Frequently Asked Questions on Visas and Visiting Japan

Q1: I want to visit Japan. Do I need a visa?

A1a: A person holding a passport from a visa-exempt country or region does not need a visa to visit Japan if their period of stay will be 90 days or less AND they will not be engaging in income-earning activities. Refer to the List of Countries and Regions that have Visa Exemption Arrangements with Japan. The U.S. is a visa exempt country, and U.S. passport holders do not need a visa for short-term visits to Japan.

A1b: A person holding a passport from a country that does not have a visa exemption arrangement with Japan will need a visa to for a short visit to Japan, regardless of purpose, even if they are a long-term resident of a visa-exempt country such as the U.S.

A1c: Visa exemption does not apply for longer periods of stay beyond 90 days and for purposes involving income-earning activities, regardless the passport holder’s nationality.

Q2: I am a U.S. passport holder. Do I need a visa to travel to Japan to participate in an academic, business, cultural, or professional activity such as giving a lecture at a university, taking a language class, attending a conference, meeting with a business client, etc.?

A2: If you hold a U.S. passport or passport from another from a visa-exempt country or region and your planned period of stay does not exceed 90 days, you will not need a visa as long as you are not receiving remuneration or business revenue from a Japanese employer or another entity in Japan during your stay. 

Q3: Where should I apply for a Japanese visa?

A3a: You must apply for a visa to the Japanese embassy or consulate that has jurisdiction over the area where you live. Residents of Washington State, the northern part of Idaho, and Montana, including U.S. nations and long-term resident aliens, should apply to the Consulate General of Japan in Seattle. Visa applications can be sent to the Consulate by mail or dropped off at the Consulate’s main public lobby without scheduling an appointment during regular business hours. Short-term, single-entry visa applicants with tourism purpose now have the option to apply using Japan’s eVisa online system. Applications for short-term with business or visiting relative/ acquaintance purpose, multi-entry and long-term visas must be submitted by mail or dropped off at the Consulate.

A3b: Please see a separate FAQ about Japan’s eVisa system. 

Q4: What should I keep in mind when preparing application packet?

A4a: When preparing your application packet for mailing or dropping off, please DO NOT staple documents together. Removing staples adds processing time to applications. Paperclips are not necessary for organizing and dividing different types of documents in an application.

A4b: Each applicant is required to submit their own separate and complete visa application; however, the separate applications for individuals in the same household can be enclosed in one envelope when dropping off or mailing to the Consulate. You may paper-clip together each separate application when submitting multiple applications for members of the same household. 

Q5: Can I call or visit the Consulate to consult with someone in the visa department before applying for a visa?

A5: The Consulate does not offer consultations for visa applicants before or during processing. Please refer to the Consulate’s website for detailed information on visa requirements and application process. You may call the Japan Visa Information Hotline if you still have questions before applying. 24-7 Japan Visa Information Hotline (English) TEL: ＋1-202-499-1468

Q6. When should I apply for visa?

A6: Once issued by the Consulate, a visa typically must be used for travel within three months; therefore, three months prior to the date of your planned visit to Japan is the earliest that you may apply for a visa. We recommend applying for a visa at least one-and-a-half months before your planned departure date. We cannot accept visa applications more than 3 months prior to a scheduled departure date. Q7: How long will it take to process my visa?

Q7: How long will it take to process my visa?

A7: Generally, the processing time for visas is around 5-7 business days – excluding weekends and Consulate holidays – starting the next business day after it is received by the Consulate. if your application is complete with ALL required documents enclosed. Additional days are required for shipping the completed visa back to you. Processing time may take longer if your application is not complete, there are required documents or information missing, or if we need to refer an application case to our headquarters for further review. The Consulate CANNOT GUARANTEE a completion time for visa applications and it is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure enough time before the desired date of travel.

Q8: I mailed or dropped off my visa application on a certain date. Can the Consulate confirm that my application was received and provide me with an estimated completion date?

A8a: Generally, NO, the Consulate does not provide applicants with a confirmation email with an estimated completion date when a visa application is received. You should not expect any communication from the Consulate unless there is a problem with your application. If you wish to know the status, please add tracking service to both the shipping and return envelopes. A8b: We generally do not answer any questions regarding the status of receipt and review of individual applications, by phone, email, or otherwise. The approximate processing time for visas is explained in the answer A7 and, again, the Consulate does not provide an estimated or guarantee a completion time.

Q9: My departure date is close. Do you have an expedited service for issuing visas? Can I or someone else pick up my passport and completed visa at Consulate office?

A9: We DO NOT offer expedited processing. The Consulate processes applications in the order in which we receive them. Also, we DO NOT issue completed visas in person at consulate office, and all documents will be returned by mail. If it has been more than several weeks since you submitted your application and your planned date of departure is getting close, you may contact the Consulate to confirm if the processing of your visa has been completed.

Q10: I forgot to include the fee or another required documents in my application. What should I do?

