japanese visit visa application form

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The JAPAN eVISA system (electronic visa)

Foreign nationals/people who wish to travel to Japan for tourism for a short-term period can apply for a visa online and receive an electronic visa (eVISA) through the JAPAN eVISA system. As of August 1, 2024, the JAPAN eVISA system is available for nationals/people residing in the following countries/regions.

Eligibility

• Consulates-General of Japan in Seattle, Denver, Houston, and Consular Offices of Japan in Anchorage and Portland (starting from July 23, 2024 at 16:00 JST (0:00 PDT))
• Consulate-General of Japan in San Francisco (starting from August 29, 2024 at 16:00 JST (0:00 PDT))
• (1) China Nationals of China, who reside in China
• (2) Viet Nam Nationals of Viet Nam, who reside in Viet Nam and participate in a packaged tour organized by designated travel agencies
• (3) Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Macau, Mongolia, the Republic of Korea and United Arab Emirates All foreign nationals/people residing in Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Macau, Mongolia, the Republic of Korea (except jurisdiction over the Consulate General of Japan in Jeju) and United Arab Emirates, except those who are exempt from short-term visa
• (1) JAPAN eVISA is available only to those who travel to Japan by plane.
• (2) During the application process, the applicant may be requested to appear in person at the Japanese overseas establishment with jurisdiction over the place of the applicant’s residence for an interview.
• (3) Only ordinary passport holder is eligible to apply through JAPAN eVISA website.

Types of visa

Single-entry short-term stay visa for the purpose of Tourism (for a period of up to 90 days) (Note). Electronic visas will be issued to those who applied through JAPAN eVISA website.

(Note: For nationals of China residing in China, electronic visas with a period of stay "15 days" or "30 days" will be issued. For nationals of Viet Nam residing in Viet Nam, the period of stay of electronic visas will be "15 days".) (Travelers with eVISA are required to display “Visa issuance notice” at the airport in the internet environment. PDF data, screenshot and printed copy will not be accepted.) If you wish to visit Japan for other purposes or for a long-term stay, please submit your application to the Japanese Embassy, Consulate General or Consular office with jurisdiction over your place of residence. (In some countries, applications must be made through travel agencies accredited by Japanese overseas establishment.) (For Taiwan, Taipei / Kaohsiung offices of Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association) In this case, you will have a visa sticker on your passport.

JAPAN eVISA website

• Please beware of fraud websites looking alike the JAPAN eVISA website.
• If your application is incomplete, we will cancel it without processing. Once cancelled, you are supposed to reapply (for your visa). Entering incorrect information and/or uploading incomplete/wrong documents could lead to a delay in examination or cancellation of your eVISA application, which may affect your travel plans.

How to display “Visa issuance notice”

Frequently asked questions about japan evisa.

• FAQ about JAPAN eVISA

Contact information for inquiries

Japan Visa Information Hotline: [email protected] (Available language: English) (Note1) Please mention your nationality or citizenship and place of your residence in your email. (Note2) This e-mail address is only for inquiries about JAPAN eVISA application procedures. For general inquiries, please contact the Japanese overseas establishment with jurisdiction over your place of residence.

• Website of Japanese Embassies and Consulates

Visa Overview

* This hotline is designated for visa applicants residing in the U.S.A or Puerto Rico. * If you are calling from the U.S.A or Puerto Rico, you will be charged a domestic call fee for your call. * This Hotline will only provide general information regarding Japanese visas. * The Hotline will not connect you to the Consulate-General's visa section. If you need to contact the Consulate-General in regards to a pending visa application, please contact the Consulate-General directly at (212)888-0889 during office hours.

Categories of Visa

Before applying, visa applicants must first decide which kind of visa to apply for according to the purpose of their visit to Japan. The documentation required for application differs according to the kind of visa the applicant needs. Please check the link Types and Categories of Visa .

Visa Traveler

Exploring the world one country at a time

Japan Tourist Visa: Requirements and Application Process

Published: March 18, 2024

A Japanese tourist visa is required for all non-visa-exempt nationalities and those who are not eligible for eVisa. Japan tourist visa application can only be lodged in person at a Japanese embassy in your country of nationality or residence.

