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Holiday notice Do you need a visa? Can you apply to us?
Application
When should you apply?
You are able to apply for visa to us three months before you arrive in Japan. Because most of the applications we receive are incomplete or insufficient and the applicants are required to resubmit the documentation, early application is strongly recommended.- It should be noted that the Consulate does NOT provide visa expediting service.
- The time to process an application for visa depends on the applicant's circumstances.
- [ Applications in person ] In most cases, it takes three business days to a week (excluding the date of application), if the documentation is in order.
- [ IMPORTANT: Applications by mail ]: From one to three days after receiving a visa application by mail, the Consulate will call the applicant as one of the visa application procedures. If the applicant does not take the call, the Consulate will not process the application. Accordingly, the applications by mail usually take longer days than the applications in person, in addition to transit time between your place and the Consulate. If your visa application is pressing, you should apply in person (or by proxy) instead of application by mail.
- The Consulate may make inquiries to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tokyo. In such cases, over a few weeks or more are needed to process an application.
[Validity of a Visa / COE and Period of Stay]
| Type | Period of validity |
| Single entry visa (including Transit Visa) | Three months *1 |
| Double entry Transit Visa | Four months *1 |
| Validity of COE (Certificate of Eligibility) | Three months *2 |
*2 The bearer of COE (Certificate of Eligibility) must show visa along with the COE at the port of entry in Japan. Therefore applicants must obtain visa and enter Japan before the COE has expired.
○ If the requirements are met, the immigration officer grants the bearer of visa landing permission with the period of stay which is the length of time that the bearer can stay in Japan.
○ The period of stay varies depending on the visa category. (The period of stay of Temporary Visitor Visa is 15 days, 30 days or 90 days.)
Group Visa Applications (for example, school trips, etc.)
IMPORTANT: Please contact us in advance if you are applying as a group of five or more.
(The processing time indicated above is an estimate for individual applications. Please expect longer time for group visa applications.)
Application (in person)
○ You can apply and pick up in person during Visa Office hours.
○ Appointments are not required.
Visa Office Hours
Monday through Friday (except for holidays) [Holiday notice]
9:00-12:15, 13:15-16:00
(Please come to our office AT LEAST 30 minutes ahead of closing times).
TEL：617-973-9772，FAX：617-542-1329
Application (third party)
○ If you wish someone to apply for visa or pick up your passport, you must submit a completed and signed authorization form
.
○ Persons authorized by applicants must bring their passport or driver's license.
Application (by mail)
[IMPORTANT: 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.]
○ Applicants who reside outside of the City of Boston, Town of Brookline or City of Cambridge are eligible to apply by mail.
○ From one to three days after receiving a visa application by mail, the Consulate will call the applicant as one of the visa application procedures. If the applicant does not take the call, the Consulate will not process the application. Accordingly, the applications by mail usually take longer days than the applications in person, in addition to transit time between your place and the Consulate. If your visa application is pressing, you should apply in person (or by proxy) instead of application by mail.
Visa Office Location
Consulate-General of Japan in Boston
Federal Reserve Plaza 22nd Floor,
600 Atlantic Ave., Boston, MA 02210
TEL：617-973-9772，FAX：617-542-1329
Pick up
○ (in person) You can pick up in person during Visa Office hours.
○ (third party) If you wish someone to pick up your passport, you must submit a completed and signed authorization form.
○ (third party) Persons authorized by applicants must bring their passport or driver's license.
○ Appointments are not required.
Pick up (returning the passport by FedEx or UPS)
[IMPORTANT: 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.]
○ Applicants who wish to have their passports returned by FedEx Air or UPS can submit a pre-paid, self-addressed return envelope with application documents.
(FedEx Ground or US Postal Service (USPS) should not be used. Also, any services requiring direct hand-over to the shipping companies should not be used.)
○ We ship only to addresses within our jurisdiction (The New England region (except Fairfield County, CT)).
Documentation
The next step
STEP 3: Temporary Visitor Visa Transit Visa Work Visa and Long Term Stay Visa Multiple Visa
Visa Fees
Visa fees are determined according to reciprocal arrangements between Japan and the country of the applicant's nationality.
| Single-entry visa | Applications accpeted | |
| before April 1, 2019 | on and after April 1, 2019 | |
| Non-visa waiver countries other than India | $27.00 | $27.00 |
| India | $ 7.00 | $ 8.00 |
| Transit visa | Applications accpeted | |
| before April 1, 2019 | on and after April 1, 2019 | |
| Non-visa waiver countries other than India | $6.00 | $6.00 |
| India | $ 1.00 | $ 1.00 |
| Multiple-entry visa | Applications accpeted | |
| before April 1, 2019 | on and after April 1, 2019 | |
| Non-visa waiver countries other than India | $54.00 | $55.00 |
| India | $ 7.00 | $ 8.00 |
○ Visa fees must be paid with cash. Please bring the exact amount. Personal checks, credit cards, and debit cards are not accepted.