japan travel application form

Temporary Visitor Visa

Who can use a temporary visitor visa, temporary visitors for business.

(1) The visa application form (see Documentation #1 below). (2) A valid passport (see Documentation #2 below). (3) A photo (see Documentation #3 below). (4) A certificate of completion of registration for the ERFS.

Additional documents may be requested.

Temporary Visitors Visiting Relatives or Acquaintances (*) *Only those who are deemed to have a relationship equivalent to relatives (betrothed or common-law marriage) or those who are deemed to have a need to visit Japan (to attend a wedding or funeral or to visit an acquaintance who is ill).

Visa Exemption

U.S. citizens and citizens of other countries which have a reciprocal visa exemption arrangement with Japan may be eligible to visit Japan without a visa for a short-term stay for the activities allowed to Temporary Visitors. For more information about reciprocal visa exemption arrangements, please click here . Important Notice ：Border enforcement measures to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19)

Documentation

Please be aware that we will decline applications that have incomplete documents. Each Temporary Visitor Visa applicant must submit the following documents: * Consulate General of Japan will not make copies. If you need original documents, please bring the original plus one copy.

• An application form completed and signed. Blank forms are available at Japanese consular offices. You can also download by clicking on visa application form ( Sample ) in PDF format. Chinese citizens must write their names in Chinese characters, as well as in Roman letters. Korean citizens in principle are asked to write their names in Chinese characters, as well as in Roman letters. Please include your e-mail address and contact phone information. An applicant with an arrest or criminal record must provide a copy of his/her court and/or arrest record (including cases that ended with an acquittal or pardon), along with an English translation of those documents if they are in any language other than English. Even if the case did not go to trial, please provide a letter that explains in detail the circumstances surrounding the arrest. We would like to know about the charges, time served, fees paid, and probation (if any).
• Valid passport ( original plus one photo copy of the face page) with sufficient space for a visa (This means at least one empty, blank visa page. US passports use the rear pages for amendments, and are not acceptable as blank visa pages ). If you already have a valid Japanese visa in your passport, please include a signed consent form as shown in the sample at this link: http://www.ny.us.emb-japan.go.jp/en/d/Consent.pdf . If you submit a PERMIT TO REENTER THE UNITED STATES or a REFUGEE TRAVEL DOCUMENT issued by the U.S. government, it must have a validity date at least six months beyond the date of visa application.
• A passport-sized photograph: 2-inch x 1.4-inch photograph on glossy photo paper taken within the last six months with plain background. Photograph may be attached to the application form with glue (not tape or staples) or you may submit the photograph unattached.
• Green Card or valid I-94 and U.S. resident visa to re-enter the United States (F or J visa holder must show an I-20 or DS-2019 with the valid signature of an appropriate official in order for re-entry). If you will be entering a third country after leaving Japan, you must show a valid visa to enter that country (or a national passport of that country). We ask that all applicants submit their original immigration documents (green card, I-20, etc.) or a NOTARIZED copy of the documents. * Please note: In principle we do not accept an application from B-1 and B-2 U.S. visa status holders.
• A confirmed reservation record of your round-trip flight to/from Japan. An e-ticket or print-out from a travel agency, airline or travel website is acceptable. The print-out should include: -Your name. -Your confirmation number/record locator. -Your airlines, flights and all departure and destination cities. -Your complete round-trip flight itinerary, starting and ending in the US. This should include all of the countries you are visiting other than Japan, if applicable. * Please note: We do not require the purchase of tickets, but we do require a confirmed reservation. We are not responsible for tickets which may be unusable due to the delay or denial of a visa. For those with non-revenue ticket holders: a) Actual Non-Revenue ticket (original plus copy of all pages), plus a printed entire flight information from the airline company b) A copy of the employee ID of the airline employee who obtained the flight coupon, or a letter from the airline proving the employee works for the airline, and that the applicant is authorized to use the non-revenue ticket
• If traveling for BUSINESS, original letter from applicant’s company signed by an authorized executive officer, on company letterhead, stating: a) applicant’s position in the company, duration of employment, and monthly or annual salary b) nature/purpose of visit in detail c) dates/duration of stay intended d) contact person, company name, address and phone number of business contact in Japan e) guarantee of financial support during applicant’s stay in Japan and return transportation from Japan * Additional documents may be requested during the course of examination.
• If going to attend a CONFERENCE, conference brochures plus a paid registration form and invitation will be required. In addition, a letter from the home institution/company giving the circumstances of the trip as in 6.a ) ～ 6.c ) from the visa applicant’s home institution/company, plus the applicant’s financial resources such as listed on 8.a) will be required.

Visa Fees Visa fees are determined according to reciprocal arrangements between Japan and the country of the applicant's nationality. Click here for Visa Fees.

Processing Time Please refer to our introduction page .

Applications by mail Please refer to our introduction page .

Note for Chinese nationals In general, Japanese Embassy/Consulates in China are not accepting Japanese tourist visa applications from Chinese nationals residing in other countries, and if you are planning to sightsee in Japan during your temporary stay in China or on the way back to the US, we recommend applying for a Japanese visa before leaving the US.

Note for Nationals of India Click here for outline of application procedures for Multiple Entry VISA ( English / Japanese )

Note for Nationals of Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam Click here for outline of application procedures for Multiple Entry VISA ( English / Japanese )

Visit Japan Web: The Online Registration Before Arriving in Japan

Japanese customs: mysos replaced from november, 14,  2022.

During the Covid pandemic, entry procedures in Japan have changed a lot, which created some confusion. It is still somewhat the case after the reopening to tourism since October 11, even if a focus has been placed on easing the procedures especially through digitalization , to minimize human interactions and subsequent contamination risks.

Until recently, the Japanese government asked visitors to install specific app on their smartphones:

• MySOS, for advance registration of information regarding vaccine status / PCR test, for faster airport procedures in Japan (the "fast track" system)
• COCOA, an app to track contact-cases and infected persons, but it was discontinued in September 2022.

MySOS was not mandatory but highly recommended . Travelers who could not use the app were directed upon their arrival in Japan to a specific line in order to complete the necessary steps (showing a valid vaccination certificate / PCR test, etc.) which lengthened their time at the airport.

New website available since November 1st, 2022

In mid-October 2022, a new change in the procedure has been announced for all entry in Japan from November 14 included : every traveler (tourist, foreign resident and Japanese citizen alike) can register in advance on the Visit Japan Web site.

Visit Japan Web is a free, single portal to group formalities related to:

• Covid-19   🦠 ( quarantine , vaccination certificate, PCR test); The Pre-registration for Quarantine Procedures section collects the information that were previously filled in the MySOS app ("Fast Track" function);
• Immigration : the Disembarkation Card for Foreigner that was formerly handed in the plane  ✈️ just before landing (does not concern Japanese citizens and foreign permanent residents);
• Customs  🛂 , with the Declaration of Personal effects and Unaccompanied Articles , to fill upon arrival, formerly either on a paper form or on the Japanese government’s Zeikan shinkoku app (税関申告アプリ).

In the facts, registering on the website has been possible since November 1, 2022 , for any arrival in Japan from November 14 in one of its largest airports:

• Tokyo -Narita,
• Tokyo-Haneda,
• Osaka - Kansai (KIX),
• Chubu ( Nagoya ),
• Fukuoka ( Kyushu ),
• New Chitose ( Hokkaido ) and
• Naha ( Okinawa ).

Travelers arriving in Japan before November 14, 2022, can still use the MySoS app to fill their Covid related data and are not the target of the Visit Japan Web.

1 blue screen and 2 QR Codes to show on a smartphone

Like with MySOS previously, each step of the registration process is ended by a change in the page display that includes:

• A blue screen , for a successful quarantine procedure registration,
• and the creation of 2 QR Codes for customs and immigration procedures.

Once all the steps are completed, a visitor’s smartphone  📱 will display first a blue screen, then 2 QR Codes to show at each checkpoint.

Starting April 29, 2023 , according to March 10 and April 26 latest announcements of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, some of the borders restrictions will be lifted and the Covid-19 quarantine procedure (blue screen) will not be required anymore .

It is highly recommended to register before departing for Japan : at the latest 6h prior to the flight’s departure, and ideally within the 10 preceding days , in order to allow time for the review of the submitted documents. Reviews are sorted by date of arrival in Japan . Visit Japan Web is available in English.

Whether you are fully vaccinated or not, consider using Visit Japan Web to make sure to board your flight to Japan, as airlines reserve the right to refuse passengers who may potentially be banned at the Quarantine Procedures step.

The necessary documents are:

• A valid email address (will be used as a user ID to each access to Visit Japan Web);
• Until April 29, 2023 , Covid vaccination certificate or negative PCR test result taken less than 72 hours before departure and translated in English (use the Japanese-English form provided by the Japanese Ministry of Health here );
• An address in Japan (for example, of the first accommodation you will be staying at).

If traveling with underage children , it is possible to register them on the same Visit Japan Web account (up to 10 travelers). Dependent or handicapped adults who cannot go through the procedures alone can also be registered in the Family members traveling with you section. However, each of them has to have their own passport or equivalent immigration document.

Each member of the family registered on the same account will also have their blue screen and 2 QR Codes, to show at checkpoints at the arrival airport in Japan.

Like with MySOS, registering with Visit Japan Web is not mandatory , however it helps going through the entry procedures in Japan faster, and reduces the hurdles of tedious formalities after 12 hours of more spent in a plane.

On April 5, 2023, Kono Taro, the Japanese Minister of Digital Affairs, announced that travelers are no longer required to show any document at arrival airport’s quarantine in Japan . However, filling information forms for immigration and customs is still a requirement.

Additional tips and advice

An Internet  📶 connection is required to use the Visit Japan Web site, especially to create the account, fill in the user’s information, and their family’s when applicable (name, passport number, etc.), the forms regarding vaccination or PCR test and create the first QR Code. The digital Disembarkation Card for Foreigners and custom procedures can be completed offline and the QR codes created upon arrival at the airport.

Creating a Visit Japan Web account is possible on a computer (Chrome browser is recommended) or on a smartphone (Chrome browser recommended on Android). In any case, before departure, make sure to be logged in only on the device you will use to travel (a smartphone ideally), and check that all information is up-to-date.

Questions asked at immigration and customs procedures are the same than on the paper forms. In any event, official Japanese sources (the Embassy of Japan or the Border Control page of the Japanese Ministry of Health for example) are the ultimate references regarding entry procedures in Japan and should be checked frequently.

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VIEW THIS IN FILIPINO

Top things to remember for first time travelers

Before you have an experience of a lifetime in your Japan trip, you just need to take care of the most important thing first, your Japan Tourist Visa! Below is a guide on how you can apply for your Japan Tourist Visa as well as fulfilling requirements for travelers to Japan.

How to Apply for Japan Tourist Visa

Below is a step-by-step guide on how to apply for a Japanese Tourist Visa.

Note: The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) cannot facilitate Visa applications  nor can we answer Visa-related inquiries.

For Visa-related inquiries, kindly contact the Japanese Embassy in the Philippines. https://www.ph.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/00_000035.html

• Passport (holder’s signature required)
• Visa Application form (one 4.5cm x 3.5 cm facial photo must be attached)
• Birth Certificate (issued by PSA within one year)
• Marriage Certificate (issued by PSA within one year, for married applicants only)
• Itinerary in Japan

Note: If there is a used Japanese Visa on your passport, birth certificate and marriage certificate are unnecessary.

If applicant will shoulder part/all travel expenses:

• Bank certificate
• Photocopy of Income Tax Return (BIR Form 2316)

If a guarantor will shoulder part/all travel expenses:

• Guarantee letter
• Proof of relationship between applicant and guarantor (e.g. birth certificates)
• Bank Certificate

You can get the application form from The Embassy of Japan in the Philippines website .

Make sure to make extra copies.

You can submit your application form with the required documents through these  accredited travel agencies .

The Visa-handling fee for the Japan Tourist Visa varies per travel agency. You must pay the fee after you submit your documents.

The travel agency will contact you if your passport is ready for pickup.

Guides for Entry to Japan

Useful links.

Visit Japan Web   

Visit Japan Web is a web service that people entering Japan can use to fast-track Immigration, and Customs procedures in order to enter/return to Japan.

COVID-19 Protocols

Learn everything you need to know about traveling to Japan with COVID-19 protocols.

• Irasshaimase

Please Choose Your Language

Browse the JNTO site in one of multiple languages

How to Fill in the Visit Japan Web (VJW) : Handy Guide to Entering Japan:

Starting November 1, 2022, you can use Visit Japan Web, short for VJW, for express entry into Japan. All handwritten information that was previously required, such as immigration information and customs declaration forms, can be filled out in advance through Visit Japan Web, reducing the time required for entry into Japan.

We have already explained how to create a VJW account in this article ( New Rules for Japanese Immigration: mySOS to be retired in favor of VJW . If you need it, please click the previous link to see it. This article will lead you step by step to fill out the VJW.

In addition, Visit Japan Web can only be used at several major airports in Japan: Narita International Airport (Tokyo/Chiba), Haneda Airport (Tokyo), Kansai International Airport (Osaka), Chubu Centrair International Airport (Nagoya), Fukuoka Airport (Fukuoka), New Chitose Airport (Hokkaido/Sapporo), and Naha Airport (Okinawa). If the airport you plan to land at is not one of the above seven airports, you cannot use VJW for expedited customs clearance and must use paper documents instead.

All picture from VJW Official Website・デジタル庁

Table of Contents

Visit Japan Web User Registration Procedure

Registration of your details.

Click “Your Details” on the “Home Screen”, and register your details using Visit Japan Web.

Differentiate between entry/return procedures

Answer the question of  entry and return procedures.

※ Confirmation of re-entry permission If you have a long-term visa to Japan (e.g., for study, employment, permanent residence, etc.), which means you will enter Japan with a re-entry permitselect “Yes”. If you are traveling to Japan, then select “No”.

Passport details in Visit Japan Web

Intended address in japan (optional).

Visit Japan Web Registration complete

The display shows “Registration complete” to complete the registration.

Register your planned entry/return trip to Japan in Visit Japan Web

Register the information required for entry/return procedures when arriving in Japan here.

New registration for planned entry and return

Click “New registration” on the Home Screen, and proceed to “Register Planned Entry/Return – Planned Entry/Return Screen”.

You can register a maximum of 5 entries.

If there are more than 5 reservations, the oldest reservation in “Arrival in Japan” will be deleted.

