Getting started with your Japan visa application? Before going to a designated travel agency, make sure to check out our list of the Japan visa requirements for Filipino tourists below! Oh, and if you’re planning for your itinerary, do check out this transportation pass in Tokyo that you can book later on.
Summary
- What are the basic Japan visa requirements for Filipino citizens? Tourist visa applications require the application form, schedule of stay or itinerary in Japan, photo, and passport, among others.
- Is there an additional Japan visa requirement to get a multiple-entry visa? Yes! If you are eligible to apply, you will need to fill out the multiple-entry visa request form. More details below.
- How do I submit the documents for my Japan visa application? If you are applying from the Philippines, you will need to contact a designated travel agency like H.I.S. or JTB. We have the full list and contact numbers below.
- Start planning your trip! When you receive your Japan visa, make sure to book this money-saving attraction pass in Tokyo that has been booked more than 100k times.
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1. Japan Visa Requirements for Filipino Tourists
Applying for a single-entry Japan visa in the Philippines is relatively straightforward. You only need to prepare the required documents and submit them to a travel agency that is designated by the Embassy of Japan. Based on some travelers’ experience, some would say that the most difficult part is getting a PSA birth certificate, while others would say it’s having to write a cover letter that explains why they’re missing a requirement like the ITR. However, considering general factors, the process is still fairly manageable compared to others. It only gets tricky if you’re aiming to get a multiple-entry Japan visa wherein you need to prove that you are eligible for one. But if you’re a first-time traveler, we suggest applying for a single-entry Japan visa, so you can simplify your life. Let’s look at the list of the requirements for Japan visa below:
A. Single-Entry Japan Visa Requirements for Filipino Tourists
- Japan Visa Application Form
- Download the Japan visa application form here.
- Fill out the form completely either by hand or electronically (typewritten). If an item is not applicable to you, use N/A.
- Application forms with empty fields may not be accepted by the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines.
- Make sure to supply truthful and accurate information.
- Valid Philippine Passport
- Ensure that your Philippine passport is not damaged and that it has at least two (2) blank pages.
- Affix your signature on your passport. If you have the new version that’s valid for ten (10) years, the signature field is on page 3. (The previous version of the Philippine passport already has the holder’s e-signature on the bio page.)
- One (1) passport-size photo
- 4.5cm x 4.5cm, white background
- Your photo should have been taken in the last six (6) months.
- Write your name and date of birth on back side of the photo.
- Paste your photo on the application form.
- PSA Birth Certificate
- Your birth certificate must have been issued within the past one (1) year by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA Main Office) or Serbilis Outlet Center. You can request a copy (and have it delivered to your address!) from the PSA website here.
- If your birth certificate from PSA is unreadable or lacks information, get a copy of your birth certificate from your local Civil Registrar (city hall) and submit it together with your PSA Birth Certificate.
- If your birth certificate is categorized under late or delayed registration, submit supporting documents like your (a) baptismal certificate; (b) Form 137 or school record from your elementary or high school; and (c) school yearbook, if possible.
- If you have no record of birth, submit a Certificate of Non-Record from PSA along with a birth certificate from your city’s Civil Registrar.
- Schedule of Stay or Itinerary (Taizai Yoteihyo)
- Download the editable or Word version of the Japan Itinerary Template or Schedule of Stay here.
- If you prefer a PDF version, you can download one here.
- Specify the date of your arrival and departure. You may also indicate the flight number and your ports of entry and departure if already booked.
- Supply the full details of your accommodation, i.e. hotel name, address, and telephone number. If you don’t know the details of your hotel or accommodation, search here.
- Your itinerary must show your planned activities for each day of your stay. When similar activities continue on consecutive days, specify the range in the dates column, i.e. “YYYY–MM–DD to YYYY–MM–DD”.
- Income Tax Return (ITR)
- Submit a clear copy of your latest ITR. This may be obtained from your employer.
