Any alien entering Japan must have a valid passport for the duration of their stay, and all visitors must comply with the requirements of their visas.
There are the following types of short-term Japan visa:
There are the following types of long-term Japan visa:
Fees must be paid for the issuance of visas. The costs are about 3,000 yen for a single-entry visa, 6,000 yen for a double-entry or multiple-entry visa, and 700 yen for a transit visa. Fees are collected in the currency of the country (region) in which the Embassy / Consulate General is located.
Depending on the purpose of your visit and your nationality, fees may not be required or maybe a different amount.
If the visa is not issued, no fees are required. The processing fees are needed in addition to the visa issuance fees in case the visa application is made through an approved agency by the Embassy / Consulate General of Japan.
You can apply for short-term visas for realizing your temporary travel to Japan. Reasons to apply for this type of visa can be tourism, visiting family or friends, business trips, short-term education, exchange programs, short-term work, and many other non-permanent nuances. You can check all the required documents for each type of visa application, visa fees, processing time, and where to apply for a visa below.
If you are coming to Japan for tourism purposes solely and you are required to hold a visa while entering, you should apply for a Japan Tourist visa.
1. One Visa Application Form (nationals of Russia, CIS countries, or Georgia need to submit two visa application forms)
2. Two Photographs
3. Documents to Prove Payment Ability of Travel Expense
5. Confirmation Slip for Airline Reservations
6. Hotel Reservation
7. ID Card Issued by your Government
8. Passport
*Additional documents may be required by the embassy
The average processing time for a Japan Tourist visa is 2-15 calendar days. It depends on your visa application country.
Japan Tourist Visa fee is 0-50 USD. The fee may vary depending on your nationality or your country of submission.
You will apply for the Japan Tourist visa in Japan visa application centers, embassies, or consulates, whichever accepts visa applications in your country of residence. If there is none of them in your country, you need to apply to the nearest embassy or consulate to your location.
If you are coming to Japan for business purposes solely such as attending business meetings or consultations, attending a business convention or conference, negotiating contracts and you are required to hold a visa while entering, you should apply for a Japan business visa.
1. One Visa Application Form (nationals of Russia, CIS countries, or Georgia need to submit two visa application forms)
2. Two Photographs
3. Documents to Prove Payment Ability of Travel Expense
4. Confirmation Slip for Airline Reservations
5. Hotel Reservation
6. ID Card Issued by your Government
7. Passport
11. Information about the company/organization
The average processing time for a Japan Business visa is 2-15 calendar days. It depends on your visa application country.
Japan Business Visa fee is 0-50 USD. The fee may vary depending on your nationality or your country of submission.
You will apply for the Japan Business visa in Japan visa application centers, embassies, or consulates, whichever accepts visa applications in your country of residence. If there is none of them in your country, you need to apply to the nearest embassy or consulate to your location.
If you are coming to Japan for the purpose of visiting your family member, relative, or friend and you are required to hold a visa while entering, you should apply for a Japan Family/Friend Visit visa.
1. One Visa Application Form (nationals of Russia, CIS countries, or Georgia need to submit two visa application forms)
2. Two Photographs
3. In case You will Cover your Expenses, Documents to Prove Payment Ability of Travel Expense
4. In case Inviting Person/Guarantor will Cover your Expenses
5. Confirmation Slip for Airline Reservations
6. ID Card Issued by your Government
7. Passport
8. Documents that Indicate a Kinship or Acquaintance Relationship Between Inviting Person and Visa Applicant (for visiting relatives, documents to prove kinship such as Birth certificate, Marriage certificate)
*Additional documents may be required by the embassy
The average processing time for a Japan Family/Friend Visit visa is 2-15 calendar days. It depends on your visa application country.
Japan Family/Friend Visit Visa fee is 0-50 USD. The fee may vary depending on your nationality or your country of submission.
You will apply for the Japan Family/Friend Visit visa in Japan visa application centers, embassies, or consulates, whichever accepts visa applications in your country of residence. If there is none of them in your country, you need to apply to the nearest embassy or consulate to your location.
Even if your country is exempt from visa requirements, if you intend to stay longer in Japan, you will need to apply for a long-stay visa from your home country before coming to Japan.
The long-term visa grants entry to Japan on the basis that you will be applying for a residence permit. It enables you to enter Japan as a potential resident and stay while you apply for residency.
