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Visa & Travel

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Who can apply for visas at the Consulate-General of Japan in Melbourne?
The visa section of the Consulate-General of Japan in Melbourne accepts visa applications only from long-term residents such as Australian citizens, permanent residents, temporary residents, residents for the purpose of business and students in our jurisdiction including Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.
Tourists, Temporary visitors including Business visitors for Australia can not apply to us.

Visa application hours

9:00 AM - 12:30 PM
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
(Monday - Friday except holidays)

Telephone assistant hours

9:00 AM - 13:00 PM
14:00 PM - 17:00 PM
TEL: 03-9667-7826 (Monday - Friday except holidays)

Visa application must be made in person

However, those who reside in a remote area can apply for visas by mail.
Applications by mail will be accepted only from people residing in areas outside of Melbourne Metropolitan, in S.A. or Tasmania. In this case a SELF-ADDRESSED PREPAID Registered post envelop for returning passports must be enclosed with your visa applications.
We are not responsible for loss, misplacement or delay of passports by the third party. In some cases, a personal appearance or additional documents may be required.

Time of processing

Normally, it takes 3 working days to process with all the sufficient requirements. There are, however, some applications or nationals to be referred to the government office in Japan if necessary. In such cases, it may take from 1-12 months for results. Therefore early preparation for visa applications is recommended.

Payments of visa fees

No fee is required for Australian citizens. For other nationals, visa fees vary. We only accept cash and money orders. Personal cheques, credit cards and EFTPOS are not accepted.

A visa itself does not guarantee your entry into Japan

A visa is a recommendation that a foreigner should be allowed to enter Japan. In other words, it is a kind of certificate issued by the ambassador or consul verifying that the foreigner's passport is genuine and valid and that the application for a stay in Japan for the purpose and period indicated on the visa has been deemed appropriate.
Please note that possession of a visa is just one condition for application for landing at an airport or seaport.

Visa inquiries can not be made by E-mail

Please make all visa inquiries directly to the Visa Section by telephone during Telephone assistant hours.

Criteria for Visa Issuance

In principle, a Japanese visa will be issued to an applicant, when he/she fulfills all of the following requirements and the issuance is regarded as reasonable.
  1. The applicant possesses a valid passport and is entitled for the re-entry to a country of which he/she is a national or citizen or a country of his/her residence.
  2. All submitted documents shall be authentic, completed and satisfactory.
  3. The activities to be engaged in while in Japan, or the civil status or the position of the applicant, and the period of stay shall meet the requirements for the status of residence and the period of stay stipulated in the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act. (Cabinet Order No.319 of 1951. hereinafter referred to as "the Act")
  4. The applicant shall not fall under any of the items of Article 5, Paragraph1 of the Act.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Note: This information is designed as a guide only and does not contain detailed information. If you require further explanation, please contact the Embassy of Japan or one of the Consulates-General of Japan . This information is for Australian citizens.
Q. As an Australian citizen with an Australian passport, do I require a tourist visa to enter Japan ?
A. No. Australians who enter Japan as tourists may stay for up to ninety days as long as they hold an Australian passport which remains valid during their stay and do not receive any income while in Japan .
Q. I would like to work in Japan . How can I get a visa to work in Japan ?
A. In order to get a visa to work in Japan , you must first find a potential employer who is willing to act as your sponsor and arrange for your Certificate of Eligibility. If you then qualify for a visa, one will be issued by an overseas Japanese diplomatic mission.
Q. Once I am in Japan , can I change my entry status? For example, can I change from a tourist to a work visa?
A. No. Once you are in Japan you cannot in principle change your visa. If you want to work in Japan you must obtain a working visa from a Japanese diplomatic mission in Australia or a third country.