When foreign nationals visit Japan, they may need to obtain a visa from Japan depending on their home country, region, and period of stay in Japan. In principle, visas must be issued by Japanese diplomatic missions prior to visiting Japan.
The applicant must satisfy all of the following requirements:
- Valid passport
- Appropriate filing documents related to the application
- The activities to be undertaken in Japan or the status and period of residence of the applicant must be conformed to the status and period of residence stipulated in the "Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act."
The document may vary depending on the type of passport of the applicant, the purpose of travel, the length of stay, and other factors. In some countries, such as China, applications for visas are in principle made through an agency designated by the embassy. For further procedures, please contact your diplomatic and consular establishments (Consulate General, Business Representative Office) in your jurisdiction.
Although Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for issuing visas, Ministry of Justice has control over the immigration and departure of foreign residents. As necessary, the ministry and the minister of justice discuss the issuance of individual visas. Applications for visas received at overseas diplomatic missions, etc. are sent to Japan for examination. In doing so, the Minister of Justice examines whether the activities to be engaged by the applicant fall under the status of residence listed in the Immigration Law and responds to the Minister of Foreign Affairs regarding the appropriateness of issuing visas. Due to these cumbersome procedures, it usually takes a considerable number of days for issuing visas. In addition, even if a visa is issued, there are some rare cases where entry is refused at Immigration in the entry airport.
