About one hour before landing in Japan, the cabin crew hands out small cards to passengers. These bilingual Japanese and English documents are called the Japanese Disembarkation Card for Foreigners and the Customs 🛂 Declaration. Filling them in is compulsory before going through Japanese immigration and customs services.
After 10 hours or more of flight in a pressurized atmosphere, the traveler’s mind might not be as sharp as usual, and the cabin crew might not be able to help as they are busy in preparation for landing. Japanese immigration and custom agents are very strict with any crossing-out or inaccuracy, so it is very important to carefully fill in the cards. This is the key to a smooth and swift arrival in Japan.
Disclaimer – The content provided on this webpage is for information purposes only. Filling in the Japan Disembarkation Card for Foreigners and the Customs Declaration forms is the sole responsibility of each traveler and Kanpai cannot be held liable for any mistake or inconvenience.
The Japanese Disembarkation Card for Foreigners (外国人入国記録 gaikokujin nyûkoku kiroku) is a recto-verso form. It will be collected by the immigration services, whose officer will also put a stamp on your passport.
The card’s purpose is for you to provide information about your identity and your stay in Japan.
One of the most frequent questions is which intended address in Japan and telephone 📱 number to provide. As travelers may have booked several accommodations to fit their journey, they might be puzzled about how to answer. You only need to write down the address and telephone number of the first hotel 🏨 or apartment of your stay (make sure to have the information printed or readily accessible before your departure). For other travelers, it might be best to write down the address and telephone number of the place where they will stay the longest, even if it is not the first accommodation.
The back side of the card is also to be filled in carefully. You might undergo a thorough cross-examination in the following cases:
The Japanese Immigration Services Agency recently started the Trusted Traveler Program. This program allows, under certain conditions, expedited customs formalities for frequent visitors who can go through automatic gates.
However, this service is only accessible upon prior registration and is submitted to authorization upon the first entry in Japan.
The Japanese Immigrations Services Agency has provided information about this service on their Offical Website (in English).
With the resuming of post-Covid 🦠 tourism, it is highly recommended to register on the Japanese governmental site "Visit Japan Web" before departing to Japan, to speed up the procedures upon arrival.
Further explanations are available in a dedicated post:
