Visa to Japan: types of visas and documents for obtaining them, terms and cost of registration, reasons for refusal to issue

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The simplification of the procedure for obtaining a visa to Japan has finally happened: from January 1, 2021, independent tourists are freed from the need to resort to the services of a Japanese travel guarantor - thus, the inviting party is eliminated. From now on, individual travelers just need to provide the consulate with a simple list of documents, almost no different from the standard Schengen one. There is still no visa fee. Well, upon arrival at the airport you will have to undergo a palm scan and facial photography.

Russian citizens can apply for multiple-entry tourist visas to Japan for a period of 3 years. In this case, the duration of stay in the country should not exceed 30 days.

Types of visas

• transit visa: valid for 72 hours, needed by those who are planning a transfer in the Land of the Rising Sun when traveling to another country. It is not issued at the airport; it must be issued through the embassy or consulate in advance. With such a visa you can go into the city and even travel around the country, but only for the purpose of sightseeing. You must leave Japan before your visa expires;
• tourist: issued to tourists, as well as those who travel on business or travel to exchange cultural experiences or go to visit friends and relatives, including husband/wife, who live in Japan. A short-term visa is issued for 90 days, the exact validity period is indicated on the visa sticker and is usually equal to the validity period of the tour package. A multiple visa is issued to businessmen, politicians, and cultural figures for a period of up to 3 years, but only on the condition that the person has already been to Japan before and has not violated the country’s laws. It is also important that during the trip a person does not engage in activities in Japan that generate income or involve remuneration;
• medical: this type of visa is needed if the period of stay in Japan may exceed 90 days, and the purpose of the trip is treatment;
• long-term: necessary for those who plan to study or work in Japan, as well as engage in any other activity for which remuneration is due, or want to stay in the country for more than 90 days not for treatment.

Additional documents

An important additional document is confirmation of the applicant’s solvency. To do this, you can provide a letter from the sponsor or a bank account statement. The consul may request a return air ticket confirming that the applicant intends to leave Japan on time to return home.

When applying for a visa for treatment you will need:

• letter of guarantee from a Japanese medical institution. The document contains complete information about the clinic (registration number, name, contact phone number, fax, etc.) and the patient;
• medical institution certificate.

When applying for a Japanese visa, pensioners are required to provide a copy of their pension certificate. Non-workers provide a bank statement confirming that the foreigner has money in the account: $150 for each day of stay in Japan.

Video about obtaining a Japanese visa:

Individual entrepreneurs submit:

• a photocopy of the individual entrepreneur registration certificate;
• a photocopy of the tax registration certificate;
• bank statement.

Tourist visa

To apply for a tourist visa you need to provide:

• application with pasted photo (45x45 mm);
• passport. First, it must be freed from the cover and extraneous documents removed;
• registration;
• stay program. here: https://www.ru.emb-japan.go.jp/VISANDTOURISM/Visa/template/schedule.pdf You can write in Japanese or English. The travel plan should be as detailed as possible;
• If you plan to obtain a multiple pass, a letter of explanation is provided. Compiled in free form, in English or Japanese.

Child visa

Japan is a great option for a family holiday. It is a country with a rich cultural, scientific and technical heritage. Reviews about the trip to Japan are mostly positive. There is something here to surprise both adults and children. Life in Japan has its own unique principles and traditions. Therefore, the number of family tours to Japan is expected to increase in 2021.

If the child is not included in the parents’ passport, he must have his own

To obtain a child visa, you need to submit an application supported by the following documents:

• international passport;
• original and copy of birth certificate;
• a certificate from the educational institution where the child is currently receiving education: school, college, university;
• notarized parental agreement. If a child travels with only one of the parents, then the second must write a statement in which he confirms his awareness and the absence of claims due to the child crossing the border. Each parent writes a similar statement if the child crosses the border accompanied by another person.

The questionnaires filled out by parents also include information about their children. If the child has his own passport, you need to fill out a separate form.

Work Visa

Japan is a rather closed state for migrant workers. Despite the fact that the country has insufficient labor resources, the country is not particularly eager to use the services of foreign workers. Despite this, it is possible to obtain a work visa and find work in Japan. However, the employer himself must take care of this to a greater extent.

