tourist visa japan how many days

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• Travel Destinations

How Long Can You Stay In Japan On A Tourist Visa?

Published: November 7, 2023

Modified: January 3, 2024

by Crin Backus

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Introduction

Japan, with its rich history, vibrant culture, and stunning landscapes, has long been a popular destination for travelers from around the world. Whether you’re exploring the bustling streets of Tokyo, relaxing in a hot spring in Hokkaido, or marveling at the ancient temples in Kyoto, there’s no shortage of incredible experiences to be had in this fascinating country.

Before you embark on your journey to Japan, it’s important to understand the rules and regulations for entering and staying in the country. If you’re planning to visit Japan as a tourist, you’ll typically need to apply for a tourist visa. In this article, we’ll explore how long you can stay in Japan on a tourist visa, the options for extending your stay, and what happens if you overstay your visa.

It’s worth noting that the information provided in this article is intended as a general guide and may be subject to change. It’s always best to check with your local Japanese embassy or consulate for the most up-to-date information regarding visa requirements and regulations.

Now, let’s dive into the details of tourist visas and the duration of stay in Japan !

Overview of Tourist Visas

Before you can enter Japan as a tourist, you will generally need to obtain a tourist visa. The tourist visa is designed for individuals who are visiting Japan for the purpose of sightseeing, visiting friends or relatives, or engaging in other non-business activities.

There are two main types of tourist visas available for travelers: single-entry visas and multiple-entry visas. The single-entry visa allows you to enter Japan once and stay for a specific duration of time, while the multiple-entry visa allows for multiple entries and longer stays over a period of time.

It’s important to note that citizens of certain countries are exempt from the requirement of obtaining a tourist visa if their stay in Japan is less than 90 days. These countries include the United States, Canada, Australia, most European countries, and many others. However, it’s still necessary to present a valid passport upon arrival and go through the immigration process.

When applying for a tourist visa, you will need to provide various documents, including a completed visa application form, a valid passport, a recent passport-sized photograph, and proof of sufficient funds to cover your stay in Japan. It’s also common for applicants to be asked to provide a detailed itinerary of their intended activities in Japan.

It’s important to apply for your tourist visa well in advance of your planned trip, as processing times can vary. Once your visa is approved, you will receive a visa sticker or stamp in your passport, granting you the right to enter and remain in Japan for the specified duration of stay.

Now that we have a basic understanding of tourist visas, let’s explore how long you can stay in Japan on a tourist visa.

Duration of Stay on a Tourist Visa

The duration of stay on a tourist visa in Japan depends on several factors, including your nationality, the type of visa issued, and any special circumstances. In general, most tourists are granted a stay of up to 90 days.

If you hold a single-entry tourist visa, you will typically be allowed to stay in Japan for a maximum of 90 days from the date of your arrival. This means that you must leave Japan before the 90-day period expires. It’s important to note that the 90-day period is counted from the day after your arrival, not the day of your arrival.

On the other hand, if you hold a multiple-entry tourist visa, you may be granted longer stay periods, typically up to 15, 30, or 90 days per entry. The total duration of your stay on a multiple-entry visa will depend on the validity period of the visa itself, which can range from 3 months to 5 years.

It’s crucial to adhere to the specified duration of stay on your visa. Overstaying your visa in Japan is a violation of immigration laws and can result in serious consequences, including fines, deportation, and potential bans from re-entering the country.

If you wish to extend your stay beyond the initial duration granted by your tourist visa, you will generally need to apply for an extension. Extension applications must be submitted to the nearest immigration office in Japan before your current visa expires. The decision to grant an extension is at the discretion of the immigration authorities and is typically based on valid reasons, such as medical emergencies or other unforeseen circumstances.

It’s important to note that while you may be granted an extension, there are limitations to how long you can stay in Japan on a tourist visa. Generally, the total duration of stay, including the initial visa and any extensions, cannot exceed 180 days in a given year.

Now that we have explored the duration of stay on a tourist visa, let’s delve into the options for extending your stay and what happens if you overstay your visa in Japan.

Extensions and Renewals

If you wish to extend your stay in Japan beyond the initial duration granted by your tourist visa, you have the option to apply for an extension. The process for extending your stay varies depending on your specific circumstances and the type of visa you hold.

To apply for an extension, you will need to submit the necessary documents to the nearest immigration office in Japan. These documents typically include an application form, a valid passport, proof of sufficient funds to cover your extended stay, and a detailed explanation of the reasons for your extension request.

It’s important to note that extension applications must be submitted before your current visa expires. If your extension request is approved, you will be granted an extended period of stay, which can vary depending on the discretion of the immigration authorities and your individual circumstances.

In some cases, instead of extending your existing visa, you may be required to leave Japan and reapply for a new tourist visa from your home country or another country. This process is known as a visa renewal and involves leaving Japan and applying for a new visa before returning.

It’s worth mentioning that the immigration authorities may deny extension or renewal requests for various reasons, including insufficient funds, lack of valid reasons for extending your stay, or previous violations of visa regulations. It’s crucial to carefully follow the instructions and requirements provided by the immigration office to ensure a higher chance of a successful extension or renewal application.

It’s important to note that extension or renewal of your tourist visa is not guaranteed, and it’s always best to plan your stay within the initial duration granted by your visa to avoid any complications.

Now let’s discuss the consequences of overstaying your visa in Japan and any exceptions or special circumstances that may apply.

Overstaying and Penalties

Overstaying your visa in Japan is considered a violation of immigration laws and can result in serious consequences. It’s crucial to adhere to the specified duration of stay on your visa to avoid any penalties or negative impact on future visits to Japan.

If you overstay your visa in Japan, you may be subject to fines and legal consequences. The amount of the fine can vary depending on the duration of your overstay, ranging from 3,000 yen to 6,000 yen per day. In addition to the financial penalties, overstaying your visa can result in being detained by immigration authorities, deportation, and a potential ban from re-entering Japan for a specific period of time.

When you leave Japan after overstaying your visa, immigration officers will be able to identify your overstay and may impose additional penalties or restrictions. This can have serious implications for future visits to Japan, as it may affect your eligibility for future visas or your ability to enter the country.

It’s important to note that unintentional overstays due to circumstances beyond your control, such as emergencies or natural disasters, may be considered exceptional cases. In such situations, it’s advisable to contact the nearest immigration office to explain your circumstances and seek guidance on how to resolve the issue.

If you have overstayed your visa and wish to correct your status, it’s crucial to consult with an immigration lawyer or seek advice from the immigration authorities. They can provide you with the most accurate and up-to-date information on your specific situation and guide you on the steps to take.

Now that we understand the importance of adhering to the duration of stay on our tourist visa and the potential consequences of overstaying, let’s discuss any exceptions or special circumstances that may exist.

Exceptions and Special Circumstances

While the general rule for tourist visas in Japan is a maximum stay of 90 days, there are some exceptions and special circumstances that may allow for longer stays or different visa requirements.

One exception is the Working Holiday Visa program, which is available to citizens of certain countries, such as Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. This visa allows individuals aged 18 to 30 (or 35, in some cases) to stay in Japan for up to one year and engage in limited work activities to supplement their travel funds.

Another exception is the Temporary Visitor Visa for medical purposes. If you require medical treatment in Japan, you can apply for this visa, which allows for an extended stay based on the duration of your treatment. However, it’s important to provide necessary documentation from a medical institution in Japan supporting your need for medical treatment and the estimated treatment period.

Furthermore, there are cases where special permission may be granted for longer stays, such as for family or humanitarian reasons. For example, if you have close family members living in Japan and need to provide care or support, you may be eligible to apply for a longer stay based on compassionate grounds. Each case is assessed individually, and the decision to grant special permission is subject to the discretion of the immigration authorities.

If you are participating in a study program or cultural exchange program, you may need to apply for a specific visa, such as a Student Visa or a Cultural Activities Visa, depending on the nature of your activities and the duration of your stay. These visas have different requirements and allow for longer stays and specialized activities based on the purpose of your visit.

It’s important to remember that visa regulations and requirements can change, so it’s advisable to consult with the nearest Japanese embassy or consulate or visit the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan for the most up-to-date information on visa requirements and any exceptions or special circumstances that may apply to your situation.

Now that we have explored the exceptions and special circumstances, let’s conclude our discussion on staying in Japan on a tourist visa.

Visiting Japan as a tourist offers a world of incredible experiences and cultural exploration. Understanding the rules and regulations regarding tourist visas is crucial to ensure a smooth and enjoyable stay in the country.

In this article, we have explored the overview of tourist visas in Japan, the duration of stay on a tourist visa, options for extensions and renewals, the consequences of overstaying, and exceptions or special circumstances that may apply.

Remember that the duration of stay on a tourist visa is typically up to 90 days, although multiple-entry visas may provide longer stay periods. It’s important to plan your visit accordingly and apply for extensions or renewals if necessary.

Overstaying your visa in Japan can lead to fines, detention, deportation, and potential bans from re-entry. It’s crucial to adhere to the duration of stay specified on your visa to avoid any negative consequences.

However, there are exceptions and special circumstances, such as the Working Holiday Visa program and medical treatment visas, which allow for longer stays or different visa requirements. Additionally, special permission may be granted based on compassionate grounds or for study or cultural exchange programs.

As visa regulations and requirements can change, it’s always advisable to consult with the nearest Japanese embassy or consulate or refer to the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan for the most up-to-date information.

With proper planning, adherence to visa regulations, and an open mind to explore everything Japan has to offer, you can enjoy a memorable and fulfilling experience as a tourist in this remarkable country.

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All you need to know about entering, leaving and staying in Japan

Any foreign visitor entering Japan must have a valid passport for the duration of their stay, and all visitors must comply with the conditions of their visas.

See below for information about the current visa requirements for Japan.

If you have any further questions, please contact the Japanese embassy or consulate in your country of residence.

Enjoy the Digital Nomad Lifestyle in Japan

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Temporary Visitor Visa

Who can use a temporary visitor visa, temporary visitors for business.

(1) The visa application form (see Documentation #1 below). (2) A valid passport (see Documentation #2 below). (3) A photo (see Documentation #3 below). (4) A certificate of completion of registration for the ERFS.

Additional documents may be requested.

Temporary Visitors Visiting Relatives or Acquaintances (*) *Only those who are deemed to have a relationship equivalent to relatives (betrothed or common-law marriage) or those who are deemed to have a need to visit Japan (to attend a wedding or funeral or to visit an acquaintance who is ill).

Visa Exemption

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 click here . Important Notice ：Border enforcement measures to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19)

Documentation

Please be aware that we will decline applications that have incomplete documents. Each Temporary Visitor Visa applicant must submit the following documents: * Consulate General of Japan will not make copies. If you need original documents, please bring the original plus one copy.

• An application form completed and signed. Blank forms are available at Japanese consular offices. You can also download by clicking on visa application form ( Sample ) in PDF format. Chinese citizens must write their names in Chinese characters, as well as in Roman letters. Korean citizens in principle are asked to write their names in Chinese characters, as well as in Roman letters. Please include your e-mail address and contact phone information. An applicant with an arrest or criminal record must provide a copy of his/her court and/or arrest record (including cases that ended with an acquittal or pardon), along with an English translation of those documents if they are in any language other than English. Even if the case did not go to trial, please provide a letter that explains in detail the circumstances surrounding the arrest. We would like to know about the charges, time served, fees paid, and probation (if any).
• Valid passport ( original plus one photo copy of the face page) with sufficient space for a visa (This means at least one empty, blank visa page. US passports use the rear pages for amendments, and are not acceptable as blank visa pages ). If you already have a valid Japanese visa in your passport, please include a signed consent form as shown in the sample at this link: http://www.ny.us.emb-japan.go.jp/en/d/Consent.pdf . If 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 date of visa application.
• A passport-sized photograph: 2-inch x 1.4-inch photograph on glossy photo paper taken within the last six months with plain background. Photograph may be attached to the application form with glue (not tape or staples) or you may submit the photograph unattached.
• Green Card or valid I-94 and U.S. resident visa to re-enter the United States (F or J visa holder must show an I-20 or DS-2019 with the valid signature of an appropriate official in order for re-entry). If you will be entering a third country after leaving Japan, you must show a valid visa to enter that country (or a national passport of that country). We ask that all applicants submit their original immigration documents (green card, I-20, etc.) or a NOTARIZED copy of the documents. * Please note: In principle we do not accept an application from B-1 and B-2 U.S. visa status holders.
• A confirmed reservation record of your round-trip flight to/from Japan. An e-ticket or print-out from a travel agency, airline or travel website is acceptable. The print-out should include: -Your name. -Your confirmation number/record locator. -Your airlines, flights and all departure and destination cities. -Your complete round-trip flight itinerary, starting and ending in the US. This should include all of the countries you are visiting other than Japan, if applicable. * Please note: We do not require the purchase of tickets, but we do require a confirmed reservation. We are not responsible for tickets which may be unusable due to the delay or denial of a visa. For those with non-revenue ticket holders: a) Actual Non-Revenue ticket (original plus copy of all pages), plus a printed entire flight information from the airline company b) A copy of the employee ID of the airline employee who obtained the flight coupon, or a letter from the airline proving the employee works for the airline, and that the applicant is authorized to use the non-revenue ticket
• If traveling for BUSINESS, original letter from applicant’s company signed by an authorized executive officer, on company letterhead, stating: a) applicant’s position in the company, duration of employment, and monthly or annual salary b) nature/purpose of visit in detail c) dates/duration of stay intended d) contact person, company name, address and phone number of business contact in Japan e) guarantee of financial support during applicant’s stay in Japan and return transportation from Japan * Additional documents may be requested during the course of examination.
• If going to attend a CONFERENCE, conference brochures plus a paid registration form and invitation will be required. In addition, a letter from the home institution/company giving the circumstances of the trip as in 6.a ) ～ 6.c ) from the visa applicant’s home institution/company, plus the applicant’s financial resources such as listed on 8.a) will be required.

Visa Fees Visa fees are determined according to reciprocal arrangements between Japan and the country of the applicant's nationality. Click here for Visa Fees.

Processing Time Please refer to our introduction page .

Applications by mail Please refer to our introduction page .

Note for Chinese nationals In general, Japanese Embassy/Consulates in China are not accepting Japanese tourist visa applications from Chinese nationals residing in other countries, and if you are planning to sightsee in Japan during your temporary stay in China or on the way back to the US, we recommend applying for a Japanese visa before leaving the US.

Note for Nationals of India Click here for outline of application procedures for Multiple Entry VISA ( English / Japanese )

Note for Nationals of Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam Click here for outline of application procedures for Multiple Entry VISA ( English / Japanese )

Japan Visas

• Published on : 24/12/2012
• by : Japan Experience
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Japan visas: view Japan visa information for foreign visitors including details about Japan visa exemption and permitted length of stay in Japan.

Japan Visas 観光ビザ

• Tourist Visas
• Types of Japan Visas
• Specified Skilled Visas
• Working Holiday Visas

Residence Card

• Permanent Resident Visa

Overstaying Your Japan Visa

Useful japan visa resources.

• Living in Japan

Japan Tourist Visas 観光ビザ

Visitors to Japan from most European countries, Australia, New Zealand, North America and Singapore are usually issued a 90 day tourist visa for Japan on each entry to the country (see below). Holders of a valid HKSAR (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) passport also are granted visa-free access to enter Japan for tourism and short-term visits up to 90 days.

Nationals from other countries have to obtain a visa in advance to enter Japan.

Foreign tourists are required by Japanese law to carry their passports with them at all times.

Citizens of nations other than those listed below must apply for a 90-day tourist visa in their home countries from the Japanese embassy or consulate. Passport photos and a return ticket are usually necessary. Processing is usually free of charge, though there is a fee for the visa itself. For further details see our Japanese visa requirements section.

All visitors to Japan including permanent residents are electronically fingerprinted on both index fingers and photographed on entry to the country following a change to the law in 2007.

*For nationals of Malaysia (since July 1, 2013), visas are not required for holders of an ePassport in compliance with ICAO standards.

**For citizens of Hong Kong, visas are not required for holders of Special Administrative Region (SAR) passport issued by the Hong Kong SAR of the People's Republic of China or British National Overseas (BNO) passports who have the right of residence in Hong Kong. For citizens of Macao, visas are not required for holders of SAR passport issued by the Macao SAR of the People's Republic of China.

***For citizens of Taiwan, visas are not required for holders of Taiwan passport which includes a personal identification number. Those without a personal identification number require a visa.

****Brunei & Thai visitors with a return ticket, evidence of financial support (cash/credit card) and whose activities in Japan are categorized as "Temporary Visitor" may enter Japan for not more than 15 days without a visa. Activities allowed under the "Temporary Visitor" category are sightseeing, visiting friends, attending lectures or business meetings.

*****In most cases citizens of the Philippines require a visa to visit Japan obtained through an accredited agency. See the Embassy of Japan in The Philippines for further details.

Reciprocal visa exemption for Japan

Countries that have reciprocal visa exemption arrangements with Japan are:

6 months or less: (An extendable 90-day visa is usually issued on arrival, for further details see Immigration Offices ).

Austria, Germany, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Mexico, Switzerland, UK.

*For nationals of those countries with visa exemptions permitting stays of up to 6 months under the bilateral visa exemption arrangements, those who wish to stay in Japan for more than 90 days are required to apply for an extension of the period of stay to the Ministry of Justice (Regional Immigration Bureau) before the period of permitted stay is to expire.

90 days or less: (A non-extendable 90 day visa is usually issued on arrival).

Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Italy, Israel, Iceland, Lesotho, Luxembourg, Macau, Malaysia, Malta, Macedonia, Mauritius, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Serbia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Surinam, Sweden, Taiwan, Tunisia, Turkey and Uruguay.

Barbados, New Zealand and the USA.

14 days or less: Brunei.

If in doubt, check with the Japanese Embassy or Consulate in your country.

Foreign Embassies & Consulates in Japan

Types of Japan Residence Visa

Visa Telephone Service Number: 03 5501 8431

According to Japanese law there are 27 types of residence visa in addition to the tourist visas described above. Residency periods for these visas range from a 15 day transit visa to permanent status, including visas for 15 days, 90 days, 6 months, 1 year and 3 years. Visas which allow paid work generally require a Japanese company, school, university or individual to act as sponsor. Find more information on Japan working visas .

• Diplomatic (gaikoh 外交)
• Official (kohyoh 公用) for non-diplomats working in embassies and consulates
• Professor (kyohju 教授) for professors, assistant professors and lecturers (full-time or part-time) who work in a Japanese university, usually 1 or 3 years
• Cultural activities (geijutsu 芸術) - students of Japanese arts and martial arts etc, technically not allowed to receive an income
• Religious activities (shuukyoh 宗教) - members of religious groups sent to Japan to undertake religious activities
• Journalist (hohdoh 報道)
• Investor/business manager (tohshi/keiei 投資・経営) - managers of trading companies with offices and 2 or more full time employees
• Legal/accounting services (hohritsu/kaikeigyohmu 法律・会計業務)
• Medical services (iryoh 医療) - qualified doctors or Japan-licensed nurses
• Researcher (kenkyuu 研究) - paid research under contract with a public or private institution
• Instructor (kyoh-iku 教育) - teachers in junior high school, senior high school, teaching foreign languages etc.
• Engineer (gijutsu 技術)
• Specialist in humanities/international services (jinbunchishiki/kokusaigyohmu 人文知識・国際業務) - a visa typically associated with the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program
• Intra-company transferee (kigyoh-nai-tenkin 企業内転勤) - employee of a foreign company with main or branch office in Japan, transferred to Japan for a specified period of time
• Entertainer (kohgyoh 興行) - actors, singers, dancers, professional sportspeople, etc., 15 days, 3, 6 or 12 months
• Skilled labor (ginoh 技能)
• Highly skilled foreign professional (ginoh-jisshuu 技能実習)
• Cultural activities (bunkakatsudoh 文化活動) - students of Japanese arts and martial arts etc - technically are not allowed to receive an income
• Temporary visitor (tankitaizai) 短期滞在 - tourist visa
• College student (ryuugaku 留学) - exchange student, international student, studying at an educational institute of some kind in Japan. (Read more about Japan study visa .)
• Training (kenshuu 研修)
• Family stay (kazokutaizai 家族滞在) - for partners and dependents of those holding specified visas
• Designated activities (tokutei-katsudoh 特定活動)
• Permanent resident (eijuusha 永住者)
• Spouse, etc. of a Japanese national (nihonjin-no-haigusha-nado 日本人の配偶者等) - Spouse visa holders can legally work
• Spouse, etc. of a permanent resident (eijuusha-no-haigusha-nado 永住者の配偶者等) - Spouse visa holders can legally work
• Long-term resident (teijuusha 定住者)

Re-entry to Japan

With the Special Re-Entry Permit System, visa holders may leave Japan and reenter Japan during the term of their stay without having to make any prior application for a permit.

The procedure simply involves placing a check mark in the "Departure with Special Re-entry Permission" box on the Embarkation/Disbarkation ("ED") card when departing.

Working Holiday Visas For Japan

Japan has mutual working holiday visa agreements with Australia, Britain (UK), Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Korea Republic (South Korea), Taiwan, New Zealand and Norway. Young people normally between the ages of 18-25 (sometimes 30 with the agreement of the immigration office) may work part-time during a one-year stay in Japan.

The working holiday visa is a single entry visa with stays permitted from 6 months (extendable for another 6 months) for Australia and Canada to one year (non-extendable) for Denmark, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, France, Germany, Ireland, UK, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Norway.

*The Working Holiday Visa is only issued once to an applicant and is free except for nationals of the UK, Norway and Taiwan.

For further details on visas for Japan contact the Japanese embassy in your home country

The holder of a visa valid for three months or more receives a Residence Card ( zairyuu kaado ) at the airport (Narita, Haneda, Chubu and Kansai) or, in the case of entry via a smaller airport, by mail later.

The holder of a Residence Card must register with the local authority within 14 days of arriving in Japan to complete Certificate of Residence formalities.

Residence Cards need to be updated if the holder's visa status changes or the holder moves to live in a different ward of the same city or to a different city within Japan.

The Residence Card replaced the former Alien Registration Card on July 9, 2012.

Read more about the Residence (Zairyu) Card .

Permanent Resident Visas

Foreign nationals with a Japanese spouse may, after a minimum period of 5 years of residency and marriage, apply for a permanent resident visa (永住権 eijuuken) instead of renewing their spouse visa. Single foreign nationals may have to wait for 10 years to apply. Applicants for a permanent residents visa need to show evidence of income/job including an annual tax withholding statement (gensenchoushuusho 源泉徴収書), which should be given you by your employer, and a copy of the family register (koseki touhon 戸籍謄本) of your Japanese spouse and your own residence certificate (juminhyou 住民票), both obtainable from the local ward office. The application fee for a permanent resident visa is 8,000 yen. Foreign Permanent Residents must still pay for a re-entry permit, and the validity of the re-entry permit is 3 years (see above).

If you are caught overstaying your Japan visa you may be detained and confined for an undetermined period before being deported and served with an official banning order from re-entering Japan for a period of 5 years. If you voluntarily appear at an Immigration Office and announce your overstay, you should usually not be detained and you will be issued with a Departure Order. After being issued a Departure Order you will be banned from re-entering Japan for a period of one year.

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Entering Japan

Below is a basic introduction to the Japanese immigration system. Contact your closest Japanese embassy or consulate outside Japan or an immigration bureau inside Japan for official advice.

All foreigners, including foreign residents, get fingerprinted and photographed upon entering Japan as a measure aimed at preventing terrorism and other illegal activities. Excluded from this procedure are persons under the age of 16 and a few special groups, such as diplomats and visiting dignitaries.

All foreigners receive a status of residence when entering Japan. There are more than twenty statuses of residence, including "temporary visitor" for tourists, and a range of statuses for students , workers and relatives of Japanese nationals and residents.

If you are a citizen of one of the over 50 countries with which Japan has a "general visa exemption arrangement", you need only a valid passport to enter Japan as a "temporary visitor". Otherwise, you need to obtain a visa before entering the country. Temporary visitors from most countries are allowed to stay for up to 90 days.

If you are a citizen of Austria, Germany, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Mexico, Switzerland or the United Kingdom, you have the possibility to extend your stay to a total of up to six months. You still initially enter Japan on a 90 day permit, but can then apply for an extension at an immigration bureau in Japan.

Visitors to Japan are encouraged to use Visit Japan Web to digitally submit immigration and customs-related information ahead of their arrival for a smoother entry into the country without the need to fill out paper forms. The system can be used to also create a tax exemption QR code for an enhanced tax-free shopping experience.

Temporary visitors are not allowed to engage in any paid activities. However, short term studies at Japanese language schools are permitted.

All foreign tourists in Japan are required to carry their passports with them at all times.

Longer stays for the wealthy and digital nomads

If you are a citizen of one of the over 50 countries with which Japan has a "general visa exemption arrangement" and have savings of over 30 million yen, you and your spouse may qualify to stay in Japan for up to one year for the purpose of sightseeing and recreation. Likewise, professionals with an annual income of over 10 million yen may qualify to work remotely from Japan for up to six months. Respective visas (for "long-term residents for sightseeing/recreation" or "digital nomads") have to be obtained before traveling to Japan.

White-collar work

Foreigners who wish to work in Japan need to get a work visa from a Japanese embassy or consulate outside of Japan to enter the country on a status of residence permitting work.

There are over a dozen such statuses of residence, each allowing the holder to work only in a specific professional field, for example, journalism, arts, research, education, engineering, entertainment, business management, international services, etc. If you change jobs while you are in Japan and your new job falls into a different professional field (e.g. from education to engineering), you will need to change your status of residence.

A university degree or considerable professional experience in the applicable field is required to qualify for most work visa types. Most also require you to have a prospective employer as a sponsor. Residence permission is granted in periods of 4 months to 5 years and is extendable.

Workers may bring their spouses and children to Japan on a dependent visa. Dependents are not allowed to engage in any paid activities unless they get permission from the immigration office, but even then, they may work only a set maximum number of hours per week.

