Japan Visa Requirements

Have you wondered what it takes to get a visa to visit Japan? Have you tried but failed in many instances? Then, you have to find the reasons for that. It could be that you don’t fulfil the Japan visa requirements.

However, that problem has a solution. Whether you are traveling to Japan for tourism, business, to study, work or simply to use an airport in Japan. This page will cover everything you need to get a visa to Japan.

Japan is a country that competes with many world powers. So, it is technologically, economically and culturally advanced. Therefore, many visitors from all over the world want to visit the country. The problem they encounter is meeting the requirements for a visa to enter Japan.

Do you also encounter this problem? Then, this article is for you. Find out every document you need to apply for any type of Japan visa. Plus, the application process.

Who needs a visa to Japan?

Except for a few countries, citizens of other countries need an entry visa to visit Japan. In other words, they must meet the Japan visa requirements.

Thus, if you are not from the countries below exempt from a Japan visa, you will apply for one when you want to visit the country.

Japan visa-exempt countries

Nationals of these nations can stay in Japan for up to 90 days without a visa. However, depending on the agreement between the two governments, some can live in Japan for less than 90 days. They include:

Argentina
Australia
Bahamas
Brunei (15 days)
Canada
Chile
Costa Rica
Dominican Republic
El Salvador
Guatemala
Honduras
Hong Kong
Iceland
Israel
Macao
Mauritius
Mexico
New Zealand
North Macedonia
Norway
Republic of Korea
Singapore
Slovakia
Suriname
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tunisia
United Kingdom
Uruguay

Japan Visa Exemptions for Non-Ordinary Passport Holders

Holders of diplomatic passports from the following countries don’t need a visa to visit Japan. They include:

Albania
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bangladesh
Belgium
Bolivia
Brazil
Bulgaria
Cambodia
Colombia
Czech Republic
Ecuador
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Hungary
India
Indonesia
Ireland
Italy
Kazakhstan
Laos
Liechtenstein
Luxembourg
Moldova
Mongolia
Morocco
Myanmar
Nauru
Netherlands
Oman
Palau
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Poland
Qatar
Romania
Samoa
Slovakia
Solomon Islands
South Korea
Spain
Switzerland
Thailand
Turkey
Turkmenistan
United Kingdom
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
Vatican
Vietnam

Other exemptions from Japan visa

Nationals of the following countries with a Machine-Readable Passport (MRP) or an ePassport can visit Japan without a visa. However, they must meet the ICAO standards. They include:

Barbados
Indonesia (15 days)
Lesotho
Malaysia
Serbia
Thailand (15 days)
Turkey
United Arab Emirates (30 days)

All applicants for a Japan visa must meet all the requirements for the entry permit type they need. The documents for Japan entry visas are in two groups. They are the general and specific requirements.

General Japan visa requirements

The following are the general requirements you need for a visa to Japan. They include:

Japan Visa Application Form
Your passport
Passport-size picture
Cover letter
Flight itinerary
Daily itinerary
Proof of accommodation
Proof of financial solvency
Certificate of Eligibility (COE)

#1. Japan visa application

You must bring a completed and signed application form. The form is available on the Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs website. You can fill out the form online or at a Japanese embassy or consulate in your country of origin. You must provide the following information in the application. They include your name, nationality, place of birth, the purpose of your travel and the duration of your stay in Japan.

#2. Your passport

You need a valid passport that is valid for up to six months. In addition, the travel passport must have two blank pages for your visa stamp.

#3. Photo

In addition to your passport, you also need passport-sized photos of the same size and colour. They must also meet the following specifications. They include:

4.5cm x 4.5cm in dimensions
White background
Taken in the last six months
You must be staring straight head,
You must have a neutral facial expression
Your entire face has to be visible
You must write your name on the back

#4. Cover letter

Another Japan visa requirement is a cover letter. It will contain every detail about your travel to Japan, including the date of arrival and departure from Japan.

#5. Flight itinerary

Your flight itinerary will contain your travel plan, including a round-trip ticket. It will show that you are ready to return to your country after your stay in Japan.

#6. Daily itinerary

It will contain the list of your daily activities while in Japan. Thus, it will provide information like where you will go and the dates.

