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VISA: Japan

General NEWS

Apr 8, 2026 at 1:04 AM

VISAThe information about the visa(*Note) required for foreigners visiting Japan is as follows. For details, please check the website of the Embassy, Consulate-General, Consular Office (the Diplomatic Missions abroad) of Japan that have jurisdiction over the country/region where the foreigner visiting Japan resides.For visa inquiries, please contact “Foreign Residents Support Center (FRESC) MOFA Visa Information” or “Japan Visa Information Hotline” listed on the website of the Embassy/Consulate-General/Consular Office of Japan. You can find detailed information about visa on the website of the Diplomatic Mission of Japan with jurisdiction over your place of residence.1. Visa Application Procedures2. About Visa3. Visa Application Documents4. Frequently Asked Questions5. Announcements6. Inquiries about Visas(*Note) A visa is one of the requirements for entering Japan as defined by the "Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act", and it does not guarantee to enter Japan. Visas are issued at the Embassy, Consulate-General, Consular Office of Japan abroad. They cannot be obtained when you arrive in Japan or while you are staying in Japan. The “landing permission" is granted by an immigration officer at the port of entry when a foreigner meets the requirement for entry into Japan. The “status of residence” is mentioned on your “landing permission”, that indicates the activities you are permitted to perform in Japan. Please note that sometimes people say "visa", it may refer to the "status of residence”. For example, people often mention as "changing visa" when they mean “renewal/change of the status of residence." For inquiries about "status of residence," please visit the website of the Immigration Services Agency of Japan. Be aware of fraudulent website, social media, and emails in an attempt to extract payments from visa applicants (July 5, 2017)1. Visa Application ProceduresPrepare all the required documents.Inviting organization/guarantor must send the required documents to the visa applicant (NOT to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Diplomatic Mission of Japan). We encourage an inviting organization/guarantor to make a copy of them.Requirements for visa application may vary depending on the local situation/the purpose of your visit. You can find detailed information on the website of the Diplomatic Mission of Japan (Embassy, Consulate-General, or Consular Office) where you will submit your application.Once all the documents are ready, you may apply for a visa at the consular section of the Diplomatic Mission of Japan with jurisdiction over your place of residence, at an accredited agency, the Japan Visa Application Centre, or online, by the method specified by the Diplomatic Mission of Japan where you will submit your application (visa application cannot be made inside Japan.).It takes approximately one week to process the application, provided that all necessary requirements are met. Additional documents may be required on a case-by-case basis. It may take longer than usual to receive the result of the visa examination in case the Diplomatic Mission of Japan deems necessary to consult with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tokyo.The Diplomatic Mission of Japan or the accredited agency will notify the visa applicant of the result.Short-Term Stay(A stay of up to 90 days for tourism, business, visiting friends or relatives, etc. that does not include remunerative activities)All nationals of the countries and regions listed below require a visa to enter Japan.Click on the nationality of the visa applicant traveling to Japan.PhilippinesViet NamChinaRussiaCIS countries, Ukraine, GeorgiaOther NationalitiesProcedure chart for short-term stay (tourism, business, visiting relatives, etc)【Online application for the visit to Japan with tourism purpose (single-entry)】All foreign nationals/people who need to obtain a short-term visa to Japan AND currently reside in the following countries/region, are eligible to apply for a visa online: Australia, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Taiwan, United Kingdom, U.S.A.Please check below for information on visa exempt countries.The JAPAN eVISA system (electronic visa)Countries and regions that do not require a visa to enter JapanVisa Exempt Countries and RegionsIt is highly recommended to purchase international travel medical insurance for your trip to Japan. Overseas travel medical insurance helps you in case of emergency.Work or Long-Term Stay(If you do not meet the requirements for short-term stay, such as in cases where you intend to work in Japan for remuneration or stay in Japan for more than 90 days, you should, in principle, obtain a Certificate of Eligibility from the Immigration Services Agency of Japan before applying for a visa at the Diplomatic Mission of Japan with jurisdiction over your place of residence.)Procedure chart for long-term staysThe Working Holiday Programmes in JapanJapan’s Pre-Entry Tuberculosis ScreeningNote: Pre-Entry Tuberculosis (TB) Screening will apply to nationals of the Philippines, Viet Nam, Indonesia, Nepal, Myanmar, and ChinaVisa for Medical StayVisa Exemptions for Diplomatic and Official Passport Holders2. About VisaPoints to Note and Application ProceduresVisa Processing TimeValidity of a VisaVisa FeesVisa RequirementsVisas and Landing Permission3. Visa Application Documents (download)(Note1) Use Adobe Acrobat Reader to fill in and print out the Visa application form (Note2) Company/personal seal on Letter of Guarantee and Letter of Invitation is no longer required.Visa Application FormEnglish (PDF)Chinese (simplified) (PDF)Chinese (traditional) (PDF)Korean (PDF)Portuguese (PDF)Spanish (PDF)Letter of Guarantee (PDF)Invitation Letter (Single-Entry) (PDF)Invitation Letter (Multiple-Entry) (PDF)List of Visa Applicants (PDF)Overview of Company / Organization (PDF)Itinerary in Japan (PDF) 4. Frequently Asked QuestionsTell me why you rejected my visa application.I want to go to Japan. Do I need a visa?I want to invite a foreign national to Japan. What procedures are necessary?What should I do to get a Certificate of Eligibility?The Certificate of Eligibility will not arrive by the time I apply for a visa. Can I still apply for a visa with its copy?As a “guarantor”, to what extent do I need to be responsible?more FAQ5. AnnouncementsNewly introduced visasSpecial Highly Skilled Professional (J-Skip)Designated activities (Future Creation Individual, Spouse or Child of Future Creation Individual) (J-Find)Designated activities (Digital Nomad, Spouse or Child of Digital Nomad)Statistics for the Number of VisasNumber of Visas Issued in 2024 (May 9, 2025)Relaxation of Visa RequirementsRelaxation of Visa requirements for Nationals of the United Arab Emirates in Possession of Ordinary Passports (Extension of period of stay) (June 2, 2025)Visa Waiver Measure for Nationals of the Republic of Paraguay (May 29, 2025)Relaxation of Visa requirements for Nationals of Brunei Darussalam(Extension of period of stay)(December 2, 2024)OthersJapan’s Pre-Entry Tuberculosis Screening (April 3, 2020)Japan's Visa Policy in Accordance with Measures to Combat Trafficking in Persons (August 2007 (Updated in 2016))Archives6. Inquiries about Visas ApplicationForeign Residents Support Center (FRESC) MOFA Visa InformationAddress: Yotsuya Tower 13F, 1-6-1 Yotsuya, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0004Phone: Navi-Dial: 0570-011000(For some IP phones and calls from overseas, please call +81-3-5369-6577)Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 09:00-17:00 (except holidays)

