Getting a Japan Tourist Visa: An FAQ for Filipinos
October 21st, 2009 | Published in Guides and How-To's, Travel and Living | 151 Comments
I had gotten a lot of questions in the comments section of my first Japan Visa post, so I thought I’d do a follow-up summarizing some of the most frequently asked questions in the previous blog entry.
Do I need a Visa to visit Japan?
Yes, you need a Visa to enter Japan.
Is there an interview for Japan Visa applicants?
No, there is no interview for Japan Visa applications; all you need to do is submit the required documents.
Do I really need to submit a Letter of Invitation?
If you are not on a package tour, or if you are not shouldering all your expenses for the trip, then yes — a Letter of Invitation is required from your Guarantor in Japan.
What is a Letter of Guarantee?
A Guarantee Letter, also known as a Mimoto Hoshousho, is required from your Japanese Guarantor to assure the Consuls Office that some or all of your expenses while in Japan will be handled by him or her.
Alongside the Guarantee Letter, a Certificate of Income or Shotoku Shoumeisho, an Income Tax Return or Nouzei Shomeisho, and a Certificate of Bank Deposit or Yokin Zandaka Shoumeisho is also required from your Japanese Guarantor.
Do I really need to submit an ITR?
If you are employed or run a business in the Philippines, you are required to submit your Income Tax Return. Your ITR will be proof that you are earning enough to cover all your expenses while in Japan, as well as assure the Consuls Office that you will be returning to the Philippines once your fifteen days are up.
What is a Bank Certificate/Certificate of Deposit?
A Certificate of Deposit is a document you can request from your bank to indicate the amount deposited in your savings account. The suggested minimum amount of “show-money” is PhP 100,000 per single visa application.
The Japan Consuls Office uses the Bank Certificate in place of the Letter of Guarantee if you intend to shoulder all your expenses during your trip to Japan.
What other supporting documents can I submit to improve my chances of getting a Visa?
If you are a student, a Certificate of Enrollment from your school will help immensely. If you are already working, an Employment Certificate stating your position, your annual income, and your length of service to the company will also be very useful.
My boyfriend/fiance is Japanese/American/European/Australian and has assured me that he will handle all my expenses — do I still need to apply for a visa?
Yes — because you are not yet married to your Japanese boyfriend and are not included in his Family Registry or Koseiki Touhon, you will still have to apply for a regular Tourist Visa following all the required steps by the Japanese Embassy.
As for ladies with European, American, and Australian boyfriends (who are allowed visa-free entry to Japan for up to ninety days) — because you carry a Philippine passport you are still required to apply for a Tourist Visa, likewise following all the necessary steps indicated.
I am a Filipino working abroad and I plan to visit Japan– do I still need to apply for a visa?
Regardless of your Permanent Resident status or your valid Work Permit for a foreign country other than Japan, as long as you are carrying a Philippine passport you still need to apply for a Tourist Visa.
You can, however, apply for a Visa at the Japanese Embassy of your present location, and do not need to apply from the Japanese Embassy in Manila.
I plan to look for work in Japan — can I get a Work Visa even if I am not yet employed by a Japan-based company?
The Consuls Office does not issue Work Visas if you are not yet employed by a Japan-based company; many of the requirements and steps necessary to get a Work Visa are initiated by your employer and not you.
If you apply for a Tourist Visa and then enter the country with intention to find work, you are essentially an illegal alien and if caught, will be prosecuted to the full extent of Japanese law and deported back to the Philippines posthaste.
How much and how long will it take to process my application?
Direct application to the Embassy is strictly not allowed; you must apply via an accredited travel agent. Your visa, if granted, is free; however, you have to pay your travel agent a processing fee of about PhP 2500 depending on their rates.
It takes three to five business days to process applications; take note that the Consul does not accept applications during Wednesdays. To know the status of your application, get in touch with the travel agent who applied on your behalf, three to five business days after you have submitted all your requirements to them.
Why was my application denied?
The Consulate of Japan never discloses the reason for denying your visa application. If your application has been denied for any reason whatsoever, you need to wait another six months before you can apply again.
So this is everything I know about applying for a Tourist Visa to Japan, based on personal experience and a bit of research. Please take note that there may be mistakes and inaccuracies, as I am neither a travel agent nor an an employee of the Consulate of Japan.
If you have any more questions, please do not hesitate to leave them in the comments box, and I’ll try to answer them to the best of my knowledge :)
For more tips, you can also read the follow-up article to this post: Tips on Obtaining a Japan Tourist Visa.
October 21st, 2009at 19:07(#)
Thanks for the info!
October 21st, 2009at 23:23(#)
lol hope you’ll find these tips useful someday <3
October 22nd, 2009at 16:42(#)
Thanks! Still planning that trip but at least now, it’s a lot clearer for me what to do for the requirements. You truly deserve the PBA award :D
October 22nd, 2009at 16:58(#)
“You truly deserve the PBA award :D”
lol anuvah @kat — you guys flatter me too much ^^;; anuway, thanks! and i hope you find this info useful for your future trips :)
October 23rd, 2009at 08:02(#)
By golly! Policies for a Visa application has certainly changed. Thanks so much for sharing!
October 23rd, 2009at 11:14(#)
lol and they get even more complicated over time; why that is IDEK >.>
October 24th, 2009at 01:34(#)
Regardless how strict those guidelines are, I guess there are still quite a serious number of tourists waltzing into Japan…they’re just that awesome.
November 8th, 2009at 17:55(#)
Hi! I’d just like to ask if those letters and certificates from the guarantor should be in English or Japanese? Does it matter? Our guarantor is my Dad, he’s Japanese. And I’m not really sure if he can do it in English, LOL. And about the “show money”, there will be six of us who’s gonna be flying there for the holidays, should my Dad at least show 600,000? Thank you very much in advance and for the info., this is a really big help. :)
November 9th, 2009at 00:19(#)
Japanese is perfectly fine. And yes, that will be PhP 100,00 per head so that’s PhP 600,000 total. Cheers and have a great holiday!
November 11th, 2009at 12:55(#)
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December 16th, 2009at 14:38(#)
thanks for the info!=)
January 6th, 2010at 19:18(#)
my tourist visa was denied and my auntie really needed me their i stop file a leave of absence in my school just to be their but then i was denied?my application was now in tokyo they were working for it. it was not yet 6 months?do japan embassy will make an consideration of it??because i already have my plane ticket and the family of my auntie needed very much.
hope you can help me:)
tnx!!!
