Travel - FAQ

Prior to the Application

Q1: I want to go to Japan. Do I need a visa?

People of some countries (or from some regions) do not need a visa if their period of stay in Japan is 90 days or less and they are not going to be engaged in income-earning activities. Refer to the List of Countries and Regions that have Visa Exemption Arrangements with Japan.

Q2: Is it necessary to go to the Japanese Embassy / Consulate General by myself to apply for a visa?

There are four ways to apply for a visa: (1) the visa applicant him/herself goes directly to the Japanese Embassy / Consulate General, (2) the visa applicant writes a Letter of Proxy and get a proxy to go to the Japanese Embassy / Consulate General in his / her place, (3) the visa applicant uses an accredited travel agent approved by the Japanese Embassy / Consulate General and (4) the visa applicant uses the JAPAN eVISA website and apply for visa online. 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 General, or through an accredited travel agent. Check with the embassy or consulate general to which you plan to apply before making the application.

Q3: Can I apply for a visa at the nearest Japanese Embassy / Consulate General while traveling in a foreign country?

You can apply for the visa at the Japanese Embassy / Consulate General in your own country (region) or country (region) of residence (if there is more than one, apply to the Japanese Embassy / Consulate General nearest from where you live). In other words, you cannot apply for a visa at your travel destination; however, if there are unavoidable circumstances, consult with the Japanese Embassy / Consulate General where you would like to apply for the visa before making the application.

Q4: Why was my visa application not accepted?

If any of the following cases apply to you, your application may not be accepted.

(1) Applications from persons holding Japanese nationality

(2) The application is made to the Japanese Embassy / Consulate General outside your country (region) of birth or country (region) of residence

(3) You currently hold a valid visa or re-entry permit

(4) Your previous visa application to visit Japan for a specific purpose was rejected and you reapply to visit Japan for the same purpose within six months from the rejection

(5) The visa application is already being processed at a different Japanese Embassy / Consulate General

(6) There are some errors or omissions in the submitted documents

(7) The period of validity or the visa attachment space of your passport is insufficient

(8) The application is made by a person who does not have the qualifications to make a proxy application

(9) An application for issuance of a Certificate of Eligibility is still pending

Reviewing Your Application

Q1: What’s the timeline for the application review process? The typical review period, assuming there are no issues with the content of your application, is five business days starting from the day after your application is accepted. However, in cases where there is high demand or a large number of visa applications are received within a short period, this process may take longer than expected. Further, if additional verification is needed (which may include providing more documents, undergoing an interview, etc.), or if the visa application is for a long-term stay without a Certificate of Eligibility, the processing time can extend from several weeks to even a few months. As such, it’s advisable for visa applicants to submit their applications as early as possible ahead of their planned travel date.

Q2: Why was I asked to submit more documents? During the review process, there may be instances where further information is needed. In such cases, you might be asked to provide additional documents beyond those initially required. The reason being, each applicant’s situation and circumstances vary, and it’s often only after receiving the application that we become aware of these unique factors. Hence, we don’t always request all potential necessary documentation upfront. If you fail to provide the requested additional documents, your application process could be halted, and your visa may not be issued.

Q3: My travel date is near. Can you expedite my visa issuance? Please understand that we can’t make a decision about issuing or not issuing a visa until all necessary reviews have been completed. We ensure fairness by processing applications in the order they were received. Therefore, we advise you to submit your visa application as soon as your travel plans are confirmed.

Handling and Decision on Visa Applications

Q1: Can you explain why my visa application was declined? The decline of your application stems from a failure to meet the stipulated visa issuance criteria. Disclosure of specific reasons for the rejection is not practiced to prevent this information from becoming public knowledge. Such an eventuality could potentially lead to misuse of this information to bypass the visa scrutiny process for illicit entry into Japan. Such incidences would disrupt the rightful visa scrutiny process and negatively impact Japanese society. The Administrative Procedure Act, Article 3, Paragraph 1, Item 10 exempts “dispositions relating to departure and immigration of foreign nationals” from the obligation to divulge the assessment criteria or the rationale for application rejection.