Other work and trainees

The so-called "Specified Skills" status allows for work in one of over a dozen professional fields, including construction, hospitality, nursing and manufacturing. Applicants do not need a degree but have to pass a technical skills test and know some Japanese. There are two types: Type 1 allows workers to stay in Japan for up to five years, but they may not bring their family. Type 2 is for more highly qualified workers, can be extended indefinitely and allows for the family to live in Japan. Type 1 holders may upgrade to type 2 after five years.

Furthermore, there is the "Technical Intern Training Program", which lets foreign workers acquire skills at a workplace in Japan that they could not otherwise acquire in their home countries. After a few years, participants become eligible to switch to the above-mentioned "Specified Skill" type 1 status. Most trainees come from South East Asia.

Working holidays

This is a special visa type that allows some paid activity for citizens of Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, France, Ireland, Korea, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and a few other countries between the ages of 18 and 30. Consult the working holiday visa page for details.

Foreigners who wish to study in Japan (except for short term studies at language schools ) need to get a student visa at a Japanese embassy or consulate outside of Japan in order to enter the country on a status of residence that permits long term studies.

Sponsorship from an educational institution in Japan and proof of sufficient funds to cover all your expenses during your stay are required to qualify for a student visa. Residence permission is granted in periods of between 3 months and 4 years and 3 months and is extendable.

Students must not engage in paid activities unless they get permission from the immigration office. Even then, students may work only a set maximum number of hours per week.

Foreigners who are married to a Japanese national or to a permanent resident of Japan can obtain a spouse visa, which allows them to engage in any paid activity in Japan. Residence permission is granted in periods of 6 months or 1, 3 or 5 years and is extendable.

Staying in Japan

Inside Japan, most immigration-related matters, such as extending residence permission or changing the status of residence, are handled by the Immigration Services Agency, which has bureaus across the country.

Residence card

All new foreign residents are issued a residence card upon initially entering Japan at Narita , Haneda , Kansai or Chubu airports. New residents arriving through different ports can get their cards at their municipal offices.

The residence card is an important document required for opening a bank account , obtaining a cell phone , converting a drivers license and similar activities. It stores the holder's personal information, including the current address, the status of residence and period of stay. Foreign residents are required to carry their residence card with them at all times.

Extending residence permission

Most statuses of residence allow you to stay in Japan for a period between three months and five years. If you wish to stay longer, you must apply for an extension at an immigration bureau inside Japan before the expiry date of your current residence permission.

The application process is relatively simple, provided that you still fulfill the conditions for the specific status of residence. It typically takes a couple of days or weeks for the application to be processed, and you are allowed to remain in Japan during that time even if your previous residence permission expires in the meantime.

Changing status of residence

It is possible to change your status of residence (e.g. from instructor to arts or from student to engineer) at an immigration bureau inside Japan. You will have to provide similar documentation as you would when applying for a new status of residence at an embassy or consulate outside of Japan.

Re-entry permits

Foreign residents who wish to temporarily leave Japan for longer than a year, need to get a re-entry permit before departing Japan; otherwise, they lose their status of residence. Re-entry permits can be obtained at immigration offices in Japan. For absences of less than one year, re-entry permits are not required.

Permanent residence

Foreign residents, who have shown good conduct and have sufficient assets or ability to make an independent living, can be granted permanent residence if they reside in Japan for a certain number of consecutive years. For highly-skilled professionals and spouses of Japanese nationals, the minimum amount of years is typically one to five years, while for others it is typically ten years. Permanent residence status is indefinite and allows for any paid activity.

Naturalization

Foreigners, who have resided in Japan for at least five consecutive years (less if married to a Japanese national), have shown good conduct, have never plotted against the Japanese government, have sufficient assets or ability to make an independent living and are willing to renounce any other citizenship held, can be granted Japanese citizenship.

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JRailPass.com » Japan Travel Blog » Japan Visa

Do I need a Visa for Japan? Japan Visa Policy

There are a number of different types of Japanese visas which are designed by the Japanese government for different purposes and lengths of time.

There are over 60 countries whose citizens can enter visa-free for tourism or business. Other nationalities currently need to go to a Japanese embassy or consulate to apply for a visa.

Japan introduced an eVisa for citizens of the US and Canada in 2022 that simplified the application process to acquire a Japan visa during pandemic visa suspensions.

Canadians and Americans no longer need a visa for Japan for short stays, but the eVisa is expected to launch for other visa-required nationalities in the near future.

Japan visa types

There are several  types of visas for Japan and more will be introduced in the future, including the eVisa.

Visas are obtained directly from Japanese embassies and consulates, although the application process for the eVisa will be completed entirely online.

Japanese visas can be grouped in 3 main categories :

Working visa

Non-working visa.

• Family Related Visas

Working visas are considered long-term stay visas  and cover the kind of work that requires high-level professional knowledge or skills and ‘thus, they do not include simple labor tasks. Jobs like waiter, construction workers, sales people, etc. cannot obtain a working visa. Typical working visas:

• Engineer, Specialist in Humanities, International Services Engineer. Engineers and Specialists in Humanities must have a university degree in their corresponding fields or 10 years of professional experience. International Services Engineers must have 3 years of professional experience in their field.
• Intra-company Transferee. This status applies to expats of foreign companies or the subsidiary companies of Japanese firms located overseas who have worked more than one year in the said office in overseas.
• Skilled Labor. Jobs involving foreign cooking, architecture, or civil engineering characteristic to foreign countries, training animals, instructing sports, sommeliers, processing precious stones will fall into this status. It’s mandatory to have at least 3 years of professional experience in the field.
• Business Manager. Those who are going to start a business or invest into a business in Japan. It also applies to those managing business on behalf of investors.
• Highly-Skilled Professional. This visa aims to attract workers who are likely to contribute to the Japanese economy.

Those with a certain status, knowledge, or skills can get the following working visas:

• Diplomats or Officials, Personnel of the embassies and consular offices, Diplomatic missions, Government personnel and their families.
• Research and education at university or equivalent educational institutions.
• Instruction of foreign languages or other education at elementary schools, high schools, etc. Those instructors looking to work in private language schools must apply for the Specialist in Humanities / International Services visa.
• For those whose artistic activities provide enough income to support their living in Japan.
• Religious activities. Missionaries sent to Japan from foreign religious organizations.
• Those journalists who have signed contracts with foreign media organizations. It includes freelance journalists.
• Legal and Accounting services.
• Medical Services. Medical specialists with Japanese qualifications.
• For those researchers working under a contract with public or private organizations in Japan.
• All of those working in show business and sports.

Anyone who holds a non-working visa is allowed to work as long as the immigration office grants them permission. This type of visas is considered a short-term stay visa and some restrictions apply. Those doing some work under a non-working visa cannot exceed the number of authorized hours per week.

Who can benefit:

• The visa application is submitted through the school.
• Those training to acquire technology, skills or knowledge. This status is granted only when the candidate will work in a job requiring that technology, skills or knowledge once he returns to his home country.
• Technical Internships. That covers internships after training under trainee visa.
• Spouses or children of people staying in Japan under the work visa and non-working visa (except for temporary visitors and trainees).
• Cultural Activities. Cultural or artistic activities with no income.
• Students or researchers of Japanese cultural or artistic activities.
• University students taking part in an internship without remuneration.
• Temporary Visitors (also known as Tourist visa ). This status includes visitors on vacation, sports, family visits, participants in seminars and conferences, business meetings, market research, and those traveling to Japan to engage in PR activities.

There is also another epigraphe for non-working visas that is granted case by case: Designated Activities. Students on internship, working holidays, diplomats’ housekeepers are some of the people who can apply for this visa.

Family related visas

Family related visas are considered short-term stay visas and have no retrictions when it comes to employment, so you can engage in more than one activity or change jobs. Those who can apply to these visas are:

• Spouses and children of Japanese nationals
• Long Term Residents
• Permanent Residents
• Spouses and children of Permanent Resident

Japan tourist visa

Any tourist wanting to visit Japan must obtain a tourist visa prior to entering the country. Nonetheless, Japan excludes several nationalities from having to comply with this requirement.

For instance, citizens from most European countries, United States, Australia, and Argentina do not need to get the Japan Tourist Visa since they are considered visa-exempt countries for tourism purposes. Nationals from any of those regions can stay in Japan for a maximum of 90 days visa-free and are assigned Temporary Visitor status.

Japan tourist visa is a short-term stay visa for the purposes of sightseeing, visiting friends, or attending conferences or courses . A tourist visa is normally valid for a single-entry stay of up to 90 days.

Tourists can also apply for a double-entry visa for 2 short trips within a 6-month period. It is important to note that the Japan tourist visa does not allow travelers to engage in paid work while in the country.

Other short-term stay visas

• Business visa:  There is a temporary business visa for stays of up to 90 days which can single or double-entry visa (if both trips are within a 6-month period). Business purposes include conferences, meetings, signing contracts, and market surveys.
• Transit visa:  Some nationalities need a transit visa to stop over in Japan when going to an onward destination. Many travelers do not need this as long as they stay within the allocated zone and do not leave the airport.

Which countries need a tourist visa?

All nationalities who are not visa-exempt need a visa to enter Japan. Citizens of certain countries can enter with Temporary Visitor status for limited periods of time ( 15 to 90 consecutive days ) for tourism or business purposes.

Visitors receive a stamp in their passport which is a requirement for the Japan Rail Pass . The rules are very strict and it is not possible to get the pass without showing the stamp (tourists with other types of visas are not eligible for the Pass).

The following nationalities are eligible for Temporary Visitor status (all others need a visa to enter):

The nationalities listed above can enter for tourism , visiting relatives, and business purposes. However, visitors cannot be paid for work under Temporary Visitor status. In these cases, it is necessary to obtain a work visa .

Citizens of the following countries will need a Japan tourist visa in order to enter Japan:

• Philippines
• CIS countries and Georgia

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Japan tourist visa requirements

To successfully apply for a tourist visa for Japan, applicants must meet the following visa requirements :

• Hold a valid passport with at least 6 months remaining and 2 blank pages
• A completed visa application form
• Provide a recent color passport photo and a certified copy of your birth certificate
• If married, submit a marriage certificate (if issued within the last year)
• You must have the intention to leave Japan at the end of your authorized stay
• Proof of financial ability demonstrating you can support yourself financially during your stay in Japan
• Provide a certificate of your financial situation for the previous 6 months issued by your bank
• Submit the applicant’s tax return
• If applying without a sponsor, a copy of your Certificate of Employment must be submitted
• Provide a schedule and travel plans for the trip

If you still have questions about what you need in order to obtain the Japan tourist visa, you can find out more by checking the Japan entry requirements FAQ.

Japan tourist visa validity

Single-entry visas are valid for 3 months upon issue and usually allow you to stay in the country for up to 90 days. It is not possible to extend its validity.

Double-entry visas have a validity of 6 months from the date of issue.

Multiple-entry visas are usually good for a period of 1 to 5 years, depending on the visitor’s nationality, the purpose of the visit, and the type of passport they hold. Multiple-entry visas allow you to visit Japan multiple times within this period of 1 to 5 years since the issuing date, but each stay cannot exceed the 15 or 30-day period.

Japan tourist visa fees

A fee must be paid in order to obtain your Japan tourist visa. These fees vary depending on whether you are applying for a single-entry visa, a double-entry or a multiple-entry visa, as well as on the nationality of the tourist.

It is a good idea to check with your Japanese embassy or consulate before submitting your application since fees are subject to change at any time. Also, please note fees are collected in the local currency where the embassy or consulate is located and must be paid at the time of submitting your application. Once that has been done, you will receive proof of payment.

Japan Tourist eVisa

A Japan Tourist eVisa launched in August 2022 as part of the government’s wider plan to reach 60 million foreign visitors a year by 2030.

The eVisa for Japan was available for Canadians and US citizens, but these nationalities are now once again able to enter Japan visa-free. However, it may it is expected to launch for other nationalities in the future.

The online application form will be straightforward to complete and means that tourists do not need to go to an embassy or consulate to complete the application. It has been designed to simplify the visa application process.

It will be necessary to make a payment by credit or debit card to submit the application. Once an application has been submitted and approved , the eVisa approval notice will be sent to applicants by email.

More information: https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/index.html

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Japan Visa Types

Types of long-term stay visa, working visa, highly skilled professional visa, general visa, specified visa, diplomatic visa, official visa, types of short-term stay visa.

• Japan e-Visa (Online Visa )

Tourist Visa

Business visa, transit visa.

Japan is a fascinating country that attracts people from many parts of the world. There are several Japan visa types for travelers who wish to visit Japan with different purposes .

While some foreigners only wish to visit the country, there are several foreign visitors who wish to stay in Japan for longer periods of time to study or work in the country . Therefore, Japan has short-term visas available as well as long-term visas. The types of visa for Japan are:

Japan Long-Term Stay Visa

There are several long-term visa types for Japan . The requirements and documents will differ depending on the applicant’s nationality and individual circumstances. Among the visa types for Japan, it is possible to obtain a work visa, general visa, or diplomatic visa.

When applying for any kind of work visa is necessary to have a hosting organization in Japan , generally an employer. There are exceptions such as visas granted to journalists or artists in which an employer is not required. A hosting organization is referred to as a “visa sponsor” and those who apply for a long-term visa must secure their sponsor before applying for their visa.

Japan has two main categories for work visas, the Working Visa and the Highly Professional Visa . The Working Visa is designed for a number of different kinds of professionals including professors, artists, business managers, researchers, etc.

A working visa can grant its holder authorizations for periods of three months to up to five years, depending on the case. The process to get a work permit for Japan starts with finding a sponsor in the country that will apply to the Regional Immigration Bureau in Japan for a certificate of eligibility.

Japan Launches New Work Visas to Solve Labor Shortage

Documents needed for a Working Visa for Japan include:

• A completed application form
• A 4 cm by 3 cm photograph
• A return envelope with a 392-yen stamp
• Supporting documents that demonstrate the reasons for your visa request
• A letter of guarantee

Additional information can be provided by the sponsor in Japan and by a Japanese mission .

The Highly Skilled Professional Visa , HSP or HSFP visa , was introduced in 2012. This visa offers several advantages and it is designed for talented foreign workers with advanced and specialized skills.

This type of visa to Japan still is a work visa , therefore, it is not possible to apply without a job or job offer from a Japanese sponsoring organization.

Points are awarded to the applicant based on their educational and professional background , income and academic achievements based on a fixed point chart created by the Japanese Immigration Authorities. Applicants must score 70 points or more to be eligible for this visa type.

A holder of a highly skilled professional have certain privileges including:

• Possibility of engaging in multiple activities that cover different visa categories
• The length of the visa is 5 years
• Faster access to Permanent Resident visa
• Preferential processing of Immigration procedure (new visas, change of visa status, renewal, etc.)
• The HSFP visa holder’s spouse can also work full-time under certain conditions
• Possibility of bringing parents to Japan under certain conditions
• Possibility of hiring a domestic helper/nanny under certain conditions

For additional information about this type of visa to Japan it is best to contact a Japanese Embassy or Mission.

The general visa is designed for its holder to engage in cultural activities . The period of stay can range from 3 years, 1 year, 6 months or 3 months .

It is necessary to provide the following documents and requirements to get this type of visa to Japan:

• One visa application form (nationals of Russia, CIS countries or Georgia need to submit two visa application forms)
• One photograph (nationals of Russia, CIS countries or Georgia need to submit two photographs)
• Certificate of Eligibility - the original and one copy

A Certificate of Eligibility is issued before a visa application by a regional immigration authority under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice as evidence that the foreign national meets the conditions for landing in Japan.

Chinese citizens must also provide a copy of the Chinese Family Register and a Temporary Residence Permit or Residence Certificate.

It is possible that additional documents are required based on the applicant’s nationality.

A Specified Visa can be granted to the spouse or child of a Japanese national . The period of stay with this visa can range from 5 years, 3 years, 1 year or six months.

The documents and requirements are similar to those of the General Visa . Exceptions or specific instructions apply to citizens of certain countries. For example, second-generation Japanese-Filipinos or second-generation Japanese-Brazilians making visa application to the Japanese Embassy in Manila or the Japanese consulate in Sao Paulo are also required to submit documents that clearly show Japanese ancestry, such as a copy of family register.

A Japan diplomatic visa can be granted only to individuals that will engage in activities on the part of constituent members of diplomatic missions or consular offices of foreign governments hosted by the Government of Japan, activities on the part of those who are provided with similar privileges and/or immunities as are given to diplomatic missions in accordance with treaties or international customary practices, and the activities on the part of their family members belonging to the same household.

The period of stay is determined by the period of the mission of the person who has requested the diplomatic visa. Among the documents necessary for this type of visa, it is necessary to provide a passport, photograph and a note verbale 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.

An official visa to Japan can be used for official business of foreign governments or international organizations recognized by the Government of Japan . As a long-term visa, an official visa can grant stays of up to 5 years, 3 years, 1 year, 3 months, 30 days or 15 days.

To obtain an official visa it is necessary to have a passport , a photograph, and a note verbale 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. A visa application form should also be completed.

Japan Short-Term Stay Visa

It is important that travelers are aware that documentation may vary according to their nationality and purpose of the visit. There are a few short-term Japan visas available

Japan e-Visa (Online Visa)

Once introduced, the eVisa system will simplify the process of obtaining a Online Visa for Japan for millions of travelers around the world. The Japan visa application form will only take a few minutes to complete online.

Applicants will just need to enter information such as their full name, date of birth, address, passport details, and travel plans. It will eradicate the need to go to an embassy or consulate to apply for a Japanese visa for eligible travelers.

The tourist visa for Japan is available for citizens of several countries from Asia , Africa , Latin American and former Soviet Union nations . A valid passport with 2 blank pages is required to get the tourist visa to Japan.

The temporary visa for tourism purposes can grant a stay of up to 90 days . Travelers can apply for a double-entry visa if they wish to make a trip to Japan within a 6-month period for tourism purposes.

Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that Chinese travel agencies are going to be able to offer online visa application services for a chinese travelers .

At this time, there’s a Japan Tourist Visa Required for citizens from :

• Afghanistan
• Antigua & Barbuda
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Burkina Faso
• Cayman Islands
• Central African Republic
• Ivory Coast
• Democratic Republic of Congo
• Equatorial Guinea
• Guinea-Bissau
• Indonesia (no e-passports)
• Marshall Islands
• Norfolk Island
• North Korea
• Papua New Guinea
• Philippines
• Saint Lucia
• Sao Tome & Principe
• Saudi Arabia
• Sierra Leone
• Solomon Islands
• South Africa
• South Sudan
• St Kitts and Nevis
• St Vincent & Grenadines
• Trinidad & Tobago
• Turkmenistan
• Turks & Caicos Islands
• United Arab Emirates
• United States of America

You will need to contact the embassy nearest you to get more information .

Travelers going to Japan for up to 90 days for business purposes can get a business visa.

Japan has introduced a multiple entry visa for a temporary visit for business purposes including :

• Market surveys
• Business liaison
• Business talks
• Conferences
• Signing contracts
• After-sale service for machinery imported to Japan

The criteria for the business visa is as follows :

Nationals of countries from Asia and Asia Pacific, Central and South America, Europe, Russia and the C.I.S., parts of Near Middle East and African regions (UAE, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, South Africa) who are employees holding supervisory positions (i.e. at least equivalent of a manager) of a corporation that satisfy one of the following listed criteria or those who have completed at least one year of full-time employment at a corporation of similar capacity can apply for a Japan Business multiple entry visa:

• A public listed enterprise (on the Stock Exchange of Singapore, Japan or another country）
• A national (state-owned) enterprise
• A joint venture with a public listed enterprise in Japan
• A company that has frequent trading with a public listed enterprise in Japan
• A company that is a member of the local Japanese Chamber of Commerce with an operational base or contact address in Japan.

There is also a temporary visa for business purposes for stays in Japan of up to 90 days which can be single or double-entry. Applicants can apply for a double-entry visa only if they have to make two trips to Japan within a six month period for business purposes.

One of the Japan visa types available for citizens of non-visa exempt countries is the transit visa . This type of visa for Japan is a requirement for travelers who need to stop over in Japan while en route to another country. To get this visa type is necessary to gather the necessary documents including a valid passport and a completed visa form .

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The Japan Visa | Length of Stay on a Visa

Lengths of stay for a Japan visa vary based on the visa you select. If you use a short-term visa to get into Japan, most likely, you can stay for up to 90 days. There are many long-term visa options where holders would be able to stay in Japan anywhere from three months to five years. Longer stays are usually for worker visas.

In April 2020, Japan will release its e-Visa program designed to help tourists get a visa online . Requirements for a visa include a valid passport and a departure ticket.

The Japan e-Visa: Processing Time, How Much, Duration, and Expiry

The successive Q&A discusses the formal rules and regulations of visa applications for Japan. Be sure to bookmark this page and come back in April 2020 to find out updated information on the Japanese e-Visa.

Processing Speeds and Processing Costs for e-Visas to Japan

Current processing usually takes around a week or more at an embassy or consulate depending on your traveling status. We offer a few processing speeds for e-Visas: Standard, Rush, and Super Rush . Super Rush will get you your e-Visa the quickest.

Each processing speed has a specific fee. This will affect your visa's total cost.

e-Visa Pricing for Japanese Visas

Until the e-Visa program is ready, we can assume that Japanese e-Visas will most likely be about the same amount as the standard visas cost. Based on the choices you decide on, you are likely to pay between $6 and $175 USD during the e-Visa application process.

Japan e-Visas: Length of Stay and Expiration Date Information

There is a different time limit for each type of visa. Generally, tourist visas will stay valid for up to 90 days from the day you land in Japan. There are other visas that will be good beyond 90 days up to five years.

Make sure your visit to Japan is planned before the expiry date so that you can use your visa. Most e-Visas will remain valid for up to 90 days from issuance.

Basic Requirements: The Japanese e-Visa

Do i need an e-visa to go to japan.

It varies depending on your travel circumstances. Sixty-eight countries’ residents can go to Japan without a visa for up to 90 days, including nationals of the EU countries. For those who will have to get a Japan visa, like many African and Middle Eastern countries, you will need to fill out a visa application.

If you visa-exempt but are flying to Japan for a different reason besides a little leisure time, you may need to apply for an e-Visa to be able to enter Japan legally. If you go to Japan for educational purposes, for example, you will most likely need a visa to do so.

e-Visa Application for Japan: Information to Prepare

You will need to have or display the following to apply for an e-Visa and go through customs when you reach Japan:

• Departure Ticket - The voucher for your outbound flight is a valid ticket to prove your departure intentions.
• Passport - Must be valid for 6 months or more.
• Hotel or Accommodations - A reservation page works. Or an invitation letter from family or friends.
• Passport Picture - Color photos only. No black and white.
• Finances for Your Trip - You may need a certified bank statement.
• Payment Method - We can accept credit cards and PayPal.

So, most foreign nationals will be able to at least stay in Japan for 90 days if not longer. Come back soon to get your e-Visa from your house and skip the trip to the embassy or consulate.

Obtaining a visa shouldn't be such a long process. Bookmark this page and come back in April 2020 to get your Japan e-Visa securely and conveniently.

Related Articles

Japan Visa rejection: Common reasons and how to avoid it

Japan eVisa for Cambodian citizens: Complete application guide for 2023

Japan eVisa for South African citizens: Requirements and application online

MULTIPLE ENTRY JAPAN VISA: Requirements & How to Apply

This visa guide is for Multiple Entry Japan Visa applications. This contains Japan visa requirements and the multiple entry form. If you’re interested in only a single-entry visa, read these instead: Japan Single-entry TOURIST Visa , if you’re applying as a tourist, or Japan Single-entry VISIT Visa , if you’re visiting friends or relatives.

Note that this visa guide is only for TOURISTS applying in the Philippines. If you’re traveling to Japan for BUSINESS or for cultural matters, I’m afraid I can’t be of help as our knowledge is limited to personal experiences of our team. Rules may be different in other cities and for other nationalities.

Over the past few years, the Japanese Embassy has been lenient when it comes to letting Filipino tourists. Getting a Japan visa is no longer as difficult as before. Processes have been streamlined, rules relaxed, and requirements reduced in an effort to boost tourism.

In fact, they have been handing returning tourists MULTIPLE-ENTRY visas even when they’re not asking for it . That’s what happened to me.

So does that mean that you should expect a multiple-entry visa if it’s not your first time? NOPE, not necessarily.

My first visa was single entry. My second, multiple-entry, and I didn’t even request for it. My third Japan visa was singe-entry again. My fourth, multiple-entry. It’s erratic like that. Clearly, they base it on many factors, which is why, if you’re gunning for a multiple-entry visa and you can’t leave anything to chance, you have to do the application right.

We have been handling the visa applications of our teammates and we have done applying for a multiple-entry visa many times. So allow me to share how we do it.

Update (Feb 2018) . According to the staff at Reli Tours, they noticed since the year started, the embassy had been giving multiple entry visas ONLY to those who explicitly applied for it (meaning, those who filled out the form below). It was just their observation, nothing confirmed or official, but just sharing with you what they said.

WHAT'S COVERED IN THIS GUIDE?

WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR A MULTIPLE ENTRY VISA?

Below is a form provided by the Japanese Embassy, enumerating the types of multiple-entry visas and corresponding eligibility requirements. If you meet any of the following criteria, you may request for one.

Most people will fall under the first category, so let me highlight that for you:

Multiple visa for tourist Eligibility Categories:

For the purpose of this article, let’s label A to D. The reason: I’ll be referring to these categories again when I discuss the requirements so it is important to know where you fall under.

• Category A. If you have travelled to Japan as temporary visitor within the last three years AND have sufficient financial capability to support their trip.
• Category B. If you have travelled to Japan as temporary visitor within the last three years AND have travelled as temporary visitor to G7 countries (excluding Japan) several times within the last three years. The other G7 countries are: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (USA).
• Category C. If you have high financial capacity (but has not been to Japan in the past 3 years). The keywords here are HIGH FINANCIAL CAPACITY.
• Category D. If you are an immediate family member (Spouse/Child) of a person who has high financial capacity.

JAPAN MULTIPLE ENTRY VISA REQUIREMENTS

Here’s a checklist for those visiting as TOURIST , (which means you won’t be visiting a friend or a relative, and you’re staying at a hotel).

Note that this section contains just the basic requirements. There are additional documents needed depending on your eligibility category, listed in the following section.