Registering Planned Entry/Return

Enter your planned entry/return.

The follows are required fields:

• Planned arrival date in Japan
• Airline company name
• Flight number (numbers only)
• Boarded flight number

Intended Address in Japan

Enter your intended address in Japan.

• Postal code
• Hotel name, place of stay
• Contact phone number

Select family members traveling with you

If you have family members accompanying you, select “Family member accompanying you”.

Confirm the entered details

Registration of planned entry/return complete

Visit Japan Web: Entry/return procedures

Quarantine procedures (fast track), disembarkation card(as of december 28, 2022, abolished).

Updated April 28, 2023

Starting from April 29, 2023, individuals entering Japan on or after April 29, 2023, are not required to present valid vaccination certificates or pre-departure testing certificates. In accordance with the above-mentioned regulations, the “Quarantine Procedures (Fast Track)” button will be removed from midnight on April 29 (Japan time).

Click “Quarantine Procedures (Fast Track)” in the “Japan Entry/Return Procedure Screen”, and proceed to the “Quarantine procedures (Fast Track) Screen”.

Disembarkation Card For Foreigner registration

Registration of foreigner’s entry record is required for landing application.

For Japanese nationals and foreign residents re-entering the country (i.e., permanent residents, holders of work visas, or study visas, etc., and foreign nationals holding a residence card), the “Disembarkation Card For Foreigner” in the “Japan Entry/Return Procedure” will be grayed out, and no data entry is required.

After registering the foreigner’s entry record, you can present the QR code to the immigration officer for landing.

Basic information

• Date of Birth

Immigration information to Japan

• Purpose of visit
• Specific purpose for visit
• Last flight No.
• Intended length of stay in Japan (number of years, months, days)

Intended address in Japan

If you are staying at a friend’s house, you can ask him/her how to fill in the address, or if you have a hotel reservation, you can send an email to ask how to fill in the hotel.

Finally, there are some questions to fill out

After confirming all the information, you can finish filling out the form.

Customs Declaration

Preparation for customs declaration.

Click “Declaration of Personal Effects and Unaccompanied Articles” in the “Japan Entry/Return Procedure Screen”, and proceed to the “Declaration of Personal Effects and Unaccompanied Articles – Operation Selection Screen”.

Fill in the following basic information

• Passport number
• Date of Arrival
• Name of flight (ship)
• Point of embarkation

If you are traveling with someone, please select the number of people you are traveling with.

After confirming all the information, you will finish filling out the form.

Preparation for entry into Japan

Show the QR code (different from the above QR code for quarantine!) to the immigration officer at the time of entry. You will be able to clear customs quickly.

※Update January 25

GetAround Japan is your number one travel guide, providing the latest information on visiting and living in Japan, with tips on what to eat, things to do, and places to stay.

Whether you’re planning for a trip far in the future, or already in Japan in need of some fresh ideas, our archive of posts will help you find the best way to fill your time and get the most out of your travel experience. We provide you updates on serious policies that affect visitors and foreign residents while also keeping things light and fun with articles on quirky trends and pop culture.

How do we know how to provide visitors the information they need? Our affiliate company CDJapan Rental provides WIFI and Sim Card rentals to thousands of visitors to Japan every year. In other words, we are constantly in touch with and listening to the voices of our customers, and infuse our blog with the information they ask us for.

For inquiries, contact us here

=Company Information= CDJapan Rental (Neowing Corporation) 1-10-15-3F Nihonbashi Horidome Chuo, Tokyo 103-0012, Japan

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• Do you need visa?
• Door-to-Door Collection : Collection available on every Monday, Wednesday, Friday between 10am to 3pm Booking for collection at least 1 day prior to collection date. Kindly seal all documents in a envelop and pass over to our courier service. We will review the documents once we recieve in office. Please email us the following details for pick up. - Pick up date : - Visa Type : Japan - Name : - Address : - Contact No :
• Office Drop-Box (24/7) : Documents can be drop off at our Drop-off Box outside our office anytime at your convenience, and we will review all documents once we are in office and update on missing documents and payment.
• In-person Submission : We are in office for In-Person submission during office hours as listed : Opening hours Monday to Friday : 11am to 6pm (Wednesday and Friday : till 7pm) Saturday : 12-4pm Closed on Sunday, Public Holiday
• E-Visa (For Single only) : - This service is currently not recommended as we are not able to confirm completion date of visa (due to peak season) Please Email us all the documents in pdf or jep including passport page and all listed documents.
• Return of Passport - Passport with visa will be ready for collection in our office on Return Date from 5pm to 7pm - For delivery, we will arrange delivery to you 1 day after Return Date or on a weekday following if it date falls on weekend
• E-Visa (For Single Tourist visa only) : - Visa will be emailed to you once ready
• List of Countries with Visa Exemptions : Visa exemptions resumes from 4 April 2024 However do ensure that your passport is in compliance with ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) standards enjoy to enjoy visa exemptions. List of Visa Exempted Countries
• Visa application service only for Singapore citizens, permanent residents or foreigners who are holders of Dependent Pass, Student Pass, Employment Pass, Work Permit and long-term SV pass
• Non-residents of Singapore who require visas to enter Japan must obtain their visas at a Consulate or Embassy of Japan in their home countries . However, if a foreigner holds an original Certificate of Eligibility issued by the Ministry of Justice (Japan), he may apply for a visa here even though he may not be a resident of Singapore.
• http://www.sg.emb-japan.go.jp/visa_shortterm.htm
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JAPAN VISA FOR VISITING FRIENDS OR RELATIVES: Requirements & Steps

This guide is for applying for a VISIT VISA. If you’re traveling to Japan as a tourist, we have a separate visa guide for that. Read: Japan Visa Requirements for Tourists

When my sister moved to Japan as an OFW, I found another reason to return to Japan over and over again. Before that, I had only traveled to Japan as a tourist. But now that I have a close relative living there, I no longer have to worry about the accommodations and spend any dough on hotels. (Hotels in Japan are expensive!)

However, the documents needed for visiting a friend or relative is different from those required of tourists. Most travel agencies also charge a slightly higher price for it because it’s a little bit more complicated. But no worries, this visa guide will help you go through the entire visa application process.

WHAT'S COVERED IN THIS GUIDE?

JAPAN VISIT VISA REQUIREMENTS

Below is a list of the documents you need to gather for your visa application. Note that documents that need to be printed out (e.g. application form, itinerary) must be done on an A4-size paper.

• Philippine passport. Must have a signature and at least 2 blank pages. Broken passports are not accepted. Must have at least 6-month validity.
• A duly accomplished visa application form. Don’t leave any blank. Just put N/A if not applicable. You may download it from  here .
• ID picture. 4.5cm x 4.5 cm. Write your name and birthdate on the back side. Paste it on the application form.
• Birth certificate from PSA. Must be issued within the past one year from PSA Main Office or Serbilis Outlet Center (Nationwide). If the birth certificate is marked LATE REGISTRATION, you must also submit Baptismal certificate, School Record (Form 137), and School Yearbook (if applicable). The address of the church or school must be indicated in the documents.
• Marriage certificate from PSA . Only if you’re married. If not, ignore this one. Must be issued within the past one year from PSA Main Office or Serbilis Outlet Center (Nationwide).
• Daily schedule . Your itinerary in Japan. It doesn’t have to be complicated. Download the format here . Here’s what mine looked like: Sample Japan Itinerary
• Accomplished list of Visa Applicants. Only if traveling as a group/family. You can download the form here .
• Update: Additional Form . On 3 February 2020, the Japanese Embassy in Manila announced that visa applicants must answer and submit an additional questionnaire in accordance to the Japanese government’s decision to impose restrictions on travelers who have recently visited NCOv/COVID-19-affected areas. All applicants must accomplish and submit this form, in addition to the other requirements. DOWNLOAD THE ADDITIONAL FORM HERE!

The list above are just the basic requirements. But there are additional documents needed depending on your relationship to the person you will visit in Japan.

There are two types of visit visas. The first type is for visiting a Close Relative. The other is for visiting a friend or distant relative. The requirements are different.

If Visiting a Close Relative

Emphasis on CLOSE. This applies to close relatives — parent, child, brother, sister, nephew, niece, aunt, uncle. Everything else falls under the distant relative category.

• Birth certificates to prove your relationship . Must be issued within the past one year from PSA Main Office or Serbilis Outlet Center (Nationwide). – Parent-child – BC of both applicant and relative in Japan – Siblings – BC of both applicant and relative in Japan – Aunt/Uncle -> Niece/Nephew – BC of applicant + relative in Japan + parent of relative in Japan. – Niece/Nephew -> Aunt/Uncle – BC of applicant + parent of applicant + relative in Japan.
• Invitation letter from person to visit in Japan . Must be issued within the past 3 months. This must explain why you will be visiting and must have a signature. A template is available right  here .
• Family Registration Certificate(Koseki Tohon) . Only if relative in Japan has a Japanese Spouse or relative. Must be issued within three months. Ignore if not applicable to you.
• Residence certificate  (Juminhyo) if your guarantor is Japanese OR Foreign Registration Certificate from City Hall if guarantor is not Japanese. Must be issued within the past 3 months.
• Copy of Residence Card or Special Permanent Resident certificate of relative in Japan. Copy of both sides must be submitted.

Without Guarantor

If you will shoulder part or all of your trip expenses:

• Income tax return (ITR Form 2316). They need a clear photocopy of it.
• Bank certificate.  Must be issued within the past 3 months. I’m not sure if they require a receipt, but I submitted the receipt too. To be safe, when you get your bank certificate, ask for a receipt too. There’s no telling how big a fund is “enough” to get approved, but (in case you’re wondering) my account had only a bit north of P100,000. I planned on staying for a week. I didn’t encounter any problem.

With Guarantor

If your friend/relative in Japan will sponsor your trip:

• Guarantee letter . Must be issued within the past 3 months.
• Income Certificate  (Shotoku Shomeisho) from City Hall,  Tax return certificate  (Nouzeishomeisho: Form 2) from Tax office (Kakuteishinkokusho Hikae), OR  Bank Certificate  (Yokin Zandaka Shomeisho). Best if you have all three.

If Visiting a Friend or Distant Relative

Emphasis on distant . If you have friends or relatives in Japan, you may work with one of them. Here’s what they need to give you:

• Proof of Relationship . A letter from the person to be visited explaining their relationship to you plus other documents such as pictures, passport copies, etc.
• Invitation letter from the person you will visit . This must explain why you will be visiting and must have a signature. Must be issued within the past 3 months.

If you will shoulder your trip expenses:

If your friend/relative in Japan will sponsor your trip, you may not be required to prove you could afford the trip. The burden shifts to your friend or relative.

Again, documents to be printed out must be done on an A4-size paper. Other sizes will not be accepted.

All birth certificates must be issued within the past year by PSA Main Office or Serbilis Center.

HOW TO APPLY FOR A JAPAN VISIT VISA

• Complete the requirements .
• Submit the documents to an accredited travel agency . Unless summoned by the Japanese Embassy, you can’t apply directly at the embassy. You MUST course it though an agency. My go-to agency is Reli Tours for the only reason that it is the one closest to my home. Check out the list of accredited agencies here .
• Pay the processing fee . The actual visa is FREE, but you will need to pay the agency that will process your application. The cost of processing a visit visa is much higher than a tourist visa. Every agency charges a different amount, but it’s usually somewhere around P2000.

That’s about it. After the agency accepts your application, the only thing you can do is wait. It takes 3-5 days, sometimes shorter, sometimes much longer. My most recent application took only 2 days. Some of our readers had to wait 7 days. You can’t really tell. Just wait for a message from your agency.

When the embassy returns your passport to the agency, you should receive a message from the agency telling you to pick it up or that they’re sending it to you, depending on your prior arrangement with them.

If it has a visa affixed to it, congratulations! If there is no visa, then your application is denied.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (with Answers)

How to renew a japan visa.

The process is still the same. The only difference is you don’t need to submit a birth certificate and marriage certificate. But you will need to submit the passport with your old visas.

How to apply for a multiple-entry visa?

We also have a dedicated post for that. You’ll find that here: Multiple-Entry Japan Visa

Do I really need a travel agency to apply? Can’t I apply on my own?

Yes, you need a travel agency. Unless it’s a special case, all visa applications must be coursed through any of their accredited travel agencies.

Here’s the complete list of officially accredited travel agencies: Japan Visa Travel Agencies .

Are flight and hotel bookings required to apply?

No. It’s not a requirement. And it’s not advisable. However, on the application form, you will have to write down the specific FLIGHT NUMBER and HOTEL ADDRESS you wish to take.

How long does it take to process the application?

It varies. My first time, 5 working days. Second time, 2 days. Then on my third and fourth times, 7 days and 2 days respectively.

I know people who have waited weeks for theirs. Pretty hard to tell.

How long is the validity of the visa?

Single-entry tourist visas are valid for 90 days upon issue and will usually allow you to stay for no longer than 15 days. So for example, your visa is issued on January 1, you can enter Japan any time between January 1 and March 31, but once you enter, you can stay for only 15 days maximum.

Multiple-entry visas will usually allow you to stay for up to 15 or 30 days, depending on what is given to you. But it’s usually valid for 3 or 5 years. Meaning, you can visit multiple times within 3 or 5 years since the issue date, but every stay must not be longer than 15 or 30 days.

How much money should I have in the bank to get approved?

We answered that and more frequently asked questions here:

More Japan FAQs

Updates Log

2020 February 3 – Added the new questionnaire (related to Hubei Province) to the list of requirements 2020 February 13 – Replaced the NCOV questionnaire with a new version that includes Zhejiang Province.

More Tips on YouTube ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Is this post helpful to you?

Related Posts:

• JAPAN VISA REQUIREMENTS & Application for Tourists
• HOW TO RENEW JAPAN VISA & Other Frequently Asked Questions
• MULTIPLE ENTRY JAPAN VISA: Requirements & How to Apply
• JAPAN VISA APPLICATION FORM: Sample + How to Fill it Out
• JAPAN VISA: LIST OF TRAVEL AGENCIES Accredited by the Embassy
• SAMPLE ITINERARY for JAPAN VISA Application (Schedule of Stay)
• IMPORTANT JAPAN VISA UPDATE: Additional NCOV/COVID-19 Form to be Submitted
• Avoid These 12 COMMON MISTAKES when Applying for a JAPAN VISA!

