Visiting Japan (Visa for Short-Term Stay)

March 12, 2025

If you came here by web search, be sure to visit STEP 1 and STEP 2 first.

 

 

+ WHO CAN USE A VISA FOR SHORT-TERM STAY?

 

For those who intend to stay in Japan for 90 days or less for such purposes as follows.
(This category excludes profit-making operations and paid activities.)

○ sightseeing; recreation; sports
○ visiting relatives, friends, or acquaintances; visiting a sick person; attending a wedding or funeral ceremony
○ participating in athletic tournaments; contests etc. as an amateur
○ business purposes (such as market research, business liaison, business consultation, signing a contract, or providing after-sale service for imported machinery)
○ inspecting or visiting plants, trade fairs etc.
○ attending lectures, explanatory meetings etc.; academic surveys or research presentations
○ religious pilgrimages or visits
○ friendship visits to sister cities, sister schools etc
○ or other similar activities during a short period of stay in Japan

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.

 

+ WHAT DOCUMENTATION IS NEEDED FOR THE VISA?

 

Please note:
○ The Consulate declines incomplete documents; additional documents may be requested during the course of application/examination.
○ Do NOT staple your application.
○ The Consulate will not make copies.

Each applicant for a Visa for Short-Term Stay must submit the following basic documents.

No. NOTE: Document(s) other than listed below may be requested in addition to those. Puropose of the trip
Business Conference For Pleasure Visiting
friends, etc.
1 One application form ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
2 Valid passport ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
3 One photograph ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
4 Proof of legal status in the U.S. ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
5 Flight reservation ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
6 Proof of ability to pay travel expenses
(in US$)		 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
7 A A letter from the home (U.S.) institution or business firm ✓ ✓    
7 B An invitation letter from the host (Japanese) institution or business firm ✓      
7 C Conference brochure   ✓    
7 D A confirmation note sent by the conference organizer   ✓    
7 E Day by day schedule of stay     ✓ ✓
7 F A certificate of residence ("Juminhyo")
or A copy of the front and back of residence card ("Zairyu card")		       ✓
7 G A "Letter of Reason for Invitation"       ✓
7 H A proof of relationship      

✓

(visit to relatives)
8 Proof of your residential address in New England (Form I-20 is acceptable for students on F1 visas) ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
9 Proof of approved entry to the third country/region if your direct destination after Japan is neither your home country/region nor the United States of America ○ ○ ○ ○
10 Authorization Form if the application is made by a representative ○ ○ ○ ○
11 Parental consent form if applicant is under 18 years of age and will be travelling without parents ○ ○ ○ ○
12 Additional document(s) if necessary ○ ○ ○ ○
 

Details of necessary documents (No.1- No.5)

1. One application form ○ Completed and signed
(Chinese citizens must write their names in Chinese characters as well as in Roman letters.)

If the application form link does not open use this one.
2. Valid passport ○ Original (At least one empty, blank visa page is needed)
and ○ One photocopy of ID page

If, instead of a national passport, you submit a PERMIT TO REENTER THE UNITED STATES or a REFUGEE TRAVEL DOCUMENT issued by the U.S. government, it must have a validity date at least six months beyond the day of application.

[ If you already have a valid Japanese visa in your passport]
○ A signed Consent form
3. One photograph ○ 2 inches square or 2 x 1.4 inches, taken within the previous six months of application, attached to the application forms
*Passport type photo only (we do not accept photos on regular paper)
(The image should be straight looking, centered with neutral expression, with plain background)
4. Immigration documents showing your legal status and permitting reentry into the United States [Such as a Green card or a valid U.S. visa sticker on the passport]

○ Original and one photocopy

[An F or J visa holder must present the original and submit one photocopy of an I-20 or DS-2019 with the valid signature of an appropriate official allowing return to the U.S., in addtion to the visa sticker]


[ If you need U.S. visa renewal ]

[ If you will be entering a third country after leaving Japan]
○ You must show a valid visa to enter the country (or a national passport of the country) as well as a U.S. visa.
5. Flight schedule ○ A copy of your confirmed flight reservation with confirmation number, passanger name and travel itinerary.

(The itinerary must cover your entire trip (starting from New England area and ending in the U.S.).)

It is recommended not to buy the ticket until visa is granted.
 

Details of necessary documents (No.6)
(Proof of ability to pay the travel expenses)

○ Please note that letters and certificates must be original with hand written signatures. Electronic signatures are not acceptable.

*We can only accept bank statements in US dollars.