1. Multiple Entry Visa Request Form

You can download it here .

You can also get the form from the agency.

At the bottom of the form, you’ll find a box where you will be asked to explain why you need a multiple-entry visa. If you feel like it’s not enough space for your explanation, you can use an extra sheet. Better yet, just provide an explanation letter.

2. Philippine passport

Must have at least 6 months validity from your target travel date.

Must have 2 blank pages or more.

Must have a signature. For newer passports, you can find the signature field on Page 3, the page next to the Bio Page. If it’s blank, you can sign it. For older e-passports, your digital signature is already on the bio page. No need to sign.

3. Accomplished visa application form.

The form must be completely filled out. Just put N/A if some fields are not applicable to you.

You may download it from  here .

Use A4 paper when you print it out.

4. ID photo.

4.5cm x 4.5 cm.

White background.

Write your name at the back.

Paste it on the designated area on the application form.

5. Daily itinerary

• Also known as daily schedule.
• Download the format here .
• Must be printed on an A4-size paper.

Update: Covid-19 Form

On 3 February 2020, the Japanese Embassy in Manila announced that visa applicants must answer and submit an additional questionnaire in accordance to the Japanese government’s decision to impose restrictions on travelers who have recently visited areas that are affected by Covid-19.

All applicants must accomplish and submit this form, in addition to the other requirements.

✅ DOWNLOAD THE ADDITIONAL FORM HERE!

Aside from the basic requirements listed above, you must also provide additional documents depending on the category you fall under.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

CATEGORY A: If you have traveled to Japan as temporary visitor within the past 3 years AND have sufficient financial capacity

• Proof of travel to Japan in the last 3 years . The used visas and landing permission stamps on your passport are accepted. If your qualified visas/stamps are on an old passport, submit the old passport too.
• Income tax return (ITR) Form 2316 . If you don’t have a current ITR because you’re new at your job or you’re working abroad or whatever, you can provide copies of invoice or payslip or other tax forms along with a letter explaining why you can’t provide this.
• Bank certificate. Or any other proof of financial capacity such as dividend certificate of stock. Must be issued within the past 3 months. There’s no telling how big a fund is “enough” to get approved, but (in case you’re wondering) my account had only a bit north of P100,000. I planned on staying for a week. I also have a friend who applied for a 5-day stay with only P50,000 in the bank. Hers got approved, too.

CATEGORY B: If you have traveled to Japan as temporary visitor AND other G7 countries several times within the past 3 years

The keywords here are G7 COUNTRIES SEVERAL TIMES.

• Proof of travel to Japan in the last 3 years as temporary visitor. The used visas and landing permission stamps on your passport are accepted. If your qualified visas/stamps are on an old passport, submit the old passport too.
• Proof of travel to other G7 countries in the last 3 years as temporary visitor. Same as above, visas and stamps are accepted. Just submit the passports where they are affixed.

Note: Previously, for this category, no need for financial documents like ITR or bank certificate. However, we’ve been getting reports from readers that they were still required to submit financial docs even if they fall under this category. The Japanese website still does not list them as requirements though. It is possible that some agencies require financial docs while some don’t. What we recommend is to call the agency where you will lodge your application beforehand to confirm.

CATEGORY C: If you have high financial capacity

This is for those who have high financial capacity BUT HAVE NOT BEEN TO JAPAN WITHIN THE PAST 3 YEARS.

We receive a lot of messages from people who have never been to Japan and have low financial capacity but are adamant in applying for a multiple entry visa. While that is possible, it can be risky. If it’s your first time to travel to Japan, the safer way is to apply for a single-entry first. This will give you better chances of approval.

If you have high financial capacity (kaching, kaching!) and you haven’t visited Japan as a temporary visitor in the past 3 years, here are the requirements:

• Birth certificate from PSA. Must be issued within the past one year. If late registration, you will also have to submit a baptismal certificate, high school or elementary school record (Form 137), and school yearbook (only if you have it).
• Marriage certificate from PSA . Only if you’re married. Must be issued within one year from PSA Main Office or Serbilis Outlet Center nationwide.
• Bank certificate. Or any other proof of financial capacity such as dividend certificate of stock. Must be issued within the past 3 months.

CATEGORY D: Spouse or Child of someone with high financial capacity

• Income tax return (ITR) Form 2316 of Guarantor . The guarantor is the spouse or parent with abundant financial resources.
• Bank certificate of Guarantor. Any other proof of financial capacity such as dividend certificate of stock is also accepted. Must be issued within the past 3 months.

If you’re applying to visit family or friends, you can find the list of requirements here: Japan Visa Requirements .

HOW TO APPLY FOR A MULTIPLE ENTRY JAPAN VISA

1. determine if you are eligible..

You’ll find all the eligibility categories above. In some cases, an applicant can fall under 2 or more categories. In that case, I recommend that you take a look at the requirements and figure out which category has the most needed documents that you can provide.

2. Complete the requirements.

Once you have figured out or decided your category, gather all the required documents as enumerated in the previous sections.

Make sure that all printed out documents are on an A4-size paper.

3. Submit via an Accredited Travel Agency.

Currently, there are only a handful of accredited travel agencies. They all charge different rates for the processing of the visa, but it’s somewhere between P800 and P2000. Some are stricter than others, too.

You can find the list of agencies and their office addresses here: Japan Visa Agencies

4. Wait for your visa.

Travel agencies say it usually takes 5-7 working days, but it is often shorter than that. I got my first and second muliple-entry visas after only 2 days. One of our readers said she got hers after 3 weeks. I guess you can never really tell.

Just to manage expectations: Just because you applied for a multiple-entry visa doesn’t mean you will be given exactly that. There’s still a chance that you will be granted a single-entry visa or your application will be denied. It is still at the sole discretion of the Embassy.

That’s about it! Good luck!

Frequently Asked Questions

I’m traveling to japan for the first time. can i apply for a multiple-entry japan visa.

Only if you have high financial capacity or you’re an immediate family member of someone with a high financial capacity.

But in general, it’s much much safer to apply for a single-entry visa if you’re a first-time applicant.

To apply for a single-entry visa, read: SINGLE-ENTRY JAPAN VISA REQUIREMENTS .

How much show money should I have in my bank account to be considered for “high financial capacity”?

They don’t say how much exactly. I don’t know. The agents I asked don’t know either. But it’s generally accepted that if you have a 7-digit amount in your account (over 1 million pesos), you’re eligible.

I’m visiting a friend or relative. Can I apply for a multiple-entry Japan visa?

I don’t know for sure. In general, it’s safer to aim for a multiple-entry visa if you’re applying as a TOURIST, not a VISITOR. According to some our readers, VISIT VISA applicants are less likely to be granted a multiple-entry visa.

How early should I apply for a multiple-entry Japan visa?

3 months before your target travel date is the earliest, in my opinion. Remember, whether or not you’ll be granted a multiple-entry visa is upon the discretion of the embassy. It is still possible that you be granted a single-entry vis even if you apply for multiple. The single-entry visa has a validity of 3 months, so if luck is not on your side and you’re granted a single-entry visa, you can still use it to enter Japan.

I prefer applying 1 month before the trip.

Do I need a travel agency to apply?

Yes. Unless it’s a special case, all visa applications must be coursed through any of their accredited travel agencies.

Here’s the complete list of officially accredited travel agencies: Japan Visa Travel Agencies .

Do I need to book flights and hotel before applying?

No. It’s not a requirement. However, on the application form, you will have to write down the specific AIRLINE and HOTEL ADDRESS you wish to book (or have booked).

Some travel agencies accept flight itinerary if the applicant is already booked for better chances. Some don’t. In general, it is not a requirement. If you haven’t booked flights yet, don’t. Get a visa first.

How long is the validity of multiple-entry Japan visa?

Multiple-entry visas will allow you to stay for 15 or 30 days per trip, depending on what is given to you.

But the visa can be used multiple times for 5 years.

How long does it take to process Japan visa application?

Up to 7 days, generally. But it varies. My first time, 5 working days. Second time, 2 days. Then on my third and fourth times, 7 days and 2 days respectively.

I know people who have waited weeks for theirs. Pretty hard to tell.

Is personal appearance required for a multiple-entry Japan visa?

NO. You can ask someone else to do submit the documents for you IF THE REQUIREMENTS ARE COMPLETE.

For good measure, write an authorization letter.

Should the application form be typewritten/computerized or handwritten?

Either is okay. I’ve tried applying with both. No problem.

If the question doesn’t apply to me, should I write N/A or just leave it blank?

It confuses applicants because Japan and Korea have different policies, and most designated agencies process both Japan and Korean visas.

But here’s the generally accepted practice: For Japan Visa form, write N/A. For Korean Visa form, leave it blank.

What are the common reasons why multiple-entry Japan visa applications are denied?

I can only speculate, but based on the messages we receive from our followers, the usual reasons are the following:

• You’re not eligible for multiple-entry. You’re probably traveling to Japan for the first time and have insufficient funds but you’re applying for multiple-entry. You should apply for a single-entry visa first.
• You can’t prove that you can financially support yourself on this trip . You probably have insufficient funds or not in a good financial standing.
• You can’t prove that you intend to return (rootedness). You probably don’t have a stable job at this point, unemployed, newly employed, or newly resigned, and it’s giving the impression that you intend to work there.
• Your intention/purpose in Japan is unclear . This is why it is best to be specific when you’re detailing the reasons for your visit. There may also be some inconsistencies in your application.

How many times can I visit Japan using a multiple-entry visa?

I don’t know if there is a limit regarding frequency of use. However, according to most forum sites, you shouldn’t spend more than 180 days in Japan. That’s total, cumulative number of days. This is just based on online forums. I don’t have official confirmation.

That’s the cumulative number of days. Not to be confused with the length of stay you are allowed PER TRIP, which is usually 15 or 30 days per trip, depending on what you are granted. Check your visa, the length of stay allowed is indicated.

I have just returned from Japan. How soon can I travel to Japan again?

Not sure if there is a limit. But I can tell you these:

In 2016: I exited Narita at 7:45pm to accompany my mom because she didn’t want to travel alone. Then, the next morning, I flew back and entered Narita again. That’s less than 24 hours apart, but I didn’t have any problem at the Immigration at all.

In 2018: I exited Nagoya on December 7 and flew to Sapporo for another trip on December 10. I didn’t run into any trouble either.

Updates Log

2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣0️⃣ • 2️⃣ • 3️⃣ – Added the new questionnaire (related to Hubei Province) to the list of requirements 2️⃣0️⃣1️⃣7️⃣ • 3️⃣ • 2️⃣6️⃣ – first up

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Yes, anything between 50k to 100k is the safest amount to have inside the bank.

Hi, question..if someone have multiple visa. When she return to japan since the lst time of her visit?

Good day, I applied for tourist visa in japan.single entry.plan ko na mag vacation this august 2017.nxt time gusto ko ulit bumalik so plan ko na mag apply for multiple entry visa.ilang months bago ako ulit makapg apply ng visa? ‘Hope to hear your respond. Thank you

Hi, Good day. Did you fill up the multiple enty form for your 2nd try or was it the single enty then they gave you a multiple entry visa? Thanks

I didn’t fill out the multiple-entry form. They just gave us multiple entry visa despite us not requesting for it. :)

if we fill up the multiple entry form do we still need to submit a letter requesting a multiple entry visa??

No na, unless di kasya ung explanation mo dun sa space provided sa form.

hi! when you were granted a multiple entry visa, did you perhaps buy JR Pass as well? is multiple entry visa with temporary status accepted that time? i was searching the net and one JR Pass seller mentioned that multiple entry visa holders cannot use JR Pass… thank you!

Hi! I saw that too when I was granted a multiple visa back in 2016. I was still able to get a JR pass from the travel agency where I applied for my visa despite this “rule” though. Just ask your TA. But you probably don’t need to worry about this. :)

Hi Hiki. In 2016, I was able to use a JR Pass while on a multiple entry visa… Not sure if something has changes since.

File not found — sample IT format T-T

The embassy moved the file. Updated now. Thanks for bringing this up. :)

Hi.. I’ve been to Japan twice in last year but I haven’t been to any of g7 coubtries yet. Can i still apply for multiple entry?

Yep. You only need to meet at least one (not all) of the eligibility points listed above. So yep, you can be granted a multiple entry visa even without a G7 travel history.

Our teammate Astrid (who is also a regular contributor here) was recently granted a multiple entry visa and her travels were limited to Southeast Asia and Japan. Her application was still approved.

Hello! For the last multiple entry visa that was given to you last year, did you apply for a single entry visa only? Is that the form that you filled-up? Back in 2016, there were no forms yet separating single entry and multiple entry visas, and I was given a multiple entry one on my first visit to Japan. My sister went last year (this was when they started having the separate forms), and since she only applied for a single entry one, she was given that, even though we submitted basically the same requirements (we had our mother as guarantor).

My family and I are planning to go to Japan this June. It’s my mother’s and my brother’s first time in the country. I was thinking to just have them apply for a single entry visa, just to play it safe. But we plan to go back for the 2020 olympics, so a multiple entry one would really be great.

Do you have any recommendations? Thank you and more power to you and this site! :)

Hi Steph, to answer your question, yep, the 2 multiple visas that I have were both granted despite me applying for single entry.

However, my blogging partner Vins recently applied and the staff at Reli Tours said that they noticed since the year started, the embassy had only been giving multiple entry visas to those who would explicitly apply for it (meaning, those who would fill out the form above). It was just their observation, nothing confirmed or official, but just sharing with you what they said.

If it’s their (your mom’s and bro’s) first time to apply for a Japan visa, it’s always best practice to apply for a single entry muna to be safe. :)

I fall on both #1 and #2 eligibility since i had been to Japan and I had traveled to G7 countries multiple times in the last 3 years (12 Schengen countries + UK + US) even Australia. However I did not request for multiple entry visa so on my 2nd visa (2018) they still gave me single entry.

Hi :) Question about: “I also have a friend who applied for a 5-day stay with only P50,000 in the bank. Hers got approved, too.”

Did your friend get approved for a single-entry or a multiple entry? Thank you :)

That friend, single entry. It was her first time.

And just very recently, another friend applied with only P70,000 for her 2nd Japan trip, she was given multiple entry.

How high is the HIGH FINANCIAL Capacity? :D

same question, just wondering if 500k is high enough to get a multiple entry if you are applying for the first time in Japan

They don’t say explicitly.

Also i was planning to go this November kayalang i wanted to book early. I just did not want to risk buying the ticket without the visa that is why i wanted to apply for multiple because of the validity. Is there a chance na i applied for multiple tapos bigyan nila ako ng single entry which is di ko pa naman magagamit. Baka it might affect affect my next visa application?

Hi Joanna, yes, may chance na single ang ibigay sayo kahit multiple ang iapply mo.

Regarding whether or not makakaapekto, may isa kaming reader na hindi rin nya nagamit single visa nya tapos she applied again, sabi nya wala namang naging problem.

HI! I just wanted to verify, according to your reply above, I can choose to apply for multiple entry, but if somehow they find my requirements not enough for multiple but would suffice for single entry, it is still possible to be granted single entry visa right? (Background lang po, I already visited Japan last January 2017, then will go back this year by September.)

Planning to apply po kasi ako for Multiple entry kasi I want to go back by 2020 for the Olympics.

Gud day ask ko lng single entry po ako lagi coz invite ako ng brother inlaw ko now dto po ako s japan pauwi nko ng april ask kol lng pde ko kya iapply multiple visa s nxt n punta ko dto s japan my business nmn ako s pinas n pde ko iproof for applying without guarantor possible kya maaprubahan ako tnx po

Pwede po pero mas okay if as a tourist, not as a visitor.

Hi Allan, yep, pwedeng single ang ibigay. Pwede ring flat out ideny. Yun ang tricky kapag nag-apply ng multiple. You’ll never know until results time.

Pag nag-apply ka, ask the agency if marerecommend nila, given all the docs that you have, na mag-apply ng multiple. Mas alam nila un :)

Hello, I’m a girl from Iran, which four Japanese girls asked me to form a team. What visa should I receive? The invitation visa is accepted by my friends? I want to stay in Tokyo for one month ありがとう

Hello! We just submitted our requirements for Japan Visa. This is now our second time applying. We didn’t submit a form of request for Multiple Entry because we were not aware of it and the agency didn’t inform us about it. Anyway, do we still have the chance to be given multiple entry visas? Thank you.

Hi Happy. May I know if you were granted multiple entry visas?

My family and I will be submitting this month. It will also be our second time applying. I’m thinking of applying the single entry (and hope that we will be given multiple entry) to be on the safe side.

There might be. But it’s hard to tell at this point because the last time we asked, the agency said the form is now a must for multiple.

hi! Gusto ko sana magapply ng multiple entry japan visa. NagSchengen ako last 2016 and went to both Italy and France, and last trip ko to Japan is 2015….ang problem ko is this: i have an italian schengen visa but yung entry and exit ko is through amsterdam. In other words, yung travel ko to italy and france walang immigration stamps. Acceptable po kaya yun sa embassy? May suggestion po ba kayo na pwede kong option or gawin? Thanks.

Hi Laurrie, okay lang po yun! Familiar naman sila sa Schengen policy so di issue yun. :)

I have 2 Schengen Visas, one was issued by Czech Republic (last Dec 2016) and the other one was from Switzerland (last April 2017). For the Czech, my entrance/exit point is Amsterdam while for the Switzerland, my entrance/exit was Geneva. I was able to tour France and Italy kaso walang immigration stamps. Do you think I need to submit photos pa during my Italy and France stay as proofs?

I just reread your comment, and hmmmm, I’m not sure kung papaano if ganyan ang case, kasi the visa was issued by another country. Di ko alam if icoconsider sya ng embassy. Best to call yung travel agency kung saan ka mag-aapply na lang.

Hi! Just wanna ask something. Ive been to Japan twice last year but both my visas are with a guarantor. Is it possible for me to apply for a multiple visa? Can I just submit the multiple entry visa form without having to provide my own tax return form? Thanks

Ang alam ko, pwede naman kahit may guarantor before. Ewan ko rin.

You need to submit an ITR unless there is a valid reason.

Hi po. sa page ng relaxation of visa requirements in the JPN emb. in the PH, ang list of documents for category A is this:

a. Visa Application Form (with Photo) b. Machine-Readable Passport (MRP) meeting (ICAO) standard or ordinary IC passport c. Proof of previous travel to Japan (existing or old passport with Japan visa, landing permit and entry stamps) d. Bank Certificate of applicant e. Employment Certificate of applicant f. Letter of explanation for requesting Multiple-entry visa

can you tell po if hindi na need ng ITR basta may employment certificate, or requirement parin po kahit hindi na nakalagay dito sa list??? thank you. :)

ay wait po nvm, kakakita ko lang. requirement pala talaga. don’t approve napo yung comments ko. thank you.

My sister and I are planning to go to Japan this May. I have been to Japan before back in 2016 and I plan to apply for multiple entry. My sister has never been to Japan but we have both been to New Zealand in 2016. My Questions: 1) Can my sister apply for multiple entry visa in Japan? 2) Can she fall under Category B (since she has been to NZ but not Japan) or Category D (since I can sponsor her)? 3)If she does not fall within any category, is it “safer” (higher chance of approval) for her to apply for Single Entry? Your reply is much appreciated. Thanks!

1. Only if you have HIGH FINANCIAL CAPACITY.

2. New Zealand is not a G7 country so she can’t be under B. And she can only be under D if you have high financial capacity.

3. Rule of thumb is, if it’s your first time to apply, apply for a single-entry visa.

Plan ko po magapply ng japan visa this May 2018. Plano ko pumunta ng japan (first time), ma-aavail ko kaya ang multiple entry kahit 1st time lang ako pupunta?

btw, nakapunta na ako ng korea early this year (w/single entry visa).

If you have HIGH FINANCIAL CAPACITY.

how much is the amount needed for a HIGH FINANCIAL CAPACITY?

Hi Sheila, we’ve answered that question in the post. FAQ #2

Hi, do you have idea if the agencies charge higher fees for multiple visas? compared to single entry. or same lang, thanks

Do you any idea if there is a passport validity requirement for applying for a multiple-entry visa? I mean, if that will be good for 5 years, should it fall within one’s passport validity? Say mine is 2015-2020 and if I will apply this year(2018), am I still capable to apply?

Walang problema dun. Mine expires next year but I was given a 5-year multiple entry visa.

Hi,sorry Galing po ako sa japan last May 2018 pero guarantor ko fiance ng mama ko. Pwede kaya ako mag apply ng multiple visa na walang guarantor?

Depende if may nameet ka sa criteria that I enumerated in the post above.

sorry i mean May 2017

Hi do you have any idea how high is the high financial capacity?

Question lang po, If ever I was not given a multiple entry visa, does that mean Single entry lang ung ibibigay? or Denied na ako nun, and I need to re-apply?

Been to JP thrice already, and this year will be my fourth. :)

Sabi ng agency, mahirap daw i-predict. Pwedeng single, pwedeng denied.

Im planning to apply for a single entry visa for japan this coming august. ive been to the country already last february. not planning on applying for a multiple entry visa. are the requirements still the same for single entry even if it is your second time applying for it already?

Yep, same. Difference lang is birth certificate, di na kailangan.

My family and I had our first visit in Japan late last year. We are visiting again in December and are planning to get a multiple visa this time. If me and my hubby falls on Category A, does my 18 yr old daughter also falls under this category or category D as she is still a student?

Hi Wheng, I think either will do. But it depends on her financial situation. If she has a bank account under her name and it shows high financial capacity, then yes, she can be A. But if she doesn’t have one, then D. But I would just go for D for my daughter, if I were in your case.

Hi! My bf and I submitted all the requirements, except I submitted extra ones like COE and Car Registration, and he did not. He only submitted tickets and bookings, ITR, but no COE. His ITR was lower compared to what he is earning now, and it might not be commensurate to his current savings (120k). I’ve been to Japan once but I only applied for single entry, just like my bf.

Do you think there may be something lacking in our application? Should he have submitted more optional documents?

Hi via, that’s okay. Di naman required ang COE na.

Kakauwi ko lang from Japan and I was given 1 time entry with 15 days stay. I have few questions sana and hope you can answer.

1. I applied my visa may work pa ako kakaresign ko lang din.. But now all i have is my itr syempre wala na me work. Do i still need to provide COE or ok nlang yung ITR ko? Or need ko gumawa ng letter explaning wala ako work..

2. My timeline ba ng visa application bago ako mag apply ulit since kakauwi ko lang ngayung July 14? Or can I apply agad agad?

1. Wala na sa list of requirements nila yung COE. Pero ewan ko if may agencies na humihingi pa rin ng COE. Pero sa Reli Tours, for example, wala namang COE. ITR ay sapat na.

2. Okay lang kahit apply ka agad pag-uwi. Walang issue dun. Nagawa ko na rin yan before, wala naman naging problem.

Hi mr. Yoshke, i just want to ask. If i file multiple visa via relatives ok lang ba yun? Im currently here in japan for 90days and balik ko ng phil. By august 29, nagrant ako ng single entry na submit ko nman ung req. tapos plan ko ulit mag apply after 3 months ng multiple visa, ganun din ba process na katulad ng ginawa ko sa single entry ko?

Process is still the same. May additional form lang na kelangan iaccomplish. And dapat mas malaki lang funds.

Hi.. gaano kalaki ung chance ko na magrant ng ME kapag nakapagstay na ako japan for single entry last june-august? Thanks!!!

Hard for me to sya coz it’s based on a whole lot of factors.

On my 2nd application, i explicitly applied for multiple entry and got approved for 1 yr 15 day one. You mentioned you got 5 yr, how many days? Any idea what are the other variations? 1 yr 30 day?

Hi Mark, the visa I’m using now is valid for 5 years, 30 days per visit.

Before that, I got a validity of 3 years, 15 days per visit.

I’ll be applying for Multiple entry Visa for Japan. I have been to Japan last year lang, January 2017. I think na pasok naman ako don sa A.A. What worries me is I transferred all my balances from my 2 BPI accounts to my to my BDO account . The reason is this is the same account(BDO) I used last time. I needed to transfer my balances from my BPI accounts para at least mag 6 digits and ending balance ko and to prove that I have enough Financial Capability to support my trip. I only did these transfers last week. Hindi naman kasama sa ADB ang Bank Cert for Japan visa Application right? Only the Current balance and Date of Start ng Account.

Or should I just request Bank Certs from my BPI accounts as well. Kasi every certificate request has a fee. That;s why I though na itransfer na lang muna ung balances to one account.

Hi James, last time na kumuha ako sa BDO, hindi naman naka-display ang ADB. Not sure if sa branch lang namin or ganun lahat, though, kasi dati kasama.

Pero if hindi kasama, you should be fine.

I’ve read in an ABS-CBN article ( http://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/07/31/18/japan-to-ease-visa-requirements-for-filipino-business-travelers ) that they’re going to extend the maximum validity period of an ME visa from 5 to 10 years.

Any tips for qualifying for the 10-year visa?

Hi Al, I haven’t really taken a good look at that news bit, we’ll share tips as soon as we experience it. :P

When I applied for my visa last month, my relative in Japan was my guarantor. Can I still follow the same process if I will apply for multiple visa and the purpose is to visit a relative? Can my relative still be my guarantor or should I provide my Bank certificate and ITR already? Thank you. :)

Hi Althea, not sure if totoo but some of our readers said na risky mag-apply ng multiple kung Visit Visa. Mas malaki chance daw if tourist.

Hi, I went to Japan last November 2015 ( single entry) and I want to travel again this september for 11 days ( booked tickets and accommodation already). I want to apply for a multiple entry but I am kind of worried since I do not have an ITR. The last time I went there, I submitted an explanation letter with a COE from my company that I am a contractual nurse thus wala akong ITR. Do you think I should apply for single or push through for multiple entry?

Hi Shyr, best to ask yung agency na lang kung saan ka apply.

My advice though is apply for single na lang muna.

hi good day! Ive been to Japan last 2015 and 2016 for single entry lang.. can I. Be given a multiple entry if I apply this year? What to prepare for the multiple entry Visa? Currently I am not employed. I am just a freelance networker.any advise?

Hi Besscan, ayan na po sa post ung mga requirements.