Call for Papers: APacCHRIE 2025 Conference

General NEWS

Jan 24, 2025 at 10:32 PM

The 23rd Annual Conference and The 16th Youth ConferenceTheme: “Transforming to the Future: Innovation, AI and Regenerative Tourism and Hospitality”Deadline for Abstracts or Full Papers Submission: 6pm, 15 March 2025 (Hong Kong Time)Conference Date: May 27th - 30th, 2025Conference Venue: Chiang Mai, ThailandRead more at https://www.apacchrie2025.org Chiang Mai University, Thailand, warmly invites you to the APacCHRIE 2025 Youth Conference, held from 27 May to 30 May 2025, in Chiang Mai. This conference provides an excellent platform to connect with hospitality and tourism academics and industryprofessionals, fostering discussions on rapidly evolving industry trends. Under the theme "Transforming to the Future: Innovation, Al, and Regenerative Tourism and Hospitality", welook forward to welcoming all delegates to Chiang Mai, the heart of Thai Lanna culture!CALL FOR PAPERS This conference welcomes academics, professionals, and graduate students from the Asia Pacific and beyond, offering an outstanding platform for presenting and sharing peer-reviewed (double-blind) research. It also fosters rich exchanges between academic communities and industry practitioners on abroad spectrum of topics related to current trends and advancements in tourism and hospitality.We welcome abstracts and/or full papers aligned with the theme, "Transforming to the Future: Innovation, Al, and Regenerative Tourism and Hospitality." Submissions may include, but are not limited to, the following topics within the tourism and hospitality (T&H) sector:List of Topic AreasInnovation issues in Tourism and HospitalityCritical Issues and Cases in Tourism and HospitalityAl for Tourism and Hospitality BusinessEmerging ICT issues in Tourism and HospitalityManagement and Marketing in Tourism and HospitalityEnvironment, Social and Governance (ESG) inTourism Logistics Tourism and HospitalityTourist Experiences and Changing in Tourist BehaviorsRegenerative TourismService Designs in Tourism and HospitalityTourism Planning, Development and Sustainability• Tourism ImpactsSpecial Interest Tourism (SIT)New Trends in Tourism and HospitalityCreativity and Culture in Tourism and Hospitality • Other Topics Related to Tourism and Hospitalit

Opportunities for Talent Collaboration in ASEAN in the Digital Age

General NEWS

Jan 13, 2025 at 9:51 PM

Talent mobility, or the free movement of skilled labour across national borders, is a central tenet of ASEAN’s drive toward regional economic integration. The ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Vision 2025 includes facilitating the movement of investments, skilled labour, business professionals, and capital. To this end, the ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint 2025 outlines initiatives such as implementing mutual recognition agreements (MRAs) for skilled professionals, strengthening commitments under the ASEAN Agreement on the Movement of Natural Persons, and reducing regulatory barriers by standardising hiring requirements and documentation.Furthermore, the ongoing negotiations on the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) include digital talent mobility as one of its nine key pillars.These commitments recognise the importance of developing, attracting, and retaining talent in accelerating ASEAN’s economic growth. As technology-driven digital transformation is reshaping the region, human expertise is more essential than ever. Skill gaps will limit the region’s ability to maximise digital opportunities. For instance, a shortage of skilled ICT professionals, including cybersecurity experts, hampers our ability to address increasingly complex cybersecurity threats.ASEAN Member States have negotiated past agreements to facilitate cross-border professional practice. Mutual recognition agreements were signed between 2005 and 2012 for sectors including engineering, nursing, architecture, medicine, dentistry, and tourism. In 2012, the Member States signed an agreement on the movement of natural persons, establishing a framework for the temporary cross-border movement of workers. ASEAN Member States also signed the ASEAN Comprehensive Investment Agreement (ACIA), which includes provisions to streamline business visa procedures for citizens within the ASEAN. These are important first steps to foster talent mobility.Read more at https://theaseanmagazine.asean.org/article/opportunities-for-talent-collaboration-in-asean-in-the-digital-ageThe ASEAN Secretariat70A Jalan Sisingamangaraja Jakarta 12110P: (+6221)7262991, 7243372F: (+6221)7398234, 7243504M: ASEAN-magazine@asean.org