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Hi! Ask ko lang if saan kayo nag apply? Then sure ba yon na 2 days lang processing? Thank you!

Hi i sm holding Indondian passport , married to filipino , have permanent residence in the philippine , do i need visa going to japan ? Thank you

Reli Tours kami nag-aapply. And nope, like I said in the post, you can’t tell kung 2 days or 3 days or 5 days. Depende yan sa case mo.

I’m living in Japan and will be the guarantor when my friend visit me. I wonder about those documents I provide, like proof of relationship, should be written in English or Japanese?

Would you please contact me I want your advice

Can you please confirm me which documents are required for visit visa ? one of my friend living in Japan and I wanna visit his place Further If you have any information about visit visa please let me know.

I am waiting for your response.

Hi Kangyou, the embassy provides both Japanese and English copies of the documents, so I guess either is accepted. :) My sister usually submits the English version, though.

Hello po..ask lang if with guarantor ano need na docs pagdating sa immigration..i’m traveling with my daughter and full time mom ako. Thank you

Hi Liz, nasa post yung requirements kapag may guarantor. Pabasa na lang po.

What type of visa po kinuha nyo? With guarantor po ba kayo? Im planning to visit japan soon.. wala akong itr kasi unemployed nako pero may bank account ako. My fiance is in japan as a trainee plan namin na magstay sa apartment nya para makasave. Any suggestion po what reqts need ko and sa baby namin.

Liz, ask ko lang if training pa yung partner mo dun nong nagapply ka dineclare mo ba sya and na approve ba ang visa mo kasi sabi nla may limited rights lng if trainee lng ang holder ng residence card sa japan pero tourist visa lng aapplyin ko and ako rin magshoulder ng expenses ko bali invite lng kunin ko sa boyfriend ko na trainee dun

If may guarantor, you don’t need to submit your ITR. But you need to submit yung docs needed from your guarantor, as listed in the post.

Hi i am planning to bring my mother to Japan, i will be guarantor. My passport reads mothers name as “Santhi”(applied long back), whereas my mothers passport reads “Santhalakshmi”. will this be a issue. Please advise.

Good day! Ask ko lang po, my sister is on a student visa in Japan, and im applying for tourist visa and i will be paying for all expenses. Should i declare her as sponsor without her bank details and provide only her residence info? Thank you very much for your response! :)

Hi Abs, if you’re applying for a tourist visa, it would be best to just indicate a hotel and hotel address. If you’re applying for a VISIT VISA, provide her residence info.

Hi, ano po ang mas ok i-apply, tourist or relative visa? malaki po ba ang difference nila 2?

If you’re staying in a friend’s or relative’s house, best to apply as someone visiting someone in Japan.

If you’re staying in a hotel, best to apply as a tourist to avoid complicating your application.

Hello, just want to ask possible ba to apply for visiting a relative kung wala pang one year relative sa Japan? Wala pa kasing tax return certificate yun, right? Thanks.

Hello sir. Tanong ko lang po pwede ba mag stay ng japan kasi ang visa ko for stay in japan is 30 days date of issue june 11 2019 pero ang expiration ay expiry ay sept 11 2019 . Pero nakarating ako dtobsa japan june 25 . Pwede ba ako mag stay dito sa japan bago matapos ang expiry ng visa ko? Salamat

kung for stay of 30 days lang ang approved sayo, hanggang 30 days ka lang pwede magstay kahit pa hindi expired ung visa. Iba yung expiry ng validity sa length of stay allowed.

Hi Tin! Possible. The first time I visited my sister in Tokyo, wala pa rin siyang 1 year. Naka- OR naman ‘yun. Just provide the other docs instead.

Hi! Do you have any ideas on why is the processing taking too long? My sister and I applied for a “Visit Relative Visa” for 90 days as we are invited by our Japanese stepfather (guarantor) and our mother who’s a permanent resident there, and it’s been a total of 45 working days since our application which was way back in April 2. It’s my first time to travel in Japan and it will be the third time for my sister.

Sorry for the long message, and thank you!

Hi nina! I’m also applying for a 90-day visit this december. My guarantor will be the husband of my aunt. I’m afraid I’ll get denied also. Do you have an idea as to why they denied your visa? Did you submit everything listed above? I’m really scared upon reading your comment T-T I hope you reply thankyou

Did you got approved, dear?

Hi Nina, sorry, we have no idea. :( Have you tried asking the agency that processed your application? What did they say?

Well, we just called the embassy last Friday and they said that it’s still processing. It’s giving me the benefit of the doubt that maybe there’s a problem with our papers? (but they’re not calling or emailing us about it) or is it because we applied for 90 days? I’ve known a lot of people that applied for a 90-day visa, but got theirs just in 15 days or less. Also, we didn’t applied for a multiple-entry visa. I don’t know why is it taking too long.

Do you think that our applications will get denied? BTW, thank you so much for replying!

late registration po ako may baptismal po ako pero wala me form 137 pero i have doploma ok n po b sya

Hi Nina, I really have no idea. I guess you’re just gonna have to wait.

I just got the result today-

and it’s denied. Wow. Total of 51 days waiting for nothing. I wonder why it took too long if the verdict would be denied anyway where in fact they could have just sent it back to us like days or a week after applying. It’s very torturing and unproductive, tbh.

Hi po.. Tanong lang kung kailangan po bang original/pwedeng scanned copy ung requirements ng relative sa japan (ex. Guarantee letter, invitation letter, etc.)? I don’t need her as guarantor but I intended to stay in her apartment in the course of my travel. Better ba kung mag book na lang ako ng hotel and apply for tourist visa then cancel the booking later on if approved/ should I really apply for visa as Visit a Relative (medyo hassel kasi ung additional requirements)? Thank you :)

Hi Shiela, not sure if pwede ang scanned copy. Di ko pa natry na scanned. Parating original ang sinusubmit ko (except ung residence card).

If ikaw sasagot, you don’t need a guarantee letter. You just need an invitation letter and the others listed above na nag-aapply sa contact mo dun.

If you apply as a tourist naman, you don’t need to book or reserve a hotel. You just need the name, address and contact number of the hotel you intend to stay in. Di kailangan ng actual booking. If you’re employed and have the means naman, mas madali talaga mag-apply as a tourist.

Thanks for the reply. :)

I’m scared to be denied if I apply for a tourist visa since this is my first international travel and it would look as if I’m travelling alone (I’ve heard that some people are denied because of that, is that true?). In addition, if ever I’ll be denied for a tourist visa can I then apply for a visa for visiting a relative immediately or the 6 months waiting period still applies?

Hi Shiela, as far as i know, the 6 months rule will still apply.

Regarding traveling alone: I have friends who applied before and they traveled alone. Wala namang problem. I think as long as okay naman and pasado sa kanila yung mga requirements, okay lang. Although, mas malaki talaga ang chance if may travel history ka na.

Hello po, Me & my mom are planning to travel in japan, my mom has friend there that going to sponsored our trip. I will ask lang po kung possible po ba yun na dalawa kami ng mom ko sa isang sponsor? Magkahiwalay po ba kami ng application since I’m a student? Need po ba ng ITR & Bank Certificate of my mom for me? My mom been there already but still di pa rin niya po kasi kabisado yung patakaran. Thank you & God bless, sorry for a lot of questions.

I will ask lang po kung possible po ba yun na dalawa kami ng mom ko sa isang sponsor? —— Yes, pwedeng isang sponsor lang.

Need po ba ng ITR & Bank Certificate of my mom for me? —– If may guarantor, di na provided na masubmit yung requirements na kailangan from guarantor. Pabasa na lang sa taas.

Bale magkaiba po kami ng application form dba? Okay po. Salamat & God bless! :)

Yes po. Magkaiba kayo ng form.

Hi po may anak po akong 2 sa x japanese husband they are both japanese.. we are planning to go back in japan soon ano po ang kailangan na requiremnts for me? Coz my daughters they have japanese passport… for me as a mother what is d requiremnts?

Hi! Naku, hindi po namin alam kapag ganyan. Best to just contact an accredited agency directly.

hi po tanong lang sa travale agency po ba kpag nag aply ka ng visit visa sa japan ikaw po ba mag decide kung ilang month or days ang stay mu sa japan

thank you po

Yep, ikaw ang magsasabi kung ilang days ang plano mo. But depende sa embassy kung iaaapprove nila based sa documents (funds/employment/etc) na isusubmit mo.

Good morning po.ask ko lang paano maka apply pa punta nang japan.ang dati ko asawa japanese.may tatlo ako anak.legally wife ako.kasal kami dito sa Pilipinas.gusto ko pupunta nang japan para ma meet ko pamilya nya.

Hello po galing po akong japan last may 24 at umuwi ako nong june 4 nabigyan po ako ng 15 days visa . May nag guarantor po sa aken yong fiancee ko. Plano po namin ulit mag apply ulit ng 90 days next month July po. Sa tingin nyo po okay lang po ba mag apply ulit after 1 month? 90 days. Di po ba ma de denied yon? Salamat pi sa sasagot :)

Mas strict sila in general kapag 90 days ung iaapply.

Hi, I want to apply for single entry visa to Japan. I have a guarantee who pay for my trip but how much should I deposit in to my bank account? Thank you

If you have a guarantor, you don’t need to submit your own bank account. Just submit the docs needed from your guarantor as listed above.

I have been reading this thread over and over and it is really helpful. I have a question, though. I am currently applying for the 90-day visa (visiting relatives) as my sister got birth last March and they asked for help; pareho kasing nag-wowork siya and her husband. The reason behind why they need me there is to take care of their kid/ child care purposes. What are the normal questions pag nag-aaply ka nang 90-day visa? Thanks,

Hi OJ, I have no idea about 90-day visa. But some members of our community might have. You can join our Facebook group and post your question there. Baka someone knows.

Here’s the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thepoortraveler

Hi Yoshke, My friend (Filipino) plans to go to Japan with a sponsor visa from a Japanese friend. Would you know if it’s possible and allowed to look for a job there (if lucky) at the same time? Do you know someone who had experienced such case? Thank you.

Hello po…sa proof of relationship po what type of docs is needed? Thank you

We mentioned sa article sa taas po.

Ask ko lang po kasi pareho tayo ng situation. I have also a sister who is residing in Japan. My trip will not be sponsored by her. Ask ko lang po sa application form may nakalagay na guarantor and invinter.

Ilalagay ko po ba sa guarantor N/A

Tapos sa inviter siya?

Hi! Ms Danica ask ko lang po sana if ano po nilagay niyo kasi same situation po tayo.

at the same time dun sa portion na “Nationality and Immigration Status” ano po pala nilagay niyo dito?

thank you po in advance.

Hi Danica, di ko na matandaan yung ginawa ko. Haha. Sorry. :P

Since madali lang naman ifill out, i-blank mo na lang muna tapos i-ask mo na lang sa agency kung saan ka mag-aapply to be sure.

hi, ask ko lng is there any possibilities na ma denie ung application mo kung mlmn nilang naging tnt ka before… but it almost 7 yrs ago when they sent us home. Thank you

hi ask ko lang poz. US immigrant po ako anu po mga requirements pag gusto ko mag apply for tourist sa japan?

We have no idea po pag US immigrant.

Hi,I’m planning to visit Japan soon to visit my fiance’s sister who is sick.,my problem is I don’t have ITR but I have my bank account and properties..my fiance is a retired Japanese and staying here with me in the Philippines for 5 years..

Hi Myra, you have two options. Option 1 is to write a cover letter explaining why you don’t have an ITR. But it only works if the reason justifies it.

Option 2 is to have a guarantor. By having a guarantor, you will no longer have to submit your ITR and bank docs, but you’ll need to submit the reqs needed from guarantors, as listed above.

Hi. Question po. I already have a tourist multiple entry visa. This will be my 3rd time visiting Japan. Problem is by that time I’m already unemployed. I will stay with my boyfriend’s apartment from Dec 19-Jan 11. May I know what should I indicate with my embarkation card? Do I need his invitation letter? Also, he’s holding a student visa. I’m afraid I will be questioned by the IO for staying too long. :(

Hi! As I told in my first message, I will travel together with my fiance and he is willing to shoulder all my expenses, He is a retired Japanese living with me here in the Philippines, he doesn’t have Ute now because he is already retired.. Is it possible for him to be my guarantor even he is living now in the Philippines?

I don’t know the answer to that. Best to consult an accredited agency.

How to apply fiancee visa?

How to apply fiancee visa?nasa japan po ang live in partner ko.plano ko bisitahin sa japan po nagwowork

Hi sir.good noon.ask ko lng po kung paanong paraan ko mabibisita ang fiancee ko sa japan?meron po bang fiancee visa?

Hi Christopher. We have no idea po re fiance visa. :(

Hi! me and my family will travel for the first time in japan for a cruise that includes a stop in korea before going back to japan. i understand that its quite difficult to get a multiple-entry visa for first time visitors. what can u suggest po? and what is the earliest possible time we can apply for the visa? april 2019 po yong cruise. tnx.

Hi Des, pwede yan. In the Multiple Entry form, you can write down the reason why you need a multiple entry visa. Maja-justify mo naman if you explain that you’re joining a cruise from Japan. Basta make sure you meet the other requirements. More info here: https://www.thepoortraveler.net/2017/03/japan-visa-multiple-entry-requirements/

Hi, i have this problem kase my mom doesn’t have bank account sa japan bcuz she was blocked, though she can provide everything except bank certifcate, but somehow I have one. But the only problem is Im a student and i cannot provide the income tax return, so can the agency considered my situation or nah?

Hi Hikari, I don’t know what to advise kapag ganyang case. :(

Hi If my guarantor is from US ano need nya provide? same thing ba estated above na requirements for with guarantor? anyway i have work naman for 2 years and have 80k in my bank account. and we travelled some asian countries, i ask my fiancee to be my guarantor just to make sure ma grant visa ko.

Yung 80K, okay na yun. Marami akong kilala na 50K lang, naapprove na.

Not sure about the requirements pag foreigner ung sponsor eh. Best to consult a travel agency.

hi! pag sponsored po ng company/employer yung trip sa Japan, do we need bank statements to process the visa? thanks

There is a different set of requirements for business-related trips. Usually, it involves a Travel Order and business documents of your employer (among others). Check the embassy website for the complete list.

