General Information

2025/4/1

Visa and Entry of Japan

1.General visa/ eVISA inquiry

If you have any visa questions, please call "Japan Visa Information Hotline".
Japan Visa Information Hotline
(+61 AUS) 08 7130 3370
(24hours/ 7days a week, English only)
This hotline is designed for visa applicants residing in Australia.  

*The Hotline will not connect you to the Consulate-General's Visa section.

 

2.eVISA technical inquiry

Please check FAQs on Japan eVISA website before making an inquiry.

 
  • Japan eVISA Help Desk (Questions about technical issues with Japan eVISA website
    Please contact via inquiry from on JAPAN eVISA website. (English or Japanese)

  • Hotline: japan-visa@bridge-ms.com (English only)
    Please mention your nationality or citizenship and country of residence in your email.
 

3.Immigration information

  • Arrival procedures (immigration, customs) and "Tax-free shopping service" online
  • Re-entry Permit/Special Re-entry permit or COE inquiries
  • Information on Denial of Landing
    • An applicant with an arrest or criminal record can directly inquire Japanese Immigration. Tel +81-3-5796-7112
    • Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act > SECTION 2 LANDING OF A FOREIGN NATIONAL > Article 5 (Denial of Landing)
 

4.Necessary time for visa application

  • Most of the visa are valid for 3 months after the date of issue. Working holiday visa is valid for a year. You can apply for a visa within 3 months of your date of entry to Japan.
  • For visa application filed through accredited agencies and sent by post, at least (1) week (five (5) working days) from the date of acceptance by the Consulate-General of Japan is necessary to be processed and released of passports to the accredited agencies and collection. If, however, the passport has not been returned after more than a week, the applicant who need to verify the status of the application may inquiry to your chosen agency.
  • If visa is issued, passport with visa will be returned to applicant. If visa is denied, only passport will be returned to applicant.
  • For eVISA applications, due to high volume of applications, it could take 2 weeks with completed documents. However, we recommend applying early at least 1 month in advance of your trip. We DO NOT provide expedite visa services.
  • Depending on examination, additional documents may be necessary; or personal appearance of applicants may be requested; or inquiry at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs /Immigration Services Agency of Japan regarding the application may be necessary and examination may not be completed by the scheduled date of departure to Japan, thus please apply early and allot enough time for situations like this. At the same time, please be informed that we cannot accommodate requests for early release of passports for scheduled date of departure.
 

5.FAQ

    • 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 90 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.
    • Q.When should I apply for a visa?
    • A. Generally, Japanese visa is valid for 3 months after the issue. You may apply on the day of 3 months prior to your entry date of Japan.
    • Q.Some Asian countries require 6 months passport validity for me to enter. Does it apply to Japan?
    • A. The passport must remain valid during the period of the stay but there is no minimum period of validity required. However, we recommend 6 months validity of your passport to ensure your smooth travel. Some countries require 6 months validity for transit as well.
    • Q.There is a section asking a guarantor on the visa application form. Do I need one?
    • A. Some nationals with certain conditions may need a guarantor. It is not necessary to have a guarantor unless it is specified on the requirements. Please check the requirements carefully.
    • Q.There is a section asking "ID No. issued to you by your government" on the visa application form. Which one is it?
    • A. Some countries issue ID No. to citizen. If you do not have any ID issued by your government, please write 'N/A'.
    • Q.Do all my family members have to come in person to apply for visa?
    • A. All visa applicants must come in person to apply for visa. As an exception, the family member (NOT friends or agents) can apply for a visa on bahalf of the applicant with the documents showing family such as marriage certificate and birth certificate. In that case the applicant who has NOT appeared yet has to come to collect his/her passport when the assessment is completed.
    • Q.I have a Japanese visa now. What is the expiry date? Do I need to leave Japan before the expiry date?
    • A. Visa holders must enter Japan on or before the visa expires, or date of expiry. Upon arrival in Japan, the traveler presents the visa in a valid passport or travel document, and, at the officer’ s discretion, the immigration officer will grant or deny the visa holder permission in the form of a status (of residency) with a specific time period the traveler may stay in Japan. In most cases the period of stay granted by the immigration officer will be identical to the length of time designated on the visa “For stay(s) of.”Therefore, the visa expiration date is generally NOT the last day the visa holder may stay in Japan.
      Notes: 1. The Certificate of Eligibility must also be presented to the immigration officer if the traveler submitted a Certificate of Eligibility with his or her application.
      Notes: 2. A Certificate of Eligibility loses its validity if not presented to an immigration officer within three months of its issue date. This will always be before the expiry date of the visa.
    • Q.I have obtained a 15 day visa for Japan, if I arrive on the 1st of March, when should I depart Japan?
    • A. The number of days of your stay in Japan is counted from the first full day following your arrival. For example, if you arrive in Japan on the 1st of March, you begin counting 15 days from the 2nd of March, so your departure date should be no later than the 16th of March.
 

6.Notice and Announcements

 

Travel to Japan

Travel Insurance

  • It is recommended to take out an overseas travel insurance. YouTube movie https://youtu.be/lleQbd0yXmw
  • An overseas travel insurance makes you feel secure, even in emergencies, and you can enjoy your trip.
  • Medical expenses can be very high in Japan. If the travel insurance you purchased offers sufficient coverage of treatment costs, you can receive treatment without concern.
  • It is recommended to haven an overseas travel insurance with travel support for hospital referrals, medical interpretation, and cashless medical service.(We recommend that you check your insurance details before travelling. For example, perinatal medical care is not covered by travel insurance and can be expensive.)
 

Travel information links

 

Importing/bringing medicine into Japan for personal use

   

Quarantine

Back to List

Back to Top