Do I Need a Visa to Go to Japan?

It depends on your nationality referring to whether you need a visa or not to go to Japan. If you hold the passport of some particular countries, you could enjoy a visa-free policy to Japan. For other countries, you have to prepare the materials required and apply for a visa in advance.

Senso-ji Temple in Tokyo

The Countries Do Not Need a Visa

The people of 70 countries and regions could enjoy the visa exemption when travelling to Japan for a short stay. The period of stay permitted is varied, which is up to 90 days. Although citizens of all the 70 countries and areas are allowed to enter Japan without a visa, the detailed policies to each countries are different. Please call the hotline of Japan’s Visa for the specific information or consult the embassy or consulate of Japan in your city.

Read about Visa-Free Travel to Japan to find the specific countries and more details.

Countries & Regions Need a Visa to Go to Japan

A visa is required to Japan for people of Russia, Commonwealth of Independence States (CIS) countries, Georgia, China, Philippines, Vietnam, and more other countries. If you come from these countries, you need to apply for a visa with your documents. At present, you can also apply for the online visa to Japan through the official system.

The documents to apply for a visa to go to Japan usually include two visa application forms, your recent identification photos, the valid passport, certificate of your employment or your finance, and more additional materials like a letter of guarantee and letter of invitation. You need to ask the Japan Visa Center or the embassy/consulate for details, as the materials required would be somewhat differentiated for different purpose (business/tourism).

Travel to Kyoto

Long-Term Stay Requires a Visa

If you are going to stay in Japan for over 90 days or work there for a long period, you do need a visa to enter the country. Apart from your passport, visa application forms, identification photo, and other necessary materials, you need the Certificate of Eligibility issued by Japan’s Immigration Bureau in the region, which should be applied by the inviter in Japan and then be sent to you.

Other Tips about a Visa to Go to Japan

Tokyo Skytree Tower at Dusk

 It is usually 5 workdays for visa issuance from your application is received, if there is no problem with the content and documents.
 Visa fee is fixed as JPY 3,000 for a single entry. JPY 6,000 is charged for a double-entry or multi-entry visa, and JPY 700 for a transit visa.
 A visa is valid within 3 months (90 days) for a single entry. Generally speaking, the extension of validity is not accepted.

 If you enter Japan via the visa-free policy and you come from Mexico or some European countries like Austria, Germany and the United Kingdom, you can apply for an extension of your stay to Japan’s Ministry of Justice or the regional Immigration Bureau before the expiration. The period of stay could be extended up to 6 months in total.

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