Japan Sets Minimum Age Requirement for Applicants Seeking 10-Year Japanese Passport
- The Embassy of Japan in Nigeria published the requirements for applying for a Japanese passport, covering both five-year and 10-year options
- Japan set an official minimum age requirement that determines which passport type an applicant in Nigeria can obtain
- The embassy made two separate application forms available depending on the passport duration being sought
PAY ATTENTION: Mark Legit.ng as a preferred source, and our content will appear higher in your Google feed!
The Embassy of Japan in Nigeria has published the requirements for applying for a Japanese passport, including a minimum age condition that determines whether an applicant qualifies for a 10-year passport.
According to the embassy's official guidance, posted on September 24, 2025, applicants must be at least 18 years old to be eligible for a 10-year passport.
Source: Getty Images
Those who are 17 or younger can only apply for a five-year passport.
Japanese passport: What applicants need to know
The first requirement on the embassy's list is a completed Japan passport application form. Two versions of the form exist: one for the five-year passport and another for the 10-year passport. The embassy made both forms available for download on its website.
The age distinction is a firm condition, not a guideline. Minors under 17 have no option to apply for the longer-validity document regardless of other circumstances.
Japanese passport: How to apply
Applicants based in Nigeria can access the relevant forms directly through the Embassy of Japan in Nigeria's official website, where the full list of requirements is also published.
Nigerians planning to travel to Japan or those with Japanese citizenship residing in Nigeria are encouraged to confirm all documentation requirements before submitting an application, as incomplete forms could delay processing.
Legit.ng reported that Japan named eight countries whose citizens can enter the country with an ePassport instead of a visa.
In a related story, Legit.ng reported that Japan listed three countries eligible for entry with machine-readable passport instead of a visa.
Japan's new entry requirement for foreigners
Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that Japan approved a new entry requirement for foreigners without visas.
The Immigration Services Agency of Japan confirmed that the legislation was passed at the 221st Extraordinary Session of the Diet on May 29, 2026 and officially promulgated on June 5, 2026 as Act No. 32 of 2026.
The centrepiece of the amended law is the establishment of JESTA, the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation.
Source: Legit.ng
