Who Can Use a Temporary Visitor Visa
A Temporary Visitor Visa is for those who intend
to stay in Japan for 90 days or less for such
purposes as follows:
Sightseeing; sports; visiting relatives,
friends, or acquaintances; visiting a sick person;
attending a wedding or funeral ceremony; participating
in athletic tournaments; contests etc. as an
amateur; business purposes (such as market research,
business liaison, business consultation, signing
a contract, or providing after-sale service
for imported machinery); inspecting or visiting
plants, trade fairs etc.; attending lectures,
explanatory meetings etc.; academic surveys
or research presentations; religious pilgrimages
or visits; friendship visits to sister cities,
sister schools etc.; or other similar activities
during a short period of stay in Japan.
Persons planning to travel to Japan for a different purpose, such as students, workers, journalists, entertainers, attorneys (taking depositions), etc., must apply for a different visa in the appropriate category.
Visa Exemption
U.S. citizens and citizens of other countries which have a reciprocal visa exemption arrangement with Japan may be eligible to visit Japan without a visa for a short-term stay for the activities allowed to Temporary Visitors. For more information about reciprocal visa exemption arrangements, please click here.
WHAT'S NEW
VISA EXEMPTION FOR PEOPLE FROM THE FOLLOWING COUNTRY:
- * March 11, 2005 ～
- Taiwan/Republic of China passport holders
(Note: Your ID # must appear on your passport. If your ID # does not appear on your passport, please obtain an ID # from The Taiwan Consular Services／Taipei Economic And Cultural Office)
- * (March 1, 2005 ～ February 28, 2006) March1, 2006 ～
- Republic of Korea passport holders
Documentation
Please be aware that we will decline
applications that have incomplete
documents. Each Temporary Visitor Visa applicant
must submit the following documents:
You must submit an
original and a photocopy of your evidence.
- An application form completed and signed.
In some cases, two forms will be necessary.
Blank forms are available at
Japanese consular offices. You can also download
by clicking on
blank forms in PDF format. Chinese
and Korean citizens must write their names
in Chinese characters, as well as in Roman
letters.
The application form must be filled out completely. For example, if the applicant has no criminal record, please write "none" on the appropriate line.
An applicant with an attest or criminal record must provide a copy of his/her court and/or arrest record (including cases that ended with an acquittal or pardon), along with an English translation of those documents if they are in any language other than English. In the event that there was no trial, please bring a letter that explains in detail, the circumstances surrounding the arrest.
- Valid passport with sufficient space for
a visa (at least one full empty visa page). If you submit a PERMIT TO REENTER
THE UNITED STATES or a REFUGEE TRAVEL DOCUMENT
issued by the U.S. government, it must have a validity
date at least six months beyond the date of
visa application.
- A 2-inch square photograph taken within
six months of application attached to the application form. NOTE:
GLUE ONLY, please do not staple or tape.
- Green Card or valid I-94 and U.S. resident visa to re-enter
the United States (F or J visa holder must
show an I-20 or DS-2019(formerly IAP-66) with the valid signature
of an appropriate official in order for re-entry).
If you will be entering a third country after
leaving Japan, you must show a valid visa
to enter that country (or a national passport
of that country).
- Actual ticket (original plus copy of all
pages), or a record of the reservation with
flight itinerary printed on official
stationary of the
airline company or a reliable travel agency, showing travel to and
from Japan, including dates and flight
numbers (a fax, e-mail, or page printed from a
website will not be accepted: we may be able
to accept a page printed from a website if the
page can be used directly at the airline
counter as an e-ticket.)
* Please Note: We are not responsible for tickets, which are unusable due to delay or denial of visa.
