Visa resource
How to apply for a Japan visa
The steps below are the general shape of a Japan visa application. Your exact route and requirements depend on your nationality and the purpose and length of your stay, so always confirm against the official Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan pages linked here.
Check if you need a visa
First check the visa-exemption list — nationals of eligible countries and regions can enter for a short stay without a visa. If you are not exempt, you will need a Temporary Visitor Visa, or the JAPAN eVISA where your country is eligible.
Apply online with the JAPAN eVISA
Where you are eligible, the JAPAN eVISA lets you apply online for a single-entry short-term-stay tourism visa. Use only the official JAPAN eVISA service — third-party sites are not the government service.
Apply at an embassy or consulate
Temporary Visitor Visas are otherwise applied for at a Japanese embassy or consulate. Prepare the documents the official application asks for; the exact list depends on your nationality and purpose.
Long-term stays need a Certificate of Eligibility
For work, study or other long-term stays, you in principle need a Certificate of Eligibility from the Immigration Services Agency before you apply for the visa. See the official long-term-stay pages for the right category.
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Official sources