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Simple Ways to Get Your Japan Tourist Visa Fast
Japan is one of my favourite countries, with its stunning landscapes, Mount Fuji, unique architecture, and delicious desserts.
Even 24 days there with my spouse, Ashrith, wasn’t enough!
You may research JR Pass options and ways to save money on Japan trip, but without a proper tourist visa, your plans could be at risk.
With an Indian passport, getting a tourist visa often means dealing with a pile of documents. We’ve become pros at navigating this process!
In this guide, we’ll explain who needs a visa for Japan, where and how to get it, the required documents, and essential tips like the minimum bank balance for a Japan tourist visa.
If you’d like to simplify the visa process, we’ve got you covered with a reliable agency. Let’s gather your documents and get your Japan Short Term Visa sorted!
How do I know if I need a visa for Japan as a Tourist?
To find out if you need a visa to visit Japan, check your eligibility on the Japan MFA website. Over 70 countries are exempt, while some nationalities qualify for an electronic visa. Countries like India, the Philippines, and Indonesia require a sticker visa.
Is it easy to get a Japan tourist visa for Indians?
Yes, getting a Japan tourist visa for Indian citizens is simpler than getting Schengen visa for countries like Austria
With the help of iVisa, which provides clear details and formats, along with VFS website information, there’s no ambiguity in the process.
However, Indian citizens, are not eligible for an e-visa or visa on arrival in Japan.
Type of Japan Tourist Visa
There are two types : Multiple Entry and Single Entry.
As a tourist, you will most likely need a Single Entry Visa. This short-term visa is valid for 90 days and allows a stay of up to 90 days per entry.
What are the documents required for a Japan tourist visa
- A valid passport (with at least two blank pages) – and don’t forget any old ones!
- A photocopy of your current passport’s bio-data page (front and back).
- A fully filled and signed visa application form – Download it from here
- A recent passport-sized photo (taken in the last 6 months with a white background – no selfies, please!).
- Covering letter (Say that you want to see some cool places in Japan and eat a lot of good food, but keep it professional).
- Your flight details to and from Japan.
- Your Japan itinerary (including hotel info and contacts – Make up this one, you need not stick to it – You need not add minute things like you will be visiting teamLabs or visiting a Sumo Training Stable).
- Latest income tax return (previous 3 years)
- Bank statement for the last 6 months – Make sure, you have enough money and the account is active
- If you’re a student or dependent: Consent from parents/spouse and their income proof.
- Proof of relationship (if you’re bringing dependents, like a marriage or birth certificate).
How much bank balance is required for a Japan tourist visa?
To meet the minimum bank balance requirement for a Japan tourist visa, it’s best to have at least 50% of your estimated Japan trip cost in your bank account.
For example, our total cost for flights and hotels booked for the visa was around 5 lakhs INR for 24 days, so we made sure to have 2.5 lakhs in each of our accounts.
Including your last 6 months’ credit card statement isn’t mandatory, but it adds extra weight to prove your financial means for travelling in Japan. We always do this, and it hardly takes any time to get an online print of it.
How far in advance should I apply for Japan Short Term visa?
Apply for your Japan Travel Permit at least 1.5 months in advance to avoid delays from holidays or unexpected closures, and to get your passport back within 10 days. This also gives you enough time to order your Japan Rail Pass and mobile SIM,
These need to be delivered to your home. I recommend ordering these only after getting your visa, as they are non-refundable and expensive essentials.
For example, when we applied for our Egypt tourist visa, the Christmas holiday meant the Egypt embassy in my city was closed for ten days! This could happen with the Japan embassy too.
The JR Pass exchange order must be in your hand before you leave for Japan, and this can take about ten days.
A local Japanese mobile SIM is also a must for all travellers going to Japan, and it can only be bought online. If you want the SIM to be shipped to your home address, it also takes around ten days.
There are also tours like the Sumo stable visits (which I absolutely loved) and the Tuna fish auction — and trust me, even as a vegetarian traveller in Japan, it was so much fun to watch!
These need to be booked early since on-the-spot bookings aren’t an option. So, applying for your the visa at least 1.5 months in advance is your best bet to plan and enjoy these unique experiences.
Does a Japan visa get rejected?
Yes, a Japan visa can be rejected if you don’t pay attention to document details.
Since Japan is an Asian country, many travellers might miss the specific requirements set by the Japan MFA, resulting in rejection for small details.
For instance, if you’re an employee like me and Ashrith, your No Objection Certificate (NOC) or leave approval letter must be addressed to “The Visa Officer, Japan Consulate of [your city].” A generic “To Whom It May Concern” won’t do.