- Original Bank Certificate
- Your bank certificate must have been obtained from your bank in the past three (3) months.
- Marriage Certificate (if applicable)
- Must be issued within the last one (1) year by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA Main Office) or Serbilis Outlet Center. You can request a copy (and have it delivered to your address!) from the PSA website here.
- If you have no record of marriage in PSA (negative result), submit a Certificate of Non-Record from PSA along with the Marriage Certificate from your city’s Civil Registrar (city hall). Visit this page to view the request guidelines from PSA.
- Accomplished List of Visa Applicants Form(if applicable)
- Fill out and submit the List of Visa Applicants form only if you’re traveling as a group or family.
- You may download the List of Visa Applicants form for your Japan visa application here.
If you have a sponsor or guarantor in the Philippines who will fund your trip, submit the following documents along with the standard set of Japan visa requirements:
- Guarantee Letter
- Proof of relationship between applicant and guarantor, i.e. readable copy of your PSA Birth Certificate and photos of you and your guarantor
- Original Bank Certificate of your guarantor
- Clear copies of your guarantor’s Income Tax Return (ITR Form 2316). Statement of Tax Withholding is not accepted.
If you are a foreigner residing in the Philippines (long-term), submit a copy of your Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR) issued by the Philippine government along with the standard set of Japan visa requirements.
B. Multiple-Entry Japan Visa Requirements for Filipino Tourists
According to the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines, those who intend to apply for a multiple-entry Japan tourist visa must meet all of the following eligibility criteria:
- Filipino national with a Machine-Readable Passport (MRP) or ordinary IC passport that meets ICAO standards
- If your passport has a green cover (issued from 1995-2007), you are ineligible.
- If your passport is maroon (issued 2007 onwards), you are eligible to proceed with your application.
- Applicants who intend to engage in activities corresponding to those permitted for Temporary Visitors
- Temporary Visitors are those whose stay in Japan is less than ninety (90) days. Their primary purpose is any of the following: sightseeing, visiting family members, visiting friends or acquaintances, and/or business (non-remunerative).
- Applicants who wish to apply for a multiple entry visa for short-term stay
- If you won’t be engaging in work or remunerative activities and are not staying for more than ninety days, you are eligible to apply for multiple-entry Japan visa.
Moreover, you must meet any of the following conditions for issuance of multiple-entry Japan tourist visa:
- CONDITION 1: You are a visa applicant with a history of travel as a temporary visitor to Japan in the last three (3) years. You have no known violation of domestic laws of Japan nor had a problem with immigration regarding entry and status during your period/s of stay. You have sufficient financial capacity to support your travel expenses.
- CONDITION 2: You are an applicant with a history of travel as temporary visitor to Japan in the last three (3) years. You have no known violation of domestic laws of Japan nor had a problem with immigration regarding entry and status during your period/s of stay. You also have an extensive travel history as a temporary visitor to G7 countries (excluding Japan) in the last (3) years.
- G7 countries include Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
- CONDITION 3: You are an applicant with abundant financial capacity.
- CONDITION 4: You are a spouse or child of an applicant with abundant financial capacity.
If you meet all of the eligibility requirements and any of the 4 conditions mentioned above, go ahead and prepare the following requirements to apply for a multiple-entry tourist visa for Japan:
- Multiple-Entry Japan Visa Request Form
- Download the Japan multiple-entry visa request form here.
- Check the items that apply to you and state your reasons for wanting to obtain a multiple-entry visa for Japan.
- Valid Philippine Passport
- Must be machine-readable (maroon or issued 2007 onwards).
- Ensure that your Philippine passport is not damaged and that it has at least two (2) blank pages.
- Affix your signature on your passport. If you have the new version that’s valid for 10 years, the signature field is on page 3. (The previous version of the Philippine passport already has the holder’s e-signature on the bio page.)
- Japan Visa Application Form
- Download the Japan visa application form here.
