Do I need a visa just for sightseeing? Explanation of when you need a tourist visa for Japan and how long it takes!

update date 2024/04/03

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A "tourist visa" is required for foreigners traveling to Japan.

The tourist visa, also called a short-term visa, is for those who wish to enter the country for a short period of time, not only for sightseeing purposes but also for visiting relatives or business meetings.

This article will explain in detail when a tourist visa is required for Japan, its duration, the characteristics of a tourist visa, and how to apply for one.

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Are there countries that require visas for sightseeing in Japan and those that do not?

A tourist visa for Japan may or may not be required based on nationality.

Countries that have visa exemption agreements with Japan may enter without a tourist visa, while countries that do not have visa exemption agreements, such as Russia, China, the Philippines, and Vietnam, require a tourist visa in principle.

As of 2024, there are 71 countries and regions with visa exemption agreements.

United States of America
Canada
Korea
Taiwan
Singapore
Brazil
Mexico
Austria
Turkey
Tunisia, etc.

Even countries that are exempted from tourist visa requirements may have conditions, such as "possession of an ICAO standard IC passport is required" or "pre-registration of passport at the embassy or consulate is required.

If you do not meet the requirements, you may not be allowed to enter Japan, even if you are from a tourist visa waiver country, due to strict immigration checks upon entry, so be sure to check the conditions and other information carefully before leaving Japan.

Reference:Visa Waiver Countries and Regions (Temporary Visitor)｜Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan

Tourist visas and their duration in Japan

Next, we will discuss what you can and cannot do with a Japanese tourist visa and the duration of the visa.

What you can do with a tourist visa

A tourist visa is based on the assumption that you will return to your country after a certain period of time. Basically, it cannot be extended.

Within the period of stay, visitors can enter the country for various purposes such as sightseeing, visiting relatives or friends, participating in or watching a sporting event, or treatment of illness.

What you cannot do with a tourist visa

A tourist visa is not a work visa and prohibits activities for which remuneration is received.

Even if you want to take your time to sightsee while working part-time in Japan, you cannot engage in any activity that will generate remuneration.

Period of validity of tourist visa

The validity period of a tourist visa is 15, 30, or 90 days, which you can choose and apply for yourself at the time of application. Basically, if you are traveling, you should have a specific date or number of days in mind, so please apply for the minimum number of days required.

Even if you apply for a 90-day visa, the longer you stay, the more likely it is that you will not be granted a visa.

Please note that if your visa is denied, you will not be able to reapply for a period of 6 months thereafter.

Of course, if you actually stay in Japan for about 90 days and have a solid timetable for the duration of your stay, you will be granted a 90-day period of stay.

Documents required for tourist visa

The documents required to obtain a tourist visa depend on the applicant's nationality, place of residence, and purpose of travel.

In addition, the required documents differ depending on whether the person in the foreign country is the main applicant or whether the person in Japan is inviting the foreigner to Japan.

Therefore, we strongly recommend that you confirm the required documents with the Japanese embassy or consulate in your country when applying for a tourist visa.

The following documents are basically required if the application is mainly made by a person in a foreign country.

passport
visa application form
Photo
itinerary of one's stay
Airline reservation confirmation, etc.

When a person in Japan invites a foreigner to Japan, the following documents must be prepared by the person in Japan and mailed to the foreigner.

invitation letter (e.g. document in support of a visa to enter Japan)
itinerary of one's stay
personal reference
Documents proving the relationship (family register, birth certificate, photographs, letters, etc.), etc.

Reference:Overseas Travel and Stay｜Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan

How and where to apply for a tourist visa

Applications for tourist visas are made at the Japanese embassy or consulate in each country. The procedure differs slightly depending on whether you are inviting a person in a foreign country to Japan or whether the person in the foreign country is the main applicant.

For the sake of clarity, we will refer to foreigners coming to Japan as "applicants" and people in Japan as "Japanese.

【Flow of inviting foreign nationals to Japan】

	doer	flow
1	Japanese and applicants	【 Plan 】 Plan in Japan.
2	Japanese people	【 Document Preparation 】 Prepare necessary documents such as letter of reasons for invitation and schedule of stay.
3	Japanese people	【 Mail 】 Send the prepared documents to the foreigner you are inviting to Japan.
4	applicant	【 Application 】 Apply for a visa at the Japanese embassy or consulate nearest to your place of residence with the documents sent from Japan, your passport and visa application documents.
5		【 examination 】 The examination period for issuance or non-issuance is approximately one week.
6	applicant	【 Visa Issuance 】 After passing the examination, you will be issued a visa. The visa is valid for three months from the day after it is issued.

【 when the foreigner is the main applicant 】 when the foreigner is the main applicant

If a foreigner is going through the procedures on his/her own, e.g., for tourism purposes, the process starts from 4 in the above table.

You can apply by preparing the necessary documents and submitting them to the nearest Japanese embassy or consulate.

summary

In this issue, we explained the required documents and application procedures for tourist visas.

The visa processing time is usually around one week, but if the application is incomplete, incomplete, or questionable, it may take up to one month to process the application.

Since you cannot enter the country without a tourist visa, you should apply for one as soon as possible after you have decided on your travel plans.

If you are considering working as well as sightseeing in Japan, please refer to the following articles.
▶︎ I cannot work with a tourist visa! When is it possible to work in Japan?