January 6th, 2010at 19:24(#)
gimme a sec to fix your post, okay? your lack of proper grammar is confusing me, and i really have no idea where to start answering your questions if i don’t understand them >.>
like i keep mentioning, it is up to the consul’s office to approve or deny your application — just because you applied for a visa with a complete set of documents, it does not mean that you’ll get a visa 100% of the time.
and yes, you need to wait six months in between applications if you have been denied the first time. the only exception is if you are applying for two different types of visas.
for example, if you applied for a tourist visa but was denied, you can apply for a business visa at your company’s behest without waiting another six months. hope that clears some things up!
January 6th, 2010at 20:18(#)
Question:
I have no friends/relatives living in Japan(aka no guarantor) does that mean that in order to acquire a tourist visa my only option is to opt for those travel package tours?
January 6th, 2010at 20:28(#)
that’s the more secure option, yes — but if you’d like to go it alone you can still do so :) however, i suggest that you present solid proof that: 1) you are financially capable of covering all the costs of your trip; and 2) you fully intend to come back to the philippines once your fifteen days are up. good luck with the application!
January 6th, 2010at 20:38(#)
wait, wouldn’t the agency reject my application since by not having a guarantor i wouldn’t be able to gather all my requirements such as: Invitation Letter from Guarantor in Japan and Guarantee Letter
January 6th, 2010at 20:48(#)
the LETTER OF GUARANTEE is only for applicants who will be having part of or all of their travel expenses shouldered by another person.
if you are paying your way, you can simply provide the consul’s office with your form 2316, your CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSIT from your bank/s, and other proofs of good financial standing such as a CERTIFICATE OF EMPLOYMENT from your current workplace.
January 6th, 2010at 20:54(#)
Thanks Rose :) I blame these agency sites though, badly made, not enough information, well atleast you’re there :) thanks again.
January 7th, 2010at 20:35(#)
oh!im so sorry! but how can i apply business visa?without waiting for 6 months? and where can i apply for it?and what are the requirements?
tnx!!
January 7th, 2010at 20:44(#)
instructions on applying for a business visa can be found here. please note that you have to be currently employed with a japanese company or a multinational corporation and are being sent to japan on official business to qualify for this type of visa. good luck!
January 9th, 2010at 00:36(#)
my mom, who is a US citizen wants me to accompany her to japan. will it increase my chances of getting the visa if, aside from the letter of invitation from japan, my mom will also give her letter of invitation and support?
January 9th, 2010at 01:31(#)
yes — if your mom can provide you with documentation stating that she will be covering all your expenses plus a certificate of deposit from her bank in the US, that will improve your chances. oh, and to further better your chances, ask her to provide you a letter signifying that you are indeed her daughter despite the fact you bear different passports, plus a photocopy (or print out of a hi-res scan) of her US passport and green card. it’s better to provide them with too much documentation than too little. good luck!
January 9th, 2010at 19:17(#)
thank you rose:) wish me luck:)godbless!!!
January 11th, 2010at 14:22(#)
Hi. you mentioned in another post that previous travel experiences (with passport stamps and visas) could also help in the application. Shall i just photocopy those info? or do i have to provide my previous passports as well? thanks
January 11th, 2010at 15:04(#)
they’ll take a look at the stamps in your current passport for previous travel. as for your expired passports, unless they are used JAPAN, US, CANADA, EURO, or AU visas then there’s probably no need to provide photocopies of those.
January 11th, 2010at 17:26(#)
thanks. yup i have a UK visa in my expired passport as well as my current one.
January 11th, 2010at 17:48(#)
if that’s the case then go ahead and photocopy the inside of the cover (with the actual passport details) plus the page with your used UK visa on it.
January 12th, 2010at 01:33(#)
hi, i asked the same thing in your other article but i thought it would be good to post it here too :P
it was nice reading your articles. I am a college student who has a Japanese friend willing to cover for my accommodation in Japan for 1 week only. Do i still have to provide bank certificates? ITRs and such? I do not work (as I said, I am still a student). If I need a bank certificate, how much should it contain given my age? I have a US visa, and a Saudi Arabian Visa, and 4 passports with plenty of travel stamps. Will that help? Should I still bring certificate of enrollment? My japanese friend is here in the Philippines, will it help if she comes with me to apply? Sorry for the plenty questions, I do not want my application to be denied since my friend already booked me a roundtrip ticket. I will be waiting for your reply! :)
btw my US and Saudi Arabian visas are in passports that have expired, but the visas themselves have not. shall i just photocopy them? because if i bring all my passports they might not bother to look at all the others. (i know you mentioned this already, i am just clarifying)
January 12th, 2010at 01:36(#)
P.S.
do you recommend any good travel agents?
January 12th, 2010at 02:16(#)
hi and thanks for dropping by. your questions have already been answered in the comments page in this older post so it would be better if you read through all those first before asking again — thanks.
but to summarize: 1) your friend needs to make out a letter of guarantee described in this post since all you expenses will be handled by him or her; 2) the ITR and bank certificate is only needed if you are employed and if you are paying your way throughout your entire trip; 3) the recommended amount on your certificate of deposit is PhP 100,000 per person applying; 4) you may photocopy your old passports and any previous visas granted to you to support your application — actually, it will be a massive help so i encourage you to do that; 5) since you are a student, a certificate of enrollment will also help; and lastly 6) all applications have to go through an accredited travel agent as no personal applications will be entertained at the embassy.
good luck with your application, and please refrain from spamming the comments box — thanks!
January 12th, 2010at 02:16(#)
like i said in my previous post, UNIVERSAL HOLIDAYS and RAJAH TOURS can help you. thanks and good luck!
January 14th, 2010at 12:28(#)
hi,
I would like to ask if my friend will provide me a guarantee letter and all other requirements from his side, do I still need to provide my ITR and bank certificate? He won’t be shouldering all my expenses though and I’m currently employed.
Thanks!
January 14th, 2010at 12:42(#)
since you are employed, your form 2316 is required (meaning, it is not optional). as for the bank certificate, since you have a letter of guarantee, it is optional — but i still strongly suggest that you produce one as it may help your application. good luck!