Visa Issuance Criteria: A Japanese visa will be granted to an applicant who meets all the ensuing requirements and whose issuance is deemed suitable.

The applicant holds a valid passport and is eligible for re-entry into his/her nationality’s country or residence country.
All provided documents are genuine, completed, and satisfactory.
The applicant’s activities in Japan/ the individual’s civil status or position/ duration of stay comply with the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act’s requirements for residence status and stay period. (Cabinet Order No.319 of 1951, referred to as the “Immigration Control Act”)
The applicant does not come under any of the items of Article 5, Paragraph 1 of the Immigration Control Act.

Q2: Why am I unable to reapply immediately after my visa application was declined? Your visa application is not accepted if a previous one was declined and you intend to reapply within six months with the same visit purpose. This is because accepting an identical application a day after its rejection would likely yield the same result as the applicant’s circumstances would not have changed significantly. However, we may consider re-applications within six months in situations where there has been a significant change in your circumstances post-rejection, or travel to Japan is necessitated by humanitarian reasons. It is advisable to consult with the Japanese Embassy or Consulate where you intend to apply for the visa before submitting it.

Before Your Departure to Japan

Q1: I need to delay my trip. What is the validity of my visa? Your single-entry visa, which becomes void as soon as you enter Japan, is typically valid for three months. Make sure to enter Japan within three months from the date your visa was issued. If you need to delay your trip for more than three months, you’ll need to apply for a new visa.

Q2: My passport with my visa has been lost. What steps should I take? Firstly, reach out to the Japanese Embassy or Consulate General that granted your visa and report the incident. It’s also advisable to report the lost property to your local police station. To get a new visa, you’ll need to apply again.

Q3: Why was my entry to Japan denied despite having a valid visa? A visa merely fulfills one of the prerequisites for landing in Japan and doesn’t guarantee your entry into the country. This is stated in the warning on the visa application form and by signing the form, you acknowledge this fact. There may be instances where you are denied entry into Japan even with a valid visa, such as if the person applying for entry is not the same as the one named in the visa, or if you cannot satisfactorily explain your intended activities in Japan to the immigration officer.

Other Discussions

Q1: What is the procedure for managing the personal information provided during the visa application process? Personal information submitted by the visa applicant, inviting person, and guarantor is carefully managed by the Japanese Embassy/Consulate General under the Act on the Protection of Personal Information. Furthermore, local travel agencies intending to manage visa applications require approval from Japanese embassies/consulates. A condition of this approval is an agreement to appropriately manage personal information, according to the same Act, akin to the data handling practices of the outsourcing entity.

Q2: What legal rules determine whether my visa will be issued or not? The issuance or non-issuance of a visa to a foreign national is a sovereign act of each country, as per international customary law. The administration related to visas in Japan is conducted by consuls according to the Act for Establishment of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Article 4 Item 13, Article 7 Item 1, and Article 10 Item 2 and Item 3).

Q3: Does the denial of a visa for a Japanese spouse constitute a violation of human rights? The right to enter Japan is not inherent to foreign nationals, thus the refusal of a visa does not infringe upon human rights. However, instances of human trafficking involving individuals from developing countries being exploited for sham marriages or illegal labor are prevalent. With this in mind, Japan implements thorough visa checks to safeguard the human rights of foreign nationals.

Q4: Isn’t it unjust that nationals from countries that offer visa-exemptions to Japanese tourists need a visa to visit Japan? Visa exemptions are not always reciprocal. There are numerous instances where developing countries unilaterally offer visa exemptions to Japanese nationals due to economic benefits derived from their tourism. Conversely, if Japan were to reciprocate these exemptions uniformly, it could adversely affect its internal security and national interest by potentially increasing illegal overstays and unauthorized work. Hence, visa exemptions require careful consideration from a holistic perspective.