Exemption of Visas for Nationals of Malaysia

PRESS RELEASE: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan

June 25, 2013

G-0688

Consulate-General of Japan in Perth

Exemption of Visas for Nationals of Malaysia

1. A visa exemption arrangement exists between Japan and Malaysia such that nationals of Malaysia who meet relevant conditions may enter Japan without obtaining a visa for a period of not exceeding three consecutive months (short-term stay). Nevertheless, since 1993, based on a consideration of the state of affairs at the time, the Government of Japan began to encourage that nationals of Malaysia obtain a visa in advance to enter Japan.
2. However, in celebration of the 40th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation, the Government of Japan has decided that from July 1, nationals of Malaysia in possession of ordinary IC passports meeting ICAO standards (with ICAO’s IC passport symbol on the front cover) who wish to enter Japan for short-term stay will no longer be encouraged to obtain a visa as noted above and will be able to visit Japan without one. In making this decision, Japan is effectively restarting the measures to offer visa exemptions for nationals of Malaysia with the intention of entering Japan for short-term stay. The further development of Japan-Malaysia exchange is expected as a result of the restart of the visa exemption, including increases in the number of tourists from Malaysia who visit Japan and the enhancement of the ease of business transactions between the two countries.
   Regardless of the above, the restart of visa exemptions shall apply only to those with an ordinary IC passport in compliance with ICAO standards as mentioned above. Nationals of Malaysia who do not hold an ordinary IC passport in compliance with  ICAO standards continue to be encouraged to obtain a visa.