If wala kang ITR, gawa ka ng letter explaining bakit wala then submit other proof na meron kang income like invoices or copy of contract, etc.

Hi, do you think it’s okay to apply for a multiple visa if I had only 60k in bank?

I was able to secure single entry visa in Japan last year twice and visited Japan twice but using visiting friend. But now I’m planning to get multiple by my own. My worries are, as of the moment, I opened a new bank account last July and it currently have 50-70k.

I hope you can advise me. Thanks!

Hi Pol, I have a friend/teammate who had almost the same amount in her bank (hers was lower) and was convinced by the agency to try applying for multiple, and her application was approved. It wasn’t her first time in Japan either. She visited just the month before. So yes, there is a possibility na ma-approve kahit ganun ung amount. :)

I have opened the bank account just this July 2018, check if the bank certificate your bank issues indicate the maturity nung account. Kasi if nakalagay kung gaano na katagal ung account and 1 month old pa lang, baka magka-problem. Most bank certs naman, hindi nakalagay. Pero double check mo lang.

Hi, kung sa category D, hindi na ba need yung Letter of Guarantee? Planning to apply as a family and mom ko yung guarantor for all of us sana.

Hi Shen, as far as I know, no na. the birth cert should already show that you’re immediate family.

Hi, I just want to say thanks! This guide absolutely helped. I did bring a guarantee letter just in case and Reli took the document. My whole family got 5-year ME visas. We used category C and D since we’ve never been to Japan before. The application took 9 working days to be processed so I was nervous but it was worth the wait.

Yayyyy! Congrats! Enjoy Japan! :D

Hi Yoshke! So if I have traveled to Italy, Canada and Japan in the last 2 years (I have single entry visa for these 3 countries), I don’t need to submit my ITR AND Bank Certificate? Did I understand this correctly?

Hi Jojee, yep! You only need to submit the basic requirements + proof of travel in Japan and G7 countries.

Hi Yoshke! I just applied. No financial docs nga needed just my Japan and G7 stamps haha i didnt even submit a CoE! Got approved in 2 days through Attic Tours. thank you!!!!!!!!

Yayyyyyy! Congrats! And thanks for taking the time to let us know! ☺️

Yey! That’s a relief! I’m praying I receive multiple entry next time I apply later this year. Thanks, Yoshke!!!

Hi my sister is living in tokyo but i dont want to bother her to be my guarantor. Is it possible to apply for multiple entry visa using my own documents even if i mention that i will visit my sister? Or they will require me additional documents from my sister?

Hi Apple, ang chika sa travel circles ko (wuw, chika talaga) ay mas mahirap maapprove ang multiple kapag Visit. Mas madali kapag Tourist. Again, yun ang rumor. Di ko alam kung totoo.

Is it your first time to visit Japan? If first time mo, best kung single entry na lang muna.

Hi Yoshke! I have travelled to Japan (single entry) last week for 13 days. My questions are:

1. When is the soonest I can apply again for Japan Visa? 2. How can I apply for multiple-entry Visa? I want to apply for multiple-entry VIsa but my bank account falls under 50-70k. I am not eligible with the requirements above (for multiple) because my Travel history is just Singapore (dec 2015 and Jan 2018) and recently Japan August 2018.

My reason for applying multiple-entry visa is bitin kasi yung 15 days. My Girlfriend is currently working in Japan (last march lang sya nag start) so no problem ako sa accommodation. I want to apply lang as a tourist not visiting her (same in what I did before) baka kasi malaki chance ma deny. I need your advice on this Mr. Yoshke.

Should I just apply for a visiting tourist sa GF ko or just apply multiple-entry visa na hindi ko imention GF ko? or single entry nalang? Maraming salamat po. Hope I get a reply.

1. You can apply anytime basta used na ung visa mo.

2. I have a friend/teammate who had the same amount in her bank and was convinced by the agency to try applying for multiple, and her application was approved. It wasn’t her first time in Japan either. She visited just the month before. So yes, there is a possibility na ma-approve kahit ganun ung amount. Ang difference lang is, she applied for a Tourist Visa, not a Visit visa.

Hi, Thank you for your great content and appreciating your help!

1- Do you think that an amount of $ 10K dollars will help me get a multiple entry visa?

2- I have recently joined a job since one month and I don’t have any ITR. Can you please send me a sample of any payslips that I need to provide along with my documents?

****I am from Afghanistan**** *****I have never been to Japan yet. Not applied yet. Please kindly guide.****

Hi Alokozai, this guide is for Philippine passport holders only. I have no idea what the policy is for Afghanistan citizens. :(

Just applied yesterday at Reli Tours Megamall. A few seconds after I gave my requirements to the staff, she said “Sir nakapunta ka na sa Japan. Would you like to request for a multiple entry visa?”. Of course I said yes!

Yay! Good luck on your application!

Late ppdate: My visa is ME for 5 years! Ang bilis, I applied Sept 2, then around 6:30pm of Sept 4 nagtext na ang Reli Tours na ready to pickup na ang passport ko.

Yayyyy! Congrats! :D

Hi, would you know if the maximum number of days I could stay in Japan should I apply for a multiple entry visa? And if I will be able to extend my visit or stay? It will be my fourth visit if ever.

Some multiple-entry visas allow maximum of 15 days, others allow 30 days. Depends on what is given to you.

Not sure about extending though.

Super thanks

Hello mr. Yoshke ask ko lang last month nagpunta ako ng japan for tourist visa with guarantor for 15 days. And balak ko mag aply ulit ng tourist visa with same guarantor ok lang po ba yon friend ko lang yong guarantor ko posible kya yon.?

Hi Honey grace, for multiple entry ba?

Hi Yoshke! :) I’m planning to apply for multiple entry visa sana but I’ve never been to Japan pa. Although I have toured several SEA countries (w/o visa) + I have multiple entry Korean visa. Do I have a chance na magrant ung multiple entry ko? TIA.

Generally, if first time mo sa Japan, single-entry na lang muna para smaller ang risk na madeny. Unless 7 digits ung nasa bank account mo. :)

Thank you :)

Hi! I’ve been wanting to apply for a multiple-entry visa and I think I fall under category A. I have two questions:

1) For the show money, should it be “just enough” for the first planned trip (just like for single-entry) or should it be large enough to cover for the succeeding trips?

2) I traveled to Canada just recently. Only once so far but I have a multiple-entry status. Do you think I also fall under category B? If not, do you think it would help anyway if I apply following category A procedures but submitting a copy of my Canada visa (and entry/exit stamps) to help strengthen the chance of the visa being granted?

Thank you very much!

Zaeefa, I have a friend/teammate who applied for a multiple entry visa (Category A), and she only had 50-60K in her bank account. She was applying for a single entry but the agency convinced her to apply for ME instead. She did and got approved.

Of course, applying for ME is always risky, but what I’m saying is, it’s possible na maapprove basta may ok na travel history sa Japan lalo na if may Canada visa ka rin. You can submit requirements for both A and B for good measure. :)

Ohh. I see. Thank you so much for the info!

May follow-up question din pala ako. I have a friend who wants to try applying for the ME status as well but the last time he went to Japan was 6 years ago. He also went to Canada just this year and ME status din. How high should his show money be to fall under category C? Thank you!

Hi Zaeefa, I don’t have a figure (not even a ballpark figure). Best to contact na lang the agency where you plan to apply kasi mas may experience sila. :D

Ohh okay. Thank you so much! Your blog and your quick replies are very helpful. God bless. :D

No prob! Good luck sa application nyo! :)

Hello Yoshke!

I already got my multiple entry visa valid for 5 years! Do you have any idea if there’s a maximum number of days/trips I can go to Japan within a year? Thank you!

This site answers your question: https://origami-book.com/column/course-en/12390

I think the point is for travelers to not make Japan their “second home” by staying longer than they should.

Thanks for sharing this, Al. Really helpful. We’ll add to the FAQs too. :)

Hi Pearl, I don’t think there is. If there is, I don’t know.

But I’m currently in Japan now and this is my 5th Japan trip this year. I had no problem going in.

Hi Yoshe, Me and my family were granted visas twice already (visiting relative), this time we want to apply for a ME since our travel would be on May 2019. I just want to apply earlier (this Nov) coz my husband would be here for a vacation. He’s an OFW, with annual leave. He would be applying with us here since he doesn’t keep his money/savings in the bank abroad. My dilemma is that, I put in my letter that we have been granted two visas (2014 and 2016) visiting relative, would it affect our application now that we are applying as tourist? By the way, I indicated that we want to explore Tokyo on our own and book ourselves in 2 hotels. Also, will my children and my spouse fall on category D or will we go as a group and be categorized in A? I have an ITR, employment cert, stock cert and bank certificate. My children and my husband do have separate bank accounts but with modest savings in the bank (I don’t know how the Embassy tagged one’s finance). As much as possible, I want them to apply in Categ A coz If I go for D for them, I still have to provide PSA stuffs. Kindly enlighten me with my predicament. Thanks and more travels for you.

Hi Donna, I really don’t know the answer to this for sure. I think your past trips as visitors won’t matter much. If you’re traveling as tourists now, that’s what would matter to them. It’s just a hunch, though. It’s still best to consult the travel agency where you plan to lodge your application. They sure have a more definitive answer for you. :)

Hi Yoshke, Just to update you, got ours for 5 years, ME. Thanks Yoshke.. For travels for you. God bless..

Hi Donna! YAYYYYY!!! Congrats!!! :)

Hi yoshke! Will go to Japan in Jan my first time ,Im thinking to apply for ME visa I’ve been to Singapore just a few months ago. I’m quite worried I don’t have an ITR because I just opened my business last September. Do you think I’d get approved? Is it ok if I will submit the bank cert of my checking account or better the savings account?

Hi Jem, if it’s your first time to visit Japan, it’s much, much safer to apply for a single-entry visa.

Hello, I have a ME visa sa korea. Hindi pa ako naka travel sa Japan. Do you think pwede ako mag request ng Japan ME visa? How much ang balance na dapat meron sa bangko?

Hi Ruby, walang nakakaalam kung magkano dapat ung nasa account. Sabi nila 7 digits pag multiple. Di ko alam for sure.

But generally if it’s your first time, best na single na lang muna to be safe.

Hello! It will be my first time to go to Japan around July 2019. 1. Can I apply this early for a single entry this early? 2. I actually qualify dun sa 2nd category for multiple entry visa (employee from a company na Japanese subsidiary and also Japanese-managed) but I want to be a tourist. Can I use that for a first timer visa for multiple entry as a tourist? Thanks.

Hi Gian, 3 months before yung earliest.

Yung 2nd question, di ko gets, huhu.

Sorry po. Yung 2nd option sa multiple entry visa na form, yung employee ng Japanese company. Is it for business only or for tourists lang? Thanks po.

And any idea with high financial capacity?

Aaah, naku, wala akong alam dun sa kapag employee ng Japanese company. Yung for tourist lang ang alam ko.

Re high financial capacity, di nila sinasabi how much ung needed para mag-qualify sa high financial capacity.

If it’s your first time to apply, it’s generally safer to apply for a single-entry visa. Pag nakapunta ka na once, madali na magmultiple. Pero if first time, less risky kung single.

Hello! Plan ko magapply ng Japan Tourist Visa pag nagbakasyon ako sa pinas next year .

May question are:

Exempted ba kming mga OFW sa ITR? Pwede ba akong mag apply ng Multiple may Canada Multiple Visa ako pero isang beses ko pa lang nagagamit?

You can submit the equivalent of ITR ng bansa kung saan ka nagwo-work. Tapos sulat ka na lang ng explanation letter.

Me and daughter recently traveled to Japan. Gusto ko mag apply ng multiple visa both sa akin and to her.

Alam ko sa category A ako.

Ang anak ko kaya sa category D?

Or one application for both us is enough?

Hi Ella! Yep, ikaw, definitely A. Di ko lang alam yung sa daughter kasi di ko pa naranasan mag-apply for a multiple entry visa na part of a group/family.

Kung individual application yan and your daughter is employed and has her own finances, I would say A din sya. Pero di ko alam kasi ung details pag group application or if pede pa un.

Ok. Thank you. I would try and let you know kung puwede or kung anong naging experience ko for others to know.

I will be applying Multiple Visa for my Family. We’ve been to Japan before but I only apply for single-entry visa. I’ll be coming back with my family and boyfriend. But the problem is it is indicated that you can only apply if you or your parents have financial capacity. Can I still include my boyfriend in our application or it should be in different application. He has a Multiple Visa in USA and Korea.

Hi Mikaela, di ko alam if pwede ang hindi relative in just one application. Sorry. Call na lang the agency where you plan to lodge your application. :(

Hi, for category B, is it required that the visit to g7 countries be “several times”?

I went to japan 2017 and US DEC2016 TO JAN2017. Ive been to US several times but only once in the last three years. Do i still qualify for category B?

Hi Dani, I’m not sure, but if I were in your shoes, I would go for it. :)

i have a filipino friend who work in japan and sponsor her fiancee to visit her there. She said her fiancee visa approved and allowed him to saty in japan for 3months straight. I’m not sure the authenticity of her information but this is what she’d been telling me. Is it really posible to stay in japan 3 months staright just holding fiancee visa?

Hi Katty, naku, wala akong alam about fiancee visa. :(

Hi po. I have multiple entry visa and once ko palang nagamit last year. No idea po ako kung paano sya gamitin for the 2nd time onwards? Basta punta na lang po ba ako ng airport and good to go na yun? Nasanay lang po ako sa single entry since 2016. Sorry po kung ganito yung tanong. >.<

And ayos lang po kaya kung halimbawa magkasunod na months ako pupunta pero a week or two lang each visit? May nagsabi po kasi sakin na parang bawal daw magkasunod na month kung nagamit yung 30 days na stay.

Thank you po!

Hi Jane, yep, show up ka lang sa airport with your visa, no other steps needed. But to be safe, always make sure you have a return ticket, proof of accommodations, etc. para sa PH immigration.

Di ko alam yung sinasabing bawal ang magkasunod pag nagamit ung 30 days. Nung latter half ng 2018, halos every month nasa Japan ako and 1 week apart lang, wala naman akong naging problem pero 1-2 weeks lang ang stay ko.

Hello Yoshke! Just wanted to confirm if my passport has expired and my multiple entry visa for Japan is still valid, do i just bring my old passport with valid visa and my new passport? No need to have my valid visa transferred to my new passport? Thank you!

Hi Pau! Yep, no need to have the visa transferred. Just bring BOTH your old passport with visa and your new passport. Ganyan din situation ko now. My ME Japan visa is in my old passport and I have a new passport na. I just bring both.

Hi pwede mag ask yung friend ko may 5years multiple visa tapos on process yung long term visa nya sa japan bali asawa nya don sa japan permanent resident pwede ba sya pumasok ng japan as tourist visa habang di lumalabas yung long term visa nya na finile ng asawa nya

Di ko po alam. :(

I’m an OFW based in Singapore so will apply through the embassy here. Just wanted to know if meron ka pong reader who is also based here and applied for 5-year multiple entry visa. Main reason for it is I want to come back next year for Tokyo 2020 and return for other cities such as Sapporo, Okinawa etc.

Visited Kansai region in January 2017 and I have multiple stamps from USA and will be visiting Germany next month. So I guess pasok naman sa criteria :)

Hi. You can post this sa FB Support Group namin. Baka may SG-based din dun na nakatry: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thepoortraveler/

Ok po, will do, salamat! :)

Sorry 2 more questions :)

1) For the passport photo/info page, G7 visas and passport stamps, do I need to submit photocopies OR the passport itself will suffice?

2) Are they strict about the A4 paper printout? Was there any visa application rejection due to not following this requirement? Curious lang. :)

1. Dun sa experience ng friend ko, passport lang. Pero dala ka na lang din ng photocopy to be sure.

2. Madalas, di na lulusot sa agency pa lang pag hindi A4. Papapalitan nila right there.

would like to ask, i want to apply ng M.E. Visa but my first time sa Japan pa lang.. But I’ve been to Schengen Countries and turkey and 8 asian countires including korea but not yet in Japan.

Do i need a cover letter for applying ng ME Visa? pasok na ba sa qualifications kaya yun? my bank account naman is in good standing… what if ndi ako nabigyan ng ME? possible ba na Denied agad un? or baka naman single entry lang ? Salamat po

Xtn, if mataas ang laman ng bank account mo, pede naman. Di naman need ng cover letter kasi may section naman sa form na pwede mo iexplain bakit mo gusto ng multiple.

Pero rule of thumb is, kapag first time mo, safer to apply na single. If gusto mo talaga ipush ang multiple, ijustify mo na lang sa form.

Will it be okay to apply for a multiple entry visa just months after I came back from my last Japan trip? It was April then I plan on going back during Autumn.

Or should I wait?

By the way I love your blog, I am learning a lot about traveling, and even though I know it’s complicated, your blog definitely makes it easier for me, I feel like I can travel like how you guys are doing. Way to go!

Hi Ozzy, Yep, that’s okay. My teammates did something similar. They applied for multiple after just coming back. They got approved.

I have a ME Japan visa, I just came back last March 28 2019 for a 26 days visit, My question is When is the soonest na pwede ako bumalik sa Japan? Planning to go back there this month with my other family members with of course with visa ready on hand.. Thanks

Hi Jay, nagawa ko nang bumalik ng 1 day lang ang pagitan, wala namang problem.

Something like kahapon dumating ako from Japan ng 8pm tapos 8am the next day bumalik ako Japan. Walang naging issue. Ang alam ko, oks lang as long as hindi mo mareach ung limit ng number of days allowed sa Japan.

I just want to clarify. How often does “multiple entry” means? In a year, how many times can i go in and out of Japan? And are there any duration of the exit? Say for example i just came back from japan and plan to re-enter, does it have a span of time like a week or so?

In 2016: I exited Narita at 7:45pm to accompany my mom because she didn’t want to travel alone. Then, the next morning, I flew back and entered Narita again. That’s less than 24 hours apart, but I didn’t have any problem at the Immigration at all.

In 2018: I exited Nagoya on December 7 and flew to Sapporo for another trip on December 10. I didn’t run into any trouble either.

gd pm po may anak ako sa japanese nadeport kmi .8yrs na kami dto sa pinas. nag apply ang anak ko ng tourit visa 1week na dpa lumalabas resulta. tanong kolang makakaapekto ba sa anak ko na dcia mabisahan kc nadeport kami. kawawa naman kc un anak ko kung dahil don ay dna cia mabigyan ng pagkakataon makabalik kung san ko cia pinanganak .gusto na nia mkita ulit ang ama nia un nga lang nde cia garantor ng anak ko sa pagpunta don.may posibilida ba na dna cia mabigyan ng visa khit half japanese cia? ano dapat kong gawin sana naman manigyan cia ng visa.

Hi Mika, di ko po alam kapag ganyan. Parang best to consult a travel agency po. :(

Hi, I think my situation falls under the 2nd checkbox in the eligibility requirements (which was not discussed here) – my company is included in the top 1000 Philippine corporations in terms of gross revenue. My question is: Can i apply for a multiple-entry visa — for TOURISM purpose only — using the above-mentioned criteria? Or is the criteria for business purpose only? Thanks.

Hi. What if I applied for a tourist visa and I get approved either SE or ME. Then, there comes my trip to Japan, a friend offered that I can stay in their place. Will I have a conflict with the immigration officer if my visa is a tourist visa but I am staying in a friends house? (In wc I may suppose to fall under visitor visa upon application) Also note that this is not gonna be my first travel to Japan, was previously granted SE on mg first application.

Hi Nikki, ung last visa ko, ganyan yung nangyari. I was granted a tourist visa, multiple entry, but the trip was cancelled and the first time I used that visa was for another trip to visit my sister. I didn’t have any problem, but I don’t know if that’s okay in general, if I just got lucky, or if they just considered by travel history.

For ME visas, usually it’s okay for subsequent uses, but not sure about the first use.

Hi. In this scenario, is it necessary to present an invitation in the immigration or not. Thanks

Ideally, if you’re invited by someone abroad, you should have an Invitation Letter because there’s still that chance that Immigration Officers will look for them, especially on PH side. Often, they will not look for them, but there’s a chance that they will. Hard to say.

Thank you for responding. I have another question. My scenario is punta kami as tourist ng boyfriend ko pero nag offer yung relative niya na mag stay sakanila for a week. Gusto i-apply ng boyfriend ko may Inviter sa visa without guarantor. My question is, is it safe for me if I apply the same visa with an inviter (my boyfriend’s uncle) or risky pag related about boyfriend/girlfriend and get denied?

If I go with the inviter, anong ilalagay kong relationship sa uncle ng boyfriend ko na ofw dun?

Hope to hear from you again. Thanks!

That depends heavily on your profile. If I were in your position tapos okay naman ang work, funds and docs ko, I’d always choose applying as a tourist than being sponsored by someone na hindi ko close relative/close friend.

But that’s just me.

Hello planning to apply for a visa again now with my baby. Plan to apply for a multiple entry as we have a single entry previously approved. How about for my baby? Should it be for single entry first or can be multiple na like me? Plan to do the app as a family also with my hubby with previous visa as mine. Thank you.

I was wondering if you knew the age a bank account should be for the Bank Certificate for a Multi-Entry Visa application, and if Letter sized or Short Bond Paper Bank certificates are acceptable?

Hi Alberto,

In my experience, tinanggap pa rin kahit di A4 ung bank certificate. Basta yung mga ikaw mismo ang magpoproduce like application form, schedule, etc., dapat A4. Di ko lang alam if lahat ng agency ay ganun.

My family and I visited Japan last May 31st to June 9th this year, and we are planning to apply for a multiple-entry visa. Is it okay to apply as early as now even if we are planning to go back to Japan next year?

Thank you and good day!

My last trip to Japan was last FEB 7 2016. Im wondering if I could apply for a multiple entry visa next month (August) because technically hindi na sya within 3 yrs talaga if I apply for the visa next month, although 2016 was my last trip and it is still 2019 now :) Am I still qualified to apply for a multiple entry or should I just apply for single entry? :)

Got my 5 years Multiple-entry Tourist Visa from Reli Travel and tours – SM Southmall Branch. Took only 3 business days for the result. Thanks Yoshke! Your blog was so helpful. From my Schengen Visa now to Japan. More power to you and your Blog!

Applied for ME with below criteria – Traveled once to Japan for the past 3 years – Traveled once to UK and France(G7 Countries) for the past 3 years – 100k on bank cert

Yayyy! Congrats! Saan ka sa Japan punta this time? :D

Thanks for the comprehensive article! I’m currently a student and work part-time as a freelancer, since wala pa akong ITR I’ve been relying on my sister for my documents. For category D ba kailangan specifically spouse/child ka ng guarantor?

Medyo ambiguous kasi nakalagay din sa documents na ‘immediate family’ (Immediate family members (Spouse/Child) of the person who has highly sufficient financial capacity.) So medyo magulo yung wording.

I’m planning to apply muna for single-entry this week. My last trip was 3 months ago and I stayed for 15 days, I’m planning to do the same ulit. I’m planning on going there more often so I’m hoping there’s a way for me to get a multiple-entry visa without having to apply for single entry every time I want to fly over to JP.

My first trip to Japan was February 2016. Will be travelling again this coming 1st wk of December 2019 and I plan to apply for a multiple entry visa this time. Do I still fall under Category A (traveled to Japan within the last 3 yrs) since my travel still falls under 2019? :p

Hi just wanted to ask. Do you consider me as “high financial individual” I will submit soon my application. Qatar bank – 52,000 riyals (roughly 730k pesos) Philippine bank- 200,000 php Citibank credit card- 1,000,000 php credit card limit.

I have japan visas: Visa (1)- single entry used last April 2017 Visa(2)- single entry again, but wasn’t able to use. After the expiry of the second visa, I tried to apply again the third time the same year, after one week still no result. I need to submit a letter of release for my passport because I had to process my work here in Qatar.

I am planning to apply my visa in Manila. November 14,2019. Then my flight to japan would be on Dec 30, 2019

Any advice please

Hi Mark John.

If I were in your shoes, I’d go for it. Your profile is much better than some of my friends who applied for a multiple visa and were granted.

May penalty kaya if na grant ka lang ng single entry tapos di ka nakatravel for whatever reason?

As far as I know, wala naman consequences. At worst, explanation letter lang pero hindi ko matandaan kung sa Japan or sa Korean visa ung need ng explanation letter. Pero regardless, it doesn’t diminish your chances.

Good day! Tama ba na I don’t PSA Birth Certificate since I have valid passports with used Japan visa (March 2019)?

Good day! Tama ba na I don’t need PSA Birth Certificate since I have valid passports with used Japan visa (March 2019)?

hi!ask ko lang my daughter is a philippine passport holder, her surname is japanese dahil inadop sya ng husband ko nung 5years old pa lang sya ,she visit japan many times ofcourse my husband ang guarantor, now she is 34 years old at kaya nya shoulder ang mga document to travel on her own,posible ba sya mag apply ng tourist visa na di ma question dahil my family sya dito sa Japan?

Hi Maria, I don’t know for sure if makaka-affect yun.

Normally, I would just recommend applying for a VISIT visa instead, but I think you really want a multiple-entry visa kaya tourist yung gusto nyo applyan. I think okay lang, pero di ko talaga sure.

Hi po. Ask ko lang po. Kung malaki chance kong makakuha ng ME visa sa Japan if nakapagtravel po ako sa USA once this year and 10 years ME yung US visa ko. Kaso first time palang ako pupunta japan. Nakalagay kasi several times sa g7 countries.T_T. November na ang alis ko. baka maudlot pa. hahaha

Di ko sure. Di kasi defined ng embassy yung “several” or “frequent.”

Although sabi ng isang travel agency na nakausap ko, kahit daw once lang sa G7, inaaccept ng embassy.

I’d go for it if I were in your shoes. But that’s just me.

Thanks for the informative blog, Yoshke! Received my 10-yr multiple entry (ME) visa yesterday after 4 days. I have never been to Japan but I have ME UK visit visas and visited the UK several times for 15 yrs, so tried my luck and applied for ME as a person “with high financial capacity”. It got approved. More power!