- Fill out the application form completely either by hand or electronically (typewritten). If an item is not applicable to you, use N/A.
- Application forms with empty fields may not be accepted by the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines.
- Make sure to supply truthful and accurate information.
- One (1) passport-size photo
- 4.5cm x 4.5cm, with white background
- Should have been taken in the past six (6) months.
- Write your name and date of birth on the back side of the photo.
- The photo must be pasted on the application form.
- Schedule of Stay or Itinerary (Taizai Yoteihyo)
- Download the editable or Word version of the Japan Itinerary Template or Schedule of Stay here.
- If you prefer a PDF version, you can download one here.
- Specify the date of your arrival and departure. If already arranged, you may also indicate the flight number and your ports of entry and departure.
- Supply the full details of your accommodation, i.e. hotel name, address, and telephone number. If you don’t know the details of your hotel or accommodation, search here.
- Your itinerary must show your planned activities for each day of your stay. When similar activities continue on consecutive days, specify the range in the dates column, i.e. “YYYY–MM–DD to YYYY–MM–DD”.
If you are an applicant who meets CONDITION 1 or has a travel history in Japan in the last three (3) years and has sufficient funds for your travels, submit the following documents along with the standard set of multiple-entry Japan visa requirements:
- Proof of travel to Japan in the last three (3) years, i.e. your old or recent passport/s with used temporary visitor visa/s and landing permission stamps.
- Clear copy of your latest Income Tax Return (ITR)
- Proof of your financial capacity, i.e. bank certificate, stock certificate, etc.
If you are an applicant who meets CONDITION 2 or has a travel history in Japan in the last three (3) years and has traveled several times to Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and/or the United States (G7 countries), submit the following documents along with the standard set of multiple-entry Japan visa requirements:
- Proof of travel to Japan in the last three (3) years, i.e. your old or recent passport/s with used Japan temporary visitor visa/s and landing permission/arrival stamps.
- Proof of travel to any G7-member country in the last three (3) years, i.e. your old or recent passport with entry visa/s issued by a G7-member country and immigration stamps.
If you are an applicant who meets CONDITION 3 or has an abundant or sufficient financial capacity, submit the following documents along with the standard set of multiple-entry Japan visa requirements:
- Birth Certificate [See notes under A.4)
- Marriage Certificate [See notes under A.8)
- The latest copy of your Income Tax Return (ITR)
- Proof of financial capacity, i.e. bank certificate, stock certificate, etc.
If you are an applicant who meets CONDITION 4 or is a spouse or child of an applicant who has abundant financial capacity, submit the following documents along with the standard set of multiple-entry Japan visa requirements:
- Latest copy of your spouse’s or child’s Income Tax Return (ITR). (He or she will be considered as your guarantor.)
- Guarantor’s proof of financial capacity, i.e. bank certificate, stock certificate, etc.
- Birth Certificate or Marriage Certificate [See notes under A.4 or A.8)
2. How to Apply for a Japan Tourist Visa (Single-entry and Multiple-Entry)
When you have all your Japan visa requirements on hand, all that’s left to do is to coordinate and submit to a designated travel agency. For a fee, they will file your application at the Embassy of Japan and get the visa for you (typically within 5-7 days, give or take). Just give them a call (or message them on Facebook), ask for their visa processing rates, and submit your documents.
List of Designated Travel Agencies for Japan Visa Application
Here are the travel agencies designated by the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines (fees and information are subject to change without notice):
A. Amkor Travel and Tours Inc.
- Quezon City (Main Office)
- Suite 108 West City, Plaza Bldg. #66, West Avenue, Quezon City
- 0917-817-2003, 0917-317-8472, & 02-8252-6291
B. Attic Tours Phils., Inc
Attic Tours processes Japan visa applications for a fee of ₱1,500 + 12% VAT (excludes one-way courier fee of ₱300). Learn more on their website here.