January 14th, 2010at 13:37(#)
follow-up question, if I would provide my bank certificate is it okay if it’s not Php100,000? What should be the minimum amount in this case?
thanks so much!
January 14th, 2010at 14:53(#)
sorry, i have no experience with making an application with less that PhP 100,000; you’ll have to ask an accredited travel agent to advise you on this.
January 18th, 2010at 09:42(#)
Hi,
I would like to get ur advice..my fiance is an american working as an English teacher in Japan..after he spends the holiday here in the philippines.we decided that he wants me to go there and visit him..our original plan is i will just visit him for 2 weeks..but since we got engaged this december were planning on getting married (were not yet decided if here in the phils or there in japan)..so if my visa gets approved and we get married there i can stay there with him since he has all the legal working papers.. ive been contacting rajah they are helpful but when it comes to financial aspect they are kinda play safe in answering its like they will just say it depends..(thanks for ur post..it really helps) they also told me that the length of stay that the embassy will give you is only what you’ve requested but since tourist visa can be extended up to 3 months..and if i was approved for 1 month and would still like to extend we can just do it in japan now for me to have the tourist visa approved what do you think? should i file it for 2 weeks or 1 month? whats the better chance of getting my tourist visa approved? this visa means a lot to me..its just not a matter of me wanting to go to Japan, but of course i want to be with my fiance :-) please help :-)
January 18th, 2010at 10:33(#)
uh that’s a lot to take in all at once, so i’ll just answer you with what i know.
1) you have to apply for a standard tourist visa as a fiance because you are not yet married, and you are not yet carrying a US passport (i am assuming your future husband will be applying a green card on your behalf).
2) standard tourist visas are 15 days. there are extensions up to 90 days but those are very special circumstances granted mainly to foreign diplomats, high-ranking political figures, and intercultural exchange ambassadors. you’ll stand a better chance of getting approve by simply applying for the 15 day visa.
3) as for staying on as a spouse, sorry but i have no idea about the paperwork that goes into that as i’ve had no personal experience that. you and your future husband will probably have to talk to someone from the local city hall for that.
January 18th, 2010at 14:25(#)
thanks ;-)
January 18th, 2010at 15:41(#)
no worries — good luck :)
January 19th, 2010at 12:45(#)
i have another question what if the tourist visa was granted for 15days and when i get to japan they didnt grant me extension when i get back to the Phils after 15days, when can i reapply for another tourist visa? is there a limit? or should i apply again next year? how many times can we go to japan in a year? any idea? thanks again :-)
January 19th, 2010at 17:47(#)
yes, you may reapply as soon as you’ve arrived back home in manila. the 6-month application limit only applies to individuals who were denied in the first place.
January 19th, 2010at 20:06(#)
thank you so much :-)
January 28th, 2010at 16:51(#)
Hi, my sister in law has applied for her Japanese visa through one of the “accredited Agencies”. She applied for the visa with the Japanese Cert. of Eligibility. However it has been almost three weeks with no notification from the Japanese Embassy. Do you think there is reason to be concerned yet?
January 28th, 2010at 18:52(#)
the embassy will not be notifying you directly if your application has been approved or not — you should get in touch with your travel agent to ask about results.
results are usually out in three to five working days after the application has been sent (provided that the required documents are complete) but since it’s been three weeks, they might need you to submit additional documents, or the application has been turned down.
lastly, if there was a certificate of eligibility issued by the japanese ministry of culture or ministry of education, shouldn’t she have applied directly to the embassy as instructed here? do keep in mind that the “certificate of eligibility” is vastly different from the “letter of guarantee”.
good luck!
February 14th, 2010at 16:35(#)
Hi,
Its me again. I just have another question for you. Tomorrow my fiance (American working in Japan as an english teacher) will gather all the requirements needed for my tourist visa, including bank certificate (since he will be paid tomorrow) he will only be getting like 160,000 yen for this month.Based on your recommended amount of money of 100,000 pesos of course its not enough. But i also have 115,000 pesos on my own savings account and ITR and Certificate of Employment. Do you think that will be enough though he will act as my guarantor? or Should we wait for his pay next month so he can present bigger amount of money on his bank certificate? any suggestions or recommendation?
Thanks
February 14th, 2010at 22:59(#)
hi jolene. if you include your own certificate of deposit on top of your fiance’s than you should be in good shape. good luck!
February 15th, 2010at 09:51(#)
Thank you so much rose. Your blog really helps a lot. i really wish that i would get approved :-). by the way good job with what you post on your other blog related to this (not replying to those who post comments using txt lingo or whatever you call it) i love reading your blog but when i get to those types of comments, it really gives me headache haha how much more on your part since you’re the one replying to it :-) anyways i’m excited to read more of your informative blogs. Belated happy hearts day :-)
February 15th, 2010at 11:30(#)
no worries — have a happy and prosperous lunar new year!
February 17th, 2010at 02:38(#)
I have one question…My brother is in japan right now and hes married with a japanese,he wants to invite me there for a tourist visa,i just want to know if im required to get ITR and bank certificate?Pls.reply thanks!
February 17th, 2010at 20:56(#)
francesca, your question has already been answered in this post — please check there. thanks.
March 1st, 2010at 00:44(#)
what if i dont have work right now and one of my relatives want to get me to visit in japan. what would be my requirements for that? Do I need any certificates from school?
March 1st, 2010at 02:16(#)
your relatives will probably have to issue you a letter of guarantee on top of your invitation since you are not currently employed. please ask for the advice of a certified travel agent to work out your visa application.
March 11th, 2010at 21:07(#)
an update for the sake of everybody!!
kakakuha ko lang ng visa ko ngayong araw.
para lang sa kaalaman ng iba, na baka may similar situation,
ito ako:
female student
may dating student visa
nag apply ako nung isang buwan for tourist visa with the ff docs:
passport
invitation from filipina spouse, PR
guarantor letter from husband, JAP
koseki tohon
nouzei shoumeisho pareho
kazei shoumeisho pareho
itinerary
pics
return ticket
school ids ko here and japan
and after 3 working days, hiningan ako ng additional bank certificate ko.
wala ako ng sarili ko so sa kapatid ko na lang. ginawa ko na lang guarantor #2
i submitted the ff after 2 weeks:
explanation letter
my certificate of enrolment
new guarantee letter
birth certificate ng kapatid
bank certificate ng kapatid
certificate of employment ng kapatid
passport copy ng kapatid
id copy ng kapatid
after 3 days, meaning today, approved ang tourist visa ko.
hope this will help someone. :)
April 1st, 2010at 23:56(#)
i understand that the visa is good for 15 days in japan. however, how long does the visa last? can i apply now for travel in march 2011?
thanks!