When the expenses are borne by applicant ○ A current bank statement*
 
When the expenses are borne by a family member of applicant ○ A current bank statement* of the family member

○ A letter from the family member

○ A copy of government-issued photo ID of the family member
When the expenses are borne by applicant's home institution/business firm (US) ○ A letter from the institution/business firm (US) indicating that it will defray the travel expenses
When the expenses are borne by the Japanese institution/business firm ○ A letter of reason for invitation
(designated form (Japanese/English))

○ A letter of guarantee
(designated form (Japanese/English))

[When a company is extending an invitation ]
○ A certified copy of the incorporation register ("Tokibo tohon")
or An overview of Company/Organization(pamphlet, brochure, etc.)
(a stock exchange-listed company can submit its quarterly corporate report ("Kaisya shikiho")in lieu of a certified copy of the incorporation register or an overview of Company/Organization)

[When an individual is extending an invitation]
○ A certificate of guarantor's employment (for a business owner, the business license certificate and incorporation register are required)
When the expenses are borne by friends or relatives in Japan ○ A letter of reason for invitation
(designated form (Japanese/English))

○ A letter of guarantee
(designated form (Japanese/English))

○ A certificate of residence ("Juminhyo")

○ One of the following:

- A certificate of income or taxation issued by municipal office ("Shotoku shomeisho" or "Kazei shomeisho")
- A Japanese bank statement
- A certificate of tax payment (From 2)("Nozei shomeisho")

[ If the guarantor is a foreign national]
○A copy of both sides of his/her valid Resident Card (the Alien Registration) and a copy of his/her passport
 

Details of necessary documents (No.7)
(Evidence of the purpose of your trip)

○ Please note that letters and certificates must be original with hand written signatures. Electronic signatures are not acceptable.

 
Traveling
for
business		 ○ A letter from the home institution/business firm (US) which indicates applicant's employment status (position, length of employment etc.), purpose of the trip, intended length of stay

○ An invitation letter from the host institution/business firm (Japan) which indicates applicant's name, purpose of the trip, and name and address of a business reference in Japan
or a letter of reason for invitation(designated form (Japanese/English))
[ If you submit the "letter of reason for invitation" listed in #6 above, you can skip this)
Traveling
for
conference		 ○ A letter from the home institution/business firm (US) which indicates applicant's employment status (position, length of employment etc.), purpose of the trip, intended length of stay.

○ Conference brochure (printout of the web site)

○ A confirmation note sent by the conference organizer
[ If you are invited as a speaker, etc,, you can submit an invitation letter from the conference organizer in lieu of the confirmation.]
Traveling
for
pleasure		 ○ Day by day schedule of stay (designated form (up to 15 days/up to 30 days)) and/or confirmation of participation in a planned tour, or a statement about the tour schedule with the applicant's name
Traveling
for
visiting friends, etc.		 ○ A letter of reason for invitation (designated form (Japanese/English))
[ If you submit the "letter to reason for invitation" listed in #6 above, you can skip this)

○ Day by day schedule of stay (designated form (up to 15 days/up to 30 days)) and/or confirmation of participation in a planned tour, or a statement about the tour schedule with the applicant's name

○ A certificate of residence ("Juminhyo")
or A copy of the front and back of residence card ("Zairyu card")

[ For those visiting relatives]
○ A proof of the relationship
 

Details of necessary documents (No.12)
○ Additional documents may be requested during the course of application/examination as it is impossible to specify the exact form the evidence should take since applicants' circumstances vary greatly.

 

+ WHO CAN USE A TRANSIT VISA?

 

○ A Transit Visa is for those who must leave the airport while enroute to a third country, such as passengers with overnight flight connections wishing to stay in a hotel near the airport, or passengers arriving in Japan at Narita Airport and leaving Japan from Haneda and vice versa.

(For passengers who transit in Japan for immediate flight connections, and are not required to go through immigration clearance, a visa is not required.)

[IMPORTANT: If a visa is required for the third country, please obtain the visa first before applying for a Japanese transit visa.]

[IMPORTANT: The Consulate will determine the type of visa and may instruct those who apply for a Transit Visa to apply for a Visa for Short-Term Stay instead.]

 

+ WHAT DOCUMENTATION IS NEEDED FOR A TRANSIT VISA?

 

Please note:
○ The Consulate declines incomplete documents; additional documents may be requested during the course of application/examination.

○ Do NOT staple your application.

○ The Consulate will not make copies.

Each applicant for a Transit Visa must submit the following basic documents.

Transit without overnight ○ The documents required for a transit visa are the same as those listed above 1 to 5. in "Documentation for a Visa for Short-Term Stay"
Transit with overnight ○ The documents required for a transit visa are the same as those listed above 1 to 5. in "Documentation for a Visa for Short-Term Stay"

○ A person planning to stay at accommodations (hotels, inns, or apartments/homes booked through Airbnb) must submit reservations with the applicant's name and full address and telephone number of the accommodations. The reservations must cover your entire stay in Japan.
(Airbnb users must submit a "billing receipt" instead of an "itinerary")

○ The period of validity of the single entry Transit visa is three months.
○ The period of validity of the double entry Transit visa is four months.

 

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