Hi. Ask ko lang. I planned to go to Japan on April,2019 to meet my boyfriend’s family before wedding namin sa Cebu. My boyfriend is a Japanese peru without guarantor ang visa na i aaply ko. Pwedi kayang e state na reason yung e meet ang parents nang boyfriend ko ? Hindi kaya ako ma question nang embassy ??

Hope to hear from you.. Thank you!!

Hi Lylie, to be honest, feeling ko laging may risk if yung reason ay about boyfriend/girlfriend.

Hi, mag travel po kami ng pamangkin ko na japanese citizen/ filipino recognized 8 years old need ko pa po bang kumuha ng dswd certificate dahil minor sya? Ang mother nya po sister ko, housewife po ako and my husband is a civil engineer in dubai sya po sponsor ko sa travel ano pong need na documents, Purpose lang namin is magvacation dun ang anak ng sister ko for 3 weeks.

Hi Melody, para sa Immigration ba?

If Japanese citizen sya, I don’t think need ng DSWD clearance. Yung pamangkin ko, nung nagka-resident card sya, hindi na sya nirerequire ng DSWD clearance. Nag-try kami mag-apply dati pero hindi na kami binigyan ng DSWD. Di raw need. I’m guessing it applies to citizens too.

To be safe, call the regional DSWD office and confirm.

Is it okay to apply for visa this year but travel date will be 6months after? Schedule not definite for the travel.

Hi! Usually, yung visa ay nag-eexpire after 3 months (90 days), so ideally, ang earliest na pag-apply ay 3 months before.

Hi. Okay lang po ba kung Bank certificate lang ang masusubmit? Invite ko kasi mom ko and 4 months palang ako dito sa Japan.

Hi jackblack, ang alam ko, kahit one lang dun sa 3 ay okay lang. Nung first time kasi ako na nagapply na visiting relatives, di rin all 3 yung sinubmit. Pero best talaga if all 3.

Hi po. Ask ko lng po kasi im already a permanent resident here in japan and i have a friend sa pinas now i want to invite here in japan kasi tagal n namin d nagkita and makapag bonding kami uli but its not her first time to come in japan shes living there before and deported for overstaying but it was 10 years ago, they will allow her again just a short time visit?

Hi Mika, naku, I’m not that familiar with the rules covering that. My guess is it’s going to affect her application because it could still be on her record.

hello po ask lng yoshke ang husband ko po plan to visit his half sister in japan ..same requirements lng po ba yun like sa whole siblings if not ano po ang need documents para don? tnks po

Hi Monette, di ko po alam if may additional docs pag half-siblings. Pero yung tinitingnan kasi nila sa birth certificate ay kung may in common na parent. Feeling ko, if may common na parent naman sa birth certificates, ok lang yun. Pero feeling ko lang po yan. Best to contact the travel agencies na lang po. Yung numbers ay andito: https://www.thepoortraveler.net/2018/08/japan-visa-travel-agency-official/

hi. I would like to apply for a tourist visa with a guarantor which is my Mom who is also travelling with me. In the application form, there is a guarantor section. Does it pertain only to guarantor from Japan or I should fill it up also with my mother’s info? thank you!

Hi Sha, yung experience ko when I joined a friend na mag-apply, dun niya sinulat ung guarantor nya na based in PH. Di ko lang alam if ganun pa rin ngayon.

Hello Po good pm ask ko lang Po meron Po ako fiance and then siya Po magiging gruarantor ano po mas maganda visa ang kukunin kasi gusto Po niya 90 days Po Thank you Po .

Mas mahirap kunin ang 90 days na visa and mas prone na ma-deny yun.

Call na lang the travel agency kung saan mo balak mag-apply for details.

Hello, may question ako. May plan kami magpunta ng Japan next year. Kasama ako, mama ko, friend ni mama ko (american citizen) pati yung nephew ng friend ng mama ko. Ngayon, ang balak ng friend ng mama ko na american citizen is sponsoran kami papunta sa japan. Lahat ng expenses sa kanya. My question now is kaming iisponsoran kailangan din ba magsend ng ITR, bank accounts? Or kung meron man na requirements. Anu-ano po sila? Maraming salamat sa sagot.

Hi Anne, may bibisitahin ba kayo sa Japan? Or as tourist lang?

If as tourist lang, pabasa na lang ng post na ‘to kasi nakasulat naman lahat ng requirements: https://www.thepoortraveler.net/2013/11/japan-visa-requirements-manila-philippines/

Hi! I plan to visit Tokyo on March 2019 for 7 days, but I will be staying at a friend’s home. I don’t have the residence certificate yet but if ever, okay lang po ba na mag-apply ako for tourist visa instead of for Visiting Friends/Relatives?

Then can I just show the invitation letter and residence cert. at immigration instead?

Also, can you please advise which of the two visa types will I have a higher chance of approval? Since this will be my first solo trip abroad, and my first time abroad after a long time. I’ve also read about how they’re cautious towards single females who have no established travel history. I employed naman po and have sufficient balance in my bank account (based on this post).

Thanks so much!

Hi Ali, I’ve done that before, although not intentional. I applied for a tourist visa for a trip to Kansai but that trip was cancelled. Later on, I had to visit my sister in Tokyo, so I used the same visa. I didn’t have any problem. So I think it’s okay. I’m not sure though.

The better visa type is the one that you can support better. If your funds are not that big, better na Visit Visa and have an Inviter/Guaranter. Pero if kaya naman ng financial and employment docs mo to stand on their own, Tourist Visa is simpler and cheaper.

Hi! Thanks for the response!

Another question po. If I do get approved, is it okay to present a scanned copy nalang of the invitation letter to immigration on the date of departure? Or would they still look for the original copy?

Hi ALi, I don’t know for sure. Pero you can just have the original to be sure.

good eve po . ask ko lang po sana nkapag apply po ako extension visa for my parents for temporary visiting here in japan nung dec 28 but Jan11 po ma expired po visa nila which is kakarating lng po ng hagaki ngaun po sa bahay d po ba magkakaproblema yun ? tsaka kung hindi man po pwede po ba sa friday ko na ipupunta sa immigration ung hagaki na dumating kasi po total nkalagay nmn po vali til jan 24 pa po sya .

Hi Xii Lah, di ko po naintindihan yung question nyo. :(

And wala rin po akong alam sa extension visa.

ay ganun po ba extension of stay kasi ung tatanong ko sana .

Ah, naku, wala po ako idea pag extension. Sorry po. :(

Hello po, Goodmorning, ask ko lang po sana kung kelan pwedeng mag apply ulit for japan visa for visiting relatives. Kakauwi lng po kasi namin last year December. nabigyan po ako japan visa june . kailangan pa po ba maghintay ng six months? salamat po. :)

Nope, di mo kelangan maghintay ng 6 months kung di ka naman denied.

Ako ung nag-apply for my cousin for VISITING RELATIVES visa na kakauwi lang din namin from Japan ng November Week 1 tapos need na bumalik ng December Week 1 so November Week 3 pa lang, nag-apply na kami ulit, wala namang naging problema.

Hello just want to ask pagdating sa immigration my husband is inviter lang hindi ko sya ginawang guarantor i dont need to have AOS tama po ba pagdating sa immigration? Also new format na yung Invitation letter wala ng signature ok lang kaya yun?

Ganun po ba. Salamat po sa info.

Hello, Miss Kathryn! Navisahan ka ba? Sorry for intruding. Same case lng kasi sa akin and I got denied

Since 2019 na po today, pero wala pa pong nirerelease na ITR for 2018. Yung 2017 ITR pa rin po ba yung isusubmit?

Hi Kyla, yep, pwede pa yang 2017 ngayon. :)

hello po ask ko lang po sana yung sa letter of invitation and guarantor letter na pini-fill upan ng mag iinvite sayo pa japan okay lang bang ipasa sa agency un ng naka japanese words (since ung guarantor ata mag provide non) pag mag aapply ng tourist visa or fiancee visa? diko po kasi masyado na gets sa part na yon.

Di ko po sure pero ang alam ko po okay lang yun na in Japanese.

ung asawa kong hapon ang guarantor para kunin ang mother and brother ko sa pinas papunta dito sa japan. pero ako naman ung nag iinvite…. ung pinasa nila ang papel sa agency. ung copy license ng asawa ko binalik nila or di nila tinanggap, kundi residence card ko lang kinuha nila. pero dati dati kinukuha naman nila ung license ng asawa ko. 3 times na kasi nagpupunta dito mother ko lang. ngayun dalawa sila sabay kukunin ko. nagtaka lang ako na bakit di na kailangan ang copy ng id license ng asawa ko.

Hi cent_derela, by “kukunin”, what do you mean exactly?

Hi po ask ko lang po sana kung halimbawa pong walang bank account malaki po ba chance na madenied? government employee po ako for 9years na din po gusto ko lang po mgtravel sa japan first time ko po at ako lang din po mag isa, o mas okay po ba magtanong na lang po sa accredited na travel agency? Thank you po

If wala po kayo bank account, best to have a sponsor po na ideally immediate family member para bank account nila ung isusubmit.

Gud pm sir! Nabigyan po ako ng 15 days visa as a tourist tapos gusto kong mag apply ng multiple kakauwi ko lang jan 4 2019.kailan po ba ako pwedeng mag apply

Hi Bell, pwede naman anytime. Ang alam ko wala namang limit yun. Naranasan ko nang mag-apply within the same month ng pag-uwi ko from Japan, wala namang naging problem.

Hello, Yoshke! I just want to ask if you have tried applying for visa two days after you arrived here in Philippines? Kauuwi ko lang from Japan ng Feb. 4, 2019. I stayed there for 186 days(lumampas ng 8 days ang extension ko dahil hindi agad nirelease ng Japanese Immigration but I know there’s no problem coz we applied 2 weeks before my visa expiry and it was indicated that my application was on process already)

Anyway, bago ako umuwi I messaged the travel agency where I always apply my visa- that was my 3rd time in Japan, I asked kung kelan ako pwedeng mag apply uli and they responded, ‘pwede na po mag apply agad pagkauwi nyo pero nasa Japan Embassy pa rin kung mavivisahan kayo’. With that nagkaroon ako ng hope na mavisahan uli agad because I think my reason was valid. I am taking care of my half Japanese nephew. Sister ko ang guarantor ko and she is a single mother. My nephew’s class schedules are from 8am until 2:55pm(Mondays & Tuesdays) 8am until 3:45(Wednesdays) 8am until 2:45(Thursdays) and Fridays are same as Wednesday. My sister works from 8am-3pm but leaves apartment at 7:45 to catch the bus and arrives apartment at 3:45pm. Depends on what time the bus will arrive at the stop…. Her workplace is like 45 minutes walk and most of the time nale-late ang bus kaya nakakauwi na ang nephew ko bago pa sya makauwi… Our apartment is located at the 3rd floor at naexperience ko ng mag slide once kaya nag aalala ako para sa nephew ko na kahit 9 years old na eh parang 6 yrs old lang… Anyway again, after 3 days may resulta na ang visa application ko. Denied at alam naman natin that Japan Embassy do not tell the reason as to why the visa application was denied. Ang gusto ko lang malaman ay kung pde ba akong mag apply ng appeal? Wala kasing ibang ma iinvite tlaga ang sister ko para mag alaga sa anak nya. And I also want to know kung bakit sinabi ng agency na I can apply as soon as I arrived in Philippines gayong madedeny naman pala. Thanks and sorry for my long message

Hi Eloisa, naku, di ko alam if pwede mag-appeal. :(

Pero tama naman yung agency nyo, wala naman yun sa gaano ka-soon ka nag-apply ulit. Kasi last November lang, I applied for my cousin na less than 2 weeks lang after nya makabalik, naapprove naman.

Ang feeling ko na naka-taint sa application mo was the fact na lumagpas ka sa extension ng previous visa mo. And whether or not kasalanan mo yun or kasalanan ng Japanese Immigration, I don’t think may time sila to check or verify given na ang dami nilang pina-process in a day. They only have a few minutes to assess each application so if may something off, baka dine-deny na nila agad. Speculation ko lang naman yan.

Pero ayun, di ko alam kung paano dapat gawin. :(

Hi, i’ll be applying for a tourist visa for april 2019 trip. i already have plane tickets and hotel booking (with free cancellation) but my friend who is working in japan said i can stay at her place instead para makasave sa accomodation cost. My worry is paano pag immigration will ask me saan ako mag stay, pwede ko kaya sabihin na sa friend ko ako magstay kahit nakatourist visa ako?

Possible po kaya na maapprove po kami ng multiple visa entry if first time lang namin mag visit ng japan?

Ang plano po sana namin 5 days in tokyo (since relative ng friend ko nagstay sa tokyo japan) . Then pupunta kami ng osaka and magstay po kami for 3 days. ang entry po namin tokyo and exit po ay osaka?

Hi Cathe, ang alam ko, pag visit visa, malabong mag-multiple pag first time. Mas ok pag as tourist and dapat marami kang funds. For more info about Multiple Entry Visa, check out: https://www.thepoortraveler.net/2017/03/japan-visa-multiple-entry-requirements/

What are requirements for senior citizens who will just spend a vacation in Japan for 10 days?

Hi ask ko lang if naapproved ka ng 3months kelan ka uli pwede mag apply for japan visa pero invitation lang is friend? Thanks

Hello! I have a question. What if my Japanese citizen cousin will be the one who will invite me and be my guarantor? Is it still fall under the close relatives? And for the proof of relationship? Ex: My BC –> Mom’s BC —> Aunt’s BC —> Cousin’s BC/Koseki Tohon Is it correc/t Thank you!

Hi Mikka, sa definition nila ng close relative, di kasama ang cousin pero I was able to apply for a family member na ang inviter/guarantor ay first cousin din sa Japan and yep, yung birth cert nya + parent’s + inviter’s parent’s + cousin’s ang ginamit. Kaya lang, Pinoy ung inviter sa casa na un. I think okay lang kahit Japanese.

Hello ma’am we’re planning to visit japan this sept, am62years old i have a phil. passport and used already when we traveled in singapore and vietnam. My worries now is that my birthcert was a late registered i have no baptismal cert. And have no form 137 ihave a high school diploma voters cert and marriage cert. drivers license also. would this be enough docs to show for applying a japan visa pls reply. Thank you.

Hi po! Best to consult na lang po an accredited travel agency for this kasi di ko po alam pag ganito ung case. :(

Hi! I am 21 and was planning to visit Tokyo on my own. I have a job kaso here in Riyadh kaso bago lang po ako dito which I think did not help with my visa application. I tried to appeal their decision kaso di na daw pwede.

