The Japanese Visa for your Trip to Japan
If you are considering of going to Japan on a holiday or to meet a family or on a business trip, then applying for a Japanese visa can become a necessary task.
Usually, you can apply for the necessary Japanese visa online/ at the nearest Japanese consulate in the country where you live.
General Visa Requirements and Validity Period of Japanese Visa
It is advisable to check the Japanese visa requirements, before applying for your visa to Japan.
A brief summary of the most important requirements and conditions when obtaining the visa for Japan:
- You do not intend to carry out voluntary work that would otherwise be performed by a paid employee in Japan.
- You do not mean to join an employment relationship in Japan.
- You do not mean to offer services to Japanese organisations (this is permitted with a Japanese work visa or business visa).
- You do not plan to provide or offer product or services to consumers in Japan.
- You and your family members are not in debt to the Japan Government.
- You do not present a risk to the health or safety and security of residents of Japan.
- You have the ability to show that you have enough financial resources to cover your stay and return from Japan.
Do I need a Japanese visa?
It relies on your citizenship and the type of travel document you are using to take a trip to Japan.Please visit here to verify if you require a Japanese visa.
Who can get a Japanese visa?
Anybody hoping to go on vacation to Japan can make an application for a Japanese visa.
There are many kinds of visa for Japan which you can use as a visitor to Japan. If you are not exactly sure which type of Japanese visa you need to apply, please speak to the nearest Japanese visa office to get additional clarification as aim of this page is to offer you basic overview when getting Japanese visa.
What type of Japanese visa do I require?
This relies on 3 points:
- The nationality according to your passport – If the nationality according to the passport is from a country that is on visa free travel to Japan or eligible to make an application for a visa on arrival in Japan, then you may not need to apply for a Japanese visa prior to departure from your home country. Please click on this link to check if you require a Japanese visa.
- The duration of your stay in Japan – If you want to remain in Japan for a shorter duration less than ninety days, then you can request the Japanese visa. If you like to remain much longer, then call the nearest Japanese visa office to find the appropriate visa for your trip.
- The activities you like to perform in Japan – If your main purpose of taking a trip is for tourism, then you can make an application for all kinds of Japanese visas talked about on this web page.
General Visa Application Requirements to Apply for Japanese Traveller Visa
- Visitor visa application for Japan – Completed Japanese visa application form.
- Original and signed passport – The passport should be valid for at least 6 months prior to going into Japan and 3 months after leaving Japan. It should have a minimum of 2 spare visa pages and can not be older than 10 years.
- Passport type photo – Photo has to be no older than 6 months and must be 35 x 40mm in size.
- Previous passport – Supply a previous passport if you had any.
- Previous visas – Copies of previous Japanese visas information if you had any.
- Flight tickets to Japan – Reservation of return or round trip flight tickets. In some instances the Japanese visa office may ask for prepaid air travel tickets to Japan.
- Travel insurance policy – Proof of travel insurance with a minimum cover set by the Japanese embassy provided with the Certificate of Insurance policy and the table of benefits. The travel insurance coverage have to cover the cost of repatriation for medical reasons and the Certificate of Currency have to be issued by an insurance company. If you are considering utilizing your credit card travel insurance for your travel to Japan, please call Japanese consular office for more information and travel insurance requirements for the Japanese visa.
- Original bank declarations – Original financial institution statements for the last 3 months showing adequate funds to cover your visit in Japan. If statements are printed online then it needs to be Authenticated (stamped) by the bank officials.
- Hotel Reservations in Japan – Copy of confirmed hotel reservations including name of the applicant, name and address of the hotel, time-span of stay. In the majority of situations, only bookings which are partially or completely pre-paid can be accepted.
- Employment letter – This letter must be: original and signed letter from employer written on company letter head paper, validating your ongoing employment, the status of employment, regular monthly salary and annual leave. Likewise, please supply your three newest pay slips. If you are self-employed: provide certified copies of business registration, tax return.
- For students. Please provide the following:
- Evidence of present student status: Certificate of Enrollment.
- Original and signed letter from university written on university letter head paper, affirming ongoing enrolment, verifying the payment of tuition fees or any scholarships, and confirming term break.
- Insurance policy from Organisation/University– Supply a letter from the University stating the purpose, duration of travel and confirmation that you will be covered by the insurance coverage for the whole journey in addition to the Certificate of Currency and summary of benefits.
In general, visa applications for Japanese visa ought to be submitted for an optimum of 6 months, and no later than 15 days, prior to the trip.