Quick summary:

• Who requires it: Foreign nationals that are not visa-exempt
• Validity: 3 months, single-entry
• Allowed stay: up to 90 days
• Extensions: not allowed
• Processing time: 5 business days
• Fee: 3000 JPY or less

Read the Japan Visa Guide for more general advice about available visas for tourists, eligibility, and procedures.

Table of Contents

Understanding japan tourist visa.

Tourist visa validity

Japan single entry visa is valid for 3 months. You cannot extend this period of validity and if you change your passport before you use it, you must apply for a new visa.

Duration of stay

In most cases, the duration of allowed stay inside Japan is 90 days. In some cases, it can be lower, about 15 or 30 days.

Allowed number of entries

The standard Japanese tourist visa is a single entry only.

Multiple entry tourist visas are also issued but only to select nationalities with additional requirements.

Allowed ports of entry

With a Japanese tourist visa, you can enter Japan at any international airport or seaport.

When to apply

The processing time is 5 business days after the visa application is deemed complete by the receiving embassy. This can in turn take a few extra days or even up to 2 weeks.

It can take even longer if additional documents are requested from you or your application is sent for further review. Apply well in advance to ensure you receive the visa before your travel dates.

• Earliest : 3 months before traveling
• Latest : 2 weeks before traveling

Tourist visa extension

Extensions are not possible for either visa validity or allowed duration of stay.

Benefits of Japan tourist visa

Japan tourist visa offers VISA-FREE access to 14 countries. Read the VISA-FREE countries for Japan visa for more details.

Japan Tourist Visa Requirements

Who requires a tourist visa

The following nationalities require a tourist visa to travel to Japan

• Nationalities that are NOT visa-exempt (currently, 70 countries are visa-exempt)
• Nationals that are NOT eligible for Japan eVisa (currently, nationals and residents of 14 countries are eligible for eVisa)

North Korean nationals are not eligible for Japanese visas and are always denied entry.

Documents required

The following are the required documents for a Japan single entry visa for individual tourists (not on organized tours through travel agencies):

• Passport valid for the duration of stay
• One passport-size photo
• Completed Visa Application Form (use Adobe Acrobat Reader to fill out the Visa application form digitally, then print it and stick the passport photo)
• Confirmation of reservation of tickets (air or sea) both to and from Japan OR Information about the planned schedule of flight or cruise, including entry and departure dates both to and from Japan
• Proof of sufficient funds – certificate of income or tax statement AND bank statement
• Travel Itinerary plus any tickets or leaflets supporting your travel plans

The documents may vary depending on the receiving embassy and you may be requested to submit additional ones.

NOTE There are minor differences in the required documents for independent tourists from China, Russia, CIS countries, Georgia, and the Philippines. These are listed below.

Chinese travelers

Generally, Chinese tourists visiting Japan come on tours organized by authorized travel agencies.

As an independent Chinese traveler, it is possible to obtain a tourist visa for Japan if you have sufficient financial capability.

You must prepare your own travel itinerary in advance and approach an approved Chinese travel agency to facilitate and lodge the visa application for you. There is currently no way to apply at a Japanese embassy in China independently.

The period of stay granted for tourist visas to Chinese nationals is usually 15 or 30 days.

Travelers from Russia, CIS Countries, and Georgia

Independent tourists from any of the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) countries, Russia, or Georgia traveling to Japan, can obtain a single-entry visa.

The required documents are more or less the same as for other countries but you must submit 2 Visa Application Forms and 2 photos.

Travelers from the Philippines

In addition to the general document requirements, you must also submit:

• Birth certificate issued by the National Statistics Office (PSA) on security paper. If the certificate is illegible, crumpled, or parts of it are missing, also submit a birth certificate from the local government.
• Marriage certificate (if married)

Photo requirements

The passport photo must meet the following requirements.

• Taken within the last 6 months
• Must be of size 45mm x 35mm
• In color against a plain white background
• Taken looking straight forward and face visible clearly
• On a good quality paper

Tourist visa fee

The fee for the Japan tourist visa is 3000 JPY payable in the local currency of the embassy where you apply.

Visa fees may be lower for some countries.

Online payment for the visa fee is not possible.

