JP country scene

Short-Term Stay — single-entry business visa

JapanShort stays and visits

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

Official link

For the relevant traveller scope, is a visa, electronic authorisation, visa on arrival or no advance visa normally required?

Japan has reciprocal short-term visa exemption arrangements with 74 countries and regions (stay granted on landing: 15 days for Indonesia and Thailand, 30 days for Brunei and Qatar, 90 days for the others). For other travellers MOFA publishes a Single-Entry Short-Term Stay Visa checklist applying to all nationalities except China, Russia, CIS countries, Ukraine, Georgia and the Philippines.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The source does not state in one sentence that every non-exempt national needs a visa; nationality-specific procedures (China, Russia, CIS, Ukraine, Georgia, Philippines, Viet Nam) are on separate pages not read.

What short-visit purposes does this route cover?

Short-term business affairs: attending meetings/conferences, business communication, business negotiation, after-sales service, marketing, cultural exchange, sports exchange, etc. Activities generating revenue or receiving remuneration in Japan are not permitted.

See recorded sources

What maximum stay, rolling-period rule, validity and entry rules apply?

The Temporary Visitor period of stay is 90 days, 30 days or 15 days (or a period in days not exceeding 90 designated by the Minister of Justice for the individual). The official source does not state visa validity or a rolling-period rule.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • Visa validity and any rolling-period rule are not stated in the sources read.

What important funds, accommodation, invitation, insurance, onward-travel or passport evidence may be required?

Applicants need a valid passport, application form, photo, itinerary with flight/ship number and dates, document proving business purpose (travel order or letter from employer or equivalent) and certificate of employment. The inviting organisation in Japan provides an invitation letter or documents explaining activities (transaction agreement, conference materials), a list of applicants if more than one and an itinerary in Japan. If a guarantor in Japan covers expenses: letter of guarantee and corporate register or company overview. Documents must have been issued within the last three months.

See recorded sources
  • https://www.mofa.go.jp/files/000121327.pdf
    (1)Valid passport (2)Visa application form (3)Photo (4)Itinerary with the flight/ship number and date of arrival and departure to and from Japan (5)Document to prove that you are traveling to Japan for business purposes (any of the following) •Travel order issued by your employer •Letter from employer •Document equivalent to the above (6)Certificate of employment
  • https://www.mofa.go.jp/files/000121327.pdf
    (7)Invitation letter(p.4) or either of the following documents explaining activities in Japan •A transaction agreement between companies •Conference materials (8)List of visa applicants(p.5) (Where there is more than one applicant) (9)Itinerary in Japan(p.6)
  • https://www.mofa.go.jp/files/000121327.pdf
    (11)Letter of guarantee(p.8) (12)A certified copy of the corporation register or Overview of company/organization(p.9) •Not required if the company is listed on the stock exchange and submits its quarterly corporate report. •If the guarantor is an individual, Certificate of employment can be submitted instead of a copy of corporation register or Overview of company/organization.
  • https://www.mofa.go.jp/files/000121327.pdf
    Documents must have been issued within the last three months and must be valid at the time of submission.

Where/how is permission obtained when required, and under what important circumstances can a stay be extended or changed?

Visas are applied for at the Japanese diplomatic mission with jurisdiction over the applicant's place of residence. Extension of a Temporary Visitor stay is in principle allowed only for truly unavoidable humanitarian reasons or equivalent special circumstances, e.g. need for medical treatment.

See recorded sources
  • https://www.mofa.go.jp/files/000121327.pdf
    【Diplomatic Missions of Japan】 Visit the website of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan to find out which Diplomatic Mission of Japan has jurisdiction over your place of residence.
  • https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/status/temporaryvisitor.html
    ※ 在留資格「短期滞在」に係る在留期間の更新は、原則として、人道上の真にやむをえない事情又はこれに相当する特別な事情がある場合に認められるものであり、例えば、病気治療をする必要がある場合などがこれに当たります。

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

Your story.
Your next step.

Explore pathways in Japan →