The Japanese Tourist Visa for your Holiday or Visiting a Family
Applying for a Japanese Tourist visa is necessary if you are going on vacation trip or to visit a relative residing in Japan.
Usually, a visitor should be able to apply for the required Japanese tourist visa online/ at the nearest Japanese consulate in the country where you live, for a stay in Japan of up to 3 months.
General Visa Requirements and Validity Period of Japanese Tourist Visa
It is advisable to check the Japanese tourist visa requirements, before applying for your tourist visa to Japan.
A brief list of the most important requirements and conditions when getting the tourist visa for Japan:
- You do not intend to perform unpaid job that would otherwise be done by a paid worker in Japan.
- You do not intend to enter into a work relationship in Japan.
- You do not intend to provide services to Japanese organisations (this is allowed with a Japanese work visa or business visa).
- You do not intend to provide or sell product or services to consumers in Japan.
- You and your relative are not in debt to the Japan Government.
- You do not pose a danger to the health or safety and security of the people of Japan.
- You are able to show that you have sufficient financial resources to cover your stay and return from Japan.
Do you need a Japanese tourist visa?
It relies on your nationality and the type of travel document you are using to travel to Japan.Please go here to verify if you need a Japanese visa.
Who exactly can get a Japanese tourist visa?
Anybody wanting to go on vacation to Japan can apply for a Japanese tourist visa.
There are several types of visa for Japan which you can use as a visitor to Japan. If you are uncertain which sort of Japanese tourist visa you need to apply, please contact the nearby Japanese visa office to get further clarification as objective of this web page is to provide you basic guide when looking for Japanese tourist visa.
What type of Japanese visa do I require?
This relies on three aspects:
- The citizenship according to your passport – If the nationality according to the passport is from a nation that is on visa free travel to Japan or eligible to obtain a visa on arrival in Japan, then you may not need to apply for a Japanese tourist visa before leaving from your home country. Please click on this link to confirm if you need a Japanese visa.
- The length of your trip in Japan – If you wish to remain in Japan for a shorter duration no more than ninety days, then you can obtain the Japanese tourist visa. If you want to stay longer, then contact the nearby Japanese visa office to obtain the suitable visa for your travel.
- The activities you wish to perform in Japan – If your main purpose of travelling is for vacation, then you can apply for all types of Japanese tourist visas talked about on this page.
General Visa Application Requirements to Request Japanese Visitor Visa
- Tourist visa Form for Japan – Completed Japanese visa application form.
- Original and signed passport – The passport has to be valid for a minimum of 6 months before entering Japan and 3 months after departing Japan. It should contain at least two extra visa web pages and can not be older than ten years.
- Passport type photo – Photo needs to be no older than 6 months and must be 35 x 40mm in size.
- Previous passport – Give a previous passport if you had any.
- Previous visas – Copies of previous Japanese visas details if you had any.
- Flight tickets to Japan – Reservation of return or round trip flight tickets. In some scenarios the Japanese visa office may request for pre paid air travel tickets to Japan.
- Travel insurance policy – Evidence of travel insurance policy with a minimum cover set by the Japanese embassy provided with the Certificate of Insurance coverage and the table of benefits. The travel insurance policy must cover the expense of repatriation for medical reasons and the Certificate of Currency must be issued by an insurer. If you are thinking of utilizing your credit card travel insurance for your travel to Japan, please call Japanese embassy for more information and travel insurance requirements for the Japanese visa.
- Original financial institution statements – Original financial institution statements for the last 3 months showing enough funds to cover your trip in Japan. If statements are printed online after that it needs to be Verified (stamped) by the bank officials.
- Hotel Reservations in Japan – Copy of confirmed hotel bookings including name of the applicant, name and address of the hotel, length of stay. In many scenarios, only bookings which are partially or completely pre-paid can be accepted.
- Employment letter – This letter should be: original and signed letter from employer written on company letter head paper, validating your ongoing employment, the status of employment, monthly income and annual leave. Also, please offer your 3 most recent pay slips. If you are self-employed: supply certified copies of business registration, income tax return.
- For students. Please supply the following:
- Proof of present student status: Certificate of Enrollment.
- Original and signed letter from university written on university letter head paper, confirming ongoing enrolment, verifying the payment of tuition fees or any scholarships, and confirming term break.
- Insurance coverage from Organisation/University – Supply a letter from the University stating the purpose, period of travel and confirmation that you will be covered by the insurance policy for the whole trip along with the Certificate of Currency and summary of benefits.
As a whole, visa applications for Japanese visa should be submitted for a maximum of 6 months, and no behind 15 days, prior to the journey.