In November 2024, Japan saw a record-breaking number of Filipino tourists visiting the country in a single month. Witnessing a 37% year-over-year uplift, Japan welcomed some 87,100 inbound Filipino tourists. Previously, it has also been reported that the 620,000 Pinoy visitors that traveled to Japan in 2023 has surpassed pre-COVID-19 benchmarks. These numbers just go to prove that Japan is increasingly becoming popular among Pinoy travelers.
However, as exciting the idea to travel to Japan is for most Filipinos, applying for a tourist visa remains to be daunting for many. With so many requirements and processes involved to obtain the much-coveted visa, it’s natural to have an endless stream of questions.
To help you prepare and overcome the intimidation that comes with applying for a Japan tourist visa, we rounded up a list of visa application-related questions that regularly turn up in travel groups and forums and provided them with answers that you, as a first-time Japan tourist visa applicant, might find helpful.
***IMPORTANT: Please note that this post is exclusively for individuals applying for a Temporary Visitor (Tourism) Visa. If you are looking to apply for a visa to visit a relative or a friend, to attend a conference or for business, or apply for any other visa type, please visit the Visa and Consular Services section on the official website of the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines for more information.***
General Visa Information & Requirements
What are the current requirements for Filipinos applying for a Japan Tourist Visa?
The requirements set by the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines are pretty straightforward and it is recommended that you submit only what is asked of you.
Here is a summary of the key requirements when applying for a temporary visitor visa (tourism):
- Accomplished Visa Application Form
- You may download the application form here. It must be duly filled out and signed by the applicant.
- Passport
- The passport must be valid for at least six months from the intended date of travel and should have at least two blank pages. The passport must also have the signature of the bearer.
- Photo
- A recent 4.5cm x 3.5cm photograph with a white background, taken within the last six months. Make sure to write your full name and date of birth at the back of your photo.
- Birth Certificate
- Issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and printed within the past year. If you have previously traveled to Japan and have the used visa on your passport, you don’t have to submit this document anymore.
- Marriage Certificate (if applicable)
- For married applicants, this should also be issued by the PSA and printed within the past year.
- Daily Itinerary in Japan
- A detailed schedule of activities for the entire duration of the trip. You can download the itinerary form here.
- Financial Documents
- An original bank certificate with the applicant’s average daily balance (ADB) in the last six months. If the bank certificate does not indicate the applicant’s ADB, include the accountholder’s bank statements over the past six months to prove the applicant’s capacity to cover their travel expenses.
- Photocopy of BIR Tax Payment Certificate
- The applicant’s BIR Form 2316—also known as the “ITR” (income tax returns form)—must have the signature of the Employer and Employee for employed individuals. Meanwhile, for business owners, a photocopy of the proof of actual payment of tax must be submitted in addition to the BIR Tax Payment Certificate Form.
- Certificate of Employment (if employed) or Business Registration (if self-employed)
- This will serve as proof of the applicant’s stable income or business operations in the Philippines.
- Additional Documents
- Any supporting materials to clarify the purpose of travel or financial capability of the applicant. These can come in the form of a cover or explanation letter.
Applicants who will not or will partially shoulder their travel expenses will need a guarantor. They also need to submit additional requirements:
- Guarantee letter
- Download the Guarantee Letter here and fill out completely.
- Proof of relationship between the applicant and the guarantor
- Some examples would be birth or marriage certificates and photos
- Original Bank Certificate of the guarantor and applicant (if they will be partially funding their trip)
- Photocopy of the guarantor’s Tax Payment Certificate
- The employment certificate of the guarantor
Can I fill out the application form by hand?
Yes, you can fill out the Japan tourist visa application form by hand. This is acceptable. That being said, you must make sure that your handwriting is legible.
What if I don’t have an Income Tax Return (ITR) document or a certificate of employment (COE)?
If you are unable to submit an ITR or a COE, you may include a cover letter to your application, explaining your circumstances. Although including a cover letter won’t guarantee that you’ll be granted a visa, it will help support your application. Some applicants have been granted visas even though they did not submit these required documents.
Are bank certificates and statements from digital banks accepted by the Embassy of Japan?
Ideally, you must be able to present certificates and statements issued by a traditional bank. However, if you only have accounts under digital banks (i.e. MAYA, GoTyme, Seabank, etc.), you may still submit certificates and statements issued through their respective apps to back you up on your application. There are multiple users in Filipino travel groups and forums who claim that they were granted a visa with just their digital bank documents to prove their financial status.
Is it necessary to book flights and accommodations before applying for a visa?
No. In fact, it would be smart to wait for your application’s outcome before making any final travel arrangements.
Should I include my roundtrip plane tickets to my visa application?
No. The Embassy of Japan does not require you to submit your roundtrip plane tickets, so do not include it in the documents that you will submit for your visa application.
Should I include my hotel reservation in my visa application?
No. Just as it is with roundtrip plane tickets, the Embassy of Japan does not require you to submit your hotel booking. It’s totally fine not to include this when you submit your visa application as it is not necessary.
How detailed should my itinerary be?