Meron po kaming relative sa Japan, third cousin ko siya (yung dad niya po pinsan ng lola ko). Ang problem po kasi di ko siya nakausap or nakita before pero may contact parin naman po sila ng mga tita ko and she agreed to be my guarantor. Should I still apply for the visa or try nalang after 6 months?

Hello. Naku, sorry po, di ko pa alam what to advise. Pero if I were in your shoes, hintay po ako ng 6 months.

Hi, Question, meron ba hinihingi docs yung japan immigration in the visa applicant is invite? Or the passport with visa is enough?

In my experience, parating passport and visa lang. BUT to be safe, best to have proof of accommodations and return ticket. Ang PH Immigration, madalas hinihingi yan.

Hi yoshke Im planning to invite my sister here in japan, they my sister need a medical certificate?

Hi po tanong ko po anong aapply namin a visa po nandon po kasi asawa ko japanese po 4days lang po kami don. Ehh dito lang po kami kasal sa Pilipinas d po kami kasal japan ano pong visa po tourist po ba visiting relatives po patulong po lamat ng madami

Hi just want to ask, pag nag pasa ba ng COE and ITR tatawagan ba ng embassy yun company na pinapasukan ko para i verify? thanks!

Pwede nilang tawagan. Although sa experience ko, never pa natawagan ung employer ko.

Hi, i’ll be applying for a tourist visa for July 2019 trip.but my aunt who is working in japan said i can stay at her place instead para makasave sa accomodation cost. My worry is paano pag immigration will ask me saan ako mag stay, pwede ko kaya sabihin na sa aunt ko ako magstay kahit nakatourist visa ako?

Hi. May concern lang aku kasi ang situation namin is visiting kami. Mama at kapatid ng partner ko nsa japan. Kami naman ang gagastos ng expenses namin pero dun kami sa bahay ng mother mag stay. Need parin ba namin mag request ng guarantee letter to prove na may matutuluyan kami? Or di na namin need dahil kami naman ang gagastos sa expenses namin. Feel ko kasi same tayo ng situation nung nag visit ka sa sister mo. Dun ka nag stay sakanila pero ikaw ang nag shoulder ng expenses own expenses mo. Thanks ahead sa reply! Much appreciated

Sa experience ko po, since ako ang sasagot ng trip ko, di na ako nag-guarantee letter.

Hi Yoshke! Just want to ask if sa IO, hahanapan pa din ba ng AFFIDAVIT OF SUPPORT kapag visiting a relative (my Filipino husband) kahit na ako pa rin magshoulder ng expenses ko and magstay lang ako sakanya for a week before we go around Japan the next two weeks? I have my visa already.

what happened po hinanapan po kayo ng AOS kahit ikaw naman po magfinance ng trip?

Helo poh im anne. We planned po ng sister ng furture husband ko na mag visit ako sa kanila sa japan and der weling to become my guarantor poh. 3 months daw yong visa ko to stay. Wat if po gusto to ko pang mag stay longer po. Pwd po bah kami mag apply ng extension for another 3 months poh??

Hi Anna, di po ako familiar sa rules pag extension. :(

If travelling with guarantor po, ano po mostly need ni PH immigration on the day of departure aside sa unexpired passport with valid visa and return ticket?

This might help: https://www.thepoortraveler.net/2014/03/offloaded-philippine-immigration-rules-requirements-airport/

Hello ask ko lang anu requirments if i will travel with my bf. Pero ang bf ko nasa US sya. Sya po sponsor ko.so magkikita nalang kami sa Japan

Hi Pearl, check out this post instead if you’re traveling as a tourist: https://www.thepoortraveler.net/2013/11/japan-visa-requirements-manila-philippines/

Hello! I want to invite my sister here in Japan next year but the problem is that I’m a housewife. Is it ok to apply for visiting family visa? My Japanese husband will cover some of my sister’s expenses and my sister will also have her own pocket money. Is it ok to be the guarantor? Can my husband act as my sister’s guarantor too since I’ll submit his itr ?Is it ok just to submit my husband’s documents ? And also is it better to buy air tickets before applying ? We’re actually waiting for a seat sale.thank you

Hi Jen tak, I think okay lang if your husband is the guarantor. You’ll just need to prove yung relationship. I think birth certificate mo and ng sister mo, and marriage certificate mo with your husband. :)

To be sure, call na lang din the agency where you will lodge your application.

Hello po, i just wanna ask if yung guarantee letter po is notarized? And may idea po kayo how much show money ang ideclare for the guarantor. Yung mom ko po kasi guarantor ko kasi student pa lang po ako. and kaming dalawa po yung mag travel to Japan for 5 days. Thank you!

Hi April, di ko alam kapag ang sponsor is hindi taga-Japan. Parang di naman kailangan na notarized especially kung sabay yung application nyo.

You’re visiting a friend or relative in Japan, right?

Hello po ask ko lang po kung gaano katagal po yung process po nung visa kapag na denied po. Na denied po kasi yung inaapply kopo na tourist visa then pinagaapply po ulit ako ng agency ng visit relatives visa para hindi napo ako mag wait ng 6months. Then ask kopo if pwede po na yung gurantor kopo if mother ko kasi student palang po ako. Kung pwede po ano po yung requirements po niya. Thank you po.

Hi guys just want to share my experience recently. I applied for a tourist Visa last month at Attic Tours SM North. They did not include my COE and they accepted my bank cert with only 60k for 8days stay in Japan. After 2 days i got the result it was denied. It was devastating coz I already purchased my plane ticket for august trip. I decided to reapply with different purpose, to Visit a Friend since im going to visit my Filipino boyfriend working there.

I completed all the requirements (docs from my boyfriend), included my COE, approved leave, flight itinerary, hotel booking, etc. and submitted 2 bank certs (about 200k+ total). I applied at UHI Dusit Makati last week they accepted my reapplication. They are very accommodating. I even went to padre pio and quiapo church to pray for my visa approval. Luckily, I got my Visa after 2 days and it was approved.

Hope this helps for those who got their toursit Visa denied. Thank you so much for this blog I followed all the instructions and tips you provided.

Thanks for sharing this, May!

Question lang po, Meron po akong ME tourist Visa that i’ve used once last December. This coming August po may planned trip ako to Tokyo but this time i’ll be staying in my friends house. Would it be ok if i write my friends address sa immigration form? do i need to provide additional document? or do i need to apply for a new visa under visiting a friend/relative? Or would be ok if i just create a mock-up booking and write the hotel’s address instead since i’m just staying for 9 days?

Hi Felipe, I think it’s okay to write your friend’s address. I do it all the time.

My cousin and i are planning to travel to Japan, together with my mom and her mom (they are siblings), the invitation would come from our mom’s sister in Japan, but the guarantor would be my the husband of my aunt in Japan, is it allowed?

good day po long term visa ko ako dito s japan (mother of a japanese national) gusto ko po sana kunin ang nanay ko at pamankin ko as visiting relatives mabigyan po kaya sila ng visa ? me work po ako kaso d ako nagbabayad tax. pero meron ako yokin sandaka shomensho. thank you in advance.

Hi Cha, yes, I think that’s okay. You just need to prove the relationship.

Hi Sofia, naku, di ko po alam. Best to contact a travel agency po para sigurado.

hi po ask ko lng my aunt invites to visit her in she has parkinsons the problem is i have my PSA birth certificate but my mother sister ng aunt ko have no records in PSA but i check with my parents marriage contract it shows my mother ‘s parents same as to my aunt and its has PSA copy of it can i use it as subtitute to my mothers birth certificate as prescribed

Hi Yoshke Dimen, I’m Cat. I am planning to see Japan this November. It’s only a 4-5 days trip. Plano ko din kasi i-meet ang cousin ko from Nagano. It is advisable na kaming 2 ng husband ko ang mag-apply ng Visa since sya talaga ang may fixed employment or okay lang ba na ako lang ang mag-apply at sya ang guarantor ko. I’m quite scared kasi na ma-deny. Medyo heartbreaking! hehe. Please enlighten, many thanks.

If Visit Visa, pwede rin na ang cousin mo sa Japan ang mag-guarantor. Madali lang naman iprove ang relationship kung first cousins kayo.

Okay lang naman if yung husband mo ang guarantor kasi normal naman na yung spouse ang guarantor. You just need to submit marriage certificate. Basta okay naman ang finances and employment status ni husband?

Pero in my opinion, if husband mo ang guarantor tapos andito sya sa Pilipinas, less complicated kung Tourist Visa ang iapply.

Good day po! I’ve been there last June 2019 and kababalik ko lang last August 2019 at planning to re apply again maybe next year hopefully. Possible ho ba na mag apply for 180 days? or maximum na talaga yung 90 days sa (relative visit)

Ay, di ko po alam. :(

I have a car company. how can i get visit visa invitation for my business?

Good day po!

I just want to ask, i have a relative in Japan and let’s say i will stay in her house. But she will not sponsor my trip. Do i still need to include that i have a relative there to visit but well in fact i will just go there for tourism. I will just stay in her place. What will you suggest? Will apply solely for tourist? Instead of applying for visiting a relative, cause as i can see it’s more complicated if that’s not really the reason of the trip.

Hope to hear from you.

I always side kasi with the truth, so if I were in your shoes, I would still apply for a Visit Relative visa kahit na mas mahal sya and mas maraming requirements. But that’s just me.

But there are also a lot of applicants na ganyan ang case who choose to apply for a Tourist Visa and enter hotel details na lang kasi nga mas madali and mas mura.

Thank you for your suggestion. I agree with you. I also want to be honest. I’m confused.

Kasi i asked my cousin what to apply and she told me it is better if i will just apply for tourist visa but i can still put her home address. What do you think about her idea? I made a comment here because i know you could help me or enlighten me. Hehe..

i’m a follower of this site, you helped me with my dubai visa last yr. I really appreciate your time for answering my queries.

Thank you so much

In my opinion, kapag ganyan, baka maging confusing sa mag-aassess and pagdudahan ka pa.

If you’re staying with a relative, technically, you are visiting a relative, so makakagulo if tourist visa aapplyan mo tapos you’re declaring na you’re staying with a relative.

Alright then, will take note of that. Thank you so much

Hi! I’m staying with a friend in Japan next month, my Visa has been approved. Do I still need an invitation letter from my friend? I’ll be staying at her house in Tokyo and a hotel in Osaka. Will the immigration officers ask for an invitation letter since I don’t have a hotel booking in Tokyo? If yes, do I still follow the invitation letter format for visa application? Thanks in advance! :)

1. What’s your first stop? Osaka or Tokyo?

2. Are you employed?

3. Is it your first time to travel abroad?

1. We changed our itinerary, we are now going to be staying in Tokyo for 6 days and will not go to Osaka anymore. 5 nights at a friend’s house and 1 night in a hotel.

2. I am employed as a freelancer but I have a COE and a company ID from the current company I am working for

3. Not my first time, I already went to SG, TH and Taiwan.

If you’re nervous na baka harangin ka ng Immigration, the best document to have is an authenticated Invitation Letter.

But the thing is, hindi sya parating hinihingi ng Immigration Officer. Yung madalas na hingan ng ganyan ay yung first time mag-travel abroad na may ivivisit. So ako, pag nagvivisit ako sa sister ko sa Japan, I usually just bring company ID (or COE from my clients when I was a freelancer) and yung Letter of Invitation/Guarantee na ginamit sa visa application. Di rin naman hinihingi.

I guess, what I’m trying to say is, it depends on how confident you are. If you want to be on the safe side, you can get an embassy-authenticated document. But there is a big chance na hindi ka rin hihingan nun since you’re employed and it’s not your first time.

Re: Hi! I’m staying with a friend in Japan next month..

Also, my visa was approved without an invitation letter.

HI Kim! Just want to know if the visa you applied is “Visiting a friend” since you’ve mentioned you will be staying at your friend’s house? And if you did applied for “visiting a friend”, isn’t required to submit an invitation letter as well? I’m planning to visit my boyfriend in Japan this coming April and will be staying at his apartment but I will be shouldering all of my expenses. Thanks in advance.

Hi ask ko lng po if magapply ako ng visiting relative sa japan kahit na sister in law ko nagbigay ng papers at brother in law? Asawa po kasi ako ng kapatid na ngbigay papers skn, considered parin ba un as visiting relative?

Questions lang po, Manggagaling po kami sa Pinas lahat 1. ) Yung nanay ko po kasi guaguarantor nya po ang tatay ko na unemployed, pero si nanay po is working in America Green card holder but not yet citizen. Okay lang po ba na yung ITR nya at bank certificate from America lahat kasi wala po sya pag galing pinas eh? 2. ) Guaguarantor po ako at ang anak ko ng brother ko ,sabay po kami magaapply buong family, okay lang po ba kung photocopy nalang po ang isubmit namin ng anak ko na ITR,bank statement,PSA nya kasi nasaknya po yung original yun kasi ang ipapasa nya magaapply din kasi sya ng visa, pero 2nd time na po nya sa JApan. 3. ) Yung married friend ko po isasama nya anak nya na student, guarantoran nya, okay lang po ba photocopy nalang din yung marriage contract,PSA ,ITR,bank cert ang ipasa nya for his daughter kasi ung orig ipapasa nya for his visa rin eh. SAka ano po ba additional need na requirements pag student?

LATE REGISTER SA NSO ang tatay ko wala naman syang school requirements or baptismal??

Hi Yosh! Just really curious about this kung may difference ba or nakastate ba sa visa category kung visiting relatives ka kapag visiting relatives visa ang iniapply mo or same as tourist visa lang na ang nakalagay na category is temporary visitor?

is it possible for my girlfriend to come and stay in Japan for a month if I(working visa holder) were to sponsor her?

Hello po! Thank you for the info! I just have a question, I have a working visa here in Japan, and I would like to sponsor my girlfriend with that kind of visa po (visa for visiting a friend) would that be possible? Since she’s not really a “friend”. Should I say on the invitation about our relationship? I’m really not sure if they’ll believe us because me and my girlfriend are both girls.

Hello po, if tourist visa po ba sa japan ng 6months, may possible way po ba para maka pag work po?

