How to get a Japanese Visa

Every foreigner, except shipping and airline crews, who wish to enter in Japan, whether to work or visit, needs to secure a visa at an embassy or consulate. This visa will be stamped or attached to the passport. If you do not have the necessary visa, you will not be granted to enter in Japan.

A visa is different from landing permission. Landing permission is stamped in the passport by the immigration officers at the airport or seaport where he or she goes through immigration procedures. Landing permission serves as the legal basis of that the foreigner can stay in Japan. A visa is only a recommendation and does not automatically guarantee landing permission.

Visa Application

When applying for a Japanese visa, you must submit an application in person to a Japanese Embassy or Consulate.

Requirements

When applying for a Japanese visa you are required to submit:

• passport
• two 45mm x 45mm passport-type photos taken within the previous six months (stateless persons must submit three photos)
• two official visa application forms, available at the embassy or consulate
• documents certifying the purpose of the visit (refer to table below)

 For short-term stay

Status of residence	Supporting documents
Temporary Visitor	1.      A ticket for boarding an airplane or a vessel to leave Japan, or a written guarantee issued by a transport company. 2.      A valid passport which enables the foreign national concerned to enter foreign countries out of Japan. 3.      Documents certifying that the person concerned can defray all expenses incurred during the stay in Japan.

For Work or Long Term Stay

Status of residence	Supporting documents
Diplomat/Official	Note verbal and/or documents issued by the foreign government or international organization, certifying the identity of the person concerned and his or her purposes while visiting Japan.
Professor	Documents certifying the activity, its duration, the position, and the remuneration of the person concerned.
Artist	1.      Documents certifying the activity, its duration, and the position of the person concerned. 2.      Material showing the achievements of the artistic activity of the person concerned.
Religious Activities	1.      Documents from the foreign religious organization, certifying the duration of stay, position, and remuneration of the person concerned. 2.      Material showing the outline of the foreign religious organization which is sending the person concerned, and the recipient Japanese religious organization. 3.      Documents certifying the position and career of the person concerned as a religionist.
Journalist	Documents certifying the activity, its duration, the position, and the remuneration of the person concerned.
Investor/Business Manager	1.      In cases where the person concerned intends to commence the operation of international trade or other business, or to invest in the business, the following materials are required. a.      A business plan, copies of the company registration, and a statement of profit and loss. b.      Material showing the number of full-time staff except the foreign national concerned, and in the case where the number of the full-time staff is two, copies of resident cards or certificates of alien registration and documents regarding wage payments of the staff concerned. c.      Material showing the outline of the business office. 2.      In cases where the person concerned intends to engage in management of international trade or other business on behalf of the foreign national who began or investedthe business concerned, the following materials are required. a.     A business plan, copies of the company registration, and a statement of profit and loss. b.     Material showing the number of full-time staff except the foreign national concerned, and in the case where the number of the full-time staff is two, copies of resident cards or certificates of alien registration and documents regarding wage payments of the staff concerned. c.     Material showing the outline of the business office. d.     Documents certifying the activity, its duration, the position, and the remuneration of the person concerned. 3.      In cases where the person concerned intends to engage in management of international trade or other business on behalf of the foreign national who began or invested inthe business concerned or is engaged in management of the business concerned which was begun or invested in Japan, the following materials are required. a.      A business plan, copies of the company registration, and a statement of profit and loss. b.      Material showing the number of full-time staff except the foreign national concerned, and in the case where the number of the full-time staff is two, copies of resident cards or certificates of alien registration and documents regarding wage payments of the staff concerned. c.      Material showing the outline of the business office. d.      Documents certifying the career of the person concerned and his or her certificate of graduation with a major in management or administration. e.      Documents certifying the activity, its duration, the position, and the remuneration of the person concerned.  Status of residence Supporting documents Legal/Accounting Services 1.      Documents certifying that the person concerned is qualified to do the activities under the status of residence of "Legal/Accounting Services" provided for in Annexed Table 1 (2) of the Immigration Control Act. 2.      Documents certifying the activity, its duration, the position, and the remuneration of the person concerned. Medical Services 1.      Material showing the outline of the recipient organization. 2.      Documents certifying that the person concerned is qualified to do the activities under the status of residence of "Medical Services" provided for in Annexed Table 1 (2) ofthe Immigration Control Act. 3.      Documents certifying the activity, its duration, the position, and the remuneration of the person concerned. Researcher 1.      Material showing the outline of the recipient organization. 2.      A diploma, a personal history, and other documents certifying the career of the person concerned. 3.      Documents certifying the activity, its duration, the position, and the remuneration of the person concerned. Instructor 1.      Material showing the outline of the recipient organization. 2.      Documents certifying the academic career or a copy of an educational license of the person concerned. 3.      Documents certifying the professional career of the person concerned. 4.      Documents certifying the activity, its duration, the position, and the remuneration of the person concerned. Engineer 1.      Copies of the company registration and a statement of profit and loss of the recipient organization. 2.      Materials describing the business undertaken by the recipient organization. 3.      A diploma or a certificate of graduation with a major in the subject regarding the activity of the person concerned, and documents certifying his or herprofessional career. 4.      Documents certifying the activity, its duration, the position, and the remuneration of the person concerned. Specialist in Humanities/ International Services 1.      Copies of the company registration and a statement of profit and loss of the recipient organization. 2.      Materials describing the business undertaken by the recipient organization. 3.      A diploma or a certificate of graduation with a major in a subject relating to the activity of the person concerned, and documents certifying his or herprofessional career. 4.      Documents certifying the activity, its duration, the position, and the remuneration of the person concerned. Intra-company Transferee 1.      Documents certifying the relationship between the business office in a foreign country and the business office in Japan. 2.      Copies of the company registration and a statement of profit and loss of the business office in Japan, and material describing the business activities. 3.      Documents certifying the details of his or her duty and its duration at the business office in a foreign country. 4.      Copies of the company registration of the business office in a foreign country, and material showing its outline. 5.      Documents certifying the activity, its duration, the position, and the remuneration of the person concerned. 6.      A diploma and documentation certifying the career of the person concerned. Skilled Labor 1.      Copies of the company registration and a statement of profit and loss of the recipient organization. 2.      Materials describing the business undertaken by the recipient organization. 3.      A personal history and documents issued by the official organization which is certifying the career and the qualification regarding the activity of the person concerned. 4.      Documents certifying the activity, its duration, the position, and the remuneration of the person concerned. Long-Term Resident 1.      A copy of the family registration, the marriage certificate, the birth certificate, and other documents certifying the status of the foreign national concerned. 2.      Documents certifying that the person concerned can defray all expenses incurred during the stay in Japan. In cases where the expenses incurred during the stay in Japan are defrayed by another person, documents certifying the income of the person who intends to defray all expenses. 3.      A letter of guarantee by a person living in Japan. Visa Fees Foreigners who obtain a visa for Japan must pay a visa fee. 3,000 yen = Php1358.9501 for a single-entry visa, 6,000 yen = Php 2717.9002 for a double-entry or multiple-entry visa, and 700 yen= Php 317.0883 for a transit visa In the case of applicants from countries with reciprocal arrangements relating to visa fees with Japan, fees are reduced or exempted in accordance with the arrangement.