Work visa to Japan

Basic Rules:

1. The legal entity (employer) is located in Japan and provides all the necessary papers indicating the transparent activities of the organization and payment of all taxes.
2. The applicant is required to provide a standard package of documents + a signed employment contract.

The embassy most often puts forward a number of additional requirements for an applicant applying for a work visa in order to limit the number of those who want to go to live in Japan. Russians sometimes find it difficult to understand all the bureaucratic intricacies of the Japanese embassy. But the coming 2021 has made life much easier for everyone who wants to get to this country.

Independent visa application

Applying for a visa to Japan on your own does not require any superpowers.
You just need to carefully fill out the form and provide all the necessary papers in the required quantity to the embassy or consulate. They can be submitted either by the applicant himself or by his authorized representative, including a representative of a visa or travel agency (in this case, a power of attorney should be written, but it does not need to be certified by a notary). Documents should not be joined with paper clips or a stapler.

If the required documents are missing or filled out incorrectly, the application will not be considered. Providing false information is equivalent to a refusal to issue a visa and a ban on re-submission of documents within 6 months from the date of receipt of the refusal. The consulate or embassy has the right to request additional documents to the standard package, so the issue of obtaining a visa should be taken care of in advance, but not earlier than 3 months before the date of departure from Japan.

They promise to issue a visa in 4 working days, there is no express processing. During Russian or Japanese holidays, the period may be extended. There is no need to register in advance to submit documents, admission is carried out on a first-come, first-served basis.

Self-application of any categories of visas to Japan is free. For approximately 100 USD, intermediary companies and tour operators can prepare and deliver documents to the consulate.

How much does a Japanese visa cost?

The Japanese diplomatic mission does not charge a visa application fee.

There is no fee for a Japanese visa

But there will still be costs. First of all, this concerns the sending of documents. This procedure currently costs about $10–$15, but the price may rise in 2021.

If you use the services of a travel agency, a visa to Japan will cost about $100. This is an imprecise figure; it depends on the range of services and difficulties encountered during visa processing.

Documents for a visa to Japan

Required documents to obtain a visa:

1. International passport
   Valid for the duration of the trip;
2. Copy of international passport
   Pages with personal data;
3. Copy of internal passport
   Pages with personal data and registration;
4. Photo
   Two photos (see below for requirements) that must be affixed to the application forms;
5. Questionnaire
   Two forms filled out in accordance with the instructions. In the columns about the guarantor and the inviting person you need to write “NO” or put dashes;
6. Certificate of employment
   An original certificate of employment on letterhead with a stamp indicating the position and salary and/or a bank account statement;
7. Original air tickets
   For the entire route, a third country visa (in case of transit) and a notarized power of attorney for the courier, if documents are not submitted in person.
8. Route
   program of stay by day.

It is necessary to take out medical insurance for the entire duration of the trip. It’s better not to need it than to be left without qualified assistance in case of an accident.

Additional documents for different types of visas

From October 1, 2021, it has become easier for tourist groups from Russia to obtain a visa to Japan. For organized tourists, the list of documents includes only completed forms in duplicate, a photo, the original of a valid international passport and a copy of the internal passport of the Russian Federation. All other information is provided by the tour operator. Three people can be considered an organized group, so a family or company can also take advantage of this relaxation.

Those who organize the trip on their own will need confirmation of hotel reservations (if they plan to stop in Japan) to obtain a transit visa. A multi-tourist visa requires a letter in English or Japanese explaining the need for frequent travel. Anyone who goes to visit friends or relatives, in addition to the above, will need copies of documents confirming family or other ties with the receiving party.

A visa for traveling for business purposes, for the purpose of cultural or sports exchange, or attending conferences will be issued if the receiving party also provides a letter explaining the reasons for the invitation. If a Japanese organization also pays for the trip, it must provide a letter of guarantee and information about the inviting organization.

The package of documents for obtaining a medical visa should include a certificate from the medical institution indicating the planned medical actions and a letter of guarantee from the organization (with a seal, indicating the name of the medical institution, address, registration number, last name and first name of the responsible person, last name and first name of the patient and accompanying person - in Latin letters as in foreign countries).