Bawal po mag work ang tourist visa as far as I know. You need stamp po sa likod ng residence card to be able to work. :)

Hello po, Charisma here. I am waiting to reopen Japan again. I just wanna ask about my situation regarding about my visa application. My Boyfriend invited me to visit him in Japan po, do you think I have a big chance na maaprobahan ang visa application ko po? He’s a Japanese citizen and a German citizen as well. He has his own company for about 10 years there in Japan. We’ve known each other for 2 years, and when I was working in Singapore he visits me there every month,we met at least 4 times. Pero nuong nagumpisa na ang corona virus hindi na siya makatravel to see me. I hope you could answer my question. Thanks po

Hi my sister will sponsor me, and her fiancé is a navy. What requirements my sister needed ?

Hi ask ko lang kung pwede nalang i email sakin yung invitation letter then i print ko nalang or kailangan ipadala pa dito sa pinas from japan?

Hi Chloe. Not sure po kung pwede email. Sa case ko po kasi, ina-ask ko dati yung ate ko na ipadala saken yung physical copy so yun pa lang po natry ko.

Hello. May I ask coz I just got married last August with my Filipino husband whose work is based in Japan. He’s been here for 6 months already but he’s expected to return to Japan in November. Since our PSA marriage cert is not yet available in PSA, we cannot process the dependent visa yet coz the processing (incl. COE) may took for months and I have a flight this December. Is it okay if I apply for the sponsor visa (visiting relative) even if spouse is not included on it? Appreciate your help po. Thank you po.

Hi Jie, I don’t know for sure, but I think you could because a spouse is considered within third degree of relationship. The challenge is proving your marriage if you don’t have marriage certificate yet. You might want to find an alternative supporting document and explain it.

To be absolutely sure, since Japan utilizes travel agencies, it’s best to contact a designated travel agency and ask them about what to do since you’ll be coursing the application through them anyway.

But please note that if applying for a short term visit visa (visiting relatives), honor and follow the restrictions allowed by that visa.

Good Day Sir! What if I will visit my OFW husband in Japan? And kailangan ko bang documents na ipakita as proof of relationship namin is young marriage certificate po? Walt quasi door sa sample Inyo yung husband po. Thank you.

Hi, thank you for all the information. It is very helpful and informative.

I just have a question. My Japanese boyfriend is currently working here in PH and he has a working visa. Now, we are planning to visit his home in Japan soon. Should I apply for a visit visa? Does the requirements still the same even if he is working here in PH?

Where will you be staying in Japan? Hotel or your bf’s home?

I will be staying in hotel but we will visit his home as well

My bf’s home po.

And if hotel po what would be the difference when it comes to requirements

Usually kasi, if you’re staying sa house ng resident doon, then VISIT visa. Tapos usually, most agencies prefer na pag TOURIST VISA, sa hotel.

Hi, ask ko lang po kung anong ilalagay sa application form kung di ko relative yung guarantor? mother siya ng boyfriend ko, thank you

I think under Friend na sya? Di ko sure

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• For Filipino Parents of Japanese-Filipino Children (JFC) who are travelling to Japan with the children * Please consult with the Embassy in advance
• NIKKEI-JIN (JAPANESE DESCENDANTS)
• Private Staff hired by Official/Diplomat (COE)
• For Medical Stay
• Application for Extension of Re-entry Permit
• Official/Diplomat
• Multiple Entry Tourist Visa
• Multiple Entry Commercial Purposes Visa

• Application Form (PDF format)
• Application Form Photo Sample
• Letter of Guarantee (English)
• Letter of Guarantee (Japanese)
• Letter of Reason for Invitation (Japanese)
• Visa for Tourism
• Visit Friends or Distant Relatives
• Visa for Visiting Relatives
• Visa for Business, Conference, Cultural Exchange, etc.
• Visit Relatives/Friends Invited by US Military Personnel (SOFA Status)

Determine the purpose of your stay in Japan then check the list of requirements for the specified category/purpose (Tourist, Visit Relatives, Commercial Purpose, etc.) of your travel (on our website). Additional documents which are not included on the list may be asked upon assessment.

The correct photo size is 4.5cm x 3.5cm with white background. Wearing of eyeglasses, hat or scarf on the head is not allowed. Photo must be taken within six (6) months. Digital photo is not accepted. (You may refer to photo requirement guidelines at the VISA entrance or in our website)

You may download the application form on our website under Sample Forms, on the website of Japan Embassy or you can get it from the Visa entrance of the Embassy or from any accredited travel agency.

Yes, there is only one (1) visa application form for all types of visa. However, for applications for extension for re-entry permit, a different application form must be used. You may download both forms on our website under "Sample Forms"

Travel Visa To Japan: Application Process

• Last updated Jul 10, 2024
• Difficulty Intemediate

• Category Travel

To apply for a travel visa to Japan, you must first determine if you need a visa and what type of visa is required for your trip. Japan offers both short-term and long-term visas, depending on the purpose and duration of your visit. Short-term visas are typically for tourism, business, conferences, or study purposes, while long-term visas are required for work, medical stays, or stays exceeding 90 days. The application process can be done online through the JAPAN eVISA system or in person at a Japanese embassy or consulate, depending on your country of residence and the type of visa needed. It is important to prepare all the required documents, which may include a passport, visa application form, photo, proof of financial support, travel itinerary, and more. Processing times can vary, but it generally takes at least 5 business days to issue a visa.

What You'll Learn

Determine if you need a visa, prepare required documents, submit documents to the embassy of japan, pay the visa fee, check for border restrictions.

Whether or not you need a visa to enter Japan depends on your nationality, the purpose of your visit, and the length of your stay. Here are the key factors to consider:

Nationality

The visa requirements for entering Japan vary depending on your nationality. Some countries have visa exemption agreements with Japan, allowing their citizens to enter without a visa for short-term stays. Currently, the following countries are eligible for visa-free entry for tourism, business, or visiting friends/relatives for less than 90 days: Australia, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Taiwan, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Nationals of China and Vietnam residing in their respective countries can also apply for an eVisa if they are travelling by plane.

Purpose of Visit

The type of visa you need depends on the purpose of your visit. Japan offers different types of visas for tourism, business, conferences, study, news media activities, diplomatic missions, and more. If you intend to engage in paid activities, you will likely need a work visa.

Length of Stay

The visa requirements also depend on the length of your stay in Japan. For short-term stays of up to 90 days, you may be eligible for a visa exemption or a short-term visa, depending on your nationality. For longer stays exceeding 90 days, you will typically need to apply for a different type of visa, such as a long-term stay visa or a work visa.

Visa Waiver Program

It is important to note that the Visa Waiver Program in Japan is based on your nationality, not your residence status. Therefore, if you are a U.S. resident but not a U.S. citizen, you may still need a visa to enter Japan, even for a short-term stay.

COVID-19 Considerations

As of April 29, 2023, there are no COVID-19-related entry requirements for U.S. citizens travelling to Japan. However, it is always a good idea to stay updated with the latest travel advisories and restrictions before planning your trip.

Passport Validity

Regardless of the visa requirements, ensure that your passport is valid for the duration of your stay in Japan. Japanese authorities may deny entry if your passport is not valid or if you are travelling with a passport that you have previously reported as lost or stolen.

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To apply for a travel visa to Japan, you will need to prepare a number of required documents. The specific documents you will need will depend on the type of visa you are applying for, your nationality, and your country of residence. Here is a detailed list of the documents you may need to provide:

Visa Application Form:

Fill out the Visa Application Form and make sure to sign it. The form can usually be downloaded from the official website of the Japanese Embassy or Consulate in your country. Please note that a digital signature is typically not accepted, and you may need to attach a recent photograph.

Ensure your passport is valid and will remain valid throughout your stay in Japan. Your passport should also have at least one or two blank pages for entry stamps and visa issuance.

Provide a recent passport-type photograph taken against a plain background. The photo should be in colour and must be no older than six months. Check the specific size requirements, as these may vary.

Proof of Identity and Residence:

You may need to provide additional proof of identity and residence in your home country, such as a driver's license, state ID card, or utility bill.

Travel Itinerary:

Include a detailed day-by-day itinerary of your trip, covering dates, activities, locations, and accommodation. Make sure the dates match those on your flight itinerary.

Bank Statement:

Submit your most recent bank statement, typically covering at least one month. If your trip expenses will be covered by a company or host in Japan, you may not need to submit your bank statement. Instead, you may need to provide additional documentation, such as a letter of guarantee or invitation letter.

Invitation Letter:

If you are visiting Japan for business, a conference, or to see family or friends, you may need an invitation letter from the relevant company, organisation, or individual in Japan. This letter should be in English or Japanese and include details such as the purpose of your trip and any financial support provided.

Letter of Guarantee:

If your trip expenses will be covered by a company or host in Japan, you may need a letter of guarantee from the sending company or your guarantor. This letter should explain the financial support provided.

Additional Documents for Specific Purposes:

Depending on your specific purpose of travel, you may need to provide additional documents. For example, if you are attending a conference, you may need to include a printed document explaining the conference. If you are visiting family or friends, you may need to provide the ID card or passport of your inviter.

Multiple-Entry Visa Requirements:

If you are applying for a multiple-entry visa, additional documents may be required, depending on your nationality. Check the official website of the Japanese Embassy or Consulate for the specific requirements for your country.

Please note that the Embassy or Consulate may request additional documents, and it is essential to provide clear and complete supporting documents to avoid delays or rejection of your application. Always review the most up-to-date information on the official websites to ensure you have the correct and most current list of required documents for your specific situation.

A Complete Guide to Applying for a Travel Visa to Japan

To submit documents to the Embassy of Japan, you will need to determine whether you need a visa to enter the country. If you are a US citizen, you do not need a visa for a short-term visit of up to 90 days. However, citizens of other countries may need to apply for a visa.

If you do need a visa, you will need to prepare all the required documents. The specific documents required depend on the type of visa you are applying for. For example, if you are applying for a short-term tourism visa, you will need a passport, a completed visa application form, a photo, proof of lawful presence in the US, a travel itinerary, and a bank statement. If you are applying for a business visa, you will also need an invitation letter from the inviting company and a letter of guarantee from your sending company.

Once you have gathered all the required documents, you can submit them to the Embassy of Japan. The Embassy in Washington, DC, only accepts visa applications and inquiries from residents of Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia. If you are a resident of another state, you will need to refer to the list of Embassy/Consulates in the US and submit your application to the appropriate office.

It is important to note that the Embassy will not accept any applications by mail. You must visit the Embassy in person to submit your application. The processing time for a visa is generally 5 business days, and the Embassy does not offer expedited services. Therefore, it is recommended that you apply for your visa at least 1.5 months before your departure date.

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Paying the visa fee is a crucial step in the process of applying for a travel visa to Japan. Here is a detailed and instructive guide on what you need to know and do regarding the visa fee:

Understanding the Visa Fee:

The visa fee is the cost associated with processing your application for a Japanese visa. This fee is typically paid in addition to any other costs, such as agency handling fees. It's important to note that the visa fee may vary depending on your nationality and the type of visa you are applying for. For example, the fee for a single-entry visa is different from that of a multiple-entry visa.

Fee Amounts for Different Visa Types:

• Single-entry visa: This type of visa allows you to enter Japan only once and is typically valid for a shorter period. The fee for a single-entry visa is approximately 3,000 yen.
• Double-entry or multiple-entry visa: If you plan to enter Japan multiple times during your travels, you will need a double-entry or multiple-entry visa. The fee for this type of visa is around 6,000 yen.
• Transit visa: If you are only passing through Japan on your way to another destination and will not be staying for an extended period, you may require a transit visa. The fee for a transit visa is 700 yen.

Payment Methods and Requirements:

• Cash payments: In most cases, visa fees must be paid in cash. This is a standard requirement for many Japanese embassies and consulates.
• Currency of payment: It's important to note that the fee is collected in the local currency of the country or region where the Embassy or Consulate General is located. For example, if you are applying through the Consulate-General of Japan in Melbourne or Brisbane, you would pay the fee in Australian Dollars.
• Agency payments: In some cases, if you are applying through an approved agency, they may pay the visa fee on your behalf as part of their service. This is something you can discuss with your chosen agency.

Visa Fee Exemptions:

It's worth noting that citizens of certain countries are exempt from paying visa fees for Japan. These include countries such as Australia, Bangladesh, Colombia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, and South Korea. Please refer to the official website of the Japanese Embassy or Consulate in your country for an up-to-date list of exempt nationalities.

Avoiding Fraudulent Websites:

When paying your visa fee, be cautious of fraudulent websites that may attempt to extract payments from visa applicants. Always use the official website of the Japanese Embassy or Consulate, or the JAPAN eVISA system for eligible countries, to ensure your payment is secure and reaches the correct authority.

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As of April 29, 2023, Japan has dropped all remaining COVID-19-related entry requirements. This means that vaccination certificates and pre-departure tests are no longer required to enter the country. However, it is important to note that travel regulations and restrictions are subject to change with little notice, so it is recommended that you carefully review the information provided by the Government of Japan before planning your trip.

Currently, there are no COVID-19 testing, proof of vaccination, or quarantine requirements to travel to Japan. However, travellers with COVID-19 symptoms will no longer be subjected to on-arrival testing, and travellers with a positive COVID-19 test result will not be treated at designated facilities.

It is also worth noting that Japan has a number of active volcanoes that may be subject to no-entry zones. These include Sakurajima (Level 3), Aso (Level 2), Shinmoedake (Kirishima) (Level 1), and Kusatsu-Shirane (Level 1). The levels indicate the potential for volcanic activity, with Level 3 indicating the highest potential.

In addition to the above, Japan is a seismically active country, and earthquakes, typhoons, and other natural disasters can occur. This may impact your ability to travel to certain areas, so it is important to stay informed about any potential disasters or disruptions.

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Frequently asked questions.

It depends on your nationality and the purpose of your visit. If you are a foreign national travelling to Japan for tourism for a short-term period (up to 90 days), you may be eligible for an electronic visa (eVisa) through the JAPAN eVisa system. Nationals from the following countries can apply for an eVisa: Australia, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Taiwan, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the USA. If you are a US citizen, you do not need a visa for short-term visits of up to three months.

If you are eligible for an eVisa, you can apply through the official JAPAN eVisa website. You will need to submit all the required documents, including a visa application form, a photo, a US visa, a travel itinerary, and a bank statement. It takes at least 5 business days to issue the eVisa. If your visa is approved, you will receive an email notification, and the eVisa will be issued after you register your credit card information. You can then download the eVisa through your account.

If you are applying for a different type of visa, you may need to apply in person at the Japanese Embassy or Consulate.

