[UPDATED] Most Detailed Guide to Japan Visa Application Process Independently

Japan is a top destination for travel enthusiasts. However, for many travelers, obtaining a Japan visa can be daunting due to its strict approval process. Let Mytour provide you with some information about the Japan visa application process, ensuring you approach the Land of the Rising Sun with confidence.

What is a Japan tourist visa?

The Japan visa can be understood as the 'travel pass' issued by the Japanese government to foreign citizens, allowing them to enter Japan for a specified period with a clear purpose. All Vietnamese citizens wishing to enter the Land of the Rising Sun must go through the Japan visa application process. Therefore, a visa is one of the essential requirements for traveling to Japan.

A visa enables you to enter Japan

Depending on your visa application needs, the granted visa will have different symbols. For tourists, you will receive a short-term visa marked with V. There are two criteria for classifying Japan visas:

• Number of entries.
• Purpose of the trip.

How long does a Japan tourist visa last? Typically, this visa allows you to register entry into Japan for a period of 3 months with a maximum stay of 15 days, and the number of entries depends on your application.

If you have visited Japan continuously in the past 3 years or hold visas from developed countries such as the US, UK, Schengen visa,... along with demonstrating good financial status and credible travel history, you will be considered for a multiple-entry tourist visa with a maximum validity of 5 years and a maximum stay of 30 days each time.

Conditions for applying for a Japan tourist visa

Anyone can go through the Japan visa application process, but not everyone can successfully obtain a visa. For some individuals, their applications will be rejected from the initial stage if they fail to meet the following requirements:

• Passport must have at least 6 months validity and must ensure the right to return to the home country or re-enter the country of residence.
• Visa application must be complete and authenticated.
• The applicant and the duration of stay must comply with the residence status and duration of stay specified in the Immigration and Refugee Administration Act (Administrative Regulation No. 319 of 1951 - Immigration Act).
• Applicants for a Japan tourist visa must not correspond to the provisions of Section 1 Article 5 of the Immigration Act.

Japan is quite demanding when it comes to visa issuance

What documents are required for a Japan tourist visa application?

A complete and accurate self-sponsored Japan tourist visa application package according to the embassy's requirements will include the following documents:

1. Japan tourist visa application form

You can download this form from the website of the Japanese Embassy in Vietnam to proactively fill out the form before submitting your application.

Japan visa application form template

2. Personal documents

Before traveling abroad, you must have documents proving your personal information.

• Original passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of visa application.
• Two passport-sized photos measuring 4.5cm×4.5cm. Requirements: white background, clear face and ears, no glasses, no editing, taken within 3 months from the date of application submission. The back of the photo must clearly state the applicant's name.
• National ID card/Citizen identification card (notarized photocopy of both sides).
• Household registration book (notarized photocopy of all pages).
• Notarized copy of marriage certificate (if traveling with spouse).
• Notarized copy of birth certificate (if traveling with parents/children).

The passport is a necessary document in the Japanese visa application process

3. Employment verification documents

Occupation is one of the foundations to prove your income source, which greatly contributes to the approval of a Japanese tourist visa.

• If you are an employee working for a company: Bank transaction statements for the last 3 months, salary slips for 3 months, employment contract, and leave permit to Japan with company confirmation.
• If you are a business owner: Business registration certificate and tax payment reports for the last 3 months are required.
• If you are a student: Student ID card with leave permit or study confirmation signed by the principal.
• Other cases will prepare documents as requested by the Japanese diplomatic agency.

4. Financial proof documents

Financial proof for Japanese tourism is an important document that determines whether you can pass the visa application process or not. You can easily use savings account books or bank account balance statements provided by the bank to prove your financial status.

You can use a savings account to demonstrate your financial status

• Savings account statement with a minimum balance of $5,000 USD for a minimum period of 3 months, along with the latest 3-month salary slips.
• Including documents such as property deeds, stocks, real estate, automobiles (if any)... owned by the visa applicant will increase the chances of approval.

5. Detailed travel itinerary

In the process of applying for a Japanese tourist visa, you need to provide a specific and detailed plan of the places you will visit along with dates. The more detailed your travel itinerary is, the higher your chances of visa approval will be.

• Provide a clear itinerary, listing the specific places to visit and the duration of stay at each location.
• Confirmation of hotel reservations in Japan with the check-out date matching the itinerary.

A detailed travel itinerary is required when applying for a visa to Japan

Some points to note when preparing documents

Based on the experience of applying for a Japanese tourist visa, when preparing your documents, pay attention to certain aspects to ensure the completeness of your application.

• Documents must be on A4-sized paper.
• Translations into English or Japanese are not required.
• Important documents must be notarized, with notarization completed within three months of submitting the application.
• Information regarding hotels, itineraries, and leave applications must match.
• Mark important information for easy identification.
• Arrange documents in the order listed above for convenient processing.

Visa Application Procedure for Japan

Typically, the visa application process for Japan consists of 6 steps:

• Step 1: Determine the appropriate visa type. You may be eligible for different types of visas depending on the purpose, intended duration of stay, and your financial capabilities.
• Step 2: Prepare your Japanese tourist visa application meticulously and carefully following the instructions provided above.
• Step 3: Schedule an appointment to submit your application at the Embassy, Consulate General, or VFS Global.
• Step 4: Submit your application and processing fee. If you submit at the Embassy or Consulate General, you only pay the fee upon visa approval.
• Step 5: Track your application and receive the outcome.