The Highly Skilled Foreign Professional visa is designed for highly skilled professionals (scientists, engineers, lawyers, and business executives, among others) who intend to come work in Japan. This visa type gives them preferential visa processing and residency benefits. The period of stay granted for this visa is as follows:
1. One Visa Application Form (nationals of Russia, CIS countries, or Georgia need to submit two visa application forms)
2. Two Photographs
3. ID Card Issued by your Government
4. Passport
5. Certificate of Eligibility - original and a copy
*Additional documents may be required by the embassy
The average processing time for a Japan Highly Skilled Professional visa is 2-25 calendar days. It depends on your visa application country.
Japan Highly Skilled Professional Visa fee is 0-50 USD. The fee may vary depending on your nationality or your country of submission.
You will apply for a Japan Highly Skilled Professional visa in Japan visa application centers, embassies, or consulates, whichever accepts visa applications in your country of residence. If there is none of them in your country, you need to apply to the nearest embassy or consulate to your location.
There are the following subcategories of Japan Work visa:
Depending on the subcategories, there might be slight differences in the required documents.
1. One Visa Application Form (nationals of Russia, CIS countries, or Georgia need to submit two visa application forms)
2. Two Photographs
3. ID Card Issued by your Government
4. Passport
5. Certificate of Eligibility - original and a copy
*Additional documents may be required by the embassy
The average processing time for a Japan Work visa is 2-25 calendar days. It depends on your visa application country.
Japan Work Visa fee is 0-50 USD. The fee may vary depending on your nationality or your country of submission.
You will apply for a Japan Work visa in Japan visa application centers, embassies, or consulates, whichever accepts visa applications in your country of residence. If there is none of them in your country, you need to apply to the nearest embassy or consulate to your location.
There are the following subcategories of Japan General Visa:
Depending on the subcategories, there might be slight differences in the required documents.
1. One Visa Application Form (nationals of Russia, CIS countries, or Georgia need to submit two visa application forms)
2. Two photographs
3. ID Card Issued by your Government
4. Passport
5. Certificate of Eligibility - original and a copy
*Additional documents may be required by the embassy
The average processing time for a Japan General visa is 2-25 calendar days. It depends on your visa application country.
Japan General Visa fee is 0-50 USD. The fee may vary depending on your nationality or your country of submission.
You will apply for the Japan General visa in Japan visa application centers, embassies, or consulates, whichever accepts visa applications in your country of residence. If there is none of them in your country, you need to apply to the nearest embassy or consulate to your location.
If it is recognized that your business plan is realistic, you may apply for a start-up visa. The visa is granted with the validity of up to 6 months.
Depending on the nationality of the applicant, additional documents may be required.
1. One Visa Application Form (nationals of Russia, CIS countries, or Georgia need to submit two visa application forms)
2. Two photographs
3. ID Card Issued by your Government
4. Passport
5. Certificate of Eligibility - original and a copy
A Certificate of Eligibility is issued by a regional immigration bureau under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice as evidence that the foreign national meets the conditions for landing in Japan.
*Additional documents may be required by the embassy
The average processing time for a Japan Start-up visa is 2-25 calendar days. It depends on your visa application country.
Japan Start-up Visa fee is 0-50 USD. The fee may vary depending on your nationality or your country of submission.
You will apply for the Japan Start-up visa in Japan visa application centers, embassies, or consulates, whichever accepts visa applications in your country of residence. If there is none of them in your country, you need to apply to the nearest embassy or consulate to your location.
There are three ways to apply for a visa:
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 or through an accredited travel agent.
The standard processing period is five working days from the day after the date of the acceptance of the application. However, if any checking is required (the submission of additional documents, an interview with the applicant, inquiries, etc.), or if a visa application is made for a long-term stay without a Certificate of Eligibility, etc., the examination may take longer than five working days (from several weeks to several months). Therefore, it is recommended that you make the application well before the scheduled date of departure.
The reason for the rejection is that your application did not meet at least one of the criteria of visa issuance:
You should apply as early as possible keeping in mind the average processing times and your intended date of travel. However, you should also not apply before 45 days from the intended date of travel.
Yes, as per the visa documentation requirement, applicants should submit documents in original. Few key documents which should be submitted in original and are applicable for most categories are mentioned below.
Sometimes applicants could be requested by the Embassy of Japan for a personal interview.
The Embassy of Japan will not accept your visa application if your previous application was rejected, and you will apply for the same purpose of the visit after six months from the rejection.
In case the visa is refused or the application is withdrawn, the Embassy of Japan will refund the visa fee.
Student visa holders may enter Japan no earlier than 14 days before the first day of new student orientations.
If you intend to apply Japan Visa for Touristic purposes and sightseeing, you are not required to present any sponsor, invitation letter, or guarantor from Japan. A hotel reservation in Japan will be enough for this visa.