Getting a Japan tourist visa is probably the most nerve-wrecking part of planning your trip. The fate of your trip will depend on the outcome of your application. Some say applying for a Japan tourist visa is a difficult process. I say it’s not – coming from someone who has already applied for tourist visas twice. It’s just like any other visa application process.
In 2015, I applied for a tourist visa with 2 friends for our 9-day Japan trip. All 3 of us were granted a single entry visa valid for a 15-day stay. Last year, I applied again for another tourist visa for my 13-day solo trip. Few days after, my passport came back with a 5-year multiple entry visa up to 2021. Good stuff, right?
My first ever Japan tourist visa!~ Of course I had to cover the visa details 😏
Let me show you how you can easily get your own Japan tourist visa. It’s simple as downloading & filling in the application form, preparing the necessary documents, applying through an accredited travel agency & getting back your passport after a few days. I will discuss these 4 easy steps in detail below (will also include some tips based on my personal experience). Allow me to also share some snaps I took in my past 2 trips to Japan.
Note: Some details below were obtained from the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines website. The tips below apply to people who are employed in a private company. Business owners can also use the steps below but they might need to submit a few more papers related to their businesses.
Step 1: Download & fill in the application form
The first step is to visit the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines website & check on the visa application requirements. Kick start your application by downloading the application form from the website. Make sure to print this form in an A4-size paper with proper margins. Alternatively, you can ask for application forms in the embassy entrance or in the accredited travel agencies.
Write down your details neat & clear using a black or blue pen only. The accomplished application form should not have any erasure.
Tokyo DisneySea is a must-see in Tokyo; allot 1 day for this theme park~
Step 2: Gather the necessary documents
The embassy requires certain documents to be presented in order for them to decide on your application. Why is this so? It’s because they need to see that you are a registered Filipino citizen, you are qualified to go out of the country, you are capable of supporting your trip & that you will come back to the Philippines after your trip.
So what are the documents the Embassy of Japan require? Please see the not-so-long list below:
Valid Passport – Your passport must be valid for more than 6 months during your trip. The laminated part should be in perfect condition. It must have your signature & have at least 2 blank pages.
Birth Certificate & (if married) Marriage Contract – Both documents should be obtained from the National Statistics Office & must be issued within the past 12 months. You can check lower left portion of your document (near the bar code) to see the date your document was issued. If you do not have time to go to the NSO to get these documents, you can always request from the E-Census & NSO Helpline websites & they’ll have them delivered to your doorsteps.
Note: If you have a used Japan visa in your old or valid passport, you are exempted from submitting this requirement. The embassy already has a copy of your documents when you submitted them before.
Photo – The embassy website mentions that the photo should be 4.5 cm x 4.5 cm with white background. It’s best to wear something formal when having your photo taken. You only need 1 photo that you will attach in the application form.
Don’t miss the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest in Kyoto! 😍
Income Tax Return / BIR Form 2316 – You need to submit a copy of your latest income tax return. The form needs to have your signature. This will show the amount you earned for the past year as well as the amount of taxes you paid to the Philippine government.
Certificate of Employment – This is not listed in the embassy’s requirements but the agencies require this. You need to ask for this certificate from your HR officer. The certificate should contain your gross annual income, position & date when you started working for your employer. It’s best to get it on the same week of the application.
Bank Certificate – The embassy won’t tell you how much money you need to have in your account when you apply for the visa. However, the agencies require that you need to have at least ₱100,000.00 in your account. I know it’s quite a big amount of money. As of June 2023, the Embassy of Japan in the Phillippine added some requirements. First, the bank certificates should now include the account’s ADB or average daily balance. Second, if the bank certificate has no ADB and the applicant has no BIR Income Tax For, then the applicant should provide the account’s bank statement for the last 3 months.
