Changes by (Act No. 32 of 2026)
An immigration inspector may grant a foreign national (except for crew members) aboard a vessel permission for landing in transit upon application by the captain of the vessel or the carrier who operates the vessel, if the foreign national wishes to land temporarily for the purpose of sightseeing while the vessel is in Japan, and to return to the vessel at another port of entry or departure at which the vessel is scheduled to call.
Changes by (Act No. 32 of 2026)
An immigration inspector, upon application by the captain of the vessel or aircraft or the carrier who operates the vessel or aircraft, may grant a foreign national (except for crew members) aboard the vessel or aircraft permission for landing in transit if the foreign national wishes to go to an area outside of Japan via Japan and to depart from Japan within 3 days of their entry into Japan from another port of entry or departure in the vicinity of the port at which the foreign national entered Japan on board a vessel or aircraft other than the one on which the foreign national arrived in Japan.
If the immigration inspector finds it necessary for an examination pertaining to the permission set forth in the preceding two paragraphs, the inspector may require the foreign national to provide their personal identification information in an electronic or magnetic means, pursuant to the provisions of Ministry of Justice Order.
In granting the permission set forth in paragraph (1) or (2), the immigration inspector must affix a seal of verification for landing in transit to the passport possessed by the foreign national.
In granting the permission set forth in paragraph (1) or (2), the immigration inspector may impose restrictions on the foreign national's period of landing, transit route and other conditions found necessary pursuant to the provisions of Ministry of Justice Order.
The provisions of the proviso to paragraph (1) of Article 14 apply mutatis mutandis to the cases referred to in paragraphs (1) and (2) of this Article.
Read this with the articles around it
foreign national
「外国人」
Anyone who does not hold Japanese nationality.
Defined inArticle 2, paragraph (1), item (i)· applies throughout the law
crew member
「乗員」
A member of the crew of a ship or aircraft.
Defined inArticle 2, paragraph (1), item (ii)· applies throughout the law
vessels, etc.machine translation
「船舶等」
Ships and aircraft.
Short name set inArticle 2, paragraph (1), item (ii)
passport
「旅券」
A passport, refugee travel document or other document in place of a passport (including a travel certificate from a Japanese consular officer) issued by the Japanese government, a foreign government Japan recognizes or a competent international organization, or an equivalent document from a competent authority of a region designated by Cabinet Order.
Defined inArticle 2, paragraph (1), item (v)· applies throughout the law
port of entry or departure
「出入国港」
A seaport or airport, designated by Ministry of Justice Order, through which foreign nationals must enter and leave Japan.
Defined inArticle 2, paragraph (1), item (viii)· applies throughout the law
carrier
「運送業者」
A business that carries people or goods by ship or aircraft between Japan and places outside Japan.
Defined inArticle 2, paragraph (1), item (ix)· applies throughout the law
immigration inspector
「入国審査官」
The immigration official provided for in Article 61-3, who examines people landing in Japan and cases for deportation, among other duties.
Defined inArticle 2, paragraph (1), item (x)· applies throughout the law
electronic or magnetic meansmachine translation
「電磁的方式」
Electronic, magnetic or any other form that people cannot perceive directly with their senses.
Defined inArticle 2, paragraph (1), item (xvii)
personal identification informationmachine translation
「個人識別情報」
Fingerprints, a photograph or other information that can identify an individual, as specified by Ministry of Justice Order (法務省令).
Defined inArticle 6, paragraph (3)