A visa to visit a spouse who lives in Japan will be issued after providing a document confirming that the couple has lived together for a year (copies of registration stamps at the place of residence or a rental agreement where both of them are included). In addition, a family member living in Japan provides a copy of the passport (pages with photo and Russian visa), a copy of the work permit or temporary residence permit in Japan, a marriage document (a copy of the certificate or a copy of the family record book - the second point is required if you need a multiple visa).

Those wishing to have a long-term visa should obtain a Certificate of Eligibility, “determining the applicant's application status,” through the immigration office and attach the original and a copy of the certificate to the package of documents.

If your old foreign country has a valid visa, but for some reason you had to get a new passport, you don’t have to apply for a visa again. You must take both passports to Japan and present them at the border. But it is better to go through the procedure for rearranging a visa by submitting to the consulate the application form in one copy with a photo, the old and new passports and their copies (from the new one - a copy of only the page with the photo, from the old one - copies of the page with the photo and visa).

Upon arrival at Japanese airports, all foreign citizens undergo palm scanning and facial photography during immigration control. Diplomats accredited in the country and with resident status, persons under 16 years of age and transit passengers making a transfer from one international flight to another are exempt from “providing biometric data”. Departure immigration controls remain unchanged.

List of documents and deadlines

The application review period is four working days. This takes into account not only the calendar of holidays and weekends in Russia, but also weekends in Japan. The period for making a decision on applications is noticeably longer during the New Year holidays. It is advisable to take this into account when planning your trip.

List of mandatory documents required to obtain a tourist visa.

To obtain a transit visa, you must provide the following set of documents to the Embassy.

There is a high probability that an employee of the visa department of the Embassy will request additional documents that are not included in the list of mandatory ones. Consider what might be needed in your specific case. Marriage or divorce certificate (if these items are checked in the corresponding box of the visa application form), birth certificate for minors, pension certificate, certificate from the place of study and permission to skip classes, copies of previously obtained Japanese visas, a copy of a ticket to some event, taking place in Japan - this is an incomplete list of probable documents.

Requirements for documents (both mandatory and additional) are specified in the main article.

A certificate from the place of employment cannot be replaced by the 2NDFL form.

Attention! The Japanese Embassy does not accept applications sent by mail or courier. The personal presence of the applicant or an authorized person in whose name the applicant has written a power of attorney is required (notarization is not required).

For those living in those cities where there is no Embassy or Consulate, the cost of travel to the Embassy will be significantly higher than the amount requested by travel companies for assistance in obtaining a Japanese visa. If for some reason you cannot come to the Embassy in person, contacting a travel agency would be a good option. Your relative or friend can also become a proxy. Prepare and give him the documents along with your passport. Try to collect as complete a set of documents as possible so as not to waste extra time and money on shipping.

Embassy and consulates of Japan in Russia

Embassy of Japan in Moscow

Consulate General of Japan in St. Petersburg

Consulate General of Japan in Khabarovsk

Consulate General of Japan in Vladivostok

Consulate General of Japan in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

Where to get a visa

No pre-registration is required for admission.

The Japanese Embassy in Russia processes applications from citizens of the Russian Federation (except for people living in the districts of the Consulates General) and Armenia. The Consulate General in Vladivostok processes applications from residents of the Primorsky and Kamchatka Territories, as well as the Magadan Region. The Consulate General in St. Petersburg serves residents of the Leningrad region. The Consulate General in Khabarovsk works with residents of Buryatia and Yakutia, Khabarovsk Territory, Amur, Irkutsk, Chita regions, as well as the Jewish and Buryat Autonomous Okrug. The Consulate General in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk serves residents of the Sakhalin region.

It is not necessary to submit documents in person. You can write a power of attorney for another person by hand and sign it. Notarization is not required. To receive a ready-made passport, you do not need a power of attorney; it is enough to present the received receipt.

Required documents

Documents required for a Japan visa will vary depending on the purpose of your trip.

The basic list includes the following documents:

• visa application form in two copies;
• 2 photographs (photo requirements are given below);
• a valid passport for the period of the planned trip with at least one blank page and a copy of the photo page;
• passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation and a copy of pages: first and with registration;
• a certificate from work indicating the position, salary and length of service.

