|
|
|
|
Visa Services Temporary Visa Japan National Tourist Organization (JNTO)
|
Visa Overview Generally, a national of a foreign country who wishes to enter Japan must first obtain a visa. Under the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act of Japan, it is stipulated that any foreigner wishing to enter or land in Japan must possess a valid passport and a visa obtained from an embassy or consulate. Travelers from certain countries may be eligible to visit Japan without a visa under reciprocal visa exemption arrangements. (See later in this document for further details.) JurisdictionVisa applications should be made at the Japanese embassy or consulate with jurisdiction over applicant's place of permanent residence. The Consulate General of Japan in Boston serves Connecticut (except for Fairfield County, which is under the jurisdiction of the Consulate General of Japan in New York), Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. We may decline visa applications from areas outside our jurisdiction. Categories of Visa Before applying, visa applicants must first decide which kind of visa (and status of residence) to apply for according to the purpose of their visit to Japan. The documentation required for application differs depending on which kind of visa (and status of residence) the applicant wishes. Please check Types and Categories of Visa. At the Port of Entry Applicants should be aware that a visa does not guarantee entry into Japan. The Ministry of Justice (the Immigration Office) has the authority to deny admission. A visa is used solely to make application for Landing Permission, which defines the period for which a foreign national is authorized to remain in Japan, and the Status of Residence, which determines the activities a foreign national is authorized to engage in in Japan. Landing Permissions are determined by the immigration official at the port of entry, not the consular official.
Who Can Use a Temporary Visitor Visa A Temporary Visitor Visa is for those who intend to stay in Japan for 90 days or less for such purposes as follows: Persons planning to travel to Japan for a different purpose, such as students, workers, journalists, entertainers etc., must apply for a different visa in the appropriate category. U.S. citizens and citizens of other countries which have a reciprocal visa exemption arrangement with Japan may be eligible to visit Japan without a visa for a short-term stay for the activities allowed to Temporary Visitors. For more information about reciprocal visa exemption arrangements, please check the reciprocity table. Documentation Each applicant for a Temporary Visitor Visa must submit the following documents. Please be aware that we decline incomplete documents.
Applicants must demonstrate that they are properly classifiable as a Temporary Visitor. Evidence which shows the following may be provided. It is impossible to specify the exact form the evidence should take since applicants' circumstances vary greatly.
Applicants Who Need Additional Evidence Applicants for a Temporary Visitor Visa who have a national passport of the countries listed below are required to submit additional evidence made by an interested person (Guarantor) in Japan.
You can send a self-addressed return envelope with a 42 cent stamp for requirements. Please be sure to state your nationality, the purpose and length of visiting Japan. Visa Fees Visa fees are determined according to reciprocal arrangements between Japan and the country of the applicant's nationality. Please check the page of Visa Fees. Processing Time The time to process an application for a Temporary Visitor Visa depends on the applicant's circumstances. In most cases, it takes three business days to a week (excluding the date of application), if the documentation is in order. There are some cases, however, in which over a few weeks or more are needed to process an application. It should be noted that the Consulate does not issue visas on the same day of the application.
Visas for Work and Long Term Stay Documentation Each applicant must submit the following documents. Please be aware that we decline incomplete documents. For information about the Certificate of Eligibility, please check What is a Certificate of Eligibility? Questions about how to obtain a Certificate of Eligibility should be made to the local Immigration office. Application without Certificate of EligibilityWe recommend that you have your contact in Japan get your Certificate of Eligibility from the Immigration Office in Japan before visa application. A Certificate of Eligibility makes it easier to obtain a visa at a Japanese consular office and a Landing Permission at the port of entry. If you wish to make a visa application without a Certificate of Eligibility, you can check Documents to Be Submitted with Visa Applications for supporting documentation or you can send a stamped self-addressed envelope for requirements. Please be sure to state your nationality, the purpose and length of your visiting Japan. Applicants who wish to have their passports returned by FedEx or UPS (Fedex/UPS Ground & any services requiring direct hand-over to the shipping companies should not be used. Please note we do not use USPS for the return of passports) can submit a pre-paid, self-addressed return envelope with application documents. Applicants should be aware that the Consulate does not bear any responsibility for the delay or loss of envelopes or passports by the shipping companies. Visa Fees Visa fees are determined according to reciprocal arrangements between Japan and the country of the applicant's nationality. Please check the page of Visa Fees. Processing Time In the case of application with a Certificate of Eligibility, it usually takes three business days to a week (excluding the date of application), if the documentation is in order. In the case of application without a Certificate of Eligibility, the processing time varies depending on the applicant's circumstances and the visa category. In some cases it can take over a few weeks or more. It should be noted that the Consulate does not issue visas on the same day of application.
Visa Office: Top Page | About Us | Visiting Japan | Bilateral Relations | Culture & Education | Japan's Foreign Policy | Japan Info | Links |
