Hello, this is Matsui from IMS Legal Professional Corporation. This year’s calendar was quite favorable, so I imagine many of you enjoyed overseas travel during Golden Week.
The Japanese passport is often described as one of the strongest in the world. This is because, as of January 2026, Japanese nationals can travel to 188 countries and regions without a visa (including visa on arrival), which ranks second in the world. Since there are 196 countries in the world, this means that Japanese nationals can travel to almost any country or region with only a passport.
Even for Japanese nationals who hold one of the world’s strongest passports, there are probably very few people who have never heard the term “visa.” But can you explain exactly what it means? Although we often simply say “visa,” the rules and treatment of visas differ from country to country. This is because decisions regarding the entry and residence of foreign nationals are made at the discretion of each sovereign state (as a matter of grace or policy). In other words, there is no single worldwide rule governing the entry, departure, and residence of foreign nationals. The first thing to understand is that the rules differ depending on the country. We strongly recommend checking the basic visa and immigration rules of your destination before you travel. Otherwise, you may run into unexpected trouble.
Here, we will consider the United States, which is the area we specialize in. Do you know whether each of the following statements is true or false? For reference, ESTA is the electronic system used to determine the eligibility of travelers to enter the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. It may be used for travel to the United States for short-term business or tourism.
- If you have a passport and a visa (or ESTA), you can travel to the United States.
- If you have a visa (or ESTA), you will not be denied entry.
- As long as your visa is still valid, you may stay in the United States without any problem.
- If you apply properly for a visa, it will be approved.
- It is illegal to remain in the United States after your visa has expired.
1. If you have a passport and a visa (or ESTA), you can travel to the United States.
⇒ More precisely, this means: “If you have a valid passport and a valid visa (or ESTA), you can board a flight to the United States.” In other words, if you do not have a valid passport and a valid visa (or ESTA), you cannot even board a flight bound for the United States. Under U.S. law, airlines may be penalized if they allow passengers without a valid visa or ESTA to board. For that reason, airlines carefully check these documents at the time of check-in before allowing boarding.
2. If you have a visa (or ESTA), you will not be denied entry.
⇒ A visa or ESTA does not guarantee entry. A visa should be understood as no more than a kind of “letter of recommendation.” Without a visa or ESTA, you cannot board a flight; however, whether you are actually permitted to enter the United States is decided only after immigration inspection upon arrival in the United States. If entry is denied, in many cases you will have to return to your home country or place of departure at your own expense. Therefore, even if you have a visa or ESTA, it is still possible to be denied entry.
3. As long as the visa remains valid, you may stay in the United States without any problem.
⇒ The validity period of a visa is not necessarily the same as the period you are allowed to stay in the United States. The maximum permitted period of stay varies depending on the type of visa. In many cases, the authorized period of stay is shorter than the visa validity period, so misunderstanding this point can have serious consequences. In the United States, the period of stay is determined by the immigration officer at the time of admission. In the past, the authorized stay period was handwritten next to the admission stamp in the passport, but today many airports have become stamp-free, and no stamp is placed in the passport. So how can you confirm your authorized stay period? You must check it yourself through the U.S. immigration system known as I-94. Please also refer to this article.
It is important to confirm immediately after entering the United States that your authorized stay period and visa classification have been recorded correctly. If there is any error, you should promptly contact CBP and request a correction.
4. If you apply properly for a visa, it will be approved.
⇒ Japanese nationals may use ESTA, but depending on the purpose of travel to the United States—such as study or employment—it may be necessary to obtain the appropriate visa for that purpose. A visa is not granted simply because an application is filed. In the United States, the decision whether to issue a visa is made by a consular officer at a U.S. embassy or consulate, based on laws such as the Immigration and Nationality Act.
5. It is illegal to remain in the United States after your visa has expired.
⇒ As explained in section 3 above, the visa validity period and the authorized period of stay are different. Even if the visa itself has expired, your stay in the United States is lawful so long as your authorized period of stay remains valid. In addition, even if the visa has expired, your stay is also lawful if you have applied to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for an extension or change of visa status and such stay is authorized.
What did you think? The above reflects the rules of the United States based on U.S. law. Other countries have their own rules. International travel involves more hurdles than many people expect. Be sure to prepare properly in advance so that your enjoyable trip or important business travel is not spoiled.
Please note that this blog is based on information available at the time of writing. For the most up-to-date information, readers are responsible for confirming details through official government websites and other authoritative sources.
For more information, please contact us below ↓
https://imsvisa.support/en/contact/