Congrats! Thanks for sharing :D

Hello po. Ask ko lang if for example meron na akong MUTIPLE ENTRY VISA sa Japan for 30 days stay, pwede po ba akong mag-extend ng another 30 days doon na mismo sa Japan kapag matatapos na yung 30 days na yun? Tingin ko lang bitin po talaga yung 30 days sakin eh. Hehe. Galing na kasi ako don twice pero laging 15 days lang ako. Hehe.

Hi Mark, di ko po alam if possible or kung ano extension process. :|

I resigned from work last 2017 but I have the capacity to travel as I have enough money naman in the bank. Will that suffice as I am now a full-time housewife or I still need to apply as applicant with guarantor?

Thanks in advance!

Hi, I wanted to apply for ME visa. I’m thinking if I still fall under the category A, but it says that my last visit should be within the last three years. My last time I’ve been to Japan was 2015 (4 years ago). Would it be an issue if I select the first category and just explain that it’s more than 3 years? Any advise is much appreciated.

Hello, if I apply for ME and got denied, will the agency automatically reconsider the same application for SE instead?

I don’t think so. As soon as the embassy submits the application to the embassy, it’s out of their hands. They will not return the documents. As far as I know, you will have to start a new application with a new set of documents. I’m not sure about this so better ask the agency where you plan to lodge your application.

Sometimes, though, even if you apply for an ME visa and the embassy decides you’re not qualified for ME but qualified for SE, they can still give you an SE visa. Sometimes, they decline altogether. It’s really hard to tell.

Thank you for info!

Hi! Just wanted your advice.. my family wants to apply for ME visa. I’ve been to japan before but SE & my mom as my guarantor. My parents wants us to try to apply for ME (they’re under category C naman daw & us daw sa D) and they’re going to be our guarantors (3children) for the trip (8days). Scaredy cat kasi ako what if di kami bigyan ng ME or denied. We bought tix for June (seat sale kasi hahaha). Also, all of us also have valid 10yrs ME US Visas; does this increase our chance of having Japan ME visa? Should we go for it? Thank you!

It’s hard for me to give an advice because I have no visibility on the documents you will be submitting. The best person to ask is the agent/staff who will receive your application. Prepare the requirements for ME tapos ask mo ung agency. If sabihin nila na go, go for it and submit the additional docs. :)

Hi! I’ve been to Japan once and I’m planning to apply for ME visa under category A. My bank cert shows a low ADB but I currently have around 80k on my account, mainly due to my income and bonus from last month. Will this raise a suspicion that I deposited a very large amount of money? Or submitting my payslips as a proof would be enough? My account was also created last 2017 pa. Thank you!

They only need the bank certificate, not the bank statement. They won’t see your transactions, only the balance.

I’m planning to apply multiple entry visa in Singapore. From the Japan embassy web, I saw this requirement to bring “A letter of explanation stating the reason of applying for the multiple visa (Original)”.

Do you know how important it is? How long should I write? Do you have any example for this?

I’m not familiar with the policy when applying in SG. But here in PH, the multiple visa request form already have a field where you can write a reason for asking for multiple. I usually just write 3-4 sentences there explaining that I plan to visit Japan 2x this year then I state the specific months and the places I plan to visit.

Could you please send me copy of your sample reasons when applying for japan multiple entry

Mr. Yoshke, do you know what Filipinos can get as an alternative to a working holiday visa? Some countries can work part-time in Japan using a working holiday visa and I wanted to do that as well, but we don’t have that type of visa in the Philippines.

Hello why Yung iba nakakakuha ng 90 days stay visa s japan? tas ung iba nmn 30 days stay lang

gusto ko lang po sana malaman. twice na po akong nakapunta ng japan invite ako ng kapatid ko. ask ko kung pwede mag apply ng multiple visa kahit ang record ng 2 punta ko eh invite from my ate. Apply ko sana ngayon ng multiple visa for tourist sarili kong papers. Ok lang po ba kahit walang ITR.. pero ang savings ko po sa bank 300k po.

Hi how to use credit card to add bank statement/proof of financial capacity?

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How to Get a Long Term Tourist Visa in Japan

It’s very difficult to find any information on how to get a long term tourist visa in Japan. So whilst this post isn’t dog related I wanted to document my experience in how to get this coveted visa! For long term readers of this blog, you all know we’ve wanted to move to Japan for a long time. However, as the humans have already retired at a young age, they aren’t eligible for any of the standard visas. So they wanted to explore what long term options were available to allow them to stay in Japan longer term.

They are both British Nationals which allows them to enter Japan on a Temporary Visitor visa for 90 days. As British Nationals this can be extended for a further 90 days. However, that’s the maximum they’d be allowed. As the maximum you can stay is 180 days out of every 365 days. So what other option is there?

Designated Activities : Long Stay for Sightseeing and Recreation

After a lot of research, they stumbled across the Designated Activities : Long Stay for Sightseeing and Recreation visa. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs website has a lot of useful information on their website. It’s not so easy to qualify and certainly won’t be for everyone. However, if you do meet the requirements it’s a great option. The requirements you must meet to get this visa are;

• Must have at least ¥30,000,000 in savings between you and your spouse (if travelling together)
• Must be at least 18 years old
• Hold private medical travel insurance which covers death, injury, illness during your stay

This visa allows you to stay for a period of 6 months. But it can also be extended for another 6 months as long as you apply before the expiry of your current visa. Giving a total of 12 months (plus any time you’ve had on your Temporary Visitor Visa). Given there is a possibility to extend your Temporary Visitor visa for a period of 90 days, in theory you could apply towards the end of that extension which would give you a total of around 18 months.

Our Experience

We originally intended to apply for this visa before arriving in Japan, however, in order to do so you should hold a long term visa in the country you are applying. For us this would have been Thailand and we were there on tourist visas. I’ve since been told that British Nationals can apply for this visa as a tourist in Bangkok now so we’ll maybe try that in the future.

We entered Japan on 20th January 2023 on the 90 day Temporary Visitor visa. It took a couple of weeks to settle in and we headed to the Tokyo Immigration Office in Shinagawa on 30th January. We received our Residence Card on 24th February, so it took less than 2 months in total.

Depending on where you stay in Japan will depend on which immigration office you go to. We chose the office in Shinagawa. It’s about a 25 minute walk from Shinagawa station and this is what we did each time. However, there is a bus, number 99, which drops off directly outside the immigration office.

Each time we went, we went in the afternoon. Reading online says to avoid long waits you should go before it opens, but we were fine going in the afternoon.

As a brief overview the steps we had to follow were;

• Apply for Certificate of Eligibility
• Submit application for Change of Residence Status
• Pick up Residence card (which is confirmation of the visa)

Certificate of Eligibility Requirements

The first step to get the Long Term Tourist Visa in Japan is to apply for a Certificate of Eligibility. This is basically to prove that you satisfy the conditions required for the visa you are applying for. Therefore, the documents we had to provide were;

• Copy of passport
• Proof of savings of ¥30,000,000 (6 months bank statements)
• Proof of medical insurance that covered our period of stay
• Schedule of stay to confirm what we planned to do during our stay
• Application form for Certificate of Eligibility
• Passport photo (available to booths in the immigration office)

It does state you should provide your marriage certificate also, however we didn’t provide this and weren’t asked for it. I’m not sure if this is because we each qualified in our own right so weren’t reliant on the other to apply. We provided one copy of the bank statements and medical insurance since everything was held jointly.

Certificate of Eligibility Application Step 1

We took the documents upstairs to the first floor to counter T (brown counter to the far left after going up the escalator). You now need to take a queue number from the machine. The first time we arrived about 2pm. Here they checked through all of the documents which took about 30 minutes.

After they checked, they asked us to provide the policy documents for the medical insurance to show exactly what it covered. Originally we had only given the overview.

As we had received a substantial sum of money into the bank account from a property sale in the bank statements, we were asked what this was from and asked for proof of the sale of the property. We didn’t have the money in the bank for the full 6 months the first time around but still got approval.

Thankfully we had the extra documents on our One Drive account. We went downstairs to Family Mart and printed them. We also got a revenue stamp of ¥400 to cover the postage when they notified us of the result of the application. However, you can now opt to receive the results via e-mail which saves the postage and some waiting time.

By the time we finished printing and got our stamp, it was already 4:15pm and T counter was closed (it closes at 4pm). However, as we’d already started, they allowed us to submit the extra documents. He quickly checked the documents, stamped a piece of paper and told us to go to counter E downstairs to submit them for approval. Counter E is to the right of the main information counter on the ground floor which you will easily see when you enter immigration.

Certificate of Eligibility Application Step 2

When we arrived at the counter it was also already closed (they close at 4:30 and it was 4:32) so we were a bit disappointed we were so close. However, we approached the lady at the counter and explained it took us a bit of time to get to the counter and she thankfully allowed us to get a ticket to wait to submit! The great thing about the immigration here is we found everyone really does want to help and are so friendly.

We waited about 10 minutes before we were called and submitted the papers. She took them away to check and we sat back down. After a few more minutes she came back and said everything was fine and gave us a receipt for the application. We had to submit a stamped addressed envelope for them to post the result to. She told us it would take about 3 months for the result. As we were in a temporary Air BnB and didn’t know where we’d be in 3 months time, we put our friends address on here. I’m not sure what you would do if you didn’t have any Japanese friends though! We left the immigration office at about 5pm. As I mentioned above, you are now given the option to receive results by e-mail. Check my other post about our second application for more information.

Whilst it had taken 3 hours, it really didn’t feel like that long at all. Everyone was super friendly and helpful and we were just really pleased we didn’t miss the cutoff and had completed the first step.

Certificate of Eligibility Approval

We got a phone call on 17th February from immigration to tell us that the result of the Certificate of Eligibility application had been returned to them due to sender unknown. We hadn’t realised but we put our name on the envelope. This meant that the post office would not deliver to our friends address since we weren’t registered as living there. They wouldn’t tell us over the phone what the result was and as it was already 17:05 on a Friday evening we had a long wait over the weekend before we could go to immigration to collect the result.

We were super shocked that the result was back already since they told us 3 months. We believe it’s because there’s not many applications for this type of visa so processing is quicker than say an employment visa that loads of people apply for.

On the Monday we headed back to Shinagawa. Again we went in the afternoon and arrived at about 1pm. We went straight to Counter T and showed him our passport and he immediately knew what we were there for. He gave us the envelope which thankfully had our approval in! The approval was actually dated 3rd February. So it only actually took 3 days for approval which I’m sure is some kind of record! It was only because of the mix up with the postal address it took longer.

We were asked if we wanted to apply for the Status of Residence change. Of course we said yes so he gave us the required forms. We decided not to apply there and then as we felt that we’d like to use a bit more of our Temporary Visitor visa before applying to get as much time as possible in Japan.

Submit Application for Change of Residence Status

The second step to apply for the Long Term Tourist Visa in Japan is to change your residence status. You can find the application form here so you can fill it out in advance. Although these are often not updated ait might be worth just getting it from immigration itself. You need to submit;

• Application form
• Original Certificate of Eligibility
• Copy of certificate of Eligibility
• Passport photo

On 7th March we headed to immigration. We took our documents upstairs to Counter T again. They took the documents and asked us to wait whilst they checked them over which took about 15 minutes. Everything was fine so they gave us a confirmation and told us to go to Counter B1 to submit the papers.

Counter B1 is the orange counter directly in front of you at the top of the escalator. There wasn’t a big queue so took less than 5 minutes to submit. She checked through them again, took our passports and gave us a ticket number and a postcard we were told to write our address on. We then had to go wait by Counter B4 (in between B1 and T counter) for our number to be called. We were given number 026 and when we sat down it was on 853.

Thankfully the numbers weren’t called in order. I think as we were applying for a lesser known visa, it was quicker to process. We were called and out within 30 minutes. At this counter, we handed in the postcard with our address (by this time we had a permanent address) and were given back our passports. The passports had a stamp that extended our Temporary Visitor visa for 2 months in the event the approval was not given before it expired.

Visa Approval!

On March 17th we opened our post box to the lovely site of the postcard informing us that our visa had been approved! We hadn’t been as happy as how we felt that evening. Finally we knew we’d be able to stay in Japan long term.

The post card told us that we needed to go back to immigration to get the visa between 16th and 30th March. It also listed the documents we would need to bring with us;

• ¥4,000 revenue stamp
• Application receipt
• The postcard confirming approval

We had a few things to do that week so we went to immigration on Friday 24th March. We arrived at 1:30pm and first went to the 711 to buy our revenue stamps. There’s a separate queue just for stamps so it made it easy. Note they only accept cash. After we got our stamps we headed upstairs to counter A1 as mentioned on the postcard. This is well sign posted and is upstairs and to the right of the escalator.

Getting the Visa

The queue was small so we were hopeful this would be a quick visit. We handed over our postcard, passport, receipt and stamps. After sticking the stamp onto another form we signed to confirm we had made payment. Then we were given a ticket, number 677, time stamped 13:38 and told to wait by counter A4, which was right next to A1. When we looked at the screen it was on number 404 and said estimated waiting time 180 minutes! Oh man!

It was really hot, even though the weather was miserable outside and it was super busy with no spare seats. So we decided to head to the nearby Lawson and grab some snacks. When we got back we checked the numbers and they were only up to 455 so we knew we had a long wait ahead. In hindsight we should have gone back into Shinagawa, but we found a seat on the ground floor where it was cooler and just camped out there. To be honest the time went quite quickly.

At 4pm most of the counters close. I guess they accept applications until 4pm and as long as you get in by then you are guaranteed a result as people were still submitting right until the end. One of us kept popping upstairs to check the numbers, and after 4pm they started to go up a lot more quickly. We finally got to 676 at 4:25pm but then they moved on to 687. Oh no!!! We watched as it went all the way up to 735 and finally our number was called, 677 at 4:50pm. A total of 192 minutes, so it wasn’t a bad estimation.

We were handed back our passports after they checked to confirm it was us as well as our residence cards. In the passport, there’s a piece of paper stapled that he said you must keep in your passport at all times. It basically says what you are allowed to do on your visa (basically only sightseeing and no working). The 2 month extension stamp was also voided. However, there was no actual visa or any stamp in the passport. It seems the residence card is the main thing that you need.

We were super happy that we managed to get this visa at it seems it’s not very common at all. But we felt that the process was very simple as long as you follow all the guidelines.

Visa Extension

As our 6 months came to an end we didn’t want our time in Japan to end. So we applied for a visa extension. On the website it states that a 6 month extension can be provided if you apply for it before the expiry of your current visa. Our visa was due to expire on 24th September so we went back to Shinagawa immigration on 6th September. We didn’t want to leave it too late in case of any unexpected surprises so gave ourselves a couple of weeks grace.

We arrived at immigration around 12pm and headed to counter T. 12pm is pretty much when everyone goes on lunch so there was only 1 person working on the counter. Now they have a ticket number machine here which we didn’t see at first so stood in a queue. When we saw 2 other people collect tickets we were a bit annoyed at ourselves and then got a number. As there was only 1 person working the queue it took about an hour before we could hand over our documents. Even though there were only 3 people in front of us. It would have been much quicker if a) we got a number straight away and b) had we not arrived over lunch. Once it hit 1pm more staff came back from lunch to help and the queue moved much quicker.

Submitting Visa Extension Paperwork

Once our number was called we handed to them the documents we had brought;

• Visa extension application form
• Original passport & photocopy
• Original residence card & photocopy
• Copy of 6 months bank statements showing at least ¥30,000,000
• Copy of medical insurance policy document

They took them off us and checked over them which took about 15 minutes. Then they called us to the counter. It seemed the extension form we’d completed in advance from the website was an old form. So they gave us the new one to fill out (it wasn’t really any different). On the application form you have to state why you want to extend. We just put that we wanted to further explore Japan and listed some areas we wanted to visit. It does ask on the form if you have flights booked to leave. We did as plan to go back to Thailand for winter. So we put the dates of this on the application and provided flight booking confirmation. Whilst we asked for a 6 month extension we weren’t sure if we would get the full 6 months with us having said we were leaving in November.

Once we’d filled in the new form just like the first time he stamped a piece of paper, gave us all our documents and told us to go to counter B5.

2 month extension

At counter B5 there was no queue and she took our documents for a quick check through them. She then asked us to fill out our address on the postcard. She gave us a receipt and a piece of paper that said you are still able to stay in Japan for up to 2 months from the expiry of your current visa if you have applied for an extension. This gives them 2 months to give you a result. However, if you don’t have a response by then you would need to leave (or call immigration for an update). This gave us leeway and actually gave us extra time in Japan. Our current visa expired 24th September so we knew we would have at least until 24th November worst case. Which was enough for our flight back to Thailand.

Extension Approval

The postcard of glee was stamped 3rd October so it took just under a month for approval. We were on a trip and only received it when we got back on 16th. Which was really lucky because the postcard gave us until 17th October to go and receive the extension. So the next day we headed down to Shinagawa. We feel like we are pros at this now. We were told to bring the same documents. as last time (¥4,000 revenue stamp each, passport, the application receipt & the postcard). The only difference was we were also told to bring our old residence cards and had to also resubmit new photos. We had given the same passport photo as the original application so they wanted a different one for some reason.

The process to receive the visa was the same as the first time round (under visa approval heading). Only the queue wasn’t as long this time. We arrived at 13:24, got number 589 and wait time said 150 minutes. It seemed that the numbers weren’t called in much of an order and plenty of numbers way higher than ours received theirs long before us. At 15:18 our number was called so it was about 20 minutes less than expected.

Our passports and our old residence cards (with a hole in to show they were now invalid) were given back to us. Thankfully we received another full 6 months not just until our flight in November. So that means we can officially stay until April 2024. What a result!

I still don’t really understand why the cards aren’t ready when they’ve already approved them. It doesn’t make sense to have such a long wait. But hey, if it means I get to stay longer I’ll happily wait a few hours!

Hopefully this helps if you’re planning to get a Long Term Tourist Visa in Japan. Why don’t you just leave the country and come back in for another 90 days? Personally, we want to spend at least 9 months in Japan a year, rather than 6, which is the official amount of time permitted on a Temporary Visitor visa. Whilst there are many reports of people going out to Korea and back often, we don’t want to run the risk of being rejected upon arrival.

Especially having Wylie, it’s just not worth the risk. Knowing that you are 100% legal is certainly worth the few trips to immigration for us. You are also allowed to leave and come back in as often as you like during the 6 month period.

Knowing the visa can easily be extended in country also is perfect for us. We have now also began the process for applying for this visa for the second time as our extension has now expired. Check out my other post on this process if you are interested to know what you need to do to apply for a second time.

If by any chance you will be coming with your pet, don’t forget to check out some of these pet friendly places in Japan. You can also check out my Amazon store (affiliate link) which has all the details all of my recommended products I use then travelling with a dog. You can check it out here . Any questions you may have please feel free to ask them in the comments below 🙂

Woof woof, Wylie & his humans x

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121 thoughts on “ How to Get a Long Term Tourist Visa in Japan ”

Hi there, thank you for providing information on this visa type. There isn’t a whole lot on the internet about it, so I’m glad that someone is posting about their experience so that others can learn from it!

I’m interested in applying for this Visa type and am capable of meeting all of the requirements. Towards the end of your post, you mentioned that you would be applying for this Visa type next time from Bangkok since you found out it’s possible. My understanding is that the COE has to be applied for whilst in Japan (so it would make applying for this Visa while in a different country more difficult unless you had a proxy to fill this out for you in Japan) – is that incorrect?

Hi, yes there’s such little information out there about it! When you read the list of requirements for the visa it states that if you apply with COE you don’t need to provide bank statements, schedule of stay & medical insurance. Which means that you can actually apply without the COE if you apply at your embassy outside of Japan. But to do this you must provide those items (things which you need to apply for the COE) and it’s likely it will take a bit longer than submitting with the COE.

I confirmed this understanding with the Japanese Embassy in Bangkok also. It’s therefore worth checking with the Embassy where you would apply from that they would allow the same. Usually you need a long term visa in the country you apply from but Thailand has an agreement for certain countries that allow them to apply without it (UK being one of them).

Wow, thank you so much for the detailed report! This is helpful information for anyone (like me) applying for this visa. Your response to the previous comment is also illuminating.

Did you conduct this process in English or Japanese?

Thank you! I hope your experience is as smooth as ours was. We did everything in English (with a little help from Google translate!)

Hi there, this visa gave me some hope after finding out that it is almost impossible for my Japanese spouse or myself to sponsor our parents to move to Japan with us on a dependent visa.

Can I ask whether you are staying in a short-term rental apartment or a serviced apartment? Hotels are definitely out of the question if they are coming over for 6-9 months but it also won’t be easy for them to live with us with kids around.

Glad that the post is useful for you 😊 actually we ended up buying our own place. But for the first month we stayed in an Air BnB which was a life saver. Obviously having a dog makes things a lot harder but I think without one there are plenty of options for serviced apartments/Air BnB’s that would be suitable good luck!

Oh wow, that’s awesome. Alright, will look around for the best accommodation option for my parents. Thanks for replying! 🙂

Yours is one of a very few that describes the process to obtain that visa, thanks.

A couple of questions if I might:

1. What is the policy in getting another such visa after the 6-month extension ends?

2. How much detail was required for describing your “planned activities?”

Thanks for the positive feedback! In response to your questions;

1. From what I have been told, to get another one you have to do the same process from scratch with the COE etc. When we do it next year I will update the blog 🙂

2. We didn’t put that much detail in terms of planned activities, we kept it quite simple and split between various cities eg Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka etc then just listed some tourist attractions in each place.

Hope that helps!

Thanks for the quick response!

Do you know whether any gap is required between visas, or can you essentially just move to Japan albeit as a full-time tourist?

As far as I am aware you can apply straight away which is what we are planning to do. I spoke to one person who said he had managed to do that but until we do it for ourselves I couldn’t say 100%!

Hi, thanks very much for all the information on your site. I am a bit confused and concerned that you still had to submit the bank records, insurance and schedule of activities as they say on the MOFA site that if you have a COE those are not necessary ? Are they essential in all cases when applying for a COE ? The way I understood,or hoped 🙂 it worked was that those were not necessary if a Japanese friend/ contact person did the application. I am in Japan at present on a tourist visa; I asked a Japanese friend to do the COE for me – he called immigration to enquire about it, specifically what visa to enter on the COE application form; when he told them, they said there is no such thing 🙂 and anyway I would have to return to my home country as I cannot change my tourist visa to a long-stay visa ! without leaving Japan. Please give me your thoughts as I will struggle to do this alone and also to provide enough proof of funds unless I can include the value of my property in my country.

If you apply for the visa in your home country you don’t need COE but must submit the bank records, insurance etc.

If you apply in Japan you must first do COE. COE can’t be done by just a friend it has to be done by yourself, an immigration or your sponsor eg employer. The purpose of COE is to confirm you meet the requirements for the visa you are applying for. Therefore you must submit all relevant documents eg bank proof and insurance in order to get COE

If you don’t have bank proof then you don’t meet the requirements for the visa and therefore wouldn’t get a COE. After all, the requirements for the visa are pretty clear so if you don’t qualify for it I’m not sure how you would expect to get a COE.

Property value doesn’t count because the purpose of this visa is to prove you have sufficient funds to support your time in Japan without the need for support from Japanese authorities. They may have set that limit relatively high but they’ve set it for a reason. A property won’t count because you can’t easily cash it in and spend it to find your life here.

So unfortunately it doesn’t seem that this visa is going to be for you.

PS there’s no need to go back to your home country. Once you have COE you can submit change of visa at immigration and they change from tourist visa to this one in country, no need to leave. This is what we did.

Hello, thank you very much for writing this article, there is indeed not a lot of information about this type of visa, so thank you!

The requirement says to have “Documents such as a bankbook to prove that the applicant’s savings are more than 30 million Japanese yen along…” and you mentioned a property value doesn’t count because it’s illiquid.

Do you know if they also consider a combination of investments in stocks, mutual funds, or physical gold? These are relatively liquid or easy to cash in.

Our bank statements showed mutual funds and stocks and they accepted that, although we qualified with the cash we had. I’m pretty sure they do accept but couldn’t say 100%.

Good to know 🙂 thank you so much for your reply.

I consulted a Japanese immigration lawyer, and they told me the funds must be in cash. I asked about money market funds, and they thought it was probably alright but were clearly not familiar with the concept.

Yeah I think even immigration lawyers aren’t sure because so few people apply for this visa. It’s better to just go to immigration yourself (if you can) as ultimately they are the ones that make the decision and the only ones who know 100% what they will and won’t accept.

The requirements do just say savings, it doesn’t specify cash so I personally think mutual funds would be OK and we did include ours in our application along with the cash to bulk it up but we qualified with cash alone so not sure if they took them into account.

Interesting, thank you for the response.

I applied for this visa after following your guide (was super helpful! thanks!). Not much info anywhere else.

Unfortunately I was rejected with the reason being that stock is not acceptable for the 30mil limit… Although only one of my stock accounts was flagged as not acceptable, so I am not sure what the difference is from that account compared to my other stock accounts… I received a letter telling me to make up the difference with some other evidence or withdraw my application.

Oh that really sucks! It seems strange they wouldn’t allow stocks since you’re more likely to hold onto them than just spend it. But I guess they look at it in that you might not be able to liquidate quickly if you need access to it. Was there any big difference between the account they didn’t accept and the ones that they did in terms of liquidity?

Is the certificate of eligibility form you mention the one here? https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/status/designatedactivities10.html?hl=en

If so, which sections did you fill out? I don’t see any mention of designated activities – long stay sightseeing.

Yes that’s right. You choose option 10, others, so then 27 and 32 😊

Not sure I see all those options. I am looking at this COE file “930004059.xlsx”, could you specify the row number to choose options 10,27,32? Thanks

Sorry we didn’t use the Excel file we just used the PDF and printed it out then filled in the relevant sections.