April 2nd, 2010at 00:52(#)
visas are valid for three months from the date of approval.
April 5th, 2010at 17:42(#)
Hi! I appreciate your efforts in posting tips and FAQs such as these. They’re really helpful for people like us who intend to travel someday. :) I just have a question, and I hope you can answer them even to a certain extent:
Money in savings account = readily withdrawable money, right? Currently, my savings account doesn’t have much money in it. If ever it reaches over and above a certain threshold, I place the excess in another SDA (special deposit account) which currently has a little over 100K. However, the money is only “withdrawable” once a month, and at a certain date. Will this be enough as “show money?” In addition to that, I’m intending to open up a US dollar account. Can they take that into consideration as well?
Sorry if the question seems long. T_T But thanks in advance for reading and answering it. :)
April 5th, 2010at 17:52(#)
if your bank makes out a certificate of deposit to include the amount you put away in your SDA (i assume this is something like BPI’s Save-Up program) then i suppose that should do just fine :) and yes, having a dollar savings account will help your application — it can function as additional documentation of your ties to the philippines and your intent to return. good luck with your application!
April 11th, 2010at 22:32(#)
holy crap…. kelangan kong maging Manager Level to afford going there first…. AMP (I plan to bring along a translator…. I still nosebleed y’know)
April 11th, 2010at 22:51(#)
lol you don’t really need a translator if you intend to stay in the huge cities like tokyo and osaka — most of the signs already have english translations :)
April 14th, 2010at 18:48(#)
I got my visa and I find it sooo cute! I know, I’m weird. I think that having a previous japanese visa helped me get one as well as my “tour-mates” get theirs. =) ours got granted in just one day. :) here’s my visa =) I find it so cute that they incorporate sakura holograms in it :) I hope that the others get theirs too!
April 14th, 2010at 19:04(#)
congratulations vivi! quick warning though — block out all the long number sequences on your visa in the photos. talented counterfeiters can make fake visas by using the number series issued to you, causing your visa to be invalidated and ruining your travel plans. better safe than sorry :)
April 15th, 2010at 05:53(#)
gee! thanks!! will do that asap!!
April 15th, 2010at 06:03(#)
I blocked them all out! Whew! thanks for that!!! I hope I didn’t miss out anything! Thank you thank you!
April 23rd, 2010at 23:44(#)
The embassy website clearly says they do not disclose the reason for the denial, so let me not bother you with what all I submitted etc. Can you or perhaps someone whose visa request has been denied tell me this, –> does the embassy, at the least send a note saying the visa has been denied ? <– . or is the only way to determine this is to check the passport ? If there is no visa, then it means its been denied ?
April 24th, 2010at 00:11(#)
There is no official notice or explanation — when you claim your passport and there is no visa attached, that pretty much means your application has been denied.
April 27th, 2010at 02:04(#)
Hello there!
I’m Denise and I’m still 15years old. I wanna go to Japan but I don’t know how to get a tourist visa. Can you help me?
I am a green card holder po. Do I need to have the visa? If ever, yes. How? thanks! ;)
April 27th, 2010at 02:40(#)
hi denise — sorry but i am not familiar with the visa process for permanent residents of foreign countries who still hold philippine passports. afaik you still have to apply for a visa; please consult with a travel agent for more details.
April 27th, 2010at 03:54(#)
Thanks po! ;) But I still have to have the “show money”? I’m still minor. Right? Can I use my mother’s account? (:
April 27th, 2010at 11:12(#)
yes, you can use your mum’s account — all she has to do is create a document stating that she will be covering your expenses with the money she has indicated on the certificate of deposit :)
April 27th, 2010at 13:55(#)
thank you po for answering my questions! God bless you :)
April 27th, 2010at 14:04(#)
no worries — good luck with your visa! :)
May 20th, 2010at 10:34(#)
hi,i have a filipino boyfriend in japan he is only a contract worker and he wants me to visit him there.I am an landed immigrant of canada but not yet a citizen.do i need to apply a tourist visa?
May 20th, 2010at 10:44(#)
if you still hold a philippine passport you will still have to apply for a visa despite being a canadian immigrant. please get in touch with your local japanese embassy to sort out the detials. thanks!
May 21st, 2010at 11:09(#)
Hello Rose,
Got a situation here, my fiancee and i are planning to get married in Philippines, he is an American citizen working in Japan and he wants me to go with him after the wedding in July. What are the necessary things to be done, like documents, or do I still need a tourist visa?
Thanx a lot
May 21st, 2010at 11:22(#)
hi jayne — as long as you still hold a philippine passport you need to apply for a tourist visa for a fifteen day holiday. now, if your future husband intends for you to live with him in japan, you’ll need to sort things out with an immigration expert since that will require a great deal more preparation. good luck!
May 21st, 2010at 11:43(#)
Thanks a ton Rose..:)
June 23rd, 2010at 21:34(#)
hello:)how can i go to japan?how can i get a tourist visa?where i could see my long time friend in Akihabara.I will just stay for just a week.Can anyone know how to do this?thanks:)
June 23rd, 2010at 22:15(#)
please read the above post as well as this one to find out how to apply for a japanese tourist visa.
July 1st, 2010at 01:33(#)
this post is really helpful. thank you!
i have a couple of questions, do we need to book flights first before applying for visa? because they’re already asking in the application form your flight number and the date of arrival and departure.
another is, my mother is shouldering all our expenses and her passport doesn’t require her a visa anymore. what do i replace with the Bank certificate and such? Thank you in advance! :)
July 1st, 2010at 01:45(#)
yes, it is recommended that you have already booked your flight prior to application. sometimes they do grant visas without an airline ticket, but this is very very rare.
since your mum is paying for your trip, she should issue a letter stating that she intends to pay for all your travel expenses, as well as furnish documents that prove your relationship (your birth certificate, for example), and lastly — a certificate of deposit for all her bank accounts to back up the claim.
good luck with your application!
