Q1: Criteria of Visa Issuance
A: A Japanese visa will be issued to the applicant when he/she meets all of the following requirements and the issuance is considered to be appropriate.
(1) The applicant possesses a valid passport and is entitled to re-entry a country of his/her nationality or a country of his/her residence.
(2) All submitted documents are authentic, completed and satisfactory.
(3) The activities to be engaged in Japan, the civil status or the position of the applicant and the period of stay meet the requirements for the status of residence and the period of stay stipulated by the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act. (Cabinet Order No.319 of 1951. Hereinafter referred to as the "Immigration Control Act.")
(4) The applicant does not fall under any of the items of Article 5, Paragraph 1 of the Immigration Control Act.
Q2: Why was my visa application not accepted?
A: If any of the following cases apply to you, your application may not be accepted.
(1) Applications from people holding Japanese nationality
(2) The application is submitted to a Japanese Embassy / Consulate General out of your country (region) of birth or country (region) of residence.
(3) You currently hold a valid visa or re-entry permit.
(4) You reapply to visit Japan for the same specific purpose within six months from the rejection.
(5) The visa application is already being processed at a different Japanese Embassy / Consulate General.
(6) There are some errors or omissions in the submitted documents.
(7) The period of validity or the visa attachment space of your passport is insufficient.
(8) The application is made by a person who does not have the qualifications to make a proxy application.
(9) An application for issuance of a Certificate of Eligibility is still pending.
Q3: How long is the application examination period?
A: The standard processing period is five working days from the day after the date of the acceptance of application. However, if any confirmation is required (the submission of additional documents, an interview with the applicant, inquiries, etc.), or if a visa applicant applies for a visa for the purpose of a long-term stay without a Certificate of Eligibility, etc., the examination may take longer than five working days (from several weeks to several months). Therefore, it is recommended that you make the application as early as possible before the scheduled date of departure.
Q4: My departure date is approaching, so could you issue the visa as soon as possible?
A: We cannot make a decision on whether or not to issue the visa until the necessary examination has been completed. We process the applications fairly on a first-come, first-served basis. Apply for the visa as soon as possible once your travel plan is made.
Q5: Why was I asked to provide additional documents?
A: Sometimes additional information will be required for the examination process, and sometimes you will be asked to submit extra documents in addition to the documents indicated as the necessary documents. Each applicant has different conditions and circumstances, and sometimes we are not aware of these until the application has been accepted; therefore there are some documents that we do not ask everyone to submit from the beginning. If you do not submit the additional documents, the examination cannot be processed any further, and you will not be able to get the visa.
Q6: I want to postpone my travel. How long will my visa be valid for?
A: The period of validity of a single-entry visa (which becomes invalid once you enter Japan) is basically three months. Enter Japan within three months of the issuance of the visa. If you wish to postpone your travel plan for longer than three months, you will be required to make another visa application.