#7. Proof of accommodation in Japan

Your proof of accommodation can be a hotel reservation or an apartment booking. However, it can be a letter of invitation from your host in Japan indicating you have a place to stay in Japan.

#8. Proof of financial means

You need a document to show that you have the means to cater for your stay in Japan. It can be a bank statement in the last three months or the recent tax income returns.

However, if you have a sponsor for your travel, you can present the following documents. They include:

Letter of Guarantee
Income Certificate from the last three months
Residence Certificate

On the other hand, students can use the following documents as proof of financial means in Japan. They include:

Your bank or income statements
Proof of a Scholarship
Proof of Financial Aid
Letter of Sponsorship

#9. Certificate of Eligibility (COE)

Visitors in Japan who have other reasons than tourism, transit, business, or a short-term visit must present a certificate of eligibility. You must get it from the Immigration Services in Japan before you enter the country. Your sponsor in Japan will have to send the application for this certificate.

Specific requirements

You will need the following requirements depending on the Japan visa you want. They include:

Tourist visa

Japan Tourist Visa Application Form
Daily Itinerary
Invitation Letter from the Guarantor
Income Certificate from your host
Residence Certificate
Proof of relationship for relatives
Civil status documents
Your letter of employment, if you have an employer

Business visa

Japan Busines Visa Application Form
Daily Itinerary
Letter from your employer
Letter of Invitation from the company in Japan
Letter of Guarantee from the inviting company in Japan
The Registration Certificate of the Japanese company
Civil registration documents

Student visa

Student Visa Application Form
The Certificate of Eligibility
Letter of Admission into the Japanese university
Previous academic and professional qualifications
Proof of a Scholarship
Proof you receive Financial Aid
Letter of Sponsorship

Work visa

Japan Work Visa Application Form
The Certificate of Eligibility
Certificate of your position in the company
Evidence of your previous academic and professional history
Documents showing details about your company in Japan
Other documents you need depend on the type of work you do.

Working holiday visa

Japan Visa Application Form
A resume/CV
A letter addressed to the Embassy/Consulate
Daily itinerary of your stay in Japan

Transit visa

Japan Visa Application Form
Daily Itinerary
Valid entry visa for the final country of destination
Latest Income Tax Returns
Bank statement

How to apply for a Japan visa

The application process for a Japan visa depends on the type of visa and your country of origin. However, you can follow the general steps below to obtain your entry permit to Japan. You must meet the Japan visa requirements to apply. They include:

Step 1. Contact the Embassy or Consulate to book an appointment

Step 2. Collect the required documents for a Japan visa

Step 3. Submit the documents at the Embassy/Consulate or the travel agency

Step 4. Wait for the entry visa to be processed

Step 5. Collect your entry permit from the Japanese embassy or consulate in your country of origin or residence.

Also Read: Japan Transit Visa – Requirements, Exemption and Application

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the processing fee for a Japan visa?

The amount you pay for a Japan visa depends on the type of permit you need. It also varies according to the times you can enter japan with it. However, you will pay the following fees. They include:

Single-entry visa: 3,000 Yen
Multiple-entry visa: 6,000 Yen
Transit visa: 700 Yen

What is the processing time for a Japan visa?

Usually, it takes five days to process a visa to Japan. However, if you do not submit your documents, the time will extend more.

Where can I obtain a japan visa?

You can apply for a Japanese visa at the Japanese embassy or consulate in your country of origin or residence. You can complete an online application. But you must submit it at an embassy.

Another way to apply for a Japan visa is through a travel agency. You can send your documents to the agency. Then, they will run the process for you.

What is the validity of a Japan visa?

The validity of a Japan visa depends on the type of entry permit you need to visit Japan. However, most short-term entry permits are valid for 90 days. Then, depending on the type of visa, you can enter Japan once or multiple times.

On the other hand, a Japan transit visa is valid only for a few hours. It allows you to use a connecting flight from a Japanese airport to your destination country.

Conclusion

In conclusion, visiting Japan is a dream for many ex-pats, especially from third-world countries. The countries offer them a better opportunity than in their state. However, they find it difficult because they don’t know the requirement for a Japan visa they need.

Thus, you can use the requirements in the article when applying for a visa to visit japan.

Japan Visa Requirements – Application, Fees and Validity