In addition to the visa application form and photo, you may need to provide a US visa, a travel itinerary, and a bank statement. If you are applying for a business trip, you will also need an invitation letter and a letter of guarantee from the inviting company. For a conference, you will need an invitation letter and a printed document explaining the conference. To visit family or friends, you will need an invitation letter, the inviter's ID card, and additional documents if your family/friends are covering your trip expenses.

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• Melissa Carey Author Reviewer Traveller

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• Application
• Requirements

Japan Online Visa for Citizens of China

Japan is a popular destination for both tourists and business travelers alike . In order to travel to Japan, Chinese citizens are required to apply for a Japan visa at an embassy or consulate .

The most common visa for Chinese nationals is the temporary visitor visa which grants permission to stay in Japan for either 15 or 30 days. With the Japan tourist visa , visitors can take part in tourism, visits with family and friends, or short-term business.

The New Electronic Visa for Japan for Chinese Tourists

Starting in April 2020, Chinese tourists will be able to apply for the new Japanese eVisa for single entry trips to Japan from China .

The application for the Japan eVisa for Chinese citizens requires a valid Chinese passport and other supporting documents. The eVisa will allow the traveler to apply online while the applicant is still in China. Since the process can be done entirely online, applicants will no longer have to visit the Japanese Embassy to obtain a Japan visa.

The embassy said it expects to officially open online applications for single visas to Chinese tourists after June this year. More info here .

Japan tourist eVisa requirements from China

The applicant will need to submit personal details which appear in their passport . The application then asks for trip details, including the purpose of travel, dates of travel, port of entry and the airline or ship that the applicant is traveling with. Finally, the traveler must provide details of where they will be staying for the duration of their trip to Japan.

As a legal requirement , the applicant will have to report any past criminal activity or immigration violations.

Japan Online Visa Requirements from China

It is important to review the list of visa requirements for the Japan tourist visa from China visa application. The Japanese visa requirements from China are:

• A valid Chinese passport , signed, with 2 blank visa pages
• The completed visa application form
• A recent passport-sized photo with a white background, which should be pasted on the application form
• Proof of sufficient funds for the trip
• A list of travel plans while in Japan including dates, locations, contact person, and accommodation

If traveling to Japan on business or to visit friends and family , the application should include a formal letter from the person in Japan who invited the applicant.

Applying for a Japan e-Visa from China

Before the eVisa process is available , applicants must work with an approved travel agency. The application form is available online as well as in person at the Embassy in Beijing, or at many travel agencies.

Once the eVisa becomes available , individuals will be able to easily and quickly submit their Japanese travel visa online application form themselves.

Other Types of Japan Visas for Chinese Passport Holders

There are multiple different types of Japan visas for Chinese citizens . The applicant is responsible for applying for the correct visa based on their personal situation.

Short-term Japan visas for Chinese nationals

• Group Tourist Visa - this Japan tourist visa for people from China is meant for group tours. One of many approved Chinese travel agencies will handle the application process. This Japan visa allows a stay of up to 15 days and requires the traveler to remain with the group while in Japan.
• Business Visa - to qualify, travelers must hold a managerial role at a corporation which falls under certain criteria.
• Transit Visa - Chinese passport holders will need to apply for a Transit Visa even if Japan is just a stopover on their way to another destination.

Long-term visas for Chinese nationals

In special cases, the Japanese government may grant a long-term visa for Chinese citizens:

• The Working Visa and Highly Skilled Professional Visa are granted to individuals who have a job offer in Japan or someone who can submit a certificate of eligibility on their behalf.
• The General Visa is meant for individuals who will be engaging in cultural activities. The applicant must have a certificate of eligibility issued by a regional immigration authority.
• A Specified Visa is granted to the Chinese spouses and children of Japanese nationals: Chinese nationals must provide documentation of the Chinese Family. Register and a Temporary Residence Permit or Residence Certificate.
• Diplomatic and Official Visas are intended for individuals who are in Japan for diplomatic missions.

• Services & Software

Renewing Your US Passport Online Is Even Easier Now

The State Department's online renewal system for passports is now open longer each day.

If you want to renew your US passport online, plan to log in to the MyTravelGov website soon after 1 p.m. ET.

One of the more annoying bureaucratic processes has just gotten a whole lot easier. After first testing it in the fall of 2022, the US State Department has relaunched an online passport renewal program in beta release for a limited number of users each day.

The program for renewing US passports online opens each day on the MyTravelGov website at 1 p.m. ET and closes when it reaches an unspecified number of applicants. That open window lasted mere minutes for the week after the program restarted on June 12, but recent CNET testing shows you now have much more time each day to apply.

On both July 9 and July 10, the online passport renewal system was open for more than two hours until after 3 p.m. ET. That means you've probably got at least a two-hour window each day to begin the online passport renewal process.

Learn everything you need to know about the new online US passport renewals, including who is eligible and how you can apply. For more travel tips, check out  how to plan your travel with AI ,  how to perfectly pack your carry-on luggage and how to avoid airline baggage fees .

A limited number of people can apply for US passport renewals each day.

How does the new US online passport renewal system work?

Most US citizens currently renew their passports  by printing and filling out form DS-82 , then mailing that form with a new passport photo and a renewal fee in the form of a check or money order. The online passport renewal system instead uses a website form and a payment system that allows credit cards, debit cards or online ACH transfers.

Renewing your passport online doesn't mean that you'll receive it any sooner than usual, though. The State Department is sticking to its " routine service " for passport renewals, whether they're online or by mail. That means you'll receive your new passport in six to eight weeks, no matter how you apply. If you need your passport sooner than that, you'll need to apply by mail and pay $60 more for expedited service .

Who is eligible to renew their US passport online?

The most important qualifying factors for renewing your passport online are:

• You are at least 25 years old.
• You live in the US (state or territory).
• Your current passport is or was valid for 10 years.
• Your current passport must be at least 9 years old and have been issued within the last 15 years (2009-2015).
• You still have your existing passport, and it's not mutilated or damaged.

Along with the main eligibility requirements, the State Department provides a list of further restrictions for online renewal:

• You can only renew regular passports online, not "special issuance" passports (like diplomatic, official or service passports).
• You cannot change your name, gender, place of birth or date of birth from your previous passport.
• You must be able to pay for online renewal using a credit card, a debit card or ACH transfer.
• You must be able to upload a new passport photo.
• You cannot travel internationally for eight weeks after submitting your online renewal application.

That last restriction is important because your existing passport, if still valid, will be immediately canceled as soon as your online renewal application is accepted.

If you don't meet the eligibility requirements for renewing your passport online, you'll need to renew by mail or in person at a passport agency .

If I'm eligible, how do I renew my US passport online?

Right now, MyTravelGov is accepting a certain number of online passport renewals each day (including weekends) around midday ET. Several news publications, however, including the Thrifty Traveler , are reporting the window will open each day right at 1 p.m. ET.

Before you can apply for an online passport renewal, you'll need to create a MyTravelGov account, if you don't already have one. Visit the MyTravelGov website , click on the blue Sign In  button in the top-right corner, then click Create an account . This will begin the process of creating an account with login.gov , the US federal government's authentication system.

You'll then need to enter an email address and your choice of language: login.gov is available in English, Spanish and French. After submitting your email address, you'll need to verify it by clicking on a link in an email message from login.gov, after which you'll choose a password and preferred form of multifactor authentication.

You'll then need to provide personal information for the account, at minimum your first and last name. Once you're finished, you should be able to access the online passport renewal page . Hit the blue Start button at the bottom of the page to begin the application. The State Department estimates that the online application process will take about 40 minutes.

If the online passport renewal application window is not open, you'll receive a message that you'll need to return and try again tomorrow. If you're lucky enough to begin the application, you'll need the following items:

• Your existing US passport.
• A digital passport photo.
• Credit card, debit card or your bank's routing and account numbers for ACH transfer.

In the first part of the application, you'll enter information about your current passport, your legal name and whether you want a passport book, passport card or both. Next you'll update your digital passport photo , and then finally your payment information.

MyTravelGov will send you two email verifications after you submit your renewal application: The first will confirm your pending payment, and the second will confirm that the payment has been received. One week after you apply, you can sign up for email updates about your passport using the State Department's online passport status system . You should expect to receive your new passport in the mail within six to eight weeks.

You can renew whichever US passport format you hold.

What about renewing US passport cards online?

Passport cards are objects that look much like US driver's licenses and can be kept in your wallet. They allow for travel from the US by land or sea to Canada, Mexico or Caribbean countries. They are not valid for any international travel by air.

You can renew both passport books and cards online. Basically, you can renew whichever US passport document that you currently hold. If you have an old passport book and passport card, you can renew both at the same time. If you have one or the other, you can only renew that specific document.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. Prior to the Application

Q1: i want to go to japan. do i need a visa.

A1: People of some countries (or from some regions) do not need a visa if their period of stay in Japan is 90 days or less and they are not going to be engaged in income-earning activities. Refer to the List of Countries and Regions that have Visa Exemption Arrangements with Japan .

Q2: I want to invite a foreign national to Japan. What procedures are necessary?

A2: (1) In the case of an invitation for the purpose of a short-term stay (in the case that you are inviting relatives or friends, employees of a company with which you do business, etc. for a period of stay of 90 days or less and will not be paying them an income), please write a Letter of Reason for Invitation and draw up a Schedule of Stay. If you are inviting a person from China / Russia / CIS countries / Georgia, and if you will pay travel expenses instead of the visa applicant (who wishes to come to Japan), a Letter of Guarantee, the certificate of residence of the guarantor, and documents confirming the capacity of the guarantor to pay the expenses should also be prepared in addition to the above documents regardless of the applicant's nationality. (2) In the case of an invitation for the purpose of a long-term stay (spouse, working, studying, etc.), it is recommended that you start by applying to your nearest Regional Immigration Service Bureau to have a Certificate of Eligibility issued. (3) Once you have prepared all of the above documents, send them to the visa applicant. Check here for details.

Q3: What should I do to get a Certificate of Eligibility?

Q4: the certificate of eligibility will not arrive by the time i apply for a visa. can i still apply for a visa with its copy.

A4: From March 17, 2023, it will be possible to receive a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) by email and to apply for landing by presenting the email. When applying for a visa, the application can be accepted by presenting the email or submitting the printed copy. For those who have a paper Certificate of Eligibility, they can also apply for landing and a visa by submitting its printed copy after March 17.

Q5: Is it necessary to go to the Japanese Embassy / Consulate General by myself to apply for a visa?

A5: There are four ways to apply for a visa: (1) the visa applicant him/herself goes directly to the Japanese Embassy / Consulate General, (2) the visa applicant writes a Letter of Proxy and get a proxy to go to the Japanese Embassy / Consulate General in his / her place, (3) the visa applicant uses an accredited travel agent approved by the Japanese Embassy / Consulate General and (4) the visa applicant uses the JAPAN eVISA website and apply for visa online. However, depending on the circumstances in your country or region, there are cases that the documents should only be submitted by the applicant him/herself going to the Japanese Embassy/Consulate General, or through an accredited travel agent. Check with the embassy or consulate general to which you plan to apply before making the application . For information on the countries/region where the JAPAN eVISA website is available, please refer to the online visa application page .

Q6: Can I apply for a visa at the nearest Japanese Embassy / Consulate General while traveling in a foreign country?

A6: You can apply for the visa at the Japanese Embassy / Consulate General in your own country (region) or country (region) of residence (if there is more than one, apply to the Japanese Embassy / Consulate General nearest from where you live). In other words, you cannot apply for a visa at your travel destination; however, if there are unavoidable circumstances, consult with the Japanese Embassy / Consulate General where you would like to apply for the visa before making the application.

Q7: Why was my visa application not accepted?

A7: If any of the following cases apply to you, your application may not be accepted.

• (1) Applications from persons holding Japanese nationality
• (2) The application is made to the Japanese Embassy / Consulate General outside your country (region) of birth or country (region) of residence
• (3) You currently hold a valid visa or re-entry permit
• (4) Your previous visa application to visit Japan for a specific purpose was rejected and you reapply to visit Japan for the same purpose within six months from the rejection
• (5) The visa application is already being processed at a different Japanese Embassy / Consulate General
• (6) There are some errors or omissions in the submitted documents
• (7) The period of validity or the visa attachment space of your passport is insufficient
• (8) The application is made by a person who does not have the qualifications to make a proxy application
• (9) An application for issuance of a Certificate of Eligibility is still pending

2. Application Examination

Q1: how long is the application examination period.

A1: The standard processing period, when it does not have any problem on contents of the application, takes five working days from the next day after the date of the acceptance of application. Meanwhile, it may take longer than usual if a large number of visa applications converge at a short-time period. In addition, please note that it may take more than 5 working days (ranging from a couple of weeks to several months) in such cases where additional confirmation is required (submission of additional documents, an interview with the applicant, inquiries, etc.), or when a visa application is made for a long-term stay without a Certificate of Eligibility. Thus, visa applicants are recommended to apply early for their visa well in advance of the anticipated travel date.

Q2: Why was I asked to provide additional documents?

A2: Sometimes additional information will be required for the examination process, and sometimes you will be asked in the process to submit extra documents in addition to the documents indicated as the necessary documents. Each applicant has different conditions and circumstances, and sometimes we do not become aware of these until the application has been accepted, therefore there are some documents that we do not ask everyone to submit from the beginning. If you do not submit the additional documents, the examination cannot be processed any further, and you will not be able to get the visa issued.

Q3: My departure date is approaching so could you issue the visa as soon as possible?

A3: We cannot make a decision about whether to issue or reject the visa application until the necessary examination has been completed. We process the applications fairly in the order in which we received them. Apply for the visa as soon as possible once your travel plan has been decided.

3. Issuance or Rejection of the Visa Application

Q1: tell me why you rejected my visa application..

A1: The reason for the rejection is that your application did not meet the criteria of visa issuance . We do not give you the specific reason of the rejection because if we do so, the information would eventually become known to the public. Once that happened, there is a danger that some people might misappropriate such information to get around the visa examination process and try to enter Japan for illegal purposes. It would impede the proper visa examination process in the future and have negative effects on Japanese society. The Administrative Procedure Act, Article 3, Paragraph 1, Item 10 excludes "dispositions concerning departure and immigration of foreign nationals" from application of the obligation to show the examination criteria or the reasons for the rejection of the application.

