Streamlining Your Arrival: Linking All Members to a Single Visit Japan Web Account (Japan Digital Arrival Card)
Traveling to Japan with family, friends, or as part of an organized group requires every single person to complete the necessary Immigration and Customs declarations. The Visit Japan Web (VJW) or Japan Digital Arrival Card service offers a highly efficient way to manage this through its Family Member registration feature.
This allows a lead traveler (e.g., a parent or group leader) to register and manage declarations for up to 10 individuals under a single VJW account. This is particularly useful for registering children and infants, who also require their own declarations and QR codes.
Trevalo guides you through the process of linking your entire party on VJW, ensuring a faster, stress-free arrival for everyone.
🔑 Section 1: The Rule for All Travelers On Japan Digital Arrival Card VJW
1. Every Person Needs a Declaration
- Universal Requirement: The core principle of Japan’s border control is that every individual, regardless of age, must have a complete Immigration Disembarkation Card and Customs Declaration.
- Infants and Children: This includes newborns, infants, and all children. Even if a child does not have their own email address or phone, their details must be registered.
2. Family Member Registration on Japan Digital Arrival Card VJW
- Lead Applicant: One adult can register as the Main Applicant and then add up to 10 family members to their VJW account.
- Benefits: Once linked, the VJW system automatically applies shared trip details (like flight number and accommodation) to all members, saving significant data entry time.
- Individual QR Codes: While managed from one account, each family member will still generate their own unique QR codes for Immigration and Customs.
📝 Section 2: Step-by-Step Group Registration
These steps build upon the initial VJW account creation (Stage 1 of the “Complete Guide”).
Stage 1: Registering Family Members to Your Account (Japan Digital Arrival Card VJW account)
- Enter Passport Details: For each family member, input their:
- Passport Information: (Name, Passport Number, Nationality, Date of Birth). You can upload a photo of their passport bio-page for automatic data entry, which is highly recommended for accuracy.
- Contact Details: Since minors usually don’t have separate contact info, use the Main Applicant’s (your) contact details for the email address where their e-Pass will be sent.
- Repeat: Add all family members, one by one, up to the 10-person limit.
Stage 2: Completing Individual Declarations for Each Member
This is the most critical part: each person needs their own declarations completed.
- Access Declarations: Go to your registered trip and click on “Immigration clearance and Customs declaration.”
- Complete for Each Member:
- Main Applicant First: Complete your own “Disembarkation Card for Foreigners” and “Declaration of Personal Effects and Unaccompanied Items.”
- Family Members: Under each declaration section, you will see a list of your registered family members. Click on EACH family member’s name and complete their individual declarations.
- Immigration: Verify their details and answer the immigration questions.
- Customs: Answer the Customs questions (e.g., if they are carrying dutiable goods). Even infants typically have a “Nothing to declare” declaration.
Stage 3: Generating and Saving Each Individual’s QR Codes
Once declarations are “Registered” for each person:
- Immigration QR Codes: Under the “Immigration Clearance” section, click on the Main Applicant’s name, then “Display QR Code.” Screenshot it. Repeat this for EACH family member—they will each have a unique Immigration QR Code.
- Customs QR Code: For Customs, the Japan Digital Arrival Card (VJW) system usually generates one Customs QR Code for the entire family group (as you usually declare as a family for Customs). This will be displayed once the Main Applicant’s Customs declaration is complete and all family members are linked to it. Screenshot this family Customs QR code.
💡 Section 3: Smooth Clearance with Family and Group QR Codes
1. At Immigration
- E-Gates: Adults and older children with biometric passports can use the automated e-Gates, scanning their individual Immigration QR Code and passport.
- Manual Counter: For younger children or if e-Gates are not available, approach the manual counter as a family. Present your passports and the individual Immigration QR Code for each family member to the officer.
2. At Customs
- Electronic Gates: The entire family proceeds to the Electronic Declaration Gate. The Main Applicant (or designated adult) will scan their passport, and then scan the family’s Customs Declaration QR Code.
- The gate will typically open for the entire group if nothing was declared. If items were declared, you will be directed to an officer.
TREVALO FINAL ADVICE: Start the VJW group registration well in advance. Double-check all passport numbers and birth dates. Crucially, take and save individual screenshots of each person’s Immigration QR Code and the family’s single Customs QR Code to avoid any delays upon arrival.