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Short-Term Stay — single-entry tourism visa

JapanShort stays and visits

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

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Explore pathways in Japan Read the five questions ↓

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?

Tourism (Temporary Visitor activities include sightseeing, recreation, sports, visiting relatives, inspection tours, attending courses or meetings, business liaison and similar). 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?

Valid passport, visa application form, photo, flight itinerary with flight/ship number and arrival/departure dates, one document proving ability to pay travel expenses in Japan (income certificate or tax return from a public agency, or bank statement/balance certificate), and an itinerary in Japan. Documents must have been issued within the last three months. The official source does not state accommodation or insurance evidence.

See recorded sources
  • https://www.mofa.go.jp/files/000121327.pdf
    (1)Valid Passport (2)Visa application form (3)Photo (4)Flight itinerary with the flight/ship number and date of arrival and departure to and from Japan (5)One of the following documents to prove ability to pay travel expenses during your stay in Japan •Income certificate or tax return issued by a public agency •Bank statement, balance certificate etc. (6)Itinerary in Japan(p.6)
  • 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.

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