Japan Visa Guide

Japan is on many travelers’ bucket lists, and with its delicious food, quirky culture, and unique shopping finds, it’s easy to understand why. Before you can book your trip to the land of the rising sun though, you need to secure a visa first. Not sure where to begin?

Here’s our step-by-step guide:

Pick a Visa That Suits Your Needs

Prepare the Requirements

Choose an Accredited Travel Agency

Show Them That You Intend to Return Home

1. Pick a Visa That Suits Your Needs

Japan has multiple kinds of visas for foreigners visiting the country. Aside from the tourist visa, Japan also has visas for those visiting friends or distant relatives, those attending conferences, and for those in the country for a medical stay. Head over to the website of the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines to find out which one you need.

2. Prepare the Requirements

Passport

Your passport has to be valid for the next six months and in good condition. At least two pages of the passport must also be blank. Renew a damaged or expiring passport before applying.

Filled-out Visa Application Form

Download the application form here. You can check out a sample filled-out form here.

Visa Photo

You will need to submit a 4.5cm x 4.5cm photo with a white background, taken no longer than six months prior to your application. Most photo studios will know the photo requirements of embassies, so tell them you’re applying for a Japanese visa when you have your photo taken. You can check more details about the photo requirements here.

NSO-Certified Birth Certificate with Receipt

a. An NSO-certified birth certificate will cost you P350 if you have it delivered, and P140 if you pick it up personally. Order it online here. The embassy also accepts a birth certificate from the local civil registrar if your NSO-certified birth certificate copy is unclear.

b. If your birth is not registered with the NSO, you will need to get a Certificate of Non-Record from the NSO and submit it with a birth certificate from the local civil registrar. You will pay P350 if you have this delivered and P140 if you pick it up personally.

c. If the birth certificate is a late registration (your birth was not registered with the NSO within 30 days), you will need several documents: a birth certificate from the local civil registrar, the original baptismal certificate, the school record (Form 137 or school report card), and school yearbook are required. The contact number of the church and the school is also needed.

NSO-Issued marriage contract, if applicable

If you don’t have a marriage certificate with the NSO, you will need to get a Certificate of Non-Record together with a marriage certificate from the local civil registrar. You will pay P350 if you have this delivered and P140 if you pick it up personally.

Itinerary

The embassy will also need an itinerary that covers your entire stay. Download a sample form here.

Bank Balance Certificate

The certificate you present to the embassy should be recent (within three months of submission of the application) and the amount should be enough to cover your airfare and your stay. The bank balance certificate you will submit will show the average balance for the past six months. If reviewers catch a sudden influx of money into your account, your application may be denied.

Income Tax Return (ITR)

The embassy will require an original and photocopied version of your income tax return. If you don’t have an ITR for some reason, the embassy will require a letter from you explaining why.

3. Choose an Accredited Travel Agency

The Japanese embassy will require you to course your application through an accredited travel agency. These agencies will charge you anywhere from P800 to P1500, so pick one that fits your budget.

For more details on accredited travel agencies and their contact details, check here.

4. Show Them That You Intend to Return Home

This can be established through the following:

Your income tax return (ITR)
A certificate of employment
Your travel history

You also get a higher chance of getting approved if you submit an old passport with plenty of stamps and visas on it.

Make Sure You’ve Filled Out Your Application Correctly

Review everything before handing it over to the travel agency so your hard work won’t go to waste.

Once you’ve paid and submitted your requirements, all you need now is to wait for a call from the travel agency. Good luck!

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Disclaimer

The information contained in this article is up-to-date as of January 2020 and may be updated occasionally. Given the changing nature of laws, rules, and regulations of visas, there may be outdated information in this article. The information contained on this webpage is intended to provide general guidance on matters of interest for the personal use of the reader only.