If you are a member of any Japan travel planning social media group or forum, you’d know that many Pinoy travelers are facing a huge hurdle at the moment.
The Embassy of Japan recently announced a significant update to its visa application process for Filipino travelers. Citing a rapid increase in the number of visitors from the Philippines, especially for the upcoming spring season, the embassy has warned that the examination of visa applications for tourism purposes may take considerably longer than the usual processing time.
Previously, applicants could expect their visa applications to be processed within seven to 10 days. However, with the surge in demand, the processing period may now extend by several weeks. To accommodate these changes and ensure a smooth travel experience, the embassy strongly advises applicants to submit their visa applications at least two months before their intended date of travel.
Adding to the agitation of Japan visa applicant, in an effort to adhere to the rules of the Japan Embassy, most accredited travel agencies have also stopped accepting applications from travelers set to fly out of the country in February and early March. Some have also started placing a limit to the number of applicants they will accommodate per day. For instance, popular travel agency ATTIC Tours Philippines, Inc., has announced on its Facebook page that it will only be accommodating 60 applicants per day.
Although this adjustment aims to address the growing interest in Japan as a top travel destination among Filipinos while also maintaining the embassy’s commitment to thorough application review, it couldn’t be denied that this move has also become a massive hurdle to the travel plans of hundreds of Filipino travelers.
Since there is no word about how long the two-month rule will be observed, Japan-bound Pinoy travelers are encouraged to plan their trips well in advance and allow sufficient time for processing to avoid any disruptions to their plans.
Current Visa Application Requirements for Filipinos
Filipino citizens planning to visit Japan must follow the embassy’s visa application process, which requires the submission of specific documents. Below is a summary of the key requirements 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
List of Accredited Travel Agencies
The Japan Embassy does not accept walk-in applications directly. Applicants must course their applications through a travel agency. You can check the full list of accredited travel agencies here.
BEFORE YOU SUBMIT
Keep in mind that among the documents that you will be submitting to the embassy, only your passport will be returned to you. Submitting all the required documents also does not guarantee that you will be granted a visa.
Once you’re all set for your Japan trip, make sure to book your travel Wi-Fi device with Big Sky—the Philippines’ #1 travel connectivity provider based on user reviews, so you can enjoy high-speed internet wherever you are in Japan!
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***Featured image by Hakan Nural on Unsplash
