VISA

The time required from visa application to visa issuance is 5 working days from the day following the date of receipt of the application, provided that there is no particular problem with the content of application. Meanwhile, it may take longer than usual if a large number of visa applications converge at a short-time period.

If there is any problem with the content of the application, the Embassy/Consulate General transmits the application to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tokyo for further examination. In such cases issuance of a visa may take more than a month. Visa applicants are reminded to apply early for their visa, well in advance of the anticipated travel date.

If the purpose of visit is to work or a long-term stay, it is recommended that the visa applicant obtains a Certificate of Eligibility from the regional Immigration bureau in Japan before making visa application. If a Certificate of Eligibility is not submitted when the visa application is made, issuance of the visa will take a long time (typically one to three months) regardless of whether or not there is a problem with the content of the application.

The Certificate of Eligibility can be applied in advance at the regional Immigration bureau in Japan via a proxy of the foreign national who wish to enter Japan and will be issued if the foreign national concerned conforms to the conditions set in the Article 7, Paragraph 1, Item 2 of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act of Japan.