World Country Guide

Passports
Passport valid for the duration of intended stay in Japan required by all.

Note
Whether or not they hold a visa, visitors who do not possess visible means of support for their stay, onward or return tickets, or other documents for their next destination, may be refused entry.

Visas
Required by all except the following for tourism, short-term business meetings or to attend a conference:
(a) nationals of countries referred to in the chart above for up to 90 days;
(b) nationals of Andorra, Argentina, The Bahamas, Barbados, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong (SAR and British National Overseas), Iceland, Israel, Lesotho, Macedonia, Mauritius, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, San Marino, Singapore, Suriname, Tunisia, Turkey and Uruguay for stays of up to three months;
(c) nationals of Brunei for stays of up to 14 days.

Note
Nationals of Austria, Germany, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Mexico and the UK may apply, while in Japan, to the local Immigration Department for an extension of up to a further 90 days.

Types of visa and cost
Temporary Visitor: £15. Transit:£6. Prices vary greatly according to nationality, the exchange rate and nature of intended visit. Visas for many nationals are issued free of charge.

Validity
Transit: 15 days. Temporary Visitor: 90 days. College Student: one or two years.

Application to
Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy); see Contact Addresses section. Applications for all visas must be made in person.

Application requirements
Temporary Visitor/Transit: (a) Valid passport. (b) Two completed application forms. (c) Two passport-size photos. (d) Proof of sufficient funds for stay (eg recent bank statement). (e) Fee (cash only). (f) Return air/sea ticket or copy. College Student: (a)-(e) and, (f) Copy of certificate of admission to Japanese educational institution.
Note: All visas must be applied for in person by each applicant. Once a visa has been issued, passports may be returned via post if a pre-paid, self-addressed, special delivery envelope is submitted.

Working days required
Five working days for applications that do not need referral to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tokyo. Up to four weeks if referral is needed. For those nationals that possess a Certificate of Eligibility, the processing time will be reduced to three days. Some types of visa may take three months or longer. Contact the nearest Consulate (or Consular section of the Embassy) for more information.

Temporary residence
Contact the nearest Consulate (or Consular section of the Embassy) for more information.