Daily Schedule in Japan / Taizai Nitteihyo – Japan is one of the very few countries that ask for the detailed itinerary of your stay. The embassy needs to see what days are you arriving & leaving Japan, where will you stay (includes physical address, email address & phone number) & which places / areas are you going to explore. The embassy DOES NOT REQUIRE confirmed airline tickets & hotel / hostel reservations; you can just indicate your intended flights & hotel accommodations in the daily schedule. If you want a sample itinerary, I can send you the one we used 2 years ago. Feel free to send me an email to request for the said copy.
Osaka’s Dōtonbori canal at night + the famous Glico Man
TIP: It is always better to apply for a visa as a tourist rather than a visitor of a friend or a relative. The latter requires additional documents (invitation letter, photo, etc) that need to be submitted together with your application.
TIP 2.0: Some people previously ask me why did I book my airline tickets without having a Japan tourist visa. I told them that I would take a risk & spend less than ₱5,000 (before) for round-trip ticket rather than spend ₱15,000 – ₱20,000 pesos on a round-trip ticket last minute. I’ve saved more which I can add up to my daily expenses in Japan. Of course, you lose ₱5,000 if you get denied. If your documents are complete, I don’t see any reason why your application will rejected.
Step 3: Apply in a Japanese Embassy accredited travel agency
Now that you already have your application form & requirements, it’s time to submit them to the relevant agency. The Embassy of Japan in the Philippines does not directly accept visa applications. The office has authorized a handful of travel agencies that can accept these visa applications with, of course, a handling fee. These applications are compiled daily & are being sent to the embassy for processing.
I personally recommend Reli Tours & Travel Agency. They have one of the cheapest visa handling fees among the agencies (only ₱950) for tourist visa applications with no guarantors. They have different branches here in Metro Manila; my last 2 applications were handled by their Dusit Thani Hotel office.
All documents will be checked before your application will be accepted. After everything has been checked & accepted, they will ask for the visa handling fee. They will give you a receipt + a stub which you will present when claiming your passport. Applications usually take 3-7 working days.
TIP: If you want Reli Tours to submit your documents next day , make sure to hand over your applications before 5:00 pm in the Dusit Thani Hotel office. Any application submitted after 5:00 will still be accepted that same day; but will be submitted 2 days after. Note that other Reli branches have different cut-off times.
USJ’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter should be in everyone’s list!
Step 4: Go back to the agency & claim your passport
The agency will normally send you a text message once your passport is ready for claiming. Note that they will not inform you if you have been granted a visa or not. You will only know if you were granted a visa when you sign the passport release sheet with a check mark in the ‘Yes‘ box.
You can either be granted a single entry visa valid for 3 months from the date of issue & is valid for a 15-day stay in Japan or a multiple entry visa valid for x years (can be 1, 2 or up to 5 years) from the date of issue & is valid for a 30-day stay per entry.
TIP: Passports can only be claimed in the afternoon from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Make sure to go there on time.
The list of requirements might be a little intimidating; but I tell you, once you are done gathering all the necessary requirements, the visa application process will be as easy as these 4 steps! So what are you waiting for? Book your plane tickets, gather all the needed documents & apply for your Japan visa as soon as possible. A trip to Japan is something you won’t regret. 😉
My 5-year multiple entry Japan tourist visa issued last year 😏
Have you encountered any problem when you applied for your Japan visa? Did the agency require additional documents from you? Do you have any questions or clarifications with the things mentioned above? Feel free to post them in the comments – it’s always nice to hear from you guys.
Alternatively, you can also send your questions & thoughts to contact@thewkndtravel.com or via Facebook, Instagram & Twitter. Thank you for reading & have a nice day!
PS. All photos above were shot using my HTC Re & HTC One M8.
Hi! I submitted mine last Friday, and have been asking for a follow up since Tuesday. My flight’s on Saturday, 11pm. Do you think I’ll be able yo get my passport and visa before my flight? 🙁
Hi, thank you for reading my blog post. Submitted my 1st application on a Friday, got it the following Thursday. Dapat andyan na yun, you got it na?