Hi, thanks for all your interesting articles. Regarding the long-term tourist visa, I applied for COE and my application was accepted; a week later immigration contacted me and asked me to withdraw my application as I am not from a visa waiver country, although on the actual application form for this visa it states that ‘ the applicant is a foreigner who . . . etc ‘ l am unable to find that stipulation on the internet. I would appreciate your opinion regarding this point ?

https://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/fna/page22e_000738.html

“Nationals and Citizens of visa waiver countries or regions and who meet all of the following requirements:…”

Thank you, I read that first part as applying to individuals from visa waiver countries; then, as they repeat ‘ individuals 18 years and older ‘lower down I thought that that part below would apply to me hahaha. Strange that immigration didn’t know I was not eligible in the first place and as I mentioned there is no mention of visa waiver on the visa application form. But as you mentioned this visa is quite unusual so even the authorities are not so aware of the rules or procedure 🙂 Thanks again Mike

What did you use for the medical insurance requirement? I’ve been using WorldNomads on my short term stays, but am curious how the long term people who can’t get on the national insurance plan are doing this and what their experiences are.

We use our annual medical insurance from Thailand. They won’t accept any national insurance coverage it has to be private insurance and you must show that it covers the full time that you are planning to be there for. We previously paid monthly for ours but had to pay for the full year in one go in order for it to be accepted.

Great info and glad I found your blog. I am in Japan now on a 90 day tourist visa, leaving in a few days to Thailand for 90 days. Would like to spend next year in Japan on the designated activities visa. I meet the financial requirements and can purchase a travel health insurance policy. You stated as a Brit you thought you could do all this in Bangkok at the Japanese embassy? Any idea if US citizens also can apply outside there home country? Like to learn a bit more before I take a trip down to Wireless road. It seems like maybe it would be easier to just enter on a 90 day waiver and then do everything in Japan, giving someone maybe 15 months total? Also looking forward to see if you could renew this after for a consecutive year.

Finally, on the residence card, is this a normal zairyu card that would allow you to theoretically open a bank account and do other more official stuff that you cant do on a regular tourist visa?

Hi Greg, yes you should also be able to apply from Thailand as the information they sent to me was that if you are a member of an OECD country (US is a member) then the general requirements don’t apply (ie you don’t have to prove you are resident of Thailand so can apply on a tourist visa). You can apply through JVAC https://visa.vfsglobal.com/tha/en/jpn/attend-centre

Yes we felt that coming in on the 90 days and then applying in Japan was a good option as it potentially gives you that bit longer although we were a bit nervous since it was the first time we’d done it so we applied quite soon after we arrived to be on the safe side. Since we travel with our dog we also wanted a bit extra time just in case things didn’t go as planned. We submitted our application for extension on 6th September and waiting for the approval postcard to arrive. On the application we did put that we had a flight out of Japan in November so I’m not sure if we’ll only get approval until then or the full 6 months we asked for.

For residence card we got the standard residence card, but in order to open a bank account every bank we looked at wanted you to have a valid residence card for at least 6 months so it wasn’t possible to open a bank account with it. We’ve only used it otherise for exiting and re entering the country but it makes us feel more official than we ever did in Thailand!

Is it possible to string enough of these together consecutively to qualify for permanent residence?

I really don’t know. I’ve been told you can apply for more than one but I’m not sure how they’d view it you applied year after year. There’s nothing to say you can’t but ultimately it’s still a tourist visa so I don’t know. My personal thought would be that these wouldn’t qualify you for permanent residency no matter how many you did as you wouldn’t be paying taxes etc and aren’t eligible for national health service so I doubt it would help towards permanent residence but that’s my personal opinion you’d need to check directly with immigration for the official answer.

“as you wouldn’t be paying taxes etc”

Is this true? You can stay 6+ months on this visa without being considered a tax resident?

I was afraid id get hit for the 30%+ japanese income tax on my dividends/capital gains if i stay that long, if thats not the case I’ll move there this year!

As far as I am aware you need to be living there for 5 years before they tax you on overseas income. If you are living there and earning income there it’s a different story but on a tourist visa you can’t do that. I guess you’re classified as tax resident since you’re there over 183 days but you have no income there for them to tax you on.

However, it’s better that you speak to a tax accountant for your specific situation as everyone has different circumstances and the last thing you want is a big tax bill! Although since it’s a bit of a niche one it’s usually more difficult to find someone who has the correct answers!

Let us know what you find out 😀

Yes, I’m pretty confident that you owe taxes. The first 5 years you are considered a Non-Permenant Resident. You are right that you probably have no Japan-sourced income, but you seem to have missed that you are required to pay tax on any money that you bring into Japan during these years. I’m assuming you are paying for housing and food and things while you are there. That money is all subject to taxation in the year you bring it into the country. At that point they do consider your worldwide income to determine how the money you bring in should be taxed (i.e. even if you are bringing in money from savings, the first x dollars you bring in will be considered as coming from whatever x taxable income you made worldwide in that year).

Like I said, best off you speak to a tax advisor based no your own circumstances. We are just going off what we were told based on our circumstances. Which is that as a tourist who is not earning any income in Japan we do not need to pay taxes unless we live there for 5 years continuously then we would be taxed on worldwide income.

You can’t get a bank account in Japan on a tourist visa to bring money over. You can only take out cash or pay for things with overseas credit cards so the money isn’t technically being brought over. This is the case for short or long term tourists. If what you say is true then it would mean a tourist spending a week in Japan on a once in a lifetime trip but spending over the tax allowance would also be liable to tax on what they spend. I don’t think this is the case.

But, it’s always important that you get your own tax advice on your own situation so that you are comfortable with your own liability.

Who did you talk to? Maybe they know some cool workaround the rest of us can use, but it sounds like they are advising you to break the law. Just google Non-Resident tax Japan to confirm that you do fall into this category and that you do owe tax on any money remitted to Japan. When you take out cash or spend on your credit card, you are remitting money to Japan. Dont listen to me, google it. Your example of a person on a once in a lifetime trip will not owe taxes, of course, because they are not staying over 6 months in the year and becoming a tax resident. I think you had better get a second opinion… Maybe someone else from the blog can chime in. I think you still have time to pay tax for 2023.

A simple Google search shows the following information also;

The scope of income taxes varies according to the type of residence.

Residents are taxed on their entire worldwide income, earned inside and outside Japan. Non-permanent residents are taxed on their locally-sourced income. Their foreign-earned income is also taxed if paid within or remitted to Japan. Non-residents are taxed only on their locally-sourced income, such as salary, wages, and other types of income.

The use of the individual’s untaxed foreign income or gains to pay the credit card company in respect of the relevant debt will be a taxable remittance.

The key word here is untaxed foreign income. Given Japan has tax treaty’s with most countries, it would be assumed that you will already be paying tax on your earned income in the country in which you earn in the income. Therefore, you wouldn’t be expected to pay tax again in Japan.

As I said before, it’s best you get your own tax advice based on your own circumstances rather than relying on a dog blog or Google.

I’m glad to see that you found the information with a simple google search. Now it seems that you just need a little help understanding it. Oh well, i tried to help, but im going to bed now. Anyways, thank you so much for this excellent detailed guide on this visa.

Thanks for this post! For the health insurance requirement, did you apply for a 6 month or 1 year international traveling insurance before you knew whether you would be accepted? Isn’t it a bit hard to tell what time period you should be getting insurance for if there’s uncertainty around the visa dates themselves?

We have annual insurance anyway for medical expenses since being an expat we don’t have coverage so an annual policy is better suited for us anyway.

Were you able to submit documents in English, or did you need to have them translated to Japanese?

Hi Wylie’s pawrents (Big Hi to Wylie too!), thanks for providing such a detailed write-up on this type of long-stay tourist visa! There really isn’t much information out there and your article has provided a lot of answers I’ve been trying to find out. Just curious: did you manage to get the approval for your extension application and is it also for a 6-months period? Also, wondering if you will know: for each long-stay tourist visa with extension (i.e. 6 months + 6 months), how long must one stay outside of Japan before the long-stay tourist visa application can be repeated?

We submitted our documents for extension on 6th September and waiting for our response still. We do leave Japan in November which we told them about so we aren’t sure if they’ll give us the full 6 months or not or whether the 2 months grace we get from applying for the extension.

As far as we are aware you can apply as you near the end of the current extension for the new visa but I’m not 100% sure since we haven’t done it yet.

Once we get any updates I will add to the post so check back regular!

Thanks for your response, looking forward to your update & more travel videos on Youtube!

Hi all, I’m happy to report that I was also to get a long term tourist visa. The process was almost exactly as described in this post. A few notes: – (most important :p) The convenience store in the Shinagawa immigration is a FamilyMart now! – I was able to use a travel insurance policy for the medical coverage. It covers illness and injury but not long term care. I do hold proper insurance in the US but was not required to present it during the application process. – When I applied to change my residence status after receiving the CoE, they sent me to a different counter after checking in at T. I can’t remember the number, but I think it was either B5 or B3. I had to wait in line for a bit, but when I got to the front of the line I gave them my materials, filled out a postcard, and then was able to leave. I was not given a number or sent to another counter. – The residence card I received on the third visit to the immigration center has a period of stay of one year rather than the 6 months I expected. I have no idea how this happened but I’m not complaining!

Thank you so much to Wylie and family for providing such valuable information. It would have been far more challenging to navigate the process without this post. ありがとう！

Thanks so much for the update! That is so amazing that they gave you 1 year straight away! On the application did you ask for 6 months or a year or did you leave that bit blank?

Actually it was a Family Mart when we were there too I must’ve made a mistake in my original post!

Good news on the travel insurance being accepted too. We needed to have the medical insurance anyway as we don’t have coverage back home since we haven’t lived in the UK for over 10 years. But it’s good to hear normal travel insurance is accepted as that makes it cheaper and easier!

I’m so pleased you got a year! We applied for our extension last month and hoping to hear back soon. We did put on the application we were leaving in November as will be spending the winter elsewhere but I’m still hoping they’ll give us 6 months so we can come back and then start the new application when we come back 🤞🏼

When I filled out the form, I said that I planned to leave after six months. Actually, I was worried that it might be a problem if I said I intended to stay longer. When they asked me verbally I think I said something like, “Maybe a six months, maybe a year, I really like it here.” So really I unfortunately have no idea why I was given a year right off the bat.

Best of luck with the extension and your onward travels!

Yeah we were worried to put on we wanted longer! That’s so amazing you got a year! We just went to immigration as we got the approval postcard so spent the past 2 hours waiting and got approval for further 6 months ❤️

Congratulations to you and Henry!

That’s great news, thanks for the update! And thanks to Henry for updating his experience too! Sharing this bit of info I read regarding driving in Japan with a International Driving Permit (IDP), just in case anyone isn’t aware: https://www.police.pref.chiba.jp/english/International_license.html

Thank you, this is useful! We got Japanese driving licences based on our UK ones. Although we did have to prove we’d been in the UK for at least 3 months after passing our test (over 20 years ago!). They would only accept original documents so even though we had degree certificate we only had a copy so they wouldn’t accept. In the end they went through our passports noting dates of entry/exit to each country. As there was 3 months where we weren’t stamped in a country they assumed this meant we’d been in the UK (we hadn’t actually I’d just used a second passport to travel during that time) so they accepted that. However, my hubby had only used the one passport so his didn’t show he’d been in the UK they still gave him a Japanese licence but he has to use Wakaba (beginners) stickers on the car for 1 year. This didn’t have any negative effect though, we’ve rented cars etc on it and it didn’t cost any more.

Regarding the IDP I mentioned in my comment above, in a nutshell, if you are registered under their “Basic Resident Register”, which I assume is the case for long-stay tourist visa, if you exit Japan for less than 3 months and return to Japan, your next IDP is not valid – which means you are not allowed to drive in Japan for 1 year from the return date, unless you have their Japanese driving licence. The link above have diagrams that explain very clearly.

@cheryl: IDP is valid for 1 year from issuance though, so mine was issued on Sep 2023 and will be valid for driving in Japan until Sep 2024, regardless of my visa and travel situation?

Henry, what travel insurance did you use? How long was the term?

Berkshire Hathaway luxury care with a 1 year term. It was very affordable — I think around $130.

From when was your first 6 months dated? Was it when you submitted the change of residence application? Or was it automatically at the end of your first 3 months?

It was from the date we picked up the residence card

I’m in the midst of the process so far, but here’s what has worked:

– I just got the CoE approved, 24 days after applying at the Shinagawa office – Went at 11am on a Wednesday and it took like 1.5 hours for this step of the process. I had all the documents prepared thanks to this blog — the form from the website was up-to-date, so I didn’t have to print it out like mentioned here – Used Genki travel insurance (has flexible cancellation for 14 days and month-to-month payment) – Stocks: I submitted a printout of my US brokerage account showing the required assets, but they did not accept this. I had a japanese speaker with me to talk about this. He said stocks were not acceptable because they can go up or down (I didn’t point out that the Japanese yen was far more volatile than my stocks….). The official gave me a self-addressed envelope and said use it to submit further proof of the required assets in a bank account as cash, not stocks. He said transferring cash now was fine, and it didn’t need to be 6 months. So, I just wired the money to my bank, print out that statement, and sent it in using the envelope the next day – You can now sign up to get notified of the CoE approval by email (lady at the counter told us about this). So after sending in the extra proof, I heard about he approved CoE 23 days later via email. Apparently, the CoE site is what I can show in the next step

So, on to the next step. Hopefully, it will be snafu free.

Thanks for the update Rob!

Great news on the COE approval.

It’s good to know they accept monthly payment on the travel insurance also. We used to pay monthly for ours but on the policy document it then didn’t have an end date on it so we didn’t think they would accept it. Does your policy document show how long it’s valid for even if you pay monthly?

Thanks for clarifying the point on the stocks also. I guess it kinda makes sense. I wonder if they apply the same logic to mutual funds, I would assume so. But also on that note, I wonder what would be the case if you had significantly more in stocks than the required ¥30m. I guess the same logic would apply. But also, with cash you could simply just spend it the next day, buy a house or something, which is probably more likely than the value of stocks going down so much (and as you rightly say the ¥ currently being more volatile than stocks!). Anyway, it’s good to clarify that they don’t accept stocks.

That’s also great news about hearing about the COE by e-mail too, it hopefully quickens up the process by a couple of days and all that anxious waiting!

Have you managed to complete the next step yet to change your visa status to the designated activities one? Let us know how you got on 🙂

For Genki, yeah it does show a policy end date. Per your blog, I printed out the full policy document — like 40 pages, and I shrank the layout down to have 4 pages per page.

I showed them far more stocks than the ¥30m. I’m guessing that’s why they were pretty chill about me transferring the cash to my bank the next day and showing the print out of that bank statement (rather than 6 months of bank statements with the cash). I didn’t catch this, but my Japanese speaker said they insinuated that they were sure I could do something to get the cash into a bank account and that would be fine.

I’d like to think that this was a case where the bureaucracy made a reasonable judgement that I wouldn’t be a burden on the state and flexed the rules a little.

Ok, here’s how the change of status step went:

Got the email that said CoE was approved. Printed out the form for change of status and filled all that out along with the documents mentioned in the blog above (I highly recommend taking a photo of the final filled out forms you submit for the CoE in the first step– the forms are almost identical and it was hard to remember how I filled out the CoE forms with the corrections they asked for in the first step).

Went on a Friday at around 11:30 am. Went to the same form check counter that I went to in the first visit. There was no waiting in front of me when I got the number ticket. It took about 5 minutes for them to call me and 1 minute to look over the documents right there. Unfortunately, the person said I needed to print out the email that said my CoE was approved. This is despite the fact that the email said you can just show your phone. So, it took about 30 minutes to go to the Lawson downstairs and figure out how to print out an email on their machine from my iPhone. Save yourself the trouble and also print out this email

I then went back to the document check and flagged down the same lady (she said I didn’t need a new number). She took about 30 seconds to look at the printout and every thing else, and she handed me a piece of paper with a stamp that said to go counter B5. This was confusing at first because it was a long line that said “High Skill Visa.” I waited for about 30 minutes in this line and handed over the document package. It took about 1 minute for the person to look over everything. He had me write my return address on a postcard. And that was it. I asked about the line being called High Skill Visa, and they said the same department also handles this Designated Activities visa (Tokutei Visa), that’s why it was this line.

The whole thing could have been done in 30 mins if I had the print out of the CoE approval email, I reckon. Print everything out if you’re not sure I guess would be my advice.

13 days later, I got my postcard in the mail saying the Visa was approved and to come within the next two weeks to do the final step. So, I’ll do that in a few days

Hi! I’m currently starting my plans to apply for the Visa. I’ve been doing some research on health insurance plans/insurance companies, which is required for the application. Just wondering if you have any good recommendations? Thanks!

Perhaps a silly question but if one is attempting to get this visa with their spouse (who does not qualify on their own), do they need to fill out and print out two copies of everything? For example: CoE, Visa application, bank statements, marriage certificate, etc..

I’ve also seen mixed comments on whether one needs 30M Yen or 60M Yen if the couple is staying together the entire time – is there a definitive answer to this?

You have to print separate application forms, COE but only 1 copy of bank statements, medical policies, marriage certificate etc of applying together at the same time. If you are applying separately or are travelling separately then you will need 1 copy of everything for each person. If you travel together, enter together then you only need to hit the ¥30m requirement but if you enter separately, then you are classed as 2 separate applications so need to have ¥30m each.

I Thank you for the detailed post. My husband and I have been thinking about how we can apply for this visa without going back to the US. We have contacted several lawyers in Japan and all except one said this visa needs to be done at our home country and one said it might be possible. I do have several questions

1. Did you get a Japan phone number and is that how they are able to call you when they couldn’t deliver the COA approval? 2. Did your itenirary have a lot of different places in Japan? You mentioned that you bought a house, can that city suffice as where you want to go? 3. If we do not have friends in Japan to use as permanent address, what do you think would work? We will stay in an Airbnb. 4. Can one leave and re enter Japan with this visa? 5. Are there any Japan tax liabilities? 6. Is it ok to have a copy of the marriage certificate instead of the original?

Please do post an update on when you apply for this again a year after.

Thanks again!

We also consulted a couple of lawyers and they didn’t really seem to know much about it so in the end we thought it was better to just do it ourselves and make our own way through the process as it seemed pointless spending money on a lawyer that clearly wasn’t so sure. It’s certainly possible to do in the country as we have proven (and others commenting). In response to your questions;

1. Did you get a Japan phone number and is that how they are able to call you when they couldn’t deliver the COA approval? Yes we had a Japanese phone number as soon as we landed. We used Mobal which was delivered to the UK before we arrived in Japan so we had access the moment we landed. 2. Did your itenirary have a lot of different places in Japan? You mentioned that you bought a house, can that city suffice as where you want to go? We listed about 10 different places on our itinerary but they were quite generic and when we renewed we didn’t have to prove anywhere we had been. 3. If we do not have friends in Japan to use as permanent address, what do you think would work? We will stay in an Airbnb. If you plan to stay in the same Air BnB then you can ask the owner if you can use their address for mail. If not, I’m not sure what else other than perhaps befriending the local izakaya owner or something and using their address? 4. Can one leave and re enter Japan with this visa? Yes we have done this multiple times. You just need to fill in a form before you leave to confirm you will be coming back. 5. Are there any Japan tax liabilities? This will depend on your circumstances and best to speak to a tax advisor on this as it varies a lot depending on your income and source of it. 6. Is it ok to have a copy of the marriage certificate instead of the original? We didn’t actually submit our marriage certificate as we forgot (even though it’s asked). I assume a copy will be sufficient as they keep all of the documents you submit.

Hope this helps and good luck!

Thanks so much for putting this together! This is all very helpful. We’re looking to start apply for the COE soon, and in hopes of not making any mistakes, I’m wondering if the application form number 16 near the bottom of this page is the correct one to use? https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/16-1-1.html?hl=en

If it is, I don’t think I see a specific option in the form for “Long-term stayers for the purpose of sightseeing”, in which case, I take it you just select number “10, others”?

Hi, yes this seems to be the correct form and you are right in choosing option 10 and then just writing long term sightseeing 🙂 Good luck!

Since your 6-month extension ends in April, have you applied for another visa yet? Or, do you need to wait until it ends first?

We are heading back to Japan this week and plan to head to immigration the day after we arrive to apply for a new COE. Hopefully this arrives before the current visa expires so we can then apply for a new one 🤞🏼

I will update on here and also do a new post on the process once we’ve done it 🙏

Nice. Very curious how they feel about repeating this visa over and over

I’ve spoken to one person who has done this before and he told me that as long as you continue to qualify they are totally fine with it. I hope he is right 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼🙏🙏🙏

Hi! Found your blog with all this helpful information today, just wanted to thank you for writing and responding to all these people’s questions! (which some were also mine).

In the stocks talk to meet the COE I got curious if they would accept bonds instead (as they are mostly fixed value), it’s very specific though I guess I’ll find out when I apply.

Looking forward to your next application too 👌

Good luck with your application. I would expect that they would accept bonds because they have a maturity date so it would suggest that as long as the maturity was in 6 months+ they should accept. That’s my view any way but let us know how it goes!

My wife and I got our COE over email yesterday after 4 weeks since application — we have been eagerly and anxiously awaiting this result as our visa-exempt status is expiring on Tuesday next week. We went to the Osaka Immigration Regional Office to apply for Change of Visa same day. I had to wait for 2 hours for my visa application to be processed and to receive a receipt. Overall this post has been the main source of information and insights for my successful and smooth application process. Thank you so much. Again, must definitely ask to receive your COE online which would help avoid the anxiety and slowness of waiting for the mail.

Thanks for letting us know the current waiting times! I hope ours arrives in a similar time for our renewal. We had planned to go yesterday to submit the papers for the COE but when we arrived into Japan one of our bags didn’t make it. And guess which bag all the papers I had prepared were in!!!! Thankfully it’s been delivered now so will be heading to submit on Monday. It’s going to be an anxious few weeks waiting 🙏🙏🙏

wow, amazing preparation. You should have plenty of time to get your electronic COE though. You also dont need a permanent address to get the physical COE in the mail so you could freely travel while waiting.

Hi nah! During your COE application, did you submit a copy of your marriage certificate or must you show them your original marriage certificate? Thanks.

We didn’t actually submit the marriage certificate at all, we forgot. But we each qualified individually so I think that’s why they didn’t ask us for it. We did plan to submit it for the second application but would only submit a copy not show the original.

we tried to show our marriage status via our most recent US tax return form but they didn’t accept it. Fortunately we were able to find our copy of marriage certificate back home and print it out. They only accepted the copy with an official stamp.

I guess I better bring my original marriage certificate – just in case. Thanks to both for your quick responses!

Thank you so much for this wealth of information, it’s super helpful! Were you able to renew your second visa from inside Japan? 🙂 thank you!

Unfortunately it’s not possible to renew it inside Japan. You have 2 options;

1. Apply for COE before the end of your extension. If you receive it before the visa expires you must take the COE to an Embassy overseas to apply for the new visa.

2. You leave Japan before the visa expires and re enter on a new 90 days tourist visa. Then apply for the COE on your return in the same way as the original visa.

This is what we were told at Shinagawa. We will be trying option 2 shortly 🙏

Ah yes, apologies, I didn’t write it correctly, my fault! I was referring to your second application for the Visa, not a renewal (sorry, English is not my first language). I hope the process will go smoothly and quickly! Thank you again 🙂

Yes I think we mean the same thing 🙂 We applied for the first visa in Japan and then we extended it for 6 months in Japan. But when we went to apply for new COE so we could renew/reapply we were told we had the 2 options but both meant we have to leave Japan. Had we known this we would have tried to enter this time on a tourist visa instead of with the residence card. However it means we get a trip to visit our friend in Korea for a few days. Just hope they let us back in on the 90 day tourist visa after having already spent 9 months here on the designated activities. Fingers crossed!

Ps all the application forms online are out of date so you need to fill in the form from the information desk. When we asked for the updated form we were asked what we wanted it for. When we explained the first guy didn’t even know about designated activities for long term sightseeing. The second guy (English speaking) said we could 100% not get it for a second time. When we explained the desk upstairs (counter T) said we could, he shrugged and said oh well, if they agreed, good luck.

So still seems the general information is not well known about this visa, even amongst the immigration staff!

I currently hold the same visa , only expiry on dec 2024. I have a few questions:

If the visa has not expired, how can I re-enter on a new 90-day tourist visa (option 2)? Do I need to return the residence card? What happens if I am overseas when the residence card expires?

I’m grateful to have found this post. It’s really difficult to find forums discussing this visa.”

Hi John, I got my visa last month. The immigration office (Osaka) told me and also has a poster explained that I could freely leave Japan and return, as long as my visa/residence card has not expired.

I’m not entirely sure. We left on the day our residence card expired. On departure we filled in a form to say we weren’t coming back and agreeing that when we return we would need to apply for a new visa. We handed over our residence cards and they stamped a hole in it.

We came back with 90 day tourist visa no problem after 5 days outside of Japan.

If it expires whilst you are out of the country I guess that means you can come back as a tourist but I personally think it’s better when you leave to tell them you aren’t coming back on that one so it’s definitely closed from their end leaving no worries about coming back.

Hi! Thank you so much for sharing your experience. It’s so helpful as I also plan to apply the visa for long-term stay. Just a question about the following requirement:

– “Proof of savings of ¥30,000,000” required

Do I need to convert my saving to Japanese yen? Or I just need to show the equivalent amount in my local currency?

Hi, you don’t need to convert it to ¥, just show the equivalent in your local currency (which at the moment is probably quite low!) when we first looked at this visa the amount converted to around £200,000 but it’s now only £155,000!

Hello, sorry for the late reply. Thank you for the reply and i get the full picture of it. anyway fyi , i did my extension of 6months in osaka and i was able to get the new card on the same day. i not sure if i was luckily or maybe that how they does for this extension of the visa.

Does that mean you got a sooner end date as a result (your current visa and the extension overlap more)?

Hi John, if your visa only expires in December 2024 why did you apply for the extension already? That’s good news you got the extension on the same day as we had to submit the application with all the documents then wait for the outcome before going back to get the new card. Maybe they do it differently in Osaka as we did ours in Shinagawa.

Just did the extension in Shinagawa today. Arrived at like 130pm on Thursday. Took about an hour at the office all in after making a few mistakes.

