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Japan's Visa Policy in Accordance with Measures to Combat Trafficking in Persons

August 2007
(Updated in August 2016)

(1) In order to promote people-to-people exchanges with foreign countries, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan has engaged in efforts to simplify its visa examination procedures.At the same time, efforts have been made to prevent illegal activities in Japan, and as a part of immigration control, stringent visa examination is applied where necessary.Especially, it has become a recent concern of the government that considerable numbers of trafficking victims have been identified in Japan among foreign women who had been brought to Japan through international crime organizations mainly from Asia, Eastern Europe, Russia, and Latin America.From a humanitarian perspective as to protect human rights of foreign women and children, the Japanese government has proactively engaged in combating trafficking in persons. (Japan's 2009 Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Persons) (PDF)PDF

(2) Japanese Embassies and Consulates all over the world, which have been already engaged in efforts to examine visa applications in a careful manner, will further continue their efforts in order to prevent human trafficking.

(3) With this regard, there may be some cases of taking longer time for visa examination than average processing time of 5 working days, or requesting additional documents and/or interview, especially if applicants are young women or children who are vulnerable to human trafficking.We will appreciate your understanding and cooperation.

For visa applicants, followings are some tips you may need before applying visa to Japan,

  • Have you checked immigration laws and regulations of Japan?
    If you will apply for a temporary visitor visa, you can NOT work in Japan.
    If you will apply for a working visa, you have to have a college degree or certain experience of working as a professional in the field.Working as a waitress, hostess, maid, and sex-workers are NOT permitted to a working visa holder.Even if someone entices you for those jobs with some smooth talking, DO NOT fall for the trap, it could be resulting in human trafficking.
  • Have you checked all your documents such as passport, contracts, certificates, and visa application form with your own eyes? Is information on each document accurate? Have you signed them by yourself?
  • Do you know what you are going to do in Japan? If you are going to work in Japan, do you know your working conditions and terms of payments? Do you have EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS in Japan, such as the embassy, consulate or representing office of your country/region?
  • Have you paid a large amount of money for obtaining visa to Japan? Or have you borrowed large amount of money and counting the repayment on the future earnings in Japan? There are some illegal agents and brokers trying to exploit you by sending you to Japan.
  • Have anyone forced or arranged you to marry a Japanese national so that you can work in Japan? Do you have to pay monthly to your 'husband' after successfully entering into Japan as his 'wife'? A FAKE or CONVENIENT MARRIAGE could be resulting in human trafficking.
  • If you are a parent of Japanese-Filipino Children (JFC) and considering to raise your child in Japan, you may need supports but be requested to be careful.There are some malicious brokers and criminal organizations such as human trafficking syndicates trying to exploit you by sending you to Japan.Those people might approach you pretending to help you by becoming your guarantor for your visa application.If you are seeking for a SAFE AND LEGAL TRAVEL TO JAPAN WITH YOUR CHILD, please click here: http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/short/jfc.html

If you have any question or doubt with the procedure, please contact visa officer at the Japanese Embassy/Consulate.

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