- If traveling for BUSINESS, original letter
from applicant’s company signed by an
authorized executive officer, on company
letterhead, stating:
a) applicant’s position in the company
b) duration of employment
c) nature/purpose of visit in detail
d) dates/duration of stay intended
e) contact person, company name, address and phone number of business contact in Japan
f) guarantee of financial support during applicant’s stay in Japan and return transportation from Japan
In addition to the above, material such as copies of the company's registration, annual report, booklets, and brochures, which outline the history and activities of the company will be required if the company is not known by this Consulate General of Japan in New York. In this case, a letter of invitation from the hosting company in Japan may be needed as well as copies of its registration, annual report, booklets and brochures.
- If going to attend a CONFERENCE, conference brochures plus a paid registration form and invitation will be required. In addition, a letter from the home institution/company giving the circumstances of the trip as in 6.a ) 〜 6.f ) from the visa applicant’s home institution/company, plus the applicant’s financial resources such as listed on 8.a) and b) will be required.
- If going for TOURISM, or to VISIT FRIENDS
or RELATIVES, proof is required that the
applicant has financial resources to stay in
Japan for the given period. This may include
(but is not limited to):
a) 3 most recent monthly bank statements (complete originals plus copies of all pages)
b) most recent federal tax return (taxpayer's copy plus additional copy)
c) a letter from the applicant's employer, directed to this Consulate, noting salary, length of employment, position, and dates of vacation (for the owner of a small business, please submit business license or certificate and annual report)
d) a detailed day by day itinerary of stay in Japan
e) The applicant's resume or C.V.
In addition to the documents listed in 8.a - 8.e, to visit friends or relatives, materials such as an invitation letter and a guarantee letter, the guarantor's employment certificate (for a business owner, we need the business license certificate and corporate registration) , tax report and certificate resident (juminhyo) may be required for many cases. Plus, for non-Japanese friends or relatives, a copy of his/her Alien Registration Certificate and a copy of his/her passport will be required.
＊For those visiting relatives -> a proof of the relationship (e.g. birth certificate)
You can print out the sample forms by clicking below:
| ( Download PDF Files) | |
| Letter of Invitation (English) | Letter of Guarantee (English) |
| Letter of Invitation (Japanese) | Letter of Guarantee (Japanese) |
* Applicants must demonstrate that they meet the requirements to be classified as a Temporary Visitor. It is impossible to specify the exact evidence you will need as applicants' circumstances vary greatly. Check with the Consulate to see if additional documents may be needed in your case.
Applicants Who Need Additional Evidence
Applicants for a Temporary Visitor Visa who have
a national passport of the countries listed
below are required to submit additional evidence
made by an interested person (Guarantor) in
Japan.
However, this may not apply to
applicants (and their spouse and
minor children) who have:
--Legal U.S. permanent residency (Green Card);
or
--Legal status (U.S. visa) which allows the
applicant to work in the U.S. for more than one
year (excluding F and J visas) and evidence
which shows the applicant has a socially and
financially stable status in the U.S. (a
certificate of employment, a bank statement
etc.) Also, this may not apply to students
or researchers of the
nationality of the list A and B below who can prove
that they belong to an educational or academic
institute in the U.S. and the purpose of
visiting Japan is attending an academic meeting
or conference.
- Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
- People's Republic of China
Visa Fees
Visa fees are determined according to reciprocal arrangements between Japan and the country of the applicant's nationality. Click here for Visa Fees.
Processing Time
The time to process an application for a Temporary Visitor Visa depends on the applicant's circumstances. In most cases, it takes four to seven working days if the documentation is in order. There are some cases; however, in which a few weeks or more are needed to process an application.
Applications by mail will be accepted only from applicants who reside outside New York City. A U.S. Express Mail self-addressed stamped envelope with completed express mailing label and the postage must be enclosed for returning your visa & passport. We do not use FedEx, UPS or other third party mail services for returning passports. All applications by mail should include a Release of Liability Form, as per the sample posted on our website below. Applicants should be aware that the Consulate does not bear any responsibility for the delay or loss of envelopes, or passports by the U.S. Postal Service. In some cases, additional documents or personal appearance by the applicant may be required.
(Download Sample PDF File) Release of Liability