– didn’t go straight to counter T because the person at the top of the escalator was directing us to the Lon counter B line. Ignore this and go to T. T will then check and approve the docs and send you to B5 (which had no line, unlike regular counter B)

– I also downloaded old forms and had to fill it out again at T. Make sure the current form has a spot for photos. The one I first got on google didn’t

I think it would have taken 30 minutes all in without these mistakes

Thanks for the update! There always seems to be something that catches you out that causes a delay! Last time for us it was going just before lunch break and then not getting a ticket number at counter T 🤦🏼‍♀️

Just got the post card. So 3 weeks from doing the renewal visit. Will go back just before my current visa ends to get the renewed resident card

Thanks for the update again, it’s good to know they are still efficient on the approvals. Just be careful on the date you go for the card as if I remember rightly there’s a 2 week window on the postcard that you can go to collect the card. Although I’m not sure what happens if you don’t go in that time.

For the extension did you get the option to receive the result by email like you can now for COE?

We are still waiting for the COE approval for the second time round. Currently on day 10 🤞🏼

Are there any tax implications for staying in Japan for a year with this visa?

as far as I understand you become tax resident after living here for 5 years. But it obviously depends on your personal circumstances, where you earn your money, what tax you pay on it, whether that country has a tax treaty with Japan etc.

If you are concerned you are best to speak to a tax advisor but this visa is generally not well known so it often causes confusion, even with the ward offices eg we were originally given Japanese health insurance cards which were later revoked as they realised the residence card was still ultimately a tourist visa. But we also still get all the invites for free health checks etc 🤷🏼‍♀️

Actually its not that complicated — you will become a tax resident when you stay in Japan for more than 180 days in a calendar year.

For the first 5 years you don’t need to pay tax on your income outside of Japan, unless you bring that money into Japan – i.e. if you transfer money into a japanese bank, use a credit card in Japan, withdraw cash from an atm machine in Japan, or bring money in on an airplane etc then you are supposed to pay tax on that money as if its the money you earned outside of Japan. You will probably have to bring in enough money to pay for rent and food at least, so you will look extremely suspicious if you arent submitting taxes in Japan.

I think most countries have a tax agreement with Japan that you essentially pay whichever tax is higher and get a credit in the other country, but you still usually need to do tax forms in both countries.

Hi! I am also planning to apply for the Visa. May I know how did you made your schedule of stay? Is that day by day? Someone told me week by week is possible. Would you be so kind to share your schedule of stay if possible? Many thanks!

well , my first visa (6 month) was expired on july 2024, so i extend 3 months before it expired which is around april 2024. the dec 2024 was the final date after extend for the last time. i am curious , so have apply for the new COE ? i will doing the same thing after my expired date of dec 2024.

Hi, we did ours month by month. I’m not comfortable sharing ours as it has details of our location etc but we were vet generic eg Month : June, Location : Tokyo, activities : General sightseeing, Disneyland, Shinjuku, Place of stay : our address.

If you look at the new blog post I just posted for our renewal, I have a picture on there of the titles we used.

Sorry I’m a bit confused. Why did you extend so early if you still had 3 months left?

Also, when you extended it, to confirm they gave you an additional 6 months from the date of original expiry, is that right? So in total you still got the full 12 months ie your first visa started Dec 2023 and expired Dec 2024?

As when we extended ours, they only gave us 6 months from the date we got the new resident cards after extension.

When your visa expires in December you need to leave the country regardless. You can either apply for COE before you leave and when that’s approved you take that to the Japanese embassy in your home country (or a country that will approve for non residents) to get a new visa. Or you leave Japan and hand over your residence card on departure and then come back in on another visitor visa and do the process the same as before in country. We opted for option 2 and going through the process now. You can see the updated post about this on the blog – https://wylietraveldog.com/renewing-a-long-term-tourist-visa-japan/

That really helps a lot. Thank you so much!

You’re welcome 🙂

Hi! Do you know if holders of this Visa are eligible to buy JR pass? Thx

Hi, no they aren’t eligible for it. Although there are some passes you can get as a foreigner. But not the main one. Although since the price has gone up I am not sure it’s cost effective any more anyway.

You are right. Thank you

Thank you so much for putting this article together. SUPER HELPFUL! I think my wife and I are going to make the leap and apply for this.

Could you drop the updated link to the application in the comments? I’ve tried all the links here and they all bounce or go to the main immigration page (which is in Japanese).

I appreciate your help!

This is the link https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/16-1.html if it is Japanese you can simply choose to translate the page on your browser (as with all foreign pages Chrome has an option to translate).

But every time we’ve used an application form from online when we’ve got to immigration they said it was an old form. So I wouldn’t 100% rely on it and be prepared to do a new one when you get there.

I also see that maybe the application has been moved online but I don’t know if this visa qualifies?

https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/online/onlineshinsei.html?hl=en

You can’t do the application online when you are on a visitor visa already 😩 but you can receive the result of the COE via email.

When I looked before you need some kind of card reader to read your residence card to be able to apply for things online. From what I read from people who tried to do this way they said it was easier to just go to immigration.

Hi, our entire application process went smoothly thanks to your detailed blog. My husband and I applied for our COE at the Shinagawa office, arrived after lunch at 1:30pm and the whole process took about 1.5 hour. We received COE approval email after 14 days. A couple days later, we were back at Shinagawa – it was a Friday and the place was packed like sardines! Again, we reached after lunch at 1pm, a full tummy before the hard work 😬. Got ourselves a queue number at Counter T and after they checked our documents, we were sent to Counter B5 where they gave us a postcard to fill in our address – this time, we were done in 1 hour. 14 days later, we opened our mailbox to the beautiful sight of our postcard (instead of the usual junk flyers)! We’ll be back at Shinagawa soon to get our residence cards. Thank you so much! 🙂🙂

Great news, thanks for the updates. It’s useful to hear from everyone as to how long each stage is currently taking. We applied for our second COE last Tuesday so we should hopefully get the e-mail next week if your timelines are anything to go by. It’s a shame they don’t send the confirmation for the change of status approval by e-mail also, seems a bit strange they’ll do some electronically but not others. Picking up the residence cards was always the long wait for us, between 2-3 hours. I’m tempted to try early morning next time to see if it’s any quicker. Let us know how it goes for you!

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How to (Legally) Stay in Europe for More Than 90 Days

When I planned my move to Sweden a few years ago, I tried to figure out how to get past the 90-day limit placed on tourist visas in the Schengen Area. This is a problem encountered by thousands of travelers every year and a question that regularly (especially this time of year) pops up in my inbox.

“How can I stay in Europe for more than 90 days?”

It’s a simple question with a very complicated answer.

I always knew it was complicated, but until I started researching how to stay there longer, I never knew just how complicated.

Fortunately, in the process of this research, I came to learn there are a few ways to stay in Europe longer than 90 days; they just aren’t well known.

This post will teach you the options for staying in Europe over 90 days as well as give you tips on how to move to Europe. But first a few things:

It’s important to note that Europe isn’t just one place — there are varying visa rules throughout the continent. When people talk about the “90-day limit,” they’re talking about restrictions on the Schengen Area, which is the visa policy that governs 27 countries in Europe. It includes most of the European Union as well as a few non-EU countries.

Note: While I call it the “Schengen Visa,” it’s not an actual visa you necessarily need to apply for. Depending on your residency status and country of citizenship, you may need to apply in advance for a Schengen Visa, however, those with an American passport do not need to apply in advance.

However, it should be noted that as of 2025, visitors from 60 countries (including the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada) will need to apply for an online ETIAS, which is essentially a visa waiver, when entering the 23 EU member states and 4 non-EU countries of the Schengen. It is valid for 90 days within a 180-day period.

You can apply and pay online up to 96 hours beforehand. It is similar to the US version of ESTA (or the eTA in Canada). ETIAS cost 7 EUR for those 18-70 years old and are free for those under 18 years or over 70.

If you come from a country that requires you to get a Schengen visa you will not need to apply for ETIAS. It’s one or the other. Learn more here . (The ETIAS was originally set to launch in 2024, but has been pushed back.)

Table of Contents

• What is the Schengen Visa?

Part 1: Staying or Moving to Europe the Easy Way

Part 2: staying in the schengen area past 90 days.

• Take Advantage of the Bilateral Agreement
• Working Holiday Visas
• Long-Term-Stay Visas
• Student Visas
• Freelancer Visas
• Marriage Visas

What is the Schengen visa?

The Schengen visa is a 90-day tourist visa for Schengen Area countries, which are:

• Liechtenstein
• Netherlands
• Switzerland

  Additionally, there are several microstates that are de facto members of the Schengen Area. These are Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City.

These Schengen countries have a border-free visa agreement that lets residents move throughout the Area without needing to show their passports every time they cross a border. Essentially, it’s as if they’re one country, and you can move as freely as you want.

Citizens of many countries are allowed to enter the Schengen Area without having to get a visa beforehand. Your passport simply gets stamped upon your arrival and departure from Europe. You’re allowed to enter and leave from any country you want — they don’t have to be the same.

Here is a map of the countries with visa waivers that can enter the Schengen without requiring a visa in advance.

Most visitors (including Americans) are allowed to spend 90 days in the Schengen Area in every 180-day period. The easiest way to think of it is that you can visit for 3 months and then you have to leave for 3 months before you can return.

However, you can also bounce back and forth between Schengen and non-Schengen countries — you just need to keep track of all your dates of entry/exit.

When I visit Europe, I fly in and out of different countries all the time. Your first entry in the 180-day period is when your 90-day counter starts. These days don’t need to be consecutive — the total is cumulative. Once day 181 hits, the count resets itself.

For example, if I come to the Schengen Area in January and stay for 60 days and then come back in June for 10 days, that counts as 70 days in 180 days. Only days you are in the zone during the period count. If you go on January 1st and stay 90 straight days, you have to leave and technically can’t come back until July 1st.

If you’re doing a lot of bouncing around, use the EU’s Schengen visa calculator . Simply input all your travel dates and it’ll tell you how many days you have remaining.

However, not all travelers are allowed such freedom.

Citizens from many countries need to apply for a Schengen visa ahead of time. You’ll be required to fill out paperwork beforehand and fly in and out of the country for which your visa is issued.

Even then, you still might not be granted a visa. Spoiler alert: citizens from African and Asian countries get screwed.

So, with that being said, how DO you stay in Europe longer? How do you get around that rule? Let me break it down for you.  

Most non-Schengen countries such as Moldova , Ireland , and some Balkan countries allow you to stay for up to 60 or 90 days. Albania even lets Americans stay up to a year!

So, all you need to do to stay in Europe longer than 3 months is spend 90 days in the Schengen Area and then visit the UK, go to the Balkans, drink wine in Moldova, and have a pint in Ireland. If you align your schedule right, you can easily be out of the Schengen Area for 90 days and then head back into the Schengen Area with a brand new Schengen visa.

Years ago, to get around this limit, I spent three months in Bulgaria , Romania , Ukraine , and England as I waited for my clock to reset.

After that, I headed back into the Schengen area for Oktoberfest .

If you want to travel the continent for a long time without having to go through the various visa processes described below, vary your travel by visiting non-Schengen countries. There are plenty of countries to choose from while you wait for your Schengen Visa clock to reset. This is the easy, hassle-free way of doing things.

—-> Need more tips for Europe? Visit my destination guide and get in-depth information on what to see and do and how to save money .  

After all, the Schengen Area spans 27 countries and visiting so many destinations in 90 days can be a little rushed (you would have an average of just 3.5 days per country).

If you want to stay longer to travel, live, learn a language, or fall in love, then the “move around” option suggested above isn’t going to work for you. You need something else.

Luckily, there are a few ways to do this — and I can’t stress enough the importance of the word “few.” Because staying more than 90 days in the Schengen Area isn’t easy.

First, let’s understand the rule:

The Schengen law states that you can’t stay in the Schengen Area for more than 90 days. If you do, you’re subject to a fine and possibly deportation and being banned from re-entering the Schengen Area. How that rule is enforced, though, varies greatly from one country to another. Overstaying by a day might not be the end of the world, however, some countries do not mess around with visitors overstaying.

For example, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland, and Scandinavian countries are all very strict about entry and exit rules. If you overstay your tourist visit, there’s a good chance they’ll pull you aside. Two Australians I know were detained leaving Switzerland due to overstaying their visa by two weeks. They were allowed to go with just a warning, but they missed their flights and had to book new flights.

I know of someone who overstayed by six months, tried to leave from Amsterdam, and now has an “illegal immigrant” stamp on her passport. In order to enter Europe again, she must apply for a visa at an embassy and be preapproved:

I made the mistake of attempting to leave from the Netherlands after overstaying a Schengen visa and was caught. I overstayed by about a month, and they hand-drew some sort of insignia in my passport to note my overstay. They told me I’d have to contact the IND and find out if I would be able to enter the Schengen states again.

Another blogger told me this happened to them too so don’t overstay your visa!

That being said, if you leave from Greece , France , Italy , or Spain you may be less likely to encounter an issue, provided you (a) haven’t stayed over too long and (b) didn’t catch the immigration officer on a bad day.

When I left Greece, no one even looked at my passport. One of my friends met a guy in France, fell in love, and decided not to leave. A year later, when she finally did, the French officials didn’t even look twice. Another friend flew into France and didn’t even get an entry stamp. Spain is another place notorious for not caring and Americans who decide to overstay for months mention that as the easiest country to exit from. Still, it’s a good idea not to take your chances.

Of course, I don’t think it’s wise to overstay. A day or two? Likely not the end of the world. But a few weeks? A few months? The risk is too great. The fines can be large and I love going to Europe too much to risk being banned.

But, Matt, can I extend just extend my Schengen visa/stamp?

Unfortunately not. Simply put, you cannot extend your tourist visa or entry stamp. There’s a 90-day limit, and that’s that.

So what’s a tourist to do?  

1. Take advantage of the Bilateral Agreement

There are 23 Schengen countries to date with bilateral agreements in place with Austria having the most visa waiver agreements (for 27 non-EU countries). Moreover, there are 12 countries that have bilateral agreements with Australia.

For example, France has a bilateral agreement that allows U.S. citizens to stay an additional 90 days beyond the Schengen limit. You can enter from any Schengen country, stay 90 days in France, and then fly home. But the catch is you have to go home — you can’t go elsewhere. You have to leave Europe so you can’t use your time in France as a sneaky way to reset your Schengen clock.

Now, the France/U.S. rule is tricky. It’s based on a post-World War II agreement that was never canceled. Multiple French consulates told me yes, they thought this law existed but couldn’t tell me where to find it. A few visa services told me I was crazy. One consulate told me it was possible but only with a long-term visa.

BUT, after many calls, the US, Canada, and UK French embassies told me that yes, this law does exist and that yes, this is still valid. Then they referenced me to the French national archives.

Well, we found the actual diplomatic papers that spell this out . It took us close to a year to find it but we did.

This is the note from the French government about it:

Hi, There is a bilateral agreement between French and the U.S. by exchange letters (March 16-31 mars 1949), which allows American citizens to stay in France 90 days over 180 days, irrespective of the stays already made in other Schengen countries. However, this agreement has been made before the Schengen agreement. Today, as there is no more border control between the Schengen countries, it is very difficult to determine how long a person has stayed in France and we heard that some people had troubles with the immigration police while leaving France. Therefore, we recommend American citizens to respect the Schengen regulation which allows a maximum of 90 days on 180 days in the whole Schengen area. Consulat général de France, Service des visas 4101 Reservoir Road, Washington DC, 20007

A follow-up to the London embassy gave me this response:

“Whilst the bilateral agreement you refer to has not officially been revoked, the French Border Police has sole authority on deciding whether to apply it or not, at the time of entering or exiting the Schengen area.”

So this is really a thing. And, while they don’t like you using it, it’s still the law. Just bring proof you stayed in France for 90 days! If you plan to use this rule, bring documentation as border guards may not be aware of it.

Additionally, Denmark, Norway, and Poland also have bilateral agreements with the United States that let citizens stay an additional 90 days in each country separate from the regular Schengen Zone visa. The Denmark rule applies exactly the same way as the French one. Denmark also has a bilateral agreement that is applicable for citizens of Australia, Canada, Chile, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and South Korea .

That said, travelers can only use the Norwegian or the Danish bilateral agreement — they can’t use both (time in Norway under the bilateral agreement counts as time in Denmark and vice versa).

For Poland, you must enter and leave Poland via a non-Schengen country where you will be stamped again (i.e., direct flight from NYC). So you could do 90 days in the Schengen, fly to the UK, and then fly to Poland. Poland’s rules are simply laid out in an agreement letter the U.S. and Poland signed in 1991. ( Here’s a copy of the letter from the Polish government) .

In theory, there are also other bilateral agreements between the U.S. and Schengen countries. I’ve been told by multiple sources that Belgium, Italy, Hungary, Norway, Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands all have their own bilateral agreements with the U.S. as well. This page outlines the existing bilateral agreements .

However, I reached out to each country’s consulate and none of them replied (save Portugal) in any meaningful way. They simply directed me to the standard visa FAQ page.

Regarding Portugal, a representative from the Portuguese consulate said this regarding their bilateral 60-day visa:

Please note that those 60 days are an exceptional extension that needs to be requested within Portugal at SEF office near your temporary address in Portugal.

Now, in theory, one could say thanks to borderless travel you could get your “extra 90 days in Denmark” and then just travel around, fly out of Denmark, and no one would be the wiser. One could say that. But I’ve noticed a lot more intra-Europe passport checks in recent years. I got yelled at in France for not having my passport with me while on a train to see a chateau. So, I wouldn’t recommend doing this.

Note: Most countries have bilateral agreements with other countries. Call the local embassy for more information (you’ll have better luck calling than emailing).  

2. Get a Working Holiday Visa

There is no single “working holiday” program for the Schengen or EU so applicants must apply for a visa from a specific country. Usually, applicants must be younger than 30, though age restrictions are becoming more relaxed in recent years.

Additionally, you can get consecutive working holiday visas. An Australian reader of mine got a two-year Dutch working holiday visa and then got one from Norway to stay two more years. While she and her boyfriend (who also got one) did odd jobs in Holland for a bit, they mostly used it as a way to travel around the continent.

Note : This type of visa won’t allow you to work in any other country than the one that issued it.

For Americans, there are only two options for working holidays in Europe: Ireland (non-Schengen country) and Portugal (Schengen country). Both programs are essentially the same, providing a 12-month work visa to those either currently enrolled in or recently graduated from a higher education institution.

While you must be at least 18 to apply, there’s no upper age limit, provided that you fit the other criteria. For the Portuguese visa, you can only work for 6 months out of the 12-month visa, while the Irish visa has no work restrictions.

3. Get a Long-Term-Stay Visa

However, in 2023, if you have a fully online business, there are countries within Schengen that allow digital nomad visas provided you make a certain amount of money per month and have your own health insurance. Countries that currently offer digital nomad visas include Portugal, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Malta, Romania, Spain, and Norway.

The countries that allow you to apply with the lowest online salary are Portugal, Hungary, Malta, and Croatia, which require around 2,500 EUR in income per month.

Schengen allows for a C- or D-class visa (the letter varies on the country), which is a temporary residence visa for up to one year. But the specific visa and requirements vary from country to country. Some countries are harder, some are easier, and others are nearly impossible despite being in the same visa treaty zone.

However, there are a few countries that do offer long-term visas that aren’t too hard to get:  

France offers a long-term visitor visa for a period of up to one year. According to the French Embassy, “The ‘visitor’ visa (or visa ‘D’) allows you to enter France and stay for more than three months. Long-stay visa holders will be allowed to reside in France for up to 12 months according to the validity of their visa and purpose of stay.”

To get this visa, you must set up an appointment at the French consulate near you. You can’t walk in — you must make an appointment.

At this appointment, you’ll need the following documents:

• One application form filled out completely and signed
• Three passport photos
• Your original passport, which must have been issued less than 10 years ago, be valid for three months after your return, and have at least two blank pages left
• A letter certified by a notary public that promises you won’t engage in work
• A letter of employment stating current occupation and earnings
• Proof of income (you’ll need copies of a pension certificate or your last 3 bank statements)
• Proof of medical insurance that includes evacuation insurance and medical coverage of at least €30,000 (a copy of your US health insurance card is not acceptable as proof, you need a detailed description of coverage)
• Proof of accommodation in France. (If you don’t have an official document such as a sublet agreement, you can include a letter describing your accommodation arrangements).

Note : You can’t apply for this visa more than three months before your arrival date.

France-Visas is the official visa website for France. It details all the types of visas and has a helpful “visa wizard” where you put in your situation and it tells you what type of visa you should apply for as well as all the documents that you need.

You can also visit the French Embassy website for links to local embassies and consulates for more information. Find your closest consulate here .

This post has some helpful information to get you started on long-term visas in particular .  

Sweden also offers a long-term stay tourist visa for a maximum period of one year. Here’s a brief overview of what you need:

• Residence permit for visitor’s application form
• Notarized copies of the pages of your passport that show your identity and the validity of your passport, as well as copies of all the other visas/stamps you have. Your passport also needs to be valid for 3 months after your stay.
• A bank statement showing your means of supporting yourself for the duration of your stay (450 SEK for each day of your stay)
• A return airplane ticket
• Proof of medical coverage of at least 30,000 EUR

Most people who apply for this visa have family in Sweden. If you don’t, you’ll need to have clear reasons as to why you need to stay longer and show ample proof that you can support yourself (i.e., “I want to meet Swedish guys/girls” won’t cut it!).

You can apply either in Sweden or outside the country. If you’re applying from Sweden, you can apply online, and then make an appointment at the consulate or embassy to show your passport and get fingerprinted. If you’re applying outside of Sweden, you need to file your application in person at the consulate or embassy. When you file your application abroad, you’ll also be interviewed about your intended trip and the purpose for staying in Sweden.

You can learn more about the process on this government page .

Spain offers a couple of long-term visas. The Golden Visa is based on a sizable financial investment in Spain, either into a company (minimum 1 million EUR), real estate (minimum 500,000 EUR), or invest in a new business such as in science or tech that creates local employment opportunities. The other more attainable and popular long-term visa targets retirees and is called the Non-Lucrative Residence Visa. It requires that you spend at least 183 days in Spain, which would make you a legal resident for tax purposes. During this time, you are unable to work in Spain (so you’ll need to have enough savings to get you by). However, studying and unpaid internships are permitted.

The big catch for this visa is that you need to have at least 26,000 EUR in your bank account (ideally more). Since the visa is designed for retirees, the assumption is that you’re coming here to rest on your financial laurels after a lifetime of saving up — hence the sizeable requirement.

The visa has been denied to people who are remote workers so I wouldn’t recommend this visa if you’re a digital nomad (Spain is supposedly working on a visa specifically for digital nomads, though it’s not currently available). This is a bit of a gray area though. If you can show enough savings to financially sustain yourself for a year without working, you can get this visa. You just cannot use monthly statements (such as from your remote job) to prove income; financial proof must be savings or passive income (such as a pension).

In addition to having sizable savings, you’ll also need to fill out the application, submit your passport and additional photos, pay a fee, and provide the following:

• Proof of private health insurance (from an authorized company in Spain not travel insurance)
• A doctor’s note certifying that you’re healthy
• A criminal background check translated into Spanish

You must apply for this visa in your country of residency (usually with the help of lawyers). The application varies per country, usually between 120-900 EUR (it’s around 125 EUR for Americans and over 500 EUR for Canadians).

This consulate page has all the specific details you need regarding the application .

Portugal has multiple long-term stay visas. First, there is a Golden Visa, which requires a minimum investment in the country of 280,000 EUR and takes around 18 months to process. The D7 Passive Income visa, which is similar to Spain’s non-lucrative visa, is more realistic for most people.

To apply for the D7 visa in Portugal you need:

• Proof of health insurance covering at least 30,000 EUR
• A background check
• Proof of financial means to stay in Portugal (8,460 EUR)
• 2 passport photos
• Proof of accommodation

The main difference between the Portuguese and Spanish long-term visas is that you only need an income of around 8,460 EUR instead of the 26,000 EUR in savings that the Spanish visa requires. You still cannot work on this visa, so your income must be passive (investments, pension, rental property, etc.).

The D7 visa can work for digital nomad as it is valid for 4 months. Portugal is much more accepting of remote work as proof of income for the visa application than Spain.

Portugal also offers the D2 immigrant Entrepreneur visa, which isn’t designed specifically for digital nomads, but could be used by specific entrepreneurs. You’ll need to submit a business plan and demonstrate you have enough capital to get started. You’ll also need to explain why you want to start your business in Portugal (or move it there). You’ll have a much higher chance of getting approved if you have invested upwards of 5,000 EUR in your business and speak some Portuguese (it’s not required, but these visas are regularly rejected so it will give you a leg up).

In short, there are a lot of steps for a temporary visa. However, you can get this extended and eventually apply for permanent residency or citizenship after 5 years.

You’ll need to apply for both of these visas in your country of residency.

The official Portuguese visa website has more information about specific visas and requirements. You can locate your nearest Portuguese consulate here .

A note on long-term visas: Keep in mind that the information above is just for reference. There may be more requirements needed for your application and not all visas are open to everyone. You’ll want to contact your local embassy for specifics and additional information.  

4. Get a Student Visa

All Schengen Area countries offer student visas that are easy to obtain so long as you’re enrolled in a recognized university program. This would require you to pay for the course and you may also have to show proof of minimum fund requirements, but it will virtually guarantee you a visa if you are accepted.

One of the best countries to do this is Spain, where a whole industry has sprung up to help students study Spanish. There are tons of schools that will allow you to enroll and write letters stating you’re a student there. You’ll need to apply in your home country but the process is relatively straightforward. This post details the requirements .

Germany is another popular choice, as post-secondary schools there are essentially free. While there may be more competition, the costs are much lower. However, you need to show proof that you have money in a bank account to cover your expenses. As of October 2022, that amount is 11, 208 EUR in a blocked bank account.

In Germany, you might also be able to work up to 120 full days, or 240 half days (20 hours a week) while you study as well. You can learn about the application process here .

While most student visas allow you to stay in a country for one year, I would only consider getting one if you actually plan on studying. If you’re just getting a student visa to travel and play tourist, it’s not going to be worth the cost and paperwork since you’ll need to set up everything from a residential address to a bank account to a local phone number and more.  

5. Get a Freelancer/Remote Worker Visa

There are several countries that offer freelancer visas and visas geared towards the increasing number of remote workers. This process is a little more complicated and not for the casual tourist. These visas are meant for people who actually want to live and work in Europe. If you’re just a casual tourist, expect to be denied. But if you’re a digital nomad, this is the visa for you.