Another common reason for rejection is the bank statement. Ensure you use an account with regular transactions; submitting a statement from an inactive account or one with a sudden large deposit can raise suspicion and lead to rejection.
Additional Advice or Tips for the Application
- Address the application to the Japan consulate in your city.
- Keep your content precise and professional, mentioning that your purpose is tourism and highlighting a few places in Japan you’re excited to visit.
- Double-check and clearly state your travel dates and duration.
- Use a text-number format for dates (e.g., September 12, 2024) to avoid confusion.
- Ensure the bank statement you provide is from an account that is at least a year old, with recent and active transactions, and has sufficient funds (at least 50% of your estimated Japan trip budget).
- Include a list of the documents you are submitting along with any supporting documents.
How can I get a tourist visa for Japan?
It may be daunting for many to arrange many documents with precise details and submit it to the embassy. If you need your Japan travel permit without hassle, I recommend you go through i-Visa. like we did.
They always have latest updates in terms of visa specifications. So that you don’t have t worry about the last minute surprises. They have made it easier to get many of my visas.
How much is Japan visa fee?
The cost of a short-term Japan tourist visa varies by nationality. For us as Indians, it cost INR 3,500 for a single-entry visa through iVisa, which made the process hassle-free. Other agencies may charge even more!
How Long Does It Take to Process Japan Short Term Visa?
The consulate takes about five working days to process the request. So, expect your approved or denied passport to reach you within 8-10 days after submission.
We received our approved Visa within nine days after submitting the application.
What Do I Do After Receiving Japan Tourist Visa?
After you get your Japan visa, start freezing your travel plans. Learn how to use Japan public transport — they have the most efficient railway and bus system in the world.
If you’re a vegetarian going to Japan, you’ll need to know a few things about this beef pork, seafood dominated country.
Add a variety of places – Kyoto for culture and Hiroshima for history and nature.
This island country is easy to travel around but expensive. Learn some tricks to save money in Japan, like eating at 7/11 and buying city passes.
Make an effort to be aware of Japanese etiquette — best to learn how to use chopsticks!
Then pack your bags wisely, depending on the season. The way you pack for a Japan trip in December winter versus summer varies drastically.
Watch some anime movies — it’s part of Japanese culture, and it’s super cool to visit some places in Japan where anime is based on.
Figure out how to reach the city centre from the airport. Haneda and Narita in Tokyo, and Kansai (Osaka) have trains, but they don’t run from 11:30 pm to 5:30 am.
If you arrive during these hours like we did, you’ll need to take a taxi — easy to find but quite expensive.
How to clear immigration in Japan?
Clearing Japan immigration isn’t difficult if you have a valid visa and passport, as there are no peculiar rules, similar to many other countries. All the customs you need to follow at Japan immigration are provided on their official website.
They stamp “Temporary Visitor Status” on your passport – a cool-looking stamp featuring Mount Fuji, the date of arrival, and the duration, with the status marked as “Temporary.
This stamp is essential for availing of tax-free shopping when buying souvenirs and swapping your exchange order for Japan Rail Pass at JR Stations
How long does it take to get through Japan immigration?
Japan moves at the speed of light in everything, but the immigration process at the airport can take anywhere from 1.5 to 3 hours, depending on the season and your time of arrival – Japan is indeed a popular destination. So expect crowd.
We landed at Haneda Airport in December at 10:30 pm, and it took us an hour to clear immigration, even though it wasn’t a tourist season.
During Sakura (mid-March to mid-May), it can easily take 3 hours at Japan airport immigration.
What facilities do Japan airports have?
Japan airports have currency exchange centres, IC card vending machines (essential for tourists), mobile SIM pickup stalls (which you should apply for before arrival), plenty of restaurants, souvenir shops, cafes, toilets, and hotels.
Currency exchange kiosks operate 24/7, but most shops, including SIM pickup points, close by evening. Souvenir shops close by 9 pm, and a few restaurants remain open all the time.
Is Haneda Airport easy to navigate?
Yes, Haneda Airport is very easy to navigate. The Japanese have perfected displaying the right information at the right spots in a clear and appealing way, and they are incredibly friendly! (I used to think Iranians were the nicest, but the Japanese are on another level).
Learn a few Japanese phrases, and if you don’t speak Japanese, just talk slowly in English — their pronunciation can differ from ours.
Either way, Haneda Airport is well-equipped, so you’ll find it easy to get around
Was our post helpful for you in getting your Japan tourist Visa? Let us know in the comment section below.
