Japan Turned Away 8,546 Foreign Nationals at the Border in 2025 — Here's What the Numbers Tell Us

Japan's Immigration Services Agency (ISA) has released its annual report on entry refusals for 2025 (Reiwa 7), and the figures are worth examining closely — both for travelers planning to visit Japan and for immigration professionals advising foreign clients.

The Headline: An 8.5% Year-on-Year Increase

A total of 8,546 foreign nationals were refused entry into Japan in 2025, representing an increase of 667 persons (8.5%) compared to 2024. This continues a rising trend that has been in place since 2021, when Japan began gradually relaxing its COVID-19 border measures and international arrivals resumed at scale.

Simply put: as more people enter Japan, more people are turned away. But the breakdown of why they were refused tells a more important story.

Who Was Refused? Top Nationalities

The top three nationalities among refused entrants were Thailand, Indonesia, and China, who together accounted for 3,933 persons — 46% of the total.

One figure that stands out is Cameroon, whose refusal numbers surged from 53 in 2024 to 225 in 2025 — a 324.5% increase year-on-year. This kind of spike often reflects a shift in visa overstay or illegal employment patterns that immigration authorities are actively monitoring.

Why Were They Refused? The Reasons Matter

This is where immigration practitioners need to pay careful attention.

84.8% — Doubts about the stated purpose of entry (7,246 persons)

By far the largest category. These are cases where the ISA had reasonable grounds to suspect that the applicant's true purpose — typically undocumented employment — did not match their declared reason for entry, such as tourism, a short business trip, or visiting relatives. In other words, the immigration officer did not believe the story.

This is a critical point: Japan's Narita airport alone refused over 4,600 people. These aren't visa rejections made at a consulate abroad — they are face-to-face refusals at the port of entry, made in real time by an immigration officer who found the traveler's account unconvincing.

5.9% — Meeting statutory grounds for entry refusal (505 persons)

These individuals had prior criminal convictions involving a custodial sentence of one year or longer, or otherwise met the grounds for refusal set out under the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act.

1.3% — No valid visa or equivalent documentation (111 persons)

A smaller but consistent category: travelers who arrived without the required documentation.

0.1% — Referred for deportation proceedings due to suspected illegal entry (5 persons)

These cases involved the use of forged or altered passports. The individuals were referred directly to immigration enforcement officers for formal deportation proceedings.

Where Did Refusals Happen?

Entry refusals are heavily concentrated at Japan's major international airports:

Airport	Refusals	Share
Narita (NRT)	4,628	54.2%
Haneda (HND)	1,388	16.2%
Kansai (KIX)	1,292	15.1%
Chubu (NGO)	710	8.3%
Fukuoka (FUK)	186	2.2%
Top 5 total	8,204	96%

The concentration at Narita is a reflection of its role as Japan's primary long-haul international gateway. Over half of all entry refusals happen there.

What This Means in Practice

For travelers, the takeaway is straightforward: Japan's border officers are rigorous, and entry is not guaranteed simply because you hold a valid passport from a visa-exempt country. Officers assess the plausibility of your stated purpose based on your itinerary, financial means, onward travel arrangements, employment history, and prior travel record. Being unable to answer basic questions clearly — or presenting a story that doesn't add up — can result in immediate refusal and a flight back home.

For foreign nationals already residing in Japan, or those planning to apply for a work or residence visa, these statistics are largely separate from your experience. Entry refusals at the port of entry and visa applications processed through regional immigration bureaus are distinct procedures.

That said, the data is a useful reminder that Japan takes the integrity of its immigration system seriously. Misrepresenting your purpose — even informally — carries real consequences.

A Note for Employers and Sponsors

Companies in Japan that routinely invite foreign business partners, employees, or clients to visit should ensure that invitation letters and supporting documentation clearly and accurately reflect the actual purpose of the visit. A discrepancy between what the invitation letter says and what the traveler says at the counter is a red flag that officers are trained to notice.

Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan. "令和７年における外国人の上陸拒否について." Press release dated March 27, 2026. Link to original

This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For questions about specific visa situations or immigration procedures in Japan, please consult us.