This guide is information, not legal or immigration advice. Rules change, so confirm on the official government site before you travel.
Many travellers think Visit Japan Web is Japan's arrival card and that skipping it will stop them at the airport. The sources we checked describe it more simply: it is a free shortcut for forms you must complete anyway.
Short answer
The arrival procedures (immigration entry and customs declaration) are required. Using Visit Japan Web is recommended, not mandatory, and paper forms are still available. The service is run by Japan's Digital Agency and is free. Anyone asking you to pay for the QR code is not offering the official service.
What the QR code does
You create an account, add passport, flight and address details, and complete the immigration and customs questions. Reports say that since January 2024 you get one combined QR code for both, which you show at immigration and again at customs, instead of two separate codes.
- One account can hold several family members; reports mention up to 10 people.
- You cannot generate the final code until the Japan address fields are complete, so keep your first hotel address handy.
- Do not mix it up with the separate tax-free shopping code.
Paper plan B
If your phone dies or the code will not scan, officers and airport staff can point you to paper forms. Arrive with your passport, your first address in Japan and a screenshot saved on the phone, and you will be fine either way.
Pakistani passport holders: the visa comes first
Visit Japan Web is not a visa and does not replace one. Pakistani passport holders need a Japan visa before travel. The Embassy of Japan in Islamabad publishes the general information for applicants, and third-party guides report that applications go through VFS Global centres. Check the embassy page for the current process.
One line from that embassy page is worth knowing before you apply: if a visa is refused, the reason is not given, and a new application can be submitted after 6 months. That is why a complete, consistent file the first time matters more than speed. Our travel readiness check helps you list what to carry.
Questions and answers
Is Visit Japan Web mandatory?
No. Immigration and customs procedures are required, but Visit Japan Web is a recommended digital way to do them. Paper forms remain available.
Is Visit Japan Web free?
Yes. It is free. Do not pay a third party to create your arrival QR code.
Do immigration and customs use the same QR code?
Reports say a single combined code has been used since January 2024, shown at both immigration and customs.
Can a family use one account?
Reports say one account can register several family members, up to 10 people.
Do Pakistani passport holders need a visa for Japan?
Yes. Apply through the Embassy of Japan process before you travel. Visit Japan Web does not replace the visa.
More answers on this topic
Sources
Facts were read in these sources on 2026-11-01. Where a source is a news report or travel guide and not the official site, we say "reported". Always confirm on the official portal.Published Nov 1, 2026 · Updated Nov 1, 2026 · How we check facts