Location for Submitting Japan Visa Application

Currently, there are several locations in Vietnam where you can submit your application for a tourist visa to Japan. You can submit it at the Embassy, Consulate General, or authorized agencies including VFS Global and 14 travel agents.

Embassy of Japan in Vietnam (from Gia Lai Province, Binh Dinh Province and North)

• Address: 27 Lieu Giai Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi, Vietnam.
• Phone Number: 024-3846-3000.
• Office Hours: 08:30 – 16:45 from Monday to Friday.

Consulate General of Japan in Ho Chi Minh City (from Dak Lak, Phu Yen Province to the South)

• Address: 261 Dien Bien Phu Street, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, District 3 Ho Chi Minh.
• Phone Number: +84-28-44581025.
• Office Hours: 08:30 – 16:45 from Monday to Friday.

VFS Hanoi (from Gia Lai Province, Binh Dinh Province to the North)

• Address: Ocean Park Building, 2nd Floor, 1 Dao Duy Anh Street, Phuong Mai Ward, Dong Da District, Hanoi, Vietnam.
• Phone Number: 8428 38227456.
• Office Hours: 8:30 - 16:00 from Monday to Friday.

VFS Ho Chi Minh City (from Dak Lak, Phu Yen Province to the South)

• Address: 3rd Floor, Resco Building, 94-96 Nguyen Du Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
• Phone Number: 8428 38227456.
• Office Hours: 8:30 - 16:00 from Monday to Friday.

Consulate General of Japan in Ho Chi Minh City

Each address has its own advantages and disadvantages. In my opinion, if people do not urgently need the visa result, they should directly submit their documents at the Embassy or Consulate General of Japan in Vietnam to save costs.

Visa Fees for Japan

Japan is one of the countries with relatively low visa fees in the world. Particularly, you will only need to pay the visa fee upon issuance if you submit at the Embassy or Consulate General. Specifically, the visa fees for applying for a tourist visa to Japan include:

Additionally, in your Japan tourist visa application fee, you may need to pay some additional service fees if you process your Japan visa procedures through authorized parties at a cost of approximately 200,000 VND/application.

Key Points to Note When Applying for a Japan Tourist Visa

To address the question of whether applying for a Japan tourist visa is difficult, in my opinion, it's not too difficult. People just need to consider the following points:

• Prepare your documents thoroughly and accurately. Absolutely avoid using forged documents as you will be denied a Japan tourist visa and it will affect future visa applications.
• Do not purchase plane tickets to Japan before obtaining the visa. The application does not require flight ticket confirmation, and the Japanese Embassy will not be responsible if you do not receive the visa as planned.
• Submit additional documents promptly if requested.
• If you have to attend a visa interview, always maintain a polite and honest demeanor when answering questions.

Important Notes in the Procedure of Applying for a Japan Tourist Visa

• The visa approval process takes approximately 10 - 15 days, so be proactive in scheduling your visa application to avoid missing your trip.
• Documents submitted to the Embassy will not be returned. If you need to retrieve original documents, you should submit them along with a notarized photocopy.
• Do not directly send basic documents via email, postal mail, or fax to the Japanese Embassy unless specifically requested. Self-submitted documents will not be accepted.
• If your Japan tourist visa is rejected, you cannot reapply for a visa with the same purpose within 6 months from the date of rejection. Therefore, thoroughly understand the Japan visa application process and prepare your documents fully and accurately.
• The Japanese Embassy/Consulate General will not disclose the reason for visa rejection.

Important Notes in the Procedure of Entering Japan

After completing the Japan visa application process, the procedure for entering Japan is equally important and requires the following considerations:

• Ensure you have your original passport and Japan visa ready.
• You'll need to accurately fill out the immigration and customs declaration forms. The customs declaration form is in Japanese only, so make sure to carefully read instructions from travelers who have been to Japan. Meanwhile, the immigration form is in both English and Japanese, making it easier to complete.
• At the customs area, there are two sections for appropriate immigration procedures: First-time visitors to Japan will proceed to the Foreigner section. Conversely, those who have previously entered Japan will go to the Re-entry counter.

Entering Japan

• Subsequently, your fingerprints will be taken, and your face will be photographed for identification.
• When entering Japan, it's essential to provide accurate and complete baggage information. Based on experiences traveling to Japan, aside from prohibited substances like drugs, tourists should refrain from bringing fruits and vegetables into the country.
• The procedures for entering Japan are quite intricate. Even when departing the country, you'll need to complete a re-entry and exit reminder form, submit it along with your passport, flight ticket, and foreign resident card to the customs officer. Without the customs stamp, you won't be able to leave Japan.

Here are some insights into the procedures for obtaining an independent Japan tourist visa to make your visa-free travel to this country more convenient. Hopefully, these insights will help you prepare well to explore the Land of the Rising Sun. If you still encounter difficulties in the visa application process, a Mytour Japan tour will be an ideal choice for you!

Author: Quynh

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