How To Get A Japanese Visa

Before applying for a Japanese visa, be sure whether foreigners from your country can travel visa-free to Japan. If not, this post will walk you through how to get a Japanese visa from any country or region.

How to Obtain a Visa to Japan through a Japanese Embassy or Consulate

Take the following steps to obtain a Japanese visa through the nearest diplomatic mission:

• Schedule an appointment with the Japanese embassy or consulate in your country
• Complete the visa application form and collate your supporting documents. (See below for the list.)
• Submit the form and the required documents at the embassy or consulate
• Pay your visa application fee
• Wait for processing.

How to Apply for a Japanese eVisa

To get an electronic visa for Japan, follow the instructions below one after the other:

• Log on to the Japan e-Visa official website
• Verify your eligibility, the type of visa needed, and the required documentation
• Provide all necessary information on the online form
• Await notification of visa application outcome in your email address
• Pay your visa fee
• Receive your eVisa via email.

What Documents Do I Need for Japan Visa?

You need several documents to process your application for a Japanese visa, varying depending on your purpose of visit.

Here’s a list of these documents:

• A filled-out Japanese visa application form
• A valid passport with at least two pages unused for new visa stamps
• Colored passport-size photograph taken in recent months
• Letter of guarantee (Required to get a visa for a business trip)
• An invitation letter (Only if someone is hosting you in Japan)
• Birth certificate (if applicable)
• Marriage certificate (if applicable)
• Travel itinerary
• A copy of your employment certificate
• Evidence of financial support, like your account statement
• Round-trip flight ticket to Japan

Related: Japanese Embassy in Canada – Top 4 Services Available.

Is Japan Visa-Free for Everyone?

No, Japan is visa-exempt for citizens of 69 countries and territories. These include some parts of the Middle East, Asia, North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, Oceania, Africa, and Europe, as listed below:

North America

• United States
• Canada

Africa

• Mauritius
• Lesotho
• Tunisia

Asia

• Thailand
• Brunei
• Macao
• Singapore
• Malaysia
• South Korea
• Indonesia
• Macao
• Taiwan
• Hong Kong

Latin America and the Caribbean

• Costa Rica
• Mexico
• Argentina
• Uruguay
• Chile
• El Salvador
• Bahamas
• Dominican Republic
• Guatemala
• Barbados
• Surinam
• Honduras

Middle East

• United Arab Emirates
• Qatar
• Turkey
• Israel

Oceania

• New Zealand
• Australia

Europe

• United Kingdom
• Andorra
• Belgium
• Croatia
• Slovakia
• Cyprus
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• North Macedonia
• France
• Greece
• Ireland
• Portugal
• Italy
• Slovenia
• Latvia
• Bulgaria
• Lithuania
• Malta
• Iceland
• Czech Republic
• Netherlands
• Spain
• Norway
• Poland
• Hungary
• Romania
• San Marino
• Monaco
• Serbia
• Luxembourg
• Austria
• Sweden
• Liechtenstein
• Germany
• Switzerland

How Much Does It Cost to Get a Visa to Japan?

Japan visa issuance fees vary depending on nationality, purpose of visit, and preferred visa type. Here’s a list of Japanese visa types and their costs:

• Transit visa: JPY 700
• Single-entry visa: JPY 3,000
• Double entry or multiple-entry visa: JPY 6,000

The fee is payable only when your visa application has been approved at the equivalent of your country’s currency. You must pay in cash at the Japanese embassy or consulate general in your country.

How Long is the Japan Visa Valid?

The validity period of a Japanese single-entry visa is three months, while Japanese multiple-entry visas vary in duration, ranging from one to five years. Each visa’s duration is non-extendable under all circumstances.

Read Next: How To Track Your UK Visa Application.