July 1st, 2010at 02:28(#)
wow. quick response! thank you for answering!
follow up question, if ever we failed to get visa (which i hope won’t happen) what will happen to our booked flights? i’m planning to book flights on cebu pacific. can we cancel it? will we be able to get our money back? i know this question is a bit silly. it’s my first time. i’m asking you just in case you have knowledge concerning this. thank you soooooo much! :)
July 1st, 2010at 02:42(#)
you can cancel flights on CEBU PACIFIC only if they are regular tickets and not promo fares (the cash credits can be used for other tickets, or wired back to your credit card). if you are unable to use promo fare tickets they’re unfortunately as good as gone :( sorry but that’s the way budget airlines work ^^;;
July 1st, 2010at 02:50(#)
you’re really helpful! i love you! thank you super much! :) i’ll drop by again if i have more questions, if it’s okay.^^
July 3rd, 2010at 02:33(#)
i’ve got another question ms. rose.
is this “a letter stating that she intends to pay for all your travel expenses” what they call “notarized affidavit of support” that looks like this http://www.berklee.edu/pdf/tuition/expenses_intl.pdf? or is it the letter of guarantee that looks like this http://www.atlanta.us.emb-japan.go.jp/letter_of_guarantee.pdf? because when i asked UHI, they said i need to submit an affidavit of support but i think it’s only for students. i’m only applying for a tourist visa.
July 3rd, 2010at 03:32(#)
one more thing, i am still confused. the friend in japan we will be visiting there will not shoulder our expenses, my mom will. so does the friend in japan still have to provide us with letter of guarantee (plus the bank certificates etc.) or my mom is the one who’ll be providing the letter of guarantee (plus the bank certificates etc.)? the friend in japan will only let us stay in her house during our stay there.
i super appreciate your response.
thank you so much miss rose. :)
July 3rd, 2010at 04:41(#)
okay, from what i understand, you wish to apply for a tourist visa with your mom paying for all your expenses. what you need to do now is to get your mom to submit as much financial documentation as she can — bank certificates, photocopies of credit cards, etc., as well as a letter stating that she will be covering for all your expenses while you are in japaan.
since your mom will be shouldering all your expenses, you do not need to ask for a guarantee letter from a japanese national. as long as your personal documents are in order, you do not need a japanese guarantor nor letter of guarantee. good luck with your application!
July 3rd, 2010at 04:49(#)
you’re an angel! thank you very much! :)
July 3rd, 2010at 14:04(#)
Hi I have a problem with my birth certificate.
My birth certificate was registered twice. And so I already processed for the cancellation of the first one (which is erroneous). Unfortunately, NSO did not finish processing this. Hence, they cannot give a copy in SECPA Paper.
Will the certified true copy from the LCR suffice?
July 3rd, 2010at 21:09(#)
unfortunately, they will need your birth certificate in the watermarked NSO paper :(
July 8th, 2010at 12:23(#)
meron akong half japanese son.name Akira Totanes Watanabe his going 5years on dec 24.i ned helf para mapuntahan ang papa nya s nagoya.kaso d ko alam kng pano.wl akong alam n lalapitan pr makakuha ng visa!please send me a message kng sino pwedeng lapitan!thank very much!
July 8th, 2010at 14:29(#)
you can approach an accredited travel agent to apply for a visa. everything you need to know is already here on this page, as well as this one: http://magnetic-rose.net/2009/04/tips-on-obtaining-a-japan-tourist-visa/
July 17th, 2010at 23:27(#)
hello rose! i’m back again to ask another question. :)
does the itinerary have to be strictly followed? for example, we passed the requirements with the itinerary that we’ll be staying in a hotel. but later after we got our visa, we decided to stay in a friend’s house and canceled our hotel booking. is that possible? will we be sued by the Japanese Gov’t or something?
thank you as always! ;)
July 18th, 2010at 00:05(#)
you can design a day by day itinerary that does not have to specify a lot of things so you can be flexible. for example: DAY 1 — SIGHTSEEING IN OSAKA, DAY 2 — SIGHTSEEING IN KYOTO, DAY 3 — SIGHTSEEING IN NARA, etc.
July 18th, 2010at 01:08(#)
but the sample itinerary for tourist visa provided the accommodation address plus the contact person. so is it alright not to include those details?
July 19th, 2010at 05:21(#)
there is no need to volunteer the information regarding your change of hotels if your original itinerary has been accepted. just follow the name of the hotel and their phone number for the contact details while being interrogated by japan immigration. you can always say to the immigration officer that the rooms you booked were canceled at the last minute so you were forced to look for alternatives: i.e. your friend’s house.
next time please make sure that all your trip details (flights, accommodations, etc.) are in order before you apply for a visa. making plenty of sudden changes to your itinerary may cast doubt over your application, and the consuls office may consider this as grounds to deny you a tourist visa.
July 21st, 2010at 19:25(#)
this post is really informative. I just want to ask about our situation. there will be 4 of us traveling to Japan for 6 days, but 2 of them will be going home at day 4..takas lang kasi sa work here in the Phils. scheduled leave was not approved by their managers. Is it possible for them to go home early? Or the four of us should travel back home?
thanks in advance ms. rose.
July 21st, 2010at 22:57(#)
yes, you may apply together for your tourist visas even if you have different itineraries. ang mangyayari kasi e lahat kayo fifteen days ang makukuha ninyong visa at hindi niyo kelangan ubusin lahat yun nang isang pasada — the members of your party may leave on the 4th day or the 6th day as scheduled.
isang pahabol lang: kapag gamit na yung visa kahit di pa ubos yung “bala” (kunyari apat na araw lang ang nagamit sa kinse na laman ng visa), hindi na pwedeng gamiting yung natitirang araw para sa isa pang dalaw, at kelangan kumuha ng panibagong visa kung may balak kayong bumalik :)
July 22nd, 2010at 00:10(#)
hello. it’s me again.
tanong ko lang po. paano po mangyayari sa ticket date pauwi nung dalawa kong kasama? maaari bang magpabago nang date pauwi dun na mismo sa japan airport?
July 22nd, 2010at 07:38(#)
you will have to contact your airline or your travel agent to get the ticket rebooked. only your airline can make arrangements for flight changes, the airport administration cannot do that for you.