Oh wow! They told me nasa embassy pa. I asked if there’s any way I can get it there na lang, and they told me it takes 2 days to release my passport. It’s super hassling! 🙁
I think you can’t get it sa embassy. Sila mismo ang kukuha nun. Hassle nga yan. I hope makuha mo siya before your trip. All the best! 😊
Hi. Your blog is such a great help. But can I apply for my fiance and my japan visa without actually going to the authorized agency’s office? We’re from Zamboanga and the only available branches of the agencies are in Manila, Davao or Cebu.
Hi Maevelyn! Thank you for reading my blog. The best way to go with your situation is to apply via a local agency in Zamboanga, then they will be the one to send the application to the accredited agencies in Manila, Davao or Cebu. Hope this helps. Have a nice day! 😊
Hi, do they only ask for a bank certificate or a bank certificate with bank statement? Thank you.
Hi, only bank certificate and not bank statement. 😊
Hi! How if I will request in the bank that they will not indicate the amount or balance in my account in getting my bank certificate. Is it possible to grant my application in the embassy of japan?
Hi, the bank is required indicate the amount of money in your bank certificate. The embassy also needs to see the amount of money you have in the account.
Hi. If you have already a visa, interviewhin pa ba sa immigration?
Hi, it depends on the immigration officer. Yung iba may mga tinatanong lang. Yung iba naman, walang tanong. Hindi ko masasabi yan eh, just prepare to answer if tanungin kayo. Thanks.
Hi, makaka-affect po kaya sa application ko if airbnb lng ung pagstayan ko at hndi sa tokyo? I booked kasi sa chiba since malapit dun ung fiance ko, but i read na its easier to apply as a tourist instead na may ivivisit. Di po kaya maka-affect na sa chiba ako ngbooked pero karamihan ng ppuntahan namin ay nsa tokyo area? Thank you so much😊😊
Hi, I think hindi naman maapektuhan yung application mo. As long as you won’t mention anything about your fiance and magapply ka ng visa as tourist.
hi kailangan bang magreserve ng flight for itinerary tapos yun ang ilalagay mo sa daily schedule form OR pwedeng hindi magreserve ng flight pero lalagay mo yung napili mong airline flight sa daily schedule form? Thanks
Hi Mike, hindi naman required ang ticket when you apply for your Japan visa. Ok lang na ilagay mo yung preferred flight schedule & then book nalang after makuha yung visa.
I have all the requirements except for ITR and COE since self-employed status ko (online work), what should I give them instead of the COE? Thanks for this post by the way.
Hi Weng, if you’re self employed, you still need to provide your ITR (Form 2316/ 1700/ 1701/ 1702) original & photocopy. If you don’t have it, you can write a letter explaining why you don’t have it. Thanks for reading my article.
October 17, 2018 na-received ni Japan Embassy yung application for tourist visa until now (November 15, 2018) wala pa din
Tatlo kami nag apply – 12 days – paid flight na po MNL to FUK, FUK to OSK, OSK to MNL
Sa November 27 na sana lipad namen kaso wala pa kami visa
Lahat naman kami working at may ITR. Yung friend ko na isa at ako may letter of intent pa, yung isa wala sinubmit na letter.