Photo requirements

The requirements for both documents and photos for a Japanese visa are quite high, and their compliance is strictly controlled:

• photo size 45×45 mm;
• color or black and white image;
• clear image without retouching;
• matte paper;
• white background only;
• at least 70% of the photo should be taken up by the head and shoulders;
• hats are prohibited, with the exception of those required by religious tradition;
• hair should not fall on the face; Also, the eyes should be open, the facial expression should be neutral;
• red-eye effect is eliminated;
• if the applicant wears glasses, a photo with glasses is allowed, but without glare from the lenses; the frame of the glasses should not cover the eyes, the lenses of the glasses are transparent;
• the photo must be current (not “older” than 6 months);
• The photo should be bright and contrasting, without stains, bends, scratches or other damage to other people or objects.

What documents does the guarantor provide?

Let's consider the list of documents required by the guarantor. For individuals and legal entities acting as guarantors, the list of documents differs.

From a legal entity

In the case of a tourist, business or work visa, the inviting organization must provide:

• an official letter of invitation on company letterhead with the signature and seal of the organization, describing the purposes and duration of your visit;
• detailed program of your stay in Japan;
• an official letter of financial assurance indicating who will bear the costs of your room, board and stay in Japan;
• a copy of the company registration document;
• certificate of absence of tax debts;
• a letter of guarantee confirming payment for your trip (accommodation reservation, air and other transport tickets) indicating the company details and a stamp.

If there are several applicants, a list of all candidates with full indication of personal data must be attached to the letter of guarantee.

Information about the travel company is confirmed by one of the documents:

• certificate of registration of a legal entity not older than 3 months;
• a copy of the latest quarterly report;
• a special form with information about the company.

If company information has already been submitted, copies may be submitted.

Note. It is strongly recommended to provide the Japanese travel agency registration number, which is issued by the head of the Department of Tourism or the local prefectural governor.

From an individual

In the case of a visitor, study, medical and spouse visa, you must provide:

• a letter describing the reason for traveling to Japan;
• detailed program of stay in Japan;
• letter of guarantee indicating the details of the guarantor;
• documents confirming kinship or other relationships between the inviter and the applicant;
• information about registration at the place of residence of the guarantor;
• certificate from the guarantor's place of work;
• certificate confirming the absence of tax debts of the guarantor.

Are Russians allowed into Japan during a pandemic?

Even if you have a long-term visa, getting into Japan will not be easy. The Federal Air Transport Agency has opened a Japanese route, but the airports of Nagoya, Tokyo, Okinawa, and Fukuoka do not accept direct flights from Moscow and Vladivostok. From the capital of the Russian Federation, international airlines operate up to two dozen flights to Tokyo every day. By purchasing a ticket for 37,826–45,058 rubles, you can fly to the capital of Japan with 2–3 transfers at the airports of Abu Dhabi, Bangkok, and Singapore. The connecting flight will take from 34 to 70 hours. You can find out the departure time, number and waiting time of transfers in the “Air tickets” section of our website.

Before departure from Russia, all passengers must complete a health questionnaire (in English or Japanese). The QR code received after filling out the questionnaire is presented to the Japanese quarantine service officer.

IT IS IMPORTANT! For misrepresentation of information when answering questions, Japanese law provides for a fine of 50 million yen or 6 months in prison.

As of June 28, 2021, the Japanese authorities have canceled the acceptance of preliminary (home) PSR testing results in Russia. All Russians arriving at Japanese airports are subject to a forced three-day quarantine (free) in specially organized medical facilities. On the third day of quarantine, Russians take a free PSR test. If the result is favorable, the isolation is extended for another 11 days, after which businessmen, scientists, and students can move freely around the cities and prefectures of Japan. It is prohibited to use public transport until the end of quarantine. Free transportation of air passengers to quarantine sites is organized by local epidemiological services.

Applying for a transit visa

In a number of countries, travelers receive a stamp during a transit flight at the airport, but in the case of Japan, Russians need to obtain a transit visa through the embassy in advance.

In case of unforeseen circumstances, for the occurrence of which the tourist is not responsible, a visa is issued upon arrival. Exceptional cases include emergency landings in Japan due to breakdowns and incidents on board. You can stay in Japan in transit for up to 3 days if you have a permit.