July 23rd, 2010at 20:30(#)
thanks po sa mga replies.
may I also ask. is it necessary to have a ready itinerary when you visit a travel agency?
July 23rd, 2010at 20:38(#)
yes, you should have your itinerary ready since you will be attaching a copy to the visa application form.
July 24th, 2010at 09:50(#)
Hi, I’ve been to Japan last May 2010, I really want to thank you for the information I read this before applying. Thank you very much. ^____^
But I wanted to go back this September (i desperately want to watch a concert lol), is it possible for me to be granted another tourist visa within the year?
July 24th, 2010at 10:23(#)
yes, you may apply again. you may apply for as many tourist visas as you need in a year, but you can only apply for one each time you leave. have fun and good luck!
July 28th, 2010at 02:33(#)
if you’re traveling without any tour guides or japanese friends, what will you write in the CONTACT column of the Schedule of Stay?
July 28th, 2010at 02:41(#)
you may include your own contact details: input your roaming-activated mobile phone number and your personal e-mail, etc.
August 2nd, 2010at 08:37(#)
Hi magnetic rose,
I really love how you complied information about getting Japan Visa. But I have still some few questions to ask :)
Can I still apply for Visa even if I don’t have 100K in my account? My dollar account only have $1K+. I worry too much afraid of getting denied lol. I plan to visit Japan as my boyfriend works there.
I’m a traveler by the way, but I love traveling to Philippines lol, and I’ve only been to Singapore and Macau. Do you think those stamps are enough?
I appreciate if you have any suggestions! :D
Thank you so much and I will visit this blog post again to check for your reply ;)
Erica
August 2nd, 2010at 10:27(#)
a USD account works in your favor, even if it falls below the recommended amount (but i’d still try to reach it if i were you to better your chances of getting approved). you already have two stamps in your passport which is good, but if you can try to squeeze in one or two more trips overseas before your japan holiday just to be sure. good luck!
August 2nd, 2010at 21:00(#)
Thank a bunch magnetic rose! I plan to visit asian countries to make sure I got in one click. ;) Again, thank you :D
August 3rd, 2010at 15:06(#)
elow poh! i have 300,000 in my account gusto ko sanang pumunta ng japan as a tourist for 1 week lang..mangangailangan parin ba nang garantor eh wala akong kakilala sa japan?gusto kulang talagang pumunta don kc pangarap ko talagang makapunta ng japan..
August 3rd, 2010at 15:08(#)
you can apply for a tourist visa even without a guarantor, as long as you fulfill all the requirements such as furnishing a copy of your ITR, your bank certificates, etc. and filing your application with an accredited tourist agency.
August 5th, 2010at 06:25(#)
hello po,gusto ko po sanang magtanong about sa case ng friend kong japanese here in japan.2007 nakilala po nya ang filipino friend nya,na lagi po daw syang ipinapasyal sa twing bumibisita sya ng pilipinas,marami silang old and new picture.ask ko lan po kung my chance po ba na mainvite nya yung friend nyang pilipino as tourist here japan.slamat po na marami
August 5th, 2010at 09:25(#)
photos signifying proof of relationship are not the main document considered when applying for a visa; even if you have plenty of photos but no documents, your visa application will be denied.
the letter of invitation, letter of guarantee, proof of income, and other japanese documents issued by the japanese guarantor on behalf of the filipino invitee are more important for the consul than mere photos. please check above post again for the complete list. thanks.
August 8th, 2010at 05:41(#)
hi…i’m planning to go to japan for a week.completed all of my papers and i’m going to submit it to accredited agency…i don’t have a guarantor but i know it’s possible now…the only problem is,i just recently got my passport,and i haven’t went to abroad or anything,so i don’t have a previous travel visa stamped on my passport.Do you think it’s still okay?It’s going to be my first time to apply a tourist visa abroad.But I’ve saved enough for my travel in japan.
Thanks a lot….more power.
August 8th, 2010at 05:56(#)
magnetic rose,if i could just post this…
hey botz…I’ve read your post here.You said you’re going to a concert this september?Is that the NEWS concert?
I’m going there too!That is…If they’ll approved my visa.
See you at Tokyo Dome!(crosses fingers!)
August 8th, 2010at 11:15(#)
@nada travel history carries a lot of weight with visa applications. yeah, you can go ahead and apply for a visa with a blank passport, but your chances of getting approved are slim at best.
August 8th, 2010at 23:47(#)
hello gud pm! magnetic_rose..talagang pwede lang ba kahit wala akong sponsor or garantor 1 week lang naman talaga ako don! pls help me naman ohh…kung ano ang mga kailangan at dapat kung gawin..gustong gusto ko talagang pumunta don…pls pls pls
August 9th, 2010at 00:07(#)
yun lang talaga ang problema ko wala akong sponsor or garantor yun lang talaga!! may 300,000 ako sa bank ko.. at kukuha ko lang nang passport ko..and my next step is to get visa kaso yan talaga ang malaki kung problema natatakot kasi ako pag nag apply ako nang visa para japan di ako ma aprobahan..pls help me magnetic rose..sorry talaga if naka isturbo ako sayo..
August 9th, 2010at 00:09(#)
i mean kakukuha ko lang nang passport……..
August 9th, 2010at 10:18(#)
mika sinagot na kita dati pa — ang sabi ko pwede kang mag apply ng tourist visa kahit walang guarantor kung kumpleto ka ng papeles.
wag po sana tayong makulit. at kahit na magpumilit ka sa akin hindi kita matutulungan kasi hindi naman ako ang consul na namimigay ng visa.
August 14th, 2010at 23:46(#)
Hi it’s me again :-)
Somebody told me kasi that me & my husband have a slimmer chance of getting a visa if kami lang dalawa… is this true?
also, just want to inquire if it’s okay to submit a bank certificate na joint account kami ni hubby. I have my own account too under my name, can hubby attach this also to his application?
Thanks in advance!
August 14th, 2010at 23:57(#)
the number of people applying as a group has no bearing on the approval.
there are even instances of some people in a large tour group getting approved while others are not, so it is not true that the more members in a tour group the better the chances of getting approved.
you may submit your joint account certificate, but it is also a good idea to include your own. financial documentation is a key factor in getting your visa application approved. good luck!