Bank certificate:
Me – 180k with 98k ADB
Friend 1 – 126k
Friend 2 – 106k
Travel History:
Me: HK 3x, Macau, Malaysia (Kota Kinabalu / Kuala Lumpur), Japan 9days (2018)
Friend 1 – HK, Malaysia (Kota Kinabalu / Kuala Lumpur)
Friend 2 – HK, Malaysia (Kota Kinabalu / Kuala Lumpur), Japan 9days (2018)
PS:
Recently I was granted with Canada Tourist Visa (October 2018) Multiple Entry until my passport expiry
Ang sad until now wala pa decision samen tatlo
Hi Andrea, I am very sorry to hear na up to now wala pa rin decision yung application ninyo. Can you follow up sa agency na pinag-applyan niyo? Baka kasi nakalimutan nila i-apply or andun na pala hindi lang kayo sinasabihan? My friends applied sa Reli Tours Dusit 2 weeks ago, they got their visas 2 days after. Alam ko dapat mabilis lang yan so worth checking. All the best & magagrant yan!! 🙂
Hello, i read your blog and it is really helpful. I have a question though. We booked the flight nung nagkaroon ng promo fare and we will now be applying for Japan Visa ( group of 6 people). I am wondering kng okay lang ba na 5 days itinerary lang muna ang gawin for the sake of visa application then once I got the visa, then that’s the time na we can plan ahead. I booked the flight kasi for 8 days and I got 80K in my bank account, though sabi naman nila ideally 10K per day is enough, parang saktong sakto lang. of course in reality di naman kmi gagastos ng ganun kalaki kasi budget travellers. So im wondering kng okay lang ba yung 5 days iti nalang ang ideclare ko and not the actual 8 days trip.
Hi Yoshi, thank you for reading my post. Appreciate the good words. About dun sa tanong mo, yes that’s possible. The Japan Embassy doesn’t require tickets sa pag-apply mo ng visa. Ok lang na mag-apply ka ng visa with 5-days itinerary. Yung ginagrant naman nila na visas ay either single entry na pwede magstay sa Japan ng 15 days or multiple entry na pwede magstay ng 30 days. You’ll be fine, pasok naman yung 8 days sa both visas. Good luck sa application! 🙂
Na grant po ba visa nyo before your paid flight?
In my case po kasi yung kasama ko s tour na grant sa kanya in 2days. Pero saken until now wala pa text. Nag submit kami last friday Dec14 2018 and until now waiting pa din ako.
Hi there, na-grant naman yung visa ko nun before the flight. When yung flight niyo? Usually 1-2 weeks ang sinasabi na processing times ng visa. Nagvavary lang naman yung processing times per person. Hope you get your visa soon! 🙂
Na grant po ba visa nyo before your paid flight?
In my case po kasi yung kasama ko s tour na grant sa kanya in 2days. Pero saken until now wala pa text. Nag submit kami last friday Dec14 2018 and until now waiting pa din ako.
Hi there, na-grant naman yung visa ko nun before the flight. When yung flight niyo? Usually 1-2 weeks ang sinasabi na processing times ng visa. Nagvavary lang naman yung processing times per person. Hope you get your visa soon! 🙂
Hi Paolo,
Thanks for the great tip! Am planning to visit Kansai Region including Osaka, Kyoto, Nara and Kobe by early August this year and am starting to collate the documents needed. Love to read your blog – very helpful …
Jen
Hi Jen, you’re welcome. Glad to be of help to everyone. Excited for you to explore the Kansai region. Have fun!!! 🙂
Hi Paolo,
I just want to know your opinion with my plan of getting a toruist visa in Japan. May boyf ako dun but he’s a trainee pa so Iwas wondering if I should make him as an invitor tho I will cater all my expense but if I won’t declare him naman it would be suspicious if I will travel alone and I’m a female with no travel history pa what should be the best option? and should I write a letter to explain something to the embassy?
Hi Rayn, mas madaming hihingin na requirements sa’yo if you’ll put him as guarantor. Mas okay na apply ka on your own, wala naman problema na mag-isa ka & wala kang travel history as long as kumpleto ang requirements mo. No need to write the letter unless meron kang document or requirement na di available? All the best sa application! 🙂
Hello! I recently submitted my requirements for tourist with no guarantor. I only answered through the online form and I marked the passport type incorrectly so the staff at Reli Tours SM Southmall branch just erased it. Is it okay to have erasures? She didn’t ask me to write a new form and I am kinda worried for my application. One thing that could be a factor is I also recently got my korean visa so it could be a big factor for the Japan embassy to grant me a single entry right? It’s my first time applying that’s why I am really worried 😭
Hi Ericka, if the agency personnel did that & not you, that’s alright. The embassy will know 🙂 You’ll get a visa, don’t worry. Good luck! 🙂