Main reasons for failures

The main reasons for visa refusals include:

• Submitting incorrect information.
• Incomplete list of references.
• Presence of offenses.
• Errors when filling out the questionnaire.

The reason for refusal is always explained. If this happened due to the lack of one or another certificate, it will be possible to submit a second application after six months.

If the reason for the refusal was deception by consulate staff, then the applicant is subject to strict sanctions, including a ban on entry into the country.

What should you consider to avoid visa refusal?

A person who believes that the actions of the consul were unlawful has the opportunity to appeal them to a higher authority. Repeated refusal is not subject to appeal.

Types of national visas

The Japanese side has introduced a system of issuing visas of several types, the key difference being their validity period and the purpose of visiting the country.

The most accessible short-term permits , they can be:

• tourist visas to Japan;
• business;
• guest (for relatives);
• guest (for friends).

All short-term cards are issued for a period of 90 days, but you can visit the Land of the Rising Sun with such a visa only once, for no more than 15 days . Such a pass does not provide for employment and subsequent extension.

In the case where a Russian is planning several trips to the islands, a multiple card may be issued if the visit is justified by a real need.

For long-term stay in the country, long-term visas :

• educational;
• working;
• medical;
• for close relatives (husband/wife).

The Embassy/Consulate will tell you whether you will need a long-term visa for Japan, since you must have good reasons to apply for it. It is difficult to obtain such a pass, but it is still possible by submitting the necessary documents.

This card is valid for 1 year and cannot be renewed. Upon expiration of the validity period, you must resubmit the documents. However, consideration of the application in subsequent times is carried out much more loyally.

Interestingly, a study visa allows its holder to work, but the number of permissible working hours will be strictly limited. The number of permitted working hours is determined by the authorities of the prefecture where the foreigner resides.

It is extremely difficult to obtain a work visa directly. It is issued only if a contract has already been concluded with a Japanese employer.

Learn more about the types and features of Japanese visas in the following video:

Main types of visas

Japan is a country with a rather strict migration policy. To control the movements of visitors, up to 27 types of visas have been developed.

Read the article on how to get a work visa to Japan.

There is a more familiar classification: visas for a short period, for a long time and transit.

Visa for a short period

• For cultural events. People who come to Japan for seminars or festivals can get it.
• Tourist. Having this pass, you can stay in the country for 15 days. An agreement was reached in 2019, according to which Russians can apply for a multiple-entry tourist visa. It does not allow you to work in Japan even as a freelancer.
• Business.
• Guest room.

Pass for a long period

• Educational (student).
• Worker.
• Married.

For employees

Up to 78% of foreigners have a work visa. It extends to humanitarian areas and international service. Only those who have a college or university diploma can receive it (read about getting an education in Japan).

Documents for a work visa

An exception is made for persons who have 10 years of experience in a certain field of activity. For example, people who do not have a higher education, but have been working in the hotel business for 10 years.

A work visa is issued for one year, three years and five years. When the one-year visa expires, the foreigner has the right to apply for a three-year pass to Japan. A five-year visa is not immediately issued even if the person has found work in the country.

With a work visa, a person can bring his family to Japan. In the migration sense, “family” is only the applicant’s spouse and his children.

Expat Visa

This definition includes employees of Russian companies whom the company’s management sends to work in Japan. This may be a subsidiary or a partner company.

When the period of employment ends, such employees return to their home country.

Skilled Worker Visa

This pass is obtained by qualified specialists with experience in a certain field. Duration of experience - from three to 10 years. Having such a visa, a person can bring his family to Japan.

Business visa

Anyone who opens a company in Japan can obtain such a visa (about business in Japan). The authorized capital is $50,000, or 5,000,000 yen. Another condition is to hire at least two employees who are Japanese citizens. They must be employed full time.

You can register a company in Japan in one day.

In addition to the authorized capital, a business plan is attached.

A Russian cannot receive a salary from his company until he receives a business manager visa.

If the company worked well and had no losses, then the business visa will be extended for three years. If there were losses, it was only for one year.

A Russian citizen’s visa may not be extended if the company’s activities seem dubious to the migration service employees.

Watch the video about whether to open a business visa to Japan.

Highly Skilled Employee Visa

To obtain it there is a point system. A certain number of “points” are assigned for age, work experience, salary level at home and education.

