Press Releases

1. On November 20, a simplified application procedure will be introduced for issuance of single tourism visas for nationals of Indonesia, the Philippines and Viet Nam who participate in package tours that are handled by registered travel agencies.

2. This measure forms one part of the relaxation of visa requirements announced at a meeting of the Ministerial Council on the Promotion of Japan as a Tourism-Oriented Country in June this year, and is expected to contribute to Japan becoming a tourism-oriented country with an ambition to attract as many as 20 million foreign visitors, to the Growth Strategy, as well as to the promotion of people-to-people exchanges.

3. Specifically, individuals of these countries will be able to apply for single tourist visas when they take part in package tours (with a period of stay of less than 15 days) that are organized by local travel agencies registered with Japanese diplomatic missions (embassies, consulates general and consular offices) located in these countries, simply by entrusting their passports and visa application forms to the registered travel agencies. Under this new procedure, the applicants will no longer be required to submit documents that attest to their ability to pay for travel expenses. Please confirm the details of this new procedure on the websites of the Japanese diplomatic missions in these countries.