Singapore, 27 June 2013 – With effect from 1 July 2013, the Government of Japan has decided to exempt visa application procedures for Malaysian passport holders with biometric passports only.

The visa waiver is only applicable for Malaysian Nationals who hold biometric passports with an embedded microchip compliant with ICAO standards. This would also mean that Malaysian Nationals with biometric passports no longer need to apply for visa to visit Japan. Please refer to the following PDF file to check if the passport is biometric: http://www.my.emb-japan.go.jp/English/visit/06262013ppsampleE.pdf

The visa exemption is valid for visitors who intend to stay in Japan for not more than 3 months. Visitors will have to apply for a visa if their intended stay exceeds 3 months.

For more information, please refer to the press release issued by the Embassy of Japan in Malaysia at: http://www.my.emb-japan.go.jp/English/visit/visa25062013.html