If a person is a bachelor, he is assigned a basic number of “points”. If he has a master's or postgraduate degree behind him, then their number increases.

In order to obtain such a visa, you need to score at least 70 points out of 100. With it, permanent residence in Japan can be obtained a year after arrival. For all previous visas, to obtain this status you need to live in the country for 10 years.

With a highly qualified employee visa, a person can invite his parents to Japan.

Non-work visa

Does not allow a foreigner to work full time. The following types of visas are distinguished:

• Student. To get a job, you need to submit an additional application. A student is allowed to work a maximum of 28 hours a week.
• For training. Anyone who is interested in studying the culture of the country or martial arts can get it.
• Trainee. The pass is relevant for those who have mastered skills on a training visa and want to do an internship in one of the Japanese companies.
• Dependent.
• Family. Implies that one of the family members is a Japanese citizen.

Transit connection in Japan

A transit visa is issued strictly through a Japanese diplomatic office in the Russian Federation. Permission upon arrival is issued only in exceptional cases, which includes an emergency landing of an airliner at one of the Japanese airports. Fortunately, such situations are rare.

What documents are needed for a transit visa to Japan?

If a transfer is planned in Japan, then the transit pass must be issued on the territory of Russia. Its duration is 72 hours.

Visa-free transit through Tokyo is issued subject to the following conditions:

• Boarding for the next flight occurs on the same day or within 72 hours.
• The passenger has a hotel room reservation in his hands.
• The traveler has round-trip tickets, as well as a visa to the country of final destination.

Visa for a child

Visiting the Land of the Rising Sun by families with children requires compliance with certain rules, first of all, the mandatory registration of a child entry permit.

To obtain it you must have:

1. International passport of a child over 14 years old.
2. A photograph of a child over 6 years old pasted into the parents’ passport.
3. A completed application form for a child over 14 years old.
4. Entered data about a child under 14 years of age in the parents’ questionnaire (it is necessary to have data about the child entered in the passport).
5. Notarized power of attorney for the person accompanying the child.
6. Certificate from educational institution.
7. Birth certificate (original and photocopy).

Visa issuance period

The minimum period for transfer and delivery of documents is 2 days. The period for checking the submitted documentation and issuing a visa permit is 4 days. It is impossible to shorten this period. The period for reviewing documents and issuing a visa permit does not include holidays and weekends.

If there are errors in the documents, they will have to be revised, which means that the issuance period will increase. To prevent such a problem from arising, you need to carefully check the documents. The information provided therein must be reliable.

Medical visa

Those who intend to undergo treatment also need to obtain Japanese visas.

If your treatment does not exceed 90 days, then you can get a tourist visa to Japan. They require fewer documents. Well, if the treatment takes longer, then you need to apply for a special medical visa.

Documents from the invitee

• Questionnaire. To be completed in duplicate in Japanese or English. The form can be downloaded from the Internet.
• Photo 4.5x4.5 cm. Pasted on the application form.
• International passport. No cover.
• A photocopy of the pages of the civil passport, where registration and personal data are indicated. Citizens of the Republic of Belarus can skip this point.
• Certificate from work or bank statement. Both are better.

Documents from the inviting organization

• Certificate from the clinic and letter from the guarantor organization.
• Information about the clinic and the guarantor organization.
• List of accompanying persons, if there are several of them.
• Information about the accompanying person(s).
• Information about the patient (i.e., about you).
• Proposed treatment plan.
• Date of entry and exit of the invitee from the country.
• Stay program. The form can be downloaded from the Internet.

Processing times and prices

At the Embassy, ​​reviewing the application and making a decision on issuing a card takes about 4 days , and if the result is positive, the applicant can receive a visa within the 4th working day, excluding weekends/holidays.

If it is necessary to interview the applicant and provide additional documents, the review period may be extended. With this calculation in mind, it is recommended to submit an application in advance, but not earlier than 3 months before visiting Japan.

Applying for a Japanese visa is free of charge.

When submitting an application through a travel agency, the period will be increased based on the sending of documents.

How much a visa to Japan with the services of intermediaries will cost will be calculated in each specific case. But the approximate cost of registration through travel agencies is 7,000 rubles, the Visa Center is 1,500 rubles, and Pony Express is 2,000 rubles.