August 16th, 2010at 00:04(#)
another thing po : I have my own account too under my name, can hubby attach this also to his application?
thanks
August 16th, 2010at 00:13(#)
only minors are allowed to use financial documentation made out in other people’s name. unlike the joint account certificate that bears his name, your husband cannot use your personal account’s certificate because it has your name listed down and not his.
August 18th, 2010at 08:30(#)
helo, ask lang ako… may auntie kasi ako sa japan… married sya before sa japanese man tapos nag divorced na po sila.. so single na po auntie ko uli pero may permanent visa na po sya.. then she want me to go in japan by petetion… pero may prob. kasi di pa sya regular sa work nya… kasi require din daw yun.. so she decide na tourist visa nalang daw…ok lang ba yun? can i still get tourist visa? or petention? sorry for wrong grammar.. hope u understand..lol
August 18th, 2010at 10:35(#)
yes, it is important that your guarantor in japan have a regular job and a large income — even for just a tourist visa, so i’m afraid that your aunt petitioning for you to stay in japan to become a permanent resident is even more impossible.
August 18th, 2010at 15:26(#)
is there a greated likelihood of japanese visa approval for me? i’ve travelled in other asian countries and issued me a chinese visa before, do you think this would help me geta japanese visa approval?
August 18th, 2010at 15:53(#)
as far as i know, only schengen, US, aussie, and japan visas are given extra consideration by the consuls office when applying for a japanese visa…
August 19th, 2010at 19:12(#)
Hi rose!
If the agency told you, “kindly pick up your passport at our office” does that mean your application is accepted?
I’m sorry I’m just too excited/nervous because we’ll be getting our passports tomorrow at the agency and I’m not getting any response from them.
Thank you!
August 19th, 2010at 19:28(#)
no — it just means that you need to pick up your passport at the agency. once you claim it, check inside if the visa is already affixed.
if none can be found, it means that your application has been rejected. you need to wait six months before you can apply again.
August 19th, 2010at 23:06(#)
ATEH SANA ! MA APPROVED VISA KO !! 7-10 WORKING DAYS PO? KOMPLETO NAMAN PO LAHAT NG REQUIREMENTS KO PICTURE LANG PO ANG WALA. VISITING FRIENDS LANG PO AKO DOON. JAPANESE GUARANTOR PO FRIEND KO. TINGIN NIYO PO MAY PAG ASA MAKAPASA PO AKO ? SANA NGA. ATE KASI KOMPLETO NAMAN PO YUNG REQUIREMENTS EH PICTURE LANG WALA. PAANO PO YAN ?
August 19th, 2010at 23:10(#)
MAY MGA LETTER NAMAN PO SIYA PINADADALA SAKEN YUN ANG PROVE NA MAGKAIBIGAN PO KAME PERO PICTURE WALA PO EH. 1YEAR FRIEND KO NA SIYA SINCE 2009 PA. CHAT FRIEND KO DI KASI SIYA MAKAPUNTA DITO KASI BUSY SIYA KAYA AYON AKO NA KUKUNIN NIYA KOMPLETO NAMAN PO LAHAT NG DOCUMENT PICTURE TOGETHER LANG PO ANG WALA TINGIN NIYO PO MAKAKAPASA AKO ATE HURHUR KINAKABAHAN AKO SANA NGA. MAKAPASA AKO.
August 19th, 2010at 23:17(#)
first of all, please do not type in all-caps; typing in all-caps is like shouting online. second of all, i am not the one making the decision to approve or deny applications — that’s the job of the consul.
third, the consul puts more weight on government-issued personal documents and financial certificates issued by the bank than personal photographs, letters, and other easily-faked “proof” so you should concentrate on more on getting your docs together than stressing over photos.
lastly, while i can give advise on how to increase your chances of getting approved, if the consul decides to deny you a visa that’s pretty much it, and no amount of POH ATEH POH PLZZZ OMG!!!! will change that. good luck with your application.
August 20th, 2010at 00:37(#)
sorry naman po ate ! sorry kung capslock ! ano po sa tingin niyo po ? may chances po ba ako makapasa ? may show money naman po eeh almost 1million po? tapos kompleto po lahat. baka ma deny pa po ako nun. pasensiya na po. sorry po. picture lang po ang wala talaga kame.
August 20th, 2010at 00:45(#)
tsaka po pwede po pakitagalog na lang po hehe nosebleed po para mas malinaw ko po maintindihan sensiya na po ma’am ? tingin niyo po may chances ako makapasa ? almost 1million po pang show money niya saken ? tsaka kompleto picture lang po ang wala. sana di ma deny kasi lahat naman po requirements sinunod po namin ang hirap lang po isipin baket po madedeny po diba???? ayon sana nga makapasa po ako !
August 20th, 2010at 01:03(#)
okay, sasagutin kita sa tagalog, pero pag may susunod ka pang comment na paulit ulit lang ang sinasabi spam na yun at mapipilitan akong i-block ka sa site ko.
ang sabi ko sa dati kong comment e hindi ako ang nagbibigay ng visa kaya kahit mag PLZZZZ ka at mag ATEH POW ka sa kin wala akong magagawa, wala sa akin ang desisyon. pangalawa, masmahalaga ang mga dokumento kesa sa larawan pagdating sa application, kaya yun ang dapat mong pagtuonan ng pansin at hindi ang picture.
at huli sa lahat, pwede akong magbigay ng visa advice para sa mga aplikante na pwedeng makatulong, pero kapag nasa consul na ang application ninyo siyempre hindi ko alam kung ano ang kalalabasan nun kasi hindi naman ako manghuhula.
kung may tanong ka pa princesz o jennifer o kung ano pa man ang pangalan mo, wala na akong magagawa para sa yo. bigyan naman natin ang ibang tao ng pagkakataong magcomment dito, at sa totoo lang medyo naririndi na ako sa kakulitan mo. hinay hinay ka lang sa pag comment — hindi mo to facebook wall na pwedeng pwede kang post ng post lang nang walang nakikialam.
salamat.
August 21st, 2010at 22:27(#)
thanks for the info ms. magnetic_rose!
i have question.
i have read in a forum that there is a 30-day validity tourist visa also. is it advisable to avail it even if i dont have guarantor.
and are there additional reqmts if possible?
thanks in advance!