Q2: Why was my visa application rejected even though a Certificate of Eligibility was issued?

A2: The Certificate of Eligibility does not guarantee the issuance of the visa. The certificate means that the Ministry of Justice certifies that the foreign national meets the condition of landing (entering Japan): the activity which the foreign nationals wish to engage in Japan at the time of the landing examination is not fraudulent, and the activity is qualified to acquire status of residence that is stipulated in the Immigration Control Act, etc. Therefore, in the visa examination process, we do not examine the applicability of status of residence, but some other points such as the verification of the applicant's identity and the validity of his/ her passport. If it is found that the application does not meet the criteria of visa issuance in the process of examination, or it is determined that the Certificate of Eligibility was issued based on mistaken or fraudulent information, a visa will not be issued.

Q3: Why can't I reapply immediately after my visa application was rejected?

A3: We do not accept your visa application if your previous application was rejected and you will apply for the same purpose of visit within six months from the rejection. This is because if, for example, we accept the same application the day after it was rejected, the circumstances of the applicant would not change so that the result of examination would be the same. However, we sometimes accept re-applications within six months in cases where your circumstances have changed significantly after the rejection, and travel to Japan is necessary for humanitarian reasons. Consult with the Japanese Embassy or Consulate where you plan to apply for the visa before making the application.

Q4: Can I pay visa issuance fees with a credit card or a check?

A4: In principle, fees must be paid in cash using the local currency. In case that you apply for eVISA through the JAPAN eVISA website, online payment by credit card is available for certain countries and regions. You will not be required to pay visa issuance fees if the visa is not issued.

4. Prior to Entering Japan

Q1: i want to postpone my travel. until when is my visa valid.

A1: The period of validity of a single-entry visa (that becomes invalid as soon as once you enter Japan) is basically three months. Enter Japan within three months of the issuance of the visa. If you wish to postpone your travel for longer than three months, you will be required to make another visa application.

Q2: I have decided not to invite a foreign national to Japan after all. What should I do?

A2: Please report that you have cancelled the invitation, together with the personal identification information of the visa applicant, by email to the Embassy / Consulate General where the visa was issued. In addition, tell the visa applicant to bring his/her passport to the Japanese Embassy / Consulate General to cancel his/her visa. Note that visa fees will not be refunded even if the visa is cancelled before being used.

Q3: I have lost my passport with the visa in it. What should I do?

A3: Contact the Japanese Embassy / Consulate General that issued the visa to inform what happened. Also, it is recommended that you submit a lost property form to the local police station. If you need a new visa, you must make an application again.

Q4: Why was my application to enter Japan rejected even though I had a valid visa?

A4: A visa is no more than one of the requirements for the application to land in Japan and it does not guarantee that you will be able to enter Japan. (There is a warning on the visa application form and your signature on the application form means you have accepted this fact.) Even if you have a valid visa, sometimes you will not be given permission to enter Japan, for example in cases where the person who makes the landing application is different from the person whose name is recorded in the visa, and also in cases where you cannot properly explain to the immigration officer the activities you plan to engage in after entering Japan.

Q1: How will the personal information submitted at the time of visa application be handled?

A1: The personal information of the visa applicant, inviting person and guarantor will be managed appropriately in the Japanese Embassy / Consulate General based on the Act on the Protection of Personal Information. Also, local travel agencies that wish to handle visa applications have to get the approval by Japanese embassies /consulates, and the condition of such approval is that they have agreed to manage personal information appropriately based on the aforementioned act, under the same criteria as the outsourcing organization.

Q2: What is the legal basis for the issuance or non-issuance of my visa?

A2: Under the international customary law, the decision as to whether or not to issue a visa to a foreign national is determined to be a sovereign act of each country. Japanese consuls carry out the administration related to visas based on the Act for Establishment of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Article 4 Item 13, Article 7 Item 1, and Article 10 Item 2 and Item 3).

Q3: Isn't the refusal of a visa for a spouse of Japanese an infringement of human rights?

A3: Entering Japan is not a right of a person of foreign nationality, so this is not an infringement of human rights. On the other hand, there are sometimes cases of human trafficking in which people from developing countries in an economically and socially vulnerable position are brought to developed countries for fake marriages, illegal work, etc. With this issue in mind, Japan is carrying out careful visa examinations in order to protect the human rights of foreign nationals, etc.

Q4: Isn't it unfair that people from countries which exempt Japanese from tourist visas, are required to get a visa to enter Japan?

A4: Visa exemptions are not necessarily bilateral. For example, there are many cases in which developing countries give visa exemptions to Japanese as a unilateral measure because accepting travelers from Japan is economically advantageous for those countries. However, on the other hand, if Japan gave visa exemptions to people from all of those countries, there could be a negative impact on the internal security and national interest of Japan. For example, it could lead to an increase in the number of illegal overstayers and illegal workers, etc. Therefore, it is necessary to consider visa exemptions carefully from a comprehensive perspective.

Q5: As a “guarantor”, to what extent do I need to be responsible?

A5: The "guarantor" for the visa application is the person who resides in Japan and makes a promise to the head of the embassy / consulate (the Japanese ambassador/ consul-general, etc.) to the effect that the visa applicant will stay legally in Japan. The responsibilities of the guarantor only entails moral responsibilities and does not entail legal responsibilities like that of the "guarantor" in the Civil Code. However, if it is recognized that the guaranteed matters (expenses for the applicant's stay in Japan, return travel expenses, compliance with laws and regulations) have not been performed rightly, that person would lose credibility as a guarantor in subsequent visa applications. Also, be aware that if the guarantor or inviting person made a false statement in the documents about their relationship to the visa applicant or the purpose of visit, or if that caused terrorists to enter Japan or crime such as human trafficking, they may be held criminally responsible.

International Justice Clinic

Ijc submits letter to un special rapporteur on freedom of expression: japan’s rejection of journalist’s passport application violates right to movement and freedom of expression.

On July 16, 2024, the International Justice Clinic submitted a letter to Ms. Irene Khan, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression, in connection with the Japanese Government’s denial of issuing a passport to a prominent independent journalist Mr. Yasuda Junpei. Mr. Yasuda over the years focused on reporting from conflict zones such as those in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. In Japan, major media companies with overseas networks increasingly tend to be wary of reporting from conflict zones to ensure the safety of their staff reporters, important facts have often been reported by independent journalists such as Mr. Yasuda.

The denial occurred in 2019 after Mr. Yasuda returned from Syria, following his release from over three years of captivity by an armed group. The rejection cited an entry ban imposed by the Turkish government when he returned to Japan from Syria via Istanbul. However, Mr. Yasuda has never been given any due process rights to dispute or even examine the grounds for such an entry ban.

The denial has prevented Mr. Yasuda from traveling internationally for any purpose. Mr. Yasuda stated: “The denial of my passport application is tantamount to a denial of myself, a rejection of half of my life story. I’m in my late 40s, a crucial time in my career, and for five years I’ve been unable to fulfill my profession.” Meanwhile, other international journalists who were captured in Syria around the same time as Mr. Yasuda are now reporting from outside their original countries, including conflict zones such as those in Ukraine.

A part of the problem lies in the Japanese Passport Act which allows the government to reject a passport application if the applicant has been subject to an entry ban from any country. The decision on who is permitted to be in the territory of a country generally remains the prerogative of that country and, indeed, countries, including Turkey , often impose entry bans on foreign individuals for arbitrary reasons. As such, the law gives blanket discretion to the Japanese government to choose whose passport application to reject among those submitted by individuals with an entry ban. Such wide discretion is prone to abuse, as seen in the case of Mr. Yasuda and another journalist, where the law was used to suppress those who visited conflict zones against the government’s evacuation orders. The consequences of such abuse are draconian—the total deprivation of the right to travel internationally, which is a fundamental human right and a premise for the realization of other human rights, such as freedom of expression, which guarantees the ability to impart information and opinions “without frontiers.” There is little chance that the law complies with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) which Japan ratified decades ago.

In a domestic case filed by Mr. Yasuda, the government has persistently attempted to justify the law and the travel ban on him with weak arguments. They claim that the travel ban is necessary to protect Japan’s trust in international society, based on speculation that individuals subject to an entry ban like Mr. Yasuda may cause trouble abroad. However, under the ICCPR, such an abstract government interest would never justify the denial of his freedom of international travel and expression, nor does it justify the chilling effect on other journalists who wish to travel to conflict zones. It is even more so considering the critical role of journalism in conflict zones to provide accurate information necessary for humanitarian aid delivery, prosecute war crimes, raise international awareness of conflicts, and combat dis/mis information as long recognized and reaffirmed by an international court and international and regional human rights bodies and experts (you can find the relevant instruments in pages 6-8 of our letter).

Deeply concerned about the government’s reluctance to recognize the gross human rights violation and the district court’s excessively loose application of the ICCPR to the case, the IJC submitted a letter to Ms. Irene Khan requesting support to remediate the violation. Our key messages include:

• The law allowing the government to deny passport applications based on an entry ban by another country violates the right to movement and its interconnected rights such as the right to freedom of expression.
• To respect those rights and ensure a safe environment for journalists, Japanese Parliament should abolish the law. Until then, the government should take actions to prevent the abusive application of the law.
• The denial of Mr. Yasuda’s passport application violated his freedoms of movement and expression. The government should issue him a passport and provide full compensation for damages caused by the denial.

Despite robust civil society efforts, the domestication of the ICCPR within the Japanese government and courts is still ongoing. We hope that this letter and subsequent communication from Ms. Irene Khan will provide an opportunity for Japan to recognize the value of freedom of movement and expression, and to embed ICCPR compliance in its decision-making process.

Clinic students, Eric Lau (2L) and Micaela Shonafelt (2L), supported the Clinic in researching and drafting the letter.

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Office of Global Learning

Apply for a Student Entry Visa

• For Students

To study at Cornell, most international students need an entry visa . This entry visa stamp makes you eligible to enter and reenter the United States. If you are a Canadian citizen, you do not need an entry visa. Here are the steps to obtain your entry visa.

• Complete Form
• Show Intent
• Gather Docs
• Go to Interview
• Review Visa

1   Apply for student status at Cornell.

Obtain your I-20 or DS-2019 and pay your SEVIS fee before continuing with the steps below.

2  Complete the DS-160 nonimmigrant visa application .

For help in filling out the form, check out the U.S. Department of State’s DS-160 FAQs .

What should I use for my U.S. address?

If you do not know where you will be living while attending Cornell, use the address where you are currently staying (for example, a hotel, a hostel, or a friend’s or relative’s home). Include the street address and the apartment or room number.

Do my dependents have to fill out a DS-160 too?

Yes. Dependents must submit their own DS-160 form to apply for a dependent visa.

I am a citizen of Canada. Do I have to fill out a DS-160?

No, if you are a Canadian, you can skip this form because you do not need a visa to study in the United States. You still need to prepare the other documents described in Step 5 and ask for F-1 status at the port of entry.

3  Make your visa interview appointment.

Find the U.S. consulate or embassy  where you will apply for a visa, then follow the links on that embassy’s website to learn more about scheduling a visa appointment and relevant requirements. Some locations might require additional documentation.

Although Canadians do not need a visa to study in the United States, U.S. consulates in Canada will issue visas for other foreign nationals.

4  Prepare to demonstrate “nonimmigrant intent.”

If you are applying for an F or J visa, you will need to demonstrate your intent to return to your home country after you have finished your academic programs.

Here are some tips for ways to show you intend to return home:

• Prepare a few sentences that explain how you will use your degree or research at home after you finish your program.
• Bring copies of deeds to any property (land, house, apartment) that you own in your home country.
• Bring bank statements of any accounts you maintain in your home country.
• If you have an employer planning to employ you when you return, bring a letter from the employer stating an intention to hire you.

5  Gather your documents.

Have these documents ready for the visa interview:

• Passport valid for at least six months beyond the date of first travel to U.S.
• DS-160 confirmation page with your application ID number (Canadians excepted)
• I-20 (F-1) or DS-2019 (J-1) form
• Your admissions letter from Cornell University
• SEVIS fee receipt
• Proof of financial support. (Bring copies of documents mentioned on your I-20/DS-2019 funding letter or bank statements for personal funds.)
• Documents showing nonimmigrant intent
• Any additional documentation requested by your U.S. consulate or embassy

What documents do my dependents need to bring to the interview?

Your spouse and/or children will need to bring the following additional documents to the visa interview:

• Valid passport
• I-20 (F-2) or DS-2019 (J-2) form
• Proof of relationship to you (marriage certificate, birth certificate, or adoption papers)

What if my area of study is on the technology alert list?

The United States government keeps a “technology alert list” of areas of study the government considers potentially sensitive to the illegal transfer of scientific information to hostile individuals or regimes. If your area of study is on the list, the U.S. consulate may complete a security clearance before granting your visa. This could delay your visa application by anywhere from one to three months. There is no way to know for certain ahead of time whether you will be subject to this type of clearance.

The current technology alert list is not published, but in the past, some of the fields that have been on it include nuclear technology; conventional munitions; rocket systems and unmanned air vehicle subsystems; navigation avionics; chemical, biotechnology, and biomedical engineering; remote sensing, imaging, and reconnaissance; and advanced computer and microtechnology.

If you think your field of study may be on the list and you want more information, email the Office of Global Learning .

6  Attend your visa interview.

Be prepared to be interviewed in English. Answer all questions honestly and briefly.

NAFSA , the Association of International Educators, offers some useful advice for student visa interviews.

What if I’m told my application requires further processing?

After your interview, your application may need further processing. The officer will let you know if this is the case. The U.S. Department of State's website has information on further administrative processing.

Should I notify Cornell if my visa processing is delayed?

If your visa processing is delayed by more than one month, notify the Office of Global Learning and your department, as it will impact your ability to enroll.

What if the U.S. government requires a security clearance because of my citizenship?

You may need a security clearance before being granted a visa if you were born in or are a citizen or national of a country the U.S. government has flagged for special security concern. Security clearance can take anywhere from one to three months. The list of flagged countries is not published, but appears to include the following: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Morocco, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, and the territories of Gaza and the West Bank.

If you’d like information or advice, email the Office of Global Learning .

7  Receive and review the entry visa in your passport.

Make sure that all the information on the entry visa in your passport is correct. Fix any errors before you leave for the United States!

See U.S. visa FAQs  for further information on visas, including how to read and understand one. 

Next Up: Visa Delays

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