A10: The Consulate will contact you if anything required for your application is missing, and provide instructions for submitting the missing item. Please be aware that required items missing from your application will slow the processing time.

Q11. I have submitted my visa application, but due to an emergency or change of plans I need my passport back. What should I do and does this affect my visa application?

A11. If you experience circumstances out of your control and need your passport back before your visa application is complete, you may contact the Consulate and arrange to have your passport returned. We cannot process your application without your passport but can hold on to your documents for a limited time and restart the process when you return your passport.

Q12: I am applying for a multiple-entry short-term visa. Is this guaranteed and what happens if a multiple-entry visa is not granted?

A12: When submitting an application, there is NO GUARANTEE that you will be granted the desired visa type and duration. It is possible that an applicant for a short-term multiple-entry visa will only be granted a single-entry visa. In this case, the extra fee for the multiple-entry visa will be refunded, and you may request a multiple-entry visa again in the future. Once a visa is issued, there is no process for modifying a single-entry visa to a multi-entry visa.

Q13. What kind of a return envelope do I need to prepare for having my completed visa and passport sent back to me?

A13a: A self-addressed postage-paid envelope using the U.S. Postal Service or FedEx should be included in your application packet along with the Release of Liability. Our office is not responsible for any loss or delay of documents in the mail.

A13b: Please use the visa applicant's own name and address for both the sender and recipient addresses when creating the FEDEX shipping label for the return envelope. DO NOT use the name and address of the consulate as the sender. Only one return envelope is needed for multiple visa applicants in the same household using the same address.

Q14: I am here in the U.S. on the B1/B2 or temporary visa status. Can I apply for a Japanese visa while I am in the U.S.?

A14: NO, only those who have long-term residency status in the U.S. can apply for a visa at the Japanese Consulate were they reside. Please include a proof of residency document in your Japan visa application. Proof of residency includes:
- U.S. passport (U.S. citizen)
- Alien registration card (e.g. U.S. green card)
- Valid long-term visa (e.g. F1, J1, H1B, etc.) 

Q15: I would like to apply for a long-term visa for Japan to work, study, or live with my family. How can I obtain for the Certificate of Eligibility (COE)?

A15a: Your employer, school, or the party/individual such as a spouse that is inviting you to live in Japan should apply for the COE in Japan through the Ministry of Justice - Immigration Services Agency of Japan. Please visit their website for more information.

A15b: Applications for the COE are not made through the Consulate and the Consulate does not issue the COE. Once you receive the COE from Japan, you can apply for your visa at the Consulate.

A15c: The Consulate can accept a printed copy of the electronic COE with a visa application. 

Q16: I plan to travel to another country via short layover in Japan. Do I need a visa?

A16a: If you hold a passport from a visa-exempt country or region, including the U.S., you do not need a visa when transiting Japan during travel to another country.

A16b: For other passport holders, if you are not going through immigration and passport control at the airport in Japan and you possess a confirmed airline ticket for the third country, then you will not need a visa. Please confirm directly with your airline whether or not you will be going through immigration and passport control before applying for a visa.

A16c: Points to note when changing planes at airports in Japan: - Tokyo-Haneda, Osaka-Kansai International, and Nagoya-Centrair airports operate 24 hours a day, and you can stay in the international departure lounge at those airports without going through immigration and passport control.
- Cases requiring a transit visa (if not a national of visa-exempt country)

• Tokyo-Narita Airport does not operate 24 hours a day. You cannot stay at the airport between 12:00am and 6:00am and a transit visa will be required if you have a transfer at Narita that spans two days.
• If you change airports, for example between Narita and Haneda, you need a transit visa.
• A transit visa is required to pick up your luggage at an airport. 

Q17: My passport does not have 6 months of validity from the time when I will enter Japan. Do I need a new passport?

A17: NO, as long as your passport is valid during the time of your stay in Japan, it should not be a problem.

Q18: I am a U.S. passport holder planning a short-term tourism visit to Japan but am not sure yet how long I will stay. Can I enter the country with a one-way ticket?

A18: Even if you are a passport holder from the U.S. or another country or region with a visa exemption arrangement with Japan, you are still required to have a return ticket or a ticket for departing Japan to a different country within 90 days. You could be denied entry into Japan if you fail to present a departure ticket within the 90-day visa exemption period.

Q19: I have a criminal record/I have been arrested before. Can I still enter Japan?

A19: It depends on the criminal charge. The Immigration Services Agency will determine your eligibility for entering Japan when you arrive and may deny you entry based on a criminal record. Before your planned trip, please obtain documents showing the result of a disposition such as a court record, then inquire directly with the Immigration Services Agency to determine if you will have any problems entering Japan.

Q20: I am a minor (under 18 years old) and plan to travel to Japan by myself. Is this allowed and do I need to bring any special documentation?

A20: Minors under the age of 18 can enter Japan by themselves without parental permission. All other visa and entry requirements will apply. Airlines and departure countries may have separate policies and requirements that apply to minors traveling alone.