission at no cost to you.

Vatican vs Japan: passport comparison

Vatican

95

visa-free countries

Global rank: #60 · mobility 148.1

Japan

116

visa-free countries

Global rank: #24 · mobility 168.8
92

countries both Vatican and Japan can enter visa-free together

Vatican + Japan: passport compatibility

81%

of the world — where both passports have the same visa access

Where Vatican and Japan travel together — by entry type:

92 both visa-free
29 both visa on arrival
25 both e-visa / eTA
14 both need a visa
37 access differs

Where Vatican and Japan can travel visa-free together

Travelling as a pair with two different passports? Here is the full list of countries where BOTH of you can enter without a prior visa — plus where your access differs.

Both visa-free (92)

Sort by max stay or the destination's passport strength (tap a header), and filter by region.

Country Max stay Passport rank
Albania90 days#91 Andorra90 days#47 Angola30 days#168 Antigua and Barbuda180 days#61 Argentina90 days#44 Armenia180 days#129 Austria90 days#13 Bahamas90 days#53 Belarus30 days#114 Belgium90 days#6 Belize90 days#99 Bolivia90 days#117 Bosnia and Herzegovina90 days#88 Botswana90 days#119 Brazil90 days#43 Bulgaria90 days#35 Chile90 days#45 Colombia90 days#74 Costa Rica180 days#62 Croatia90 days#22 Cyprus90 days#36 Czech Republic90 days#25 Denmark90 days#11 Dominica21 days#70 Dominican Republic90 days#124 Ecuador90 days#104 El Salvador180 days#75 Estonia90 days#26 Fiji120 days#103 Finland90 days#3 France90 days#4 Georgia360 days#83 Germany90 days#7 Greece90 days#17 Grenada90 days#65 Guatemala90 days#73 Haiti90 days#175 Honduras90 days#78 Hong Kong14 days#46 Hungary90 days#21 Iceland90 days#38 Ireland90 days#18 Israel90 days#51 Italy90 days#8 Kazakhstan30 days#116 Kosovo90 days#107 Kyrgyzstan60 days#134 Latvia90 days#34 Liechtenstein90 days#39 Lithuania90 days#37 Luxembourg90 days#9 Malaysia30 days#41 Malta90 days#29 Mauritius90 days#66 Micronesia30 days#89 Moldova90 days#92 Monaco90 days#42 Montenegro90 days#76 Netherlands90 days#10 Nicaragua90 days#86 North Macedonia90 days#82 Norway90 days#15 Palestine90 days#193 Panama90 days#68 Peru180 days#57 Philippines30 days#128 Poland90 days#19 Portugal90 days#14 Romania90 days#33 Saint Kitts and Nevis90 days#54 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines90 days#56 San Marino90 days#49 Sao Tome and Principe15 days#151 Serbia90 days#72 Seychelles90 days#58 Singapore30 days#12 Slovakia90 days#23 Slovenia90 days#30 South Korea30 days#20 Spain90 days#2 Swaziland30 days#120 Sweden90 days#5 Switzerland90 days#16 Taiwan90 days#79 Tajikistan30 days#149 Tunisia90 days#131 Turkey90 days#94 Ukraine90 days#59 United Arab Emirates30 days#1 Uruguay90 days#50 Uzbekistan30 days#142 Vanuatu120 days#105

Only Vatican is visa-free (3)

How the entry rule changed: Vatican → Japan

We keep our own archive of visa-rule snapshots and diff them against each other. Here is what changed over the observed period.

The Vatican → Japan rule itself held steady over the observed period. The context around it did move:

4passports gained easier entry to Japan
0passports saw Japan tighten its rules
1rule changes for the Vatican passport, 1 of them easing
July 2024 — June 2026our archive observation window

Comparison is built from our own dataset snapshots; the date marks when we recorded the change, not the official decision date. See all changes →

Japan: good to know

Tokyo

Capital

Japanese Yen (JPY)

Currency

Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)

Time zone

+81

Calling code

A, B

Power plug

100V / 50–60Hz

Voltage

Left-hand

Driving side

Where else Vatican goes visa-free

Check another route

Documents you'll usually need for Japan

The usual basics for the trip. Always confirm exact requirements with the embassy or consulate.

Valid passport

Valid at least 6 more months

Return / onward ticket

Proof you will leave the country

Proof of funds

Enough money for your stay

Accommodation

Hotel booking or an invitation

Travel insurance

Recommended, sometimes required

Visa

Obtained at the embassy in advance

Frequently asked

Do Vatican citizens need a visa for Japan?
Vatican citizens need a visa to enter Japan. Apply in advance at an embassy or visa centre.
Which passport is stronger — Vatican or Japan?
The Japan passport is stronger: 116 visa-free countries versus 95. Global rank: Vatican #60, Japan #24.
Where can Vatican and Japan citizens travel together visa-free?
Both passports get visa-free access to 92 of the same countries.
What documents do I need for Japan?
Usually: a valid passport (6+ months), a return ticket, proof of funds and accommodation. Plus a visa obtained from the embassy in advance. Always confirm exact requirements with the embassy.
Can visa requirements change between Vatican and Japan?
Yes, visa rules change periodically. This data is current as of Aug 2026 — always confirm with the embassy before you travel.

Vatican passport ranking

Where else the Vatican passport can take you and how it ranks worldwide.

View the passport