Visa (Short-term Visit: Tourism/Business/Conference/Study)

2025/4/15
  • This page is for person(s) visiting Japan for the purpose of visiting relatives/friends, sightseeing, a business trip (not involving paid activities), attending a conference or meeting, or studying within 90 days.
  • Please check if you need a visa to go to Japan: Who needs a visa?
  • We will NOT accept any visa application more than 3 months before your departure date.

ABOUT eVISA

eVISA
Eligibility
  • The eVISA (online application) is available ONLY for a short-term tourism visa (less than 90 days AND single entry).
  • For all other types of visa applications, including a short-term business visa, a short-term relatives/friends visiting visa, a transit visa, a double-entry visa, and a short-term tourism multiple-entry visa, you are required to apply at the Embassy in person.
Required
Documents
  • Even for the online application, you still must submit all the "required documents" listed below that are required for in-person applications.
eVISA Issuance
&
Payment
  • After you have submitted all the required documents, it takes at least 5 business days to issue the eVISA.
    • If your visa is approved, you will receive an email of "Notice of visa fees" on the 5th business day ( in the afternoon).
    • If you are NOT exempted from visa fees, you are required to pay visa fees (Video).
    • eVISAs will be issued around 4 PM each business day after you register your credit card information.
    • Download eVISA through your account
    • Prepare eVisa at the airport ("How to display Visa issuance notice"). Please also prepare a screenshot or a printout of "Visa Issuance Notice" or "Visa Exemption Registration Notice"
Notes
&
Tips
  • We do NOT accept any inquires about the status of your visa applications as you can check the status through your visa application account.
  • Even if you apply for a multiple-entry tourism visa through the online application, you only will be issued a single-entry visa.
  • For general rules such as visa validity, application timing, and application by a proxy, please read General Rules for Visa Application.

80% of online visa applications are rejected due to missing, incomplete or illegible supporting documents. The most common reasons for rejection are:

 
  • Submitting a low resolution or blurry image of a required document or photo. (Screenshots taken on a mobile device tend to be low resolution. Please scan and upload your documents.)
  • The “Travel Itinerary” was missing or detailed information was not provided. We do not accept activities such as “tourism” or “sightseeing in Tokyo” without a more detailed explanation.
  • The return “Flight itinerary” was missing. You must also submit an itinerary for a return flight departing from Japan to the U.S. or a third country.
  • The “Bank Statement” was missing. We require at least a one month bank statement. We do not accept an employment certificate or earning statement in place of a bank statement.
If you having difficulties with the online application process, then we strongly recommend you apply for a visa in person at the Embassy of Japan.
Application
&
Related
Website
  • To apply for an eVISA, please visit "JAPAN eVISA" (This is the ONLY official website. You will see "Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan" on the top left. Please beware of fraud websites looking alike the Japan eVISA website).
Related information Contact: Inquiry about eVISA
  • United States (excluding Alaska and Hawaii): 1-202-499-1468 (Available in English, Vietnamese, Russian and Ukrainian)
  • WebRTC別ウィンドウで開く
  • Email: Japan Visa Information Hotline: japan-visa@bricks-corp.com (Available language: English)
  • List of Contacts [2.3MB] 別ウィンドウで開く

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS FOR BOTH EVISA & IN-PERSON APPLICATION

  • The Embassy of Japan reserves the right to request additional documents if deemed necessary.
  • The Embassy of Japan will NOT make copies.
  • Please do NOT hole punch, staple, paper clip, binder clip, or otherwise attach documents to one another.
application form Visa Application Form

Signed by the applicant (Form / Sample)

 

  • a digital signature is invalid
  • Nationals of Russia and CIS countries are required to submit two application forms attached with a photo.
 Original
passport Valid Passport

with at least 1.5 blank pages left

 Original
Photo One 2”x 2” Photo
  • Must be taken in front of a plain background and within the past 6 months
  • Do NOT use filters
  • Passport type photo only (We do not accept photos on regular printer paper) 

Use GLUE ONLY to attach the photo to the application, please do not staple or tape.

 Original
U.S. Visa U.S. Visa (Proof of lawful presence in the US)
  • F-1 visa holders must present an endorsed I-20 form (ALL school attestation, student attestation, and travel endorsement must be signed)
  • J-1 visa holders must present an endorsed DS-2019 form

Please note: The Embassy of Japan does NOT accept any applications from B-1 and B-2 U.S. visa holders.

 Original & 1 Copy
Proof of Residency Proof of Residency

e.g., Driver’s license card, State ID card, or Utility Bill

 Original & 1 Copy
Daily Schedule Travel Itinerary (Form)
  • Your plans during the trip that include dates, main activities, activity locations, reachable contact number in Japan, and your accommodations. 
  • Please write as detailed as possible. We do not accept activities such as “sightseeing in Tokyo” without a more detailed explanation. 
 Original
Flight ltinerary Flight Itinerary
  • The dates must match those on your Travel Itinerary (see above)
  • Must include the entire trip (both departing from DMV area and returning to DMV area)
  • We do not require the purchase of tickets.
The Embassy is NOT responsible for tickets which may be unusable due to the delay or denial of a visa.		 1 Copy
Bank Statement Bank Statement (most recent, one month)

If your company will cover your business trip expense, you do not need to submit your bank statement.


If your family/friends will cover your trip expense, please submit ALL Documents listed below.
  • Applicant's US bank statement (most recent, one month)
  • Guarantor’s Residence card or ID card
  • Guarantor’s bank statement
 1 Copy

ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS

ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS FOR BUSINESS TRIP

Invitation Letter Invitation Letter from the inviting company either in Japanese or in English If the company will be covering your trip expenses, then your letter must explain it. 1 Copy
Official Letter Letter of Guarantee from the sending company either in Japanese or in English If the company will be covering your trip expenses, then your letter must explain it. 1 Copy
 

ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS FOR ATTENDING CONFERENCE

Invitation Letter Invitation Letter from the inviting person/organization either in Japanese or in English If the person/organization will be covering your trip expenses, then your letter must explain it. 1 Copy
Printed Document Printed Document explaining the conference from the conference’s website or information pamphlet. 1 Copy
 

ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS FOR VISITING FAMILY/FRIENDS

Invitation Letter Invitation Letter from a relative/friend either in Japanese or in English When two or more applicants intend to apply for a visa, please also submit the list of visa applicants: 1 Copy
Inviter's ID Card Inviter's ID Card
e.g., passport or driver's license		 1 Copy
If your family/friends will cover your trip expenses ALL Documents listed below if your family/friends in Japan will cover your trip expense:
  • Letter of Guarantee (Japanese Form / English Form)
  • Guarantor’s Residence card (if the guarantor is a foreign national)
    If your guarantor is a Japanese, please submit guarantor's ID card (e.g., passport or driver's license)
  • Guarantor’s Jumin-hyo
  • Guarantor’s bank statement
 1 Copy for each
 

ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS FOR MULTIPLE-ENTRY VISA

  • Foreign nationals who are listed on the table below are required to submit additional documents for multiple-entry visa applications.
  Types of Visa & Required Documents
Chinese passport holders
Indian passport holders
Vietnamese passport holders
Philippine passport holders
Indonesian passport holders
Russian passport holders
Nationals of CIS countries and Georgia
Other nationals

PROCEDURE INFORMATION

Please see our visa main page.

Go back to Visa main page

Recommended Information

Visa Main Page
Frequently Asked Questions
  • Consular Section: Embassy of Japan, 2520 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008
  • Office Hours:Application Drop-off/ M-F 9:15am-12:00pm Visa Pick-up/ M-F 1:30pm-4:00pm

Back to Top