Giving the Embassy of Japan a good overview of your activities is enough. You don’t have to list your daily to-dos down to every detail as consuls also don’t have a lot of time to check an applicant’s itinerary.
Here is an actual example of an itinerary submitted to the Embassy of Japan for a tourist visa application:
I am traveling with family members and we have the same itinerary. Can we submit just one itinerary form?
Yes. If you are traveling with family and you have the same itinerary, you may submit just one itinerary form, carrying all the names of the applicants, just like in the example above.
Will the Embassy of Japan call my employer to check on my employment status?
The Embassy asks for your employer’s contact information in the application form for a reason. While they do not always make calls to verify every applicant’s employment status, it is important to be truthful when you fill out your application form. You may also give your employer a heads up about your visa application, in case the Embassy does make a call.
I’m a retiree, but I am able to finance my trip. How should I go about my application?
The same procedure and requirements apply. But since you’re a retiree, you no longer have to submit an ITR and COE. Some would submit pensioner documents or their final COE, stating the date of retirement, but these are simply supplementary documents. Your chosen travel agency will be able to advise you on this matter further if you have other concerns.
I work remotely and don’t have a physical workplace. What should I place in the application form?
There are many remote workers who face this dilemma. The answer would be to write down the address and contact number of your local agency (if you have one) or, if the headquarters of your employer is overseas, indicate the main office’s address and contact details anyway even if it’s abroad. You can include a cover letter explaining your situation to back up your claim. Be sure to include a working phone number and email address in your cover letter should the Embassy make further verification.
Is being unemployed a red flag when applying for a Japan tourist visa?
Only the Embassy will be able to tell what the red flags are. But to put you at ease for now, there are many unemployed Filipinos who were able to receive a Japan tourist visa. If you are able to finance your trip, you may explain so in a cover letter. If you need someone to help you with funding your trip, you can take the guarantor route when applying. Being unemployed doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t be granted a Japan tourist visa.
I have never traveled overseas in the past. Will this affect my chances of being granted a visa?
No. Not having an overseas travel history will not affect your visa application. Many Filipinos have flown to Japan for their first international trip.
Can I still apply for a Japan tourist visa if I have a previous visa denial?
Yes. You can still apply for a Japan tourist visa even if you’ve had a visa denial in the past. This should not stop you from applying at all!
Does having a US or Schengen visa increase my chances of being granted a Japan tourist visa?
Visas issued by other countries play no role in your Japan tourist visa application. There are people with used or unused visas from other countries who were granted a Japan tourist visa, and there are also others who–despite having multiple visas from other countries–still weren’t granted a Japan tourist visa. The decision is for the Embassy of Japan’s consuls to make.
Will the documents I submitted be returned to me?
Among all the documents you submitted for your tourist visa application, only your passport will be returned to you—whether or not you have been granted a visa.
Application Process
Where will I submit my visa application?
You may submit all your requirements to a travel agency accredited by the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines.
Where can I find a list of the travel agencies recognized by the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines?
You can check the full list of accredited travel agencies here.
Can I submit my visa application directly to the Embassy of Japan?
No, you cannot submit your visa application directly to the Embassy of Japan, as they do not accept walk-in applications. You must always course your application through your chosen accredited agency.
How long does it take for the Embassy of Japan to process my application?
There is no telling how much time the Embassy of Japan will take to review and process your visa application. This can take as short as a few days to as long as a couple of weeks, although the standard time is five days.
Of late, with the surge of travelers, many Filipinos who applied for a Japan tourist visa claim that their application is taking longer than expected. The Embassy of Japan, however, announced that they are striving to process all applications faster and that they aim to process applications within five days again in the near future.
When or how soon should I submit my Japan visa application?
Filipinos looking to travel to Japan are encouraged to lodge their visa application two months before their intended date of travel. This will allow the Embassy to have enough time to review each application without inching too close to the applicant’s supposed travel date.
Can someone else submit my visa application on my behalf?
Yes, you may have a relative or friend submit your application for you. Although, if this would be your arrangement, it would be prudent to include an authorization letter with a copy of your valid ID.
Is there an option to apply for a Japan tourist visa online?
No. At the moment, the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines only accepts physical visa applications coursed through their accredited travel agencies.
How much is the visa application fee?
The visa application fee varies from one travel agency to another. Some process visa applications for under PHP1,000, while others may ask for more.
Will my money be refunded if my visa application is denied?
No. Travel agencies’ processing and handling fees are generally non-refundable. However, Reli Tours may issue a partial refund to a multiple-entry visa applicant, if they were not granted a multiple-entry visa.
Is there any way to expedite the processing of my visa application?
At the moment, travel agencies and the Japanese Embassy do not offer expedited visa processing for Japan tourist visa applicants. The duration of your visa application process highly depends on the amount of time the Embassy takes to review your documents.
Is there a formal interview as part of the Japan tourist visa application process?
No. Aside from some questions from the travel agency to ensure that you’ve submitted all the requirements, a formal interview is not part of the Japan tourist visa application process.
Did this post help calm your nerves around your upcoming Japan tourist visa application so far? Stay tuned for the next part, as we cover visa validity and other post-application concerns!
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