August 21st, 2010at 22:51(#)
hi there geylie! standard tourist visas are just fifteen days long — anything longer than that is a special visa, and given only to government officials, high-ranking businessmen, and and other VIPs. good luck with your application :)
August 21st, 2010at 23:32(#)
thank you very much for your prompt reply :)
it will be my third time to go to japan but my first time as a tourist. that is why im still kinda nervous in this particular application :)
thank you again for your help :)
August 24th, 2010at 08:37(#)
My husband and his mistress were able to get Japanese visas last 2007 and were able to travel to Japan for 10 days last May 2007. The mistress used the surname of my husband (of course my married name) when she applied for the said visa!
I just found out about this last month thru a document I got from the Bureau of Immigration.How do I inform the Japanese Embassy about this in the meantime I am getting more information from DFA how she was able to acquire a passport with a faked marriage contract? My husband and I are still very much married.What are the penalties for falsifying the documents she submitted to the Embassy too? Means her passport was acquired thru falsificationof documents.
August 24th, 2010at 10:08(#)
hi mooncake — so sorry to hear of what happened. however, i’m afraid i will be unable to answer your question since i have had no experience in handling a case like yours, nor do i have any information that i can help. i think the best thing you can do is to contact your lawyer, and approach the DFA — the DFA may be able to help you get in touch with the japan embassy.
August 24th, 2010at 14:22(#)
Hi, would just like to ask for your opinion… should the guarantor be Japanese? My boyfriend and I are planning to go to Japan for a holiday… he is not Japanese… can he be my guarantor? or can he provide anything (letters, documentation, etc) to convince the embassy/consul that we are just going there for a vacation?…
Thanks :)
August 24th, 2010at 14:34(#)
any resident of japan — including foreigners, can become a guarantor as long as they fulfill their obligations.
however, from what i understand from your question, you are actually traveling with your boyfriend — hence he is not a resident of japan and therefore cannot be your guarantor.
what he can do instead is create a letter stating that he will be shouldering both your expenses during the trip, and then back that up with financial documentation that proves we will be able to provide for you both.
then, you can lodge an application at a travel agency together, and specify to your travel agent that you intend to travel together, and that only one of you (ie your boyfriend) will be covering all costs. good luck!
August 24th, 2010at 16:39(#)
ilang weeks or days po ang processing ng visa sa japan
August 24th, 2010at 17:22(#)
nakasulat na taas ang sagot sa tanong inyo — pakibasa nalang po. salamat.
August 24th, 2010at 21:53(#)
bakit sabi ng agency 7-10days processing po totoo po ba yun? bakit po sayo 3-5 days lang,, huwag po kayo magagalit ha im asking lang po,, thanks
August 24th, 2010at 22:40(#)
the consuls office itself just takes three to five days, but your travel agent has to take your application to and from their office to the japan embassy — and that will take a few more days.
August 27th, 2010at 14:24(#)
hi, magnetic_rose!
I plan to go to japan this November. I just graduated from college this April and still, no job (though i am applying and waiting for responses). I do have a bank account but not much in it. And so my parents will be financing all of my expenses. I will be going with my Japanese (-national) teacher (w/c is also my friend). We will watch a concert together. She got the tickets and she will take her with me. She also secured me that I won’t have to worry about hotel fees since she got a friend who can lend her place for us. In short, she will be my guide. This Japanese teacher works here in the Philippines and so we only scheduled our trip for 3 days.
Sorry for the long list of questions but i’m quite confused…
1) I guess I should ask my parents for a letter of support and consent, right? but I keep seeing a format (affidavit) which looks too formal (needing witnesses and all), or could we write our own? Or can they just fill out the “letter of guarantee” that is downloadable from the embassy, (I figured since it was requesting for a Japanese address, it meant the guarantor should be from japan). I also read from the replies here in about this http://www.atlanta.us.emb-japan.go.jp/letter_of_guarantee.pdf Is this okay?
2) Though I do have someone to finance my stay there, since I still don’t have a job, what could I submit as a proof that I would come back here? Would they think that I plan to find job there?
3) Can I request my teacher to answer the Letter of Invitation? or no need? She is technically inviting me to go with her but she currently lives here. So the invitation isn’t really coming from Japan.
4) According to the Daily Schedule, there’s a space for “Accommodations”. Should I write down the address of my teacher’s friend though we haven’t met?
5) Should I establish that I am friends with my teacher and she will be with me when we go to Japan? Like a photocopy of her passport and some pictures? Or a letter from her stating that she will supervise (but not finance) me. Maybe that could also help to justify why I wrote her friend’s address. I really don’t want to cost too much trouble for her but if these could help…
Thank you for your time!
August 27th, 2010at 14:36(#)
hi mat. let’s tackle your concerns one by one.
1) yes, a letter of support from your parents will do just fine as long as they enclose their own financial documents such as bank certificates and ITR forms as proof that they will be able to cover your travel expenses.
2) yes, that is a legitimate concern — but if you state that this trip was a vacation after college and that you intend to come back to the philippines after your holiday it should be okay (and just to be sure, include a photocopy of your diploma to back up your claim).
3) any resident of japan (including foreigners), or any japanese citizen living abroad may issue a letter of invitation. your teacher can state that he or she is taking you to see a concert in that letter.
4) yes, you need to write down the address of your teacher’s friend. you will need to ask your teacher though to inform his or her friend of your arrival, as the immigration office may call to confirm that you will be staying over at his/her place.
5) she can include her personal details with the letter of invitation such as photocopies of her passport, etc., as well as other evidence of your relationship such as photos of you together or materials where your names were published together as part of a group (school yearbook, newspaper, magazine, etc.).
good luck with your application!
August 27th, 2010at 14:50(#)
thanks very much! that’s one fast reply! ^_^
um, so for my parents’ letter of support, my letter explaining that it’s just a vacation and my teacher’s letter of invitation, those can be self-made letters? I mean I don’t have to use the forms from the Embassy, I just have to make sure we mention all the essential details and submit the necessary documents to back them up?
August 27th, 2010at 14:58(#)
yes, you can make your own — just get it signed (and notarized even, if you’re feeling paranoid) and list down all the supporting documents you are attaching with the letter, and you’re good to go.
August 27th, 2010at 15:24(#)
Thanks again! ^_^ I feel so much better…