Crucially, you don’t need to pay the visa fees when you apply. You will pay only if your Japan visa is approved. Japan is one of the few countries in the world that charge visa application fees after the visa is issued and don’t charge for unsuccessful applications.

Processing time

The processing time is 5 business days. 

However, this period starts after the embassy confirms that your application is complete which is known to take a few days or longer.

In reality, you can expect your visa to be issued within 2 weeks in most cases.

Japan Tourist Visa Application Process

How to apply for a Japan tourist visa

You must apply at a Japanese Embassy or Consulate General with jurisdiction over the area where you live or the one with jurisdiction over the country in which your passport is issued.

Effectively, this means that you must apply in the embassy in your own country or the country where you are legally a resident . 

If there is no Japanese embassy in your country, see which embassy nearby has jurisdiction over your country – it’s usually the closest one in a neighboring country. Check the Japanese embassies and consulates around the world.

Applying for Japan tourist visa at the embassy is usually a 5 step process.

Step 1: Gather all the necessary documents.

Step 2: Apply in person at the Japanese embassy.

Step 3: Remain available to reach – the embassy may request additional documents or an in-person interview.

Step 4: If your application is successful and your visa issued, go back to the embassy to collect your passport

Step 5: Pay the visa fee in cash in the local currency

If your application is rejected, you won’t be able to apply for a tourist visa again for the next 6 months unless there are major changes to your circumstances. There are no other penalties and there is no fee to be paid.

How to contact the Japanese embassy or consulate

Check the website of your Japanese embassy . They have methods of contact listed on their websites.

Alternatively, reach out to the Japan visa information hotline at [email protected] with your nationality or residence and inquiry.

Entry Procedure at the Border

Regardless of the border you enter Japan at, your flight origin, or your nationality, the entry procedure in Japan is pretty much always the same.

The border officer will check that you meet all requirements, including that your visa is valid, your purpose for entering Japan, and the planned length of your stay. 

Assuming everything is in order, the officer will grant you “landing permission” by affixing a seal of verification for landing in your passport. At this point your visa expires and you are allowed to stay in Japan for up to 90 days (or as much as provided in your visa).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is japan visa easy to get.

The Japanese tourist visa is one of the easiest to obtain. There are relatively few required documents, no mandatory interviews, and a high success rate.

If you submit a complete and honest application, the chances of visa approval are high.

Can I apply for a Japan visa online?

Japan also has an eVisa system in place but it’s available only to certain travelers.

You can apply for a Japan visa online (eVisa) if you are a legal resident of Australia, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Taiwan, UAE, the UK or the USA.

A legal resident can be anyone residing in those countries on a student visa, work visa, residence permit, etc.

What is the minimum bank balance for Japan tourist visa?

There is no official guideline for the minimum required bank balance but a rule of thumb is to have at least 100 USD for each day of intended stay in Japan.

For example, if you submit an itinerary for a 15-day trip to Japan, you should show a minimum of 1,500 USD balance in your bank account.

WRITTEN BY THIRUMAL MOTATI

Thirumal Motati is an expert in tourist visa matters. He has been traveling the world on tourist visas for more than a decade. With his expertise, he has obtained several tourist visas, including the most strenuous ones such as the US, UK, Canada, and Schengen, some of which were granted multiple times. He has also set foot inside US consulates on numerous occasions. Mr. Motati has uncovered the secrets to successful visa applications. His guidance has enabled countless individuals to obtain their visas and fulfill their travel dreams. His statements have been mentioned in publications like Yahoo, BBC, The Hindu, and Travel Zoo.

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LEGAL DISCLAIMER We are not affiliated with immigration, embassies or governments of any country. The content in this article is for educational and general informational purposes only, and shall not be understood or construed as, visa, immigration or legal advice. Your use of information provided in this article is solely at your own risk and you expressly agree not to rely upon any information contained in this article as a substitute for professional visa or immigration advice. Under no circumstance shall be held liable or responsible for any errors or omissions in this article or for any damage you may suffer in respect to any actions taken or not taken based on any or all of the information in this article. Please refer to our full disclaimer for further information.

AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Please refer to our full disclosure for further information.

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