Schengen countries that offer freelancer or remote worker visas include:

• Germany (no set income amount, but you need a business plan and upwards of 10,000 EUR in savings)
• Estonia (3,500 EUR income/month)
• Czechia (5,600 EUR in savings)
• Portugal (2,800 EUR income/month)
• Greece (3,500 EUR income/month)
• Malta (2,700 EUR income/month)
• Hungary (2,000 EUR income/month
• Croatia (17,800 HRK (2,300 EUR income/month)

Non-Schengen countries that have them include:

• Romania (no set income, reports of successful applicants range from about 3,700 EUR/month)
• Georgia (2,000 USD income/month)
• Iceland (1,000,000 ISK income/month (6,617 EUR), only valid for up to 6 months)

Germany is the country most used by people who want to reside in Europe. If you’re a freelancer, digital nomad, artist, or have some form of income, this is the visa to get. If you are from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the U.S., Israel, South Korea, or Japan you can apply after you arrive in Germany (everyone else needs to apply in advance).

The visa only lasts for three months, however, it is designed to be extended into a residency visa which would then last for three years. I have many friends who have gotten this visa. As long as you follow the steps, you should be fine. This post has more information about the process .

Most of these visas follow a similar format: apply, pay a fee, submit proof that your business can stay afloat, then wait to be accepted. However, some have more stringent requirements.

For example, Estonia’s freelancer visa requires a monthly income of at least 3,500 EUR per month leading up to your application. For the Czechia visa, you need to have at least $6,000 USD in your bank account (the lovely folks at Wandertooth, who did this process a couple of years ago, can walk you through the steps ).

If you are a digital nomad and are considering working remotely from the EU you can compare these programs to see which one bests suits your goals (though Germany is likely the best place to start since it’s one of the easiest to get).  

6. Get Married to a European

Fall in love with a European (or at least a friend) and apply for a marriage visa! You’ll get to stay there while the application process goes through and then you can move to Europe and stay there forever with the love of your life! That’s a win-win! (This is a joke. Don’t get married just for a visa to stay in Europe!)

The best, easiest, and most effective way to stay in Europe long-term is to increase the number of countries you visit so you’re in the Schengen Area for only 90 days. As I said, there are a lot of countries not in the Area so this is easy to do.

If you’re like me and want to stay in the Schengen Area longer than 90 days (or just want to move to Europe because it’s awesome), be prepared to work the system. It’s not impossible to stay long-term in the Schengen Area. By understanding the system and using the few loopholes that do exist, one can legally stay past 90 days and enjoy all Europe has to offer without worrying about being barred for life.  

Get Your In-Depth Budget Guide to Europe!

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Book Your Trip to Europe: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Use Skyscanner to find a cheap flight. They are my favorite search engine because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned!

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the biggest inventory and best deals. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels.

For suggestions on where to stay during your trip, here is a list of my favorite hostels in Europe .

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

• Safety Wing (for everyone below 70)
• Insure My Trip (for those over 70)
• Medjet (for additional repatriation coverage)

Looking for the Best Companies to Save Money With? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use to save money when I’m on the road. They will save you money when you travel too.

NOTE: Due to the complexities of visas and the uniqueness of everyone’s situation, we do not answer any visa related questions in the comments or via email. Thank you.

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Do I need a visa to visit Malaysia?

Feb 19, 2022 • 5 min read

Entering the Federal Territory Mosque in Kuala Lumpur © Patrick Foto / Getty Images

Malaysia has a reputation as the easy country for travel in Southeast Asia, and that certainly applies to the visa situation. Citizens of many countries are granted visa-free entry on arrival, meaning there’s no complicated paperwork standing between you and Malaysia’s beaches, jungles and food markets. 

Even better, the relaxed visa situation makes for easy detours to neighboring Singapore , Indonesia , Brunei and Thailand , though you’ll need to check the latest Covid restrictions before you travel. Here’s everything you need to know about visas for Malaysia. 

Can I travel to Malaysia without a visa? 

In normal circumstances, nationals of most countries in Europe, the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan (and many other countries) can visit Malaysia without a visa for a stay of up to 90 days. This applies to entries by air, land and sea. 

In practice, 90-day stays are usually given as the default if you arrive in Malaysia by air, but if you enter by land or by sea, you may be given a 30-day entry stamp unless you specifically ask for a longer permit. It’s worth doing this, as extending your stay may not be possible once the stamp is issued. 

On arrival, your passport will be stamped and you’ll need to fill out an arrival/departure card; just make sure your passport is valid for six months from the date of entry. Technically, the authorities can ask for proof of sufficient funds for your stay and a ticket for onward travel from Malaysia, but this is not usually requested. 

Some countries are granted a shorter stay in Malaysia

Citizens of Russia and many neighboring countries are granted a stay of one month on arrival, and similar rules apply to nationals of many countries in Africa and Central and South America. For longer stays, you’ll need to apply for a visa. 

Note that citizens of Israel can only enter Malaysia with written permission from Malaysia’s Ministry of Home Affairs , which rules out easy overland trips from Thailand to Singapore.

What are the visa requirements for Malaysia? 

If your home country is not on the visa-free travel list, or you’re planning a long stay, you’ll need to apply for a visa. However, be aware that the only visas valid for more than 90 days are the multi-entry visas reserved for business travelers.

Different rules apply to different countries. Tourist E-Visas lasting up to 30 days are issued to citizens of Serbia & Montenegro, China, India, and many other nations in South Asia and Africa. See the Immigration Department of Malaysia website for details of how to apply and a full list of approved countries. 

Other nationals will need to apply for a visa the old-fashioned way at a Malaysian embassy or consulate in their home country. The Malaysian Ministry of Home Affairs has a full list of Malaysian missions overseas; contact your local embassy for advice on the application process. 

Business and transit visas for Malaysia

For business trips, it’s usually fine to enter the country as if you were a tourist, but you are not permitted to work for any Malaysian company. Business travelers can also apply for long-duration multiple-entry visas, but the application process is complex – Malaysian embassies can provide details. 

Transit visas are also available, but as so many people can enter Malaysia without a visa, they’re rarely needed.   

What are the rules for travel to East Malaysia? 

Sabah and Sarawak – the two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo – retain a certain degree of control over their borders. Even if you arrive from Peninsular Malaysia, you must go through passport control and have your passport stamped. This also applies when traveling between Sabah and Sarawak via Brunei, and when traveling to the federal district of Pulau Labuan. 

When entering Sabah or Sarawak from another part of Malaysia, your new visa stamp will be valid only for the remainder of the period you were granted when you first entered Malaysia. If Malaysian Borneo is your first port of call in Malaysia, you’ll get the full, uninterrupted 30 or 90 days. 

Extending a Malaysia visa 

While the entry procedures for Malaysia can seem very relaxed, it’s important not to overstay your visa or the visa-free entry period. If you do, you can be detained, fined, deported, and blacklisted – it’s no laughing matter. 

In the past, it has been possible to extend a 30-day entry up to 90 days through the Immigration Department of Malaysia , but don’t rely on this being possible with the pandemic muddying the waters. Extending a 90-day stay is out of the question. 

The good news is that it is possible to prolong your stay in Malaysia by hopping across the border to a neighboring country. When you re-enter, you’ll be granted a new 30- or 90- day entry stamp on arrival. There’s rarely a problem if you do this once or twice, but the authorities may take a dim view if you repeat the so-called “visa run” too many times. 

On the peninsula, the easiest place to leave and re-enter Malaysia is Johor Bahru ; local buses buzz across the causeway to Singapore day and night. The other easy option is Pulau Langkawi , which has ferries to Satun (year-round) and Ko Lipe (November to May) in Thailand. 

Alternatively, consider crossing the Thai border by train at Padang Besar, or take the ferry to Sumatra in Indonesia from Melaka or Johor Bahru. In East Malaysia, you can cross by bus or boat into Kalimantan in Indonesia, or make the easy hop into Brunei by bus from either Miri or Kota Kinabalu , or by boat from Pulau Labuan. 

You may also like:  12 best things you have to do in Singapore The 15 best things to do in Malaysia: Mountains, marine life, and amazing apes 'Ghosts are a big part of life in Malaysia': healing one year after losing my parents to COVID

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Completing the DS-160

Important Notice:  Take care to answer all questions on the DS-160 accurately and completely; otherwise, you may have to correct your application and reschedule your visa interview appointment.

Electronically submitting your DS-160 online application is only the first step in the visa application process. Once you have electronically submitted your DS-160 online application, you must contact the embassy or consulate at which you wish to apply to confirm whether you need to be interviewed by a consular officer, and to schedule an interview. You can find a list of U.S. embassies and consulates  here , with links to their websites where you can find information about scheduling a visa interview appointment.  If the embassy or consulate at which you apply informs that you must have a visa interview, the visa application process cannot be completed until you appear for an interview with a consular officer.

Accessing the DS-160

Where can i find the ds-160.

Access the DS-160 here, by clicking:  Consular Electronic Application Center website .

You may wish to preview a sample DS-160 (10.1MB) before beginning.

I am having problems accessing the DS-160.

Use only Internet Explorer 11 or higher, Firefox, or Google Chrome 58 when completing your appplication. Safari and Microsoft Edge are not supported .

What documents do I need to have with me while I complete the DS-160?

You should have the following documents available while you complete your DS-160:

• Travel itinerary , if you have already made travel arrangements.
• Dates of your last five visits or trips to the United States , if you have previously travelled to the United States. You may also be asked for your international travel history for the past five years. 
• Résumé or Curriculum Vitae  - You may be required to provide information about your current and previous education and work history. 
• Other Information  - Some applicants, depending on the intended purpose of travel, will be asked to provide additional information when completing the DS-160.

Some applicants will need to have additional information and documents handy while completing the DS-160:

• Students and Exchange Visitors (F, J, and M) : You will be asked to provide your SEVIS ID, which is printed on your  I-20 or DS-2019 , so you should have this form available when completing your DS-160. You also will be asked to provide the address of the school/program at which you intend to study. This information should also be on your I-20 or DS-2019 form. 
• Petition-based Temporary Workers (H-1B, H-2, H-3, CW1, L, O, P, R, E2C):  You should have a copy of your  I-129  available when completing your DS-160. 
• Other Temporary Workers:  You will be asked for information about your employer, including the employer’s address, while completing your DS-160.

Can my answers be in my native language?

No. All answers  must be in English, using English characters only,  except when you are asked to provide your full name in your native alphabet. Applications submitted in any language other than English will be denied, and you may be required to submit a new application.

While you must answer all questions in English, translations of questions are available in many languages from the drop-down menu in the right upper corner of the application. These translations should assist you in completing the form in English.

Are all questions on the DS-160 mandatory?

Most questions are mandatory and must be answered in the spaces provided. You may leave spaces blank when the questions are marked “optional.” You may answer a question with “Does Not Apply,” when that question does not apply to you; however, all other questions must be answered. The system  will not  allow you to submit an application with any mandatory questions left unanswered. If you do not complete a mandatory question, the system will display an error message and require you to answer the question before continuing with the application. If you do not answer questions that apply to your circumstances and/or purpose of travel, the system will not accept your application.

Are additional forms required?

No. The online DS-160 application replaced the DS-156, DS-157, DS-158, and DS-3032, which are no longer necessary.  NOTE : In addition to the DS-160, Treaty Trader/Treaty Investor visa applicants also must complete an additional form (see the Treaty Trader/Treaty Investor, E Visa Applicants  section below for more information). 

What happens to my DS-160 if I select a U.S. Embassy or Consulate where I will be applying for my visa, but end up making an interview appointment instead at another U.S. Embassy or Consulate?

The Embassy or Consulate at which you actually apply should be able to access your form using the barcode on your DS-160 confirmation page, which you must bring to the visa interview. For example, a business traveler intends to apply for his visa at the U.S. Embassy in City X, so he selects City X as the location where he will submit his application when he completes his DS-160. He then has an urgent reason to travel to City Y on business. Because there is a U.S. Consulate in City Y, he schedules an appointment for a visa interview there, using the barcode from his completed DS-160 application for appointment scheduling. The U.S. Consulate in City Y is able to accept his DS-160 even though it lists the U.S. Embassy in City X as the location where he originally intended to submit his application.

Completing Specific DS-160 Questions

How do i sign the ds-160 form.

You electronically sign your DS-160 by clicking the “Sign Application” button at the end of the form. Failure to sign may result in termination of the application. Your electronic signature certifies that you have read and understood the questions in the application and that your answers are true and correct to the best of your knowledge and belief. The submission of an application containing any false or misleading statements may result in the permanent refusal of a visa or denial of entry into the United States. All declarations made in the application are unsworn declarations made under penalty of perjury.

Unless you are exempted from appearing in person, your fingerprints will be electronically scanned on the day of your interview. By providing your fingerprints, you will again certify that that you have answered all questions on the DS-160 truthfully and to the best of your knowledge, and that you will tell the truth during your visa interview. You will be directed to read the following statement prior to having your fingerprints scanned:

“By submitting my fingerprint, I am certifying under penalty of perjury that I have read and understood the questions in my visa application and that all statements that appear in my visa application have been made by me and are true and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Furthermore, I certify under penalty of perjury that I will tell the truth during my interview and that all statements made by me during my interview will be complete to the best of my ability.”

Can a third party complete the form on my behalf? Who is exempt from signing the form?

If an applicant is illiterate or unable to complete the application, the applicant must be assisted by a third party. The third party must be identified on the “Sign and Submit” page of the application. While the third party can assist the applicant in completing the application, he or she must instruct the applicant on how to endorse the application on his or her own behalf by clicking the “Sign Application” button.

If the applicant is under the age of 16 or physically incapable of completing an application, the applicant’s parents or guardian may complete and click the “Sign Application” button on his or her behalf. If the applicant has no parent or legal guardian, then the application may be completed by any person having legal custody of, or a legitimate interest in, the applicant.

The DS-160 contains terms that I am not familiar with. Are these terms explained?

Explanations of the following terms contained in the online DS-160 form are available to you as help topics while you complete the DS-160 and are also provided below. 

Help: Surnames

Enter all surnames (or family names) exactly as they are written in your passport. If only one name is written in your passport, enter that as your “Surname.”

Help: Given Names

If your passport does not include a first or given name, please enter 'FNU' (meaning “first name unknown”) in the space for “Given Names.”

Help: Other Names

Other names used include your maiden name, religious name, professional name, or any other name by which you are or have been known.

Make sure to enter the other names you have used in full.  Thus, if you have only used another surname, enter it along with your usual given name. If you have only used another given name, enter it along with your usual surname.

Help: Telecode

Telecodes are four-digit code numbers that represent characters in some non-Roman alphabet names.

Help: Date of Birth

Enter as shown in your passport.

Help: Place of Birth

Please choose the name currently used for the place where you were born.

Help: Phone

You must provide a primary phone number. The primary phone number should be the phone number at which you are most likely to be reached; this could be a land line or a cellular/mobile number. If you have an additional land line or a cellular/mobile number please list that as your secondary phone number. 

Help: Identification Numbers

Your National ID Number is a unique number that your government may have provided. For example, the U.S. Government gives unique numbers to people looking to work or who pay taxes.

Help: Other Nationality

Enter all nationalities you currently hold and all nationalities you have previously held (including United States, if applicable), regardless of whether you have formally and/or legally relinquished the nationality. If the country where you previously held nationality no longer exists, choose the name of the country that is currently used for that location. (For example, if you used to be a citizen of the former East Germany, choose “Germany.”)

Help:  Permanent Resident

Permanent resident means any individual who has been legally granted by a country/region permission to live and work without time limitation in that country/region.

Help: Passport/Travel Document Number

Enter the number of the passport or travel document you will use to travel to the United States. This passport/document must still be valid, and must identify you and your nationality.

Help: Passport Book Number

The Passport Book Number is commonly called the inventory control number. You may or may not have a Passport Book Number on your passport. If you do, the location of the Passport Book Number on your passport may vary depending on the country that issued your passport. Please contact your passport issuing authority if you are unable to determine whether or not your passport contains a Passport Book Number.

Help: Expiration Date

In most cases your passport or travel document must be valid for at least six months after your arrival in the United States.

Help: Application Receipt/Petition Number

If you are applying for a petition-based visa, your application receipt/petition number was given to you by the Department of Homeland Security’s U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) after you filed your petition application at a USCIS Service Center. The application receipt/petition number is 13 characters long and the first three characters are letters.

Help: Previous Employer

Please enter information regarding your previous two employers only. Applicants may choose to bring along a separate written list of  all  previous employers to the visa interview for reference.

Saving Your DS-160 and Returning to a Partially Completed DS-160

How can i save my application can i stop in the middle of the application and return to it later.

You can save your application or return to a partially completed application. When you begin a new DS-160, you will be issued a unique application identification (ID) number after selecting and answering a security question. Once you have your application ID number and have selected and answered a security question, you may exit the DS-160 application and return to it later.  You must have your application ID to return to your application .   To save your DS-160 to the Consular Electronic Application Center website, click the “Next” button at the bottom of each page you complete.  You have 30 days to return to a partially completed application . To access your application after 30 days, you must save it to your computer hard drive or a disk, as explained in the  FAQ  below.

How do I save my DS-160 application to my computer hard drive or a disk?

Saving to a hard drive or disk  will allow you to access your application after 30 days . To permanently save your application to your computer hard drive or a disk, select the “Save Application to File” button. Then, click the “Save” button on the File Download window. Identify a place on your computer to save the application, browse to that location, and click the “Save” button on the “Save As” window. The system will download your application to the specified location. Once the download is complete, you can click “Close” to return to the live application on our website.  Note:  Applications saved to the hard drive of a public or shared computer or memory device could likely be accessed by anyone else who uses the computer or device after you.

I apply for U.S. visas often. Can I reuse the DS-160?

Yes, you can use information from a previously submitted DS-160 to populate some fields on a new form. There are two ways that you can do this. First, if you plan to apply for a visa in the future, save your DS-160 to your hard drive or a disk using the instructions in the  FAQ  above. When you go to apply for your new visa you can then select “Option B-Upload a Previously Saved Application” on the Getting Started page. Alternately, if your previous visa application was submitted after November 1, 2010, you can select “Option C-Retrieve Application,” enter your previous visa application ID, and then hit “Create a New Application.” Your personal information will then populate the form. Be careful to check that all previously submitted information is current and accurate.

What if I lose my internet connection, the application “times out,” or I receive an error? Will my application be lost?

Why did the edits i made from the review page "edit" link not save.

In order for data changes made from the review page links to save, you must use the buttons at the bottom of each page to navigate, instead of the browser's back/forward buttons or the buttons along the side of the screen.

Uploading a Photo to Your DS-160

I understand that i can upload a photo with my application. how do i get a digital photo that will successfully upload to my application.

Please refer to the  Photograph Requirements  for detailed guidance.

The confirmation page has an "X" in the box where the photo should be. What does that mean?

That means that the photo upload failed. Therefore, you should submit one printed photograph meeting our requirements, along with the online DS-160 confirmation page, to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate at which you plan to apply for your visa.  Please contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where you are applying for specific instructions on how to do this.  See the print photo format found in the  Photograph Requirements  for more information. If the confirmation page includes a photo image, then the photo upload function was successful and no separate print photograph is required.

Correcting Answers on a Submitted DS-160

The u.s. embassy or consulate where i went for my visa interview denied my application because my ds-160 contained errors or was incomplete. what does this mean and what do i need to do next.

DS-160 applications submitted before April 1, 2010  cannot be reopened, and therefore, you must complete and submit a new DS-160.

The Embassy or Consulate should reopen your DS-160 submitted after April 1, 2010 if your application is denied for this reason and ask you to correct it , as explained below:

• DS-160 applications submitted on or after November 1, 2010: Enter your application ID  number and answer additional questions as prompted to access and correct your application. 
• DS-160 applications submitted on or after April 1, 2010, but before November 1, 2010: Enter your barcode or confirmation number into the Application ID field  and answer additional questions as prompted to access and correct your application.

After I have corrected or completed my DS-160 application, do I need to schedule a new appointment or return to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate?

Ds-160 confirmation page, should i bring my entire application or just the confirmation page with me to the interview.

You are not required to bring your entire application. For your interview, you  are  required to bring your confirmation page with your application ID number on it so we can retrieve your DS-160. You must bring the confirmation page with you during all phases of the application process. Without the confirmation page, we may not be able to process your visa case.

I submitted my online DS-160 application, but lost my confirmation page. Can I print a new one?

Yes, you can reprint the confirmation page of an application that has already been submitted. In order to do so, go into the  Consular Electronic Application Center website  and select the Embassy or Consulate at which you are applying. Hit “Option C-Retrieve Application” on the Getting Started page and enter your application ID number. From there you will be able to view and print your confirmation page.

Family/Group Applications

I am traveling with my family or as part of a group. can i create a family or group application.

Yes. When you select “Email Confirmation” on your Confirmation Page, you will be directed to a “Thank You” page. On the “Thank You” page you will see an option to create a family or group application. When you select this option, certain information from your application, such as destination, will automatically be imported to and displayed on a new application. Please note that if you use this option you must create an individual application for each family member or for each individual within the group.

If I use the option on the "Thank You" page to create a family or group application, can I modify the data automatically populated by the system?

Yes. If one of the dependents has a different surname or nationality, for example, you can alter that data before submitting the application.

Treaty Trader/Treaty Investor, E Visa Applicants

I am applying for a treaty trader/treaty investor, e visa. do i need to fill out the ds-160 and the ds-156e.

It depends. If you are a Treaty Investor (E-2) applicant, you need only complete the DS-160. If you are a Treaty Trader (E-1) or an Executive/Manager/Essential Employee (E-1 or E-2), you must complete the DS-160, and you or your employer must complete the paper  DS-156E  form.

More Information

A-Z Index Latest News What is a U.S. Visa? Diversity Visa Program Visa Waiver Program Fraud Warning Find a U.S. Embassy or Consulate Straight Facts on U.S. Visas

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Bali Tourist Tax

For international travelers – all you need to know.

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Beware of Scammer Websites, selling the Tourist Tax Registration. They are not representing the Balinese Government. ONLY use the official LoveBali Portal that we linked in our FAQ below

Bali tourist tax / bali tourist levy.

The Tourist Tax for international visitors to Bali is a tax charged by Bali’s provincial government. This is all you need to know to get ready to come to Bali. Make sure you are only using the links mentioned tha guide you to the official website of the Bali government. 

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Bali Tourist Tax Regulations and How to Pay the Bali Tourist Tax

Faq - must know about the tourist tax (levy), the tourist tax will have to be paid by international travelers coming to bali, the tax applies to foreigners coming to bali..

For arrivals to Bali from outside Indonesia and also if you arrive coming from another province to Bali. 

The Bali Tourist Tax costs IDR 150,000 per person (ca. USD 10 and AUD 15). Regardless of the age of the traveler.

It seems, that for the online payment there is also a surcharge of Rp 4,500

Most probably you will not be checked (yet). The reason is, that the immigration officers and airport personnel is not responsible to check if you paid. And the Balinese government has not yet installed check points to control the payment (which might happen at some point).

Still you have to pay the tax and checks can happen at popular tourist destinations or then also at the airport and harbours upon entry. 

You can pay the tax online on the official Bali Tourism Website ( ONLY use that website, don't pay the tax anywhere else, there might be websites run by scammers).

Official website to pay the bali tourist tax lovebali.baliprov.go.id/.

You will also be able to pay the tax upon arrival (airports and harbours). We strongly suggest however you pay already online before you arrive.

At times the Official Bali Tax Website might be offline. 

Lovebali.baliprov.go.id/.

Don't pay the tax anywhere else! Keep trying and come back to the website. Worse case, you can arrive in Bali without paying for the tourist tax online in advance, and then pay at the lovebali-counters. The Balinese government is in the process of installing payment counters at the checkpoints at the airports and harbours.

Travelers with following Visas are exemption from paying the Bali Tourist Tax, without having to apply for the exemption online (automatic exemption)

• Holders of Diplomatic Visas and Official Visas
• Crew Members of Conveyances are exempted
•  KITAS & KITAP Holders (Holders of Temporary and permanent stay permits)
• Family unification visa holders
• Student Visa Holders

Foreigners can apply for an exemption on the official website . Apply at least 5 days before your arrival

• Golden Visa Holders
• Any other Visa issued by the immigration office, that do not have the travel purpose tourism ,. In other words, travelers with any visas that is issued with the travel purpose "tourism"  will have to pay the tax.

On the official website the government states:

We are not the government, so unfortunately we cannot help you with this issue. 

First we would check the Spam / Junk Folder, to be sure you did not receive it. 

You can also write a message to the support on 

It seems that the official site from the Bali government still has problems from time to time. Since we are not representing the government and are not charging any taxes or fees, we cannot assist you in this matter. We suggest you keep trying opening the website. Worse case, you can pay the tourist tax upon arrival.

Only use the official Bali Tax Website:

The tourist tax (levy) is a local tax that the Bali administration is implementing, it is only related to Bali and not to Indonesia

The bali administration has issued following statement:, the levy is paid only 1 (one) time while traveling in bali, before the person leaves the territory of the republic of indonesia., how they will control this is not yet clear to us, but it seems that if you travel to bali, pay the tax, then go to lombok, return to bali, you would not have to pay the tourist tax again., the bali administration has announced that they want to use the income of the tourist tax for the following initiatives (official statement from the bali administration):, preserve heritage, protecting balinese customs, traditions, arts and local wisdom, ensuring the sustainable culture of bali island., nurture nature, contribute to the nobility and preservation of bali's unique culture and natural environment, making it an even more beautiful destination., elevate your experience, improve the quality of service and balinese cultural tourism management, promising you a safe and enjoyable travel adventure in bali., bali and the indonesian tourism officials have discussed over the last few years how they can protect the environment better, handle mass tourism, improve infrastructure and handle the growing trash problem, increase income for the local population who do not yet benefit from the growing tourism sector. they wish to encourage travelers to respect and participate the local culture more and overall have a better experience when they visit the island of gods., for the moment it seems, yes, but we expect the local administration to clarify at some point., 14th february 2024, essentials for your bali vacation.

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