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Japan · Free movement

US–Japan SOFA — member of the United States armed forces

4 facts quoted from the official source

Entry and presence under the US–Japan Status of Forces Agreement

Route type
Free movement
Can bring
—
Not stated in the official source
Requirements
3
each quoted below
Who qualifies

Who this route is for

Every item below is the government’s own wording, quoted from the official source. Whether you personally qualify depends on your full profile.

3 requirements quoted from the official source.

The conditions that decide it
  • Nationality or qualifying statusmembers of the United States armed forces
  • Purpose or legal basisEntry and presence under the US–Japan Status of Forces Agreement
What you’ll show with your application

Paperwork you prepare — it does not rule you out.

  • Passport or travel-document requirementMembers of the United States armed forces shall be exempt from Japanese passport and visa laws
Also stated by the source
  • Long-term residence or conversion pathshall not be considered as acquiring any right to permanent residence or domicile
Family

Who you can bring

— Not stated in the official source. The official page for this route does not address dependent-family rights, so we do not publish a claim either way.
How it works

From here to a yes

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FAQ

Straight answers

01Who qualifies for this route to Japan?
The official source states: Entry and presence under the US–Japan Status of Forces Agreement
02What does this route lead to?
The official source states: shall not be considered as acquiring any right to permanent residence or domicile

Every answer is quoted from the official mofa.go.jp page for this route, last read 2026-07-27.

We checked 4 points against the official source; 4 are quoted on this page. The other 0 are either not addressed by the source or not yet backed by a quote — we would rather show you the edge of the record than fill it with a plausible guess.

See the 0 open points

Fees, validity and processing time are not published in the official source for this route. We publish a number only when the official text states that number.

Not stated in the official source — the official source names no exclusion for this route.

The source

Where every quote comes from

Official government source mofa.go.jpLast read 2026-07-27 Every quote on this page is from this Japan government page.
Compiled from official sources · pending independent re-check · Last checked 2026-07-27 · Our methodology
 · Compiled by António Mira · How we verify · Not legal advice — rules change; confirm with the official source before deciding.
Same category, same country

Other free movement routes to Japan

2 other free movement routes to Japan.

US–Japan SOFA — civilian componentUS–Japan SOFA — qualifying dependant
Same category, elsewhere

Free movement routes in other countries

107 other countries publish at least one free movement route. Nearest first.

Norway33 free movement routes Ireland20 free movement routes Italy15 free movement routes Denmark13 free movement routes Hungary13 free movement routes Greece12 free movement routes

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