- Manila Head Office
- Unit G-08, Antel Seaview Tower A, #2626 Roxas Blvd., Brgy. 76, Pasay City
- +632 8556-6301 to 05
- SM North EDSA Office
- G/F The Block, SM City North EDSA, SM City North EDSA Complex, Quezon City
- +63 8372-3254, +63 8373-2594, +63917-898-0905
- SM Megamall
- G/F, Mega Strip, A Doña Julia Vargas Ave., SM Megamall 1550
- +63906-516-3246
- attictourssmmegamall@gmail.com
- SM Mall of Asia
- Unit 126 Level 1, South Parking Bldg., Mall Of Asia, Pasay City
- +63917-631-0848
- attictours.moa@gmail.com
- Cebu Office
- Lobby, Waterfront Airport Hotel 1, Airport Road, Lapu-Lapu City, Mactan Island, Cebu
- +6332 341-2299, 341-2012
- SM City Davao
- Level 3, SM City Davao, Quimpo Blvd., Talomo, Davao City
- 082-225-8920, 0917-321-1328
C. Golden Eagle Travel and Tours Inc.
Attic Tours processes Japan visa applications for a fee of ₱1,500 + 12% VAT (excludes one-way courier fee of ₱300). Learn more here.
- Quezon City (Main Office)
D. Friendship Tours and Resorts Corporation
Friendship Tours and Resorts process Japan visa application for a fee of ₱1,200. Learn more on their website here.
- Manila Office (Main Office)
- Cebu Office
E. H.I.S. (Philippines) Travel Corp.
- Taguig City (Main Office)
- Unit 1404 Picadilly Star Building, 4th Avenue corner 27th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City
- 02-7718-5004, 02-7718-5008, 02-7718-5010
F. JTB Asia Pacific Phil Corp.
- Taguig City (Main Office)
- 18th Floor, A.T. Yuchengco Center Bldg., 26th & 25th streets, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City
- 02-8894-5528
G. Luxury Holiday Vacation and Tours Inc.
- Manila (Main Office)
- Suite 401 Mario Co Bldg 1945, M.Adriatico St. Malate Manila
- 02-8353-6429 & 0917-652-9033
H. Rajah Travel Corporation
- Makati (Main Office)
- 3/F 331 Building, 331 Senator Gil Puyat Ave., Makati City
- 02-8894-0886 & 0917-529-6774
- Website
I. UHI
- Makati (Main Office)
- Ground Floor – Receiving, 4th Floor- Releasing, Dusit Thani Manila Hotel, Ayala Center,1223 Makati City
- 02-8859-3857 & 0917-634-8280
3. Tips from Successful Japan Visa Applicants from the Philippines
Here we list some common questions or concerns about applying for a Japan visa in the Philippines:
A. How much money should be reflected in my bank certificate?
Many applicants say that it is ideal to show that you have at least ₱10,000 per day (per head) of your stay, i.e. for a seven-day trip, aim to show that you have ₱70,000 in your bank account. However, know that there’s no definitive answer given by the Embassy in regard to this. Here are some suggestions that may help show that you’re financially capable to fund your travel:
- Ensure that the cost of your tours and accommodation in your planned itinerary or schedule of stay is commensurate with the money you have on hand.
- Submit your certificate of employment that shows your monthly salary. If you’re a freelancer, you may want to submit project agreements or contracts with your clients from the past 12 months to show that you have a steady inflow of cash.
- You may submit bank statements that record all of your income and expenses. This would demonstrate a good financial history.
B. I filed my ITR online and didn’t bring it to BIR to get it stamped. Will it be accepted?
Yes, ITR’s that are filed online (no stamp) will be accepted.
C. If I have a guarantor in Japan (non-family member), what kind of photos should I submit?
Photos of you and your guarantor are asked by the Embassy to prove that you know each other well. If you can submit pictures that were taken in different years, that’ll be wise. This would show that you go way back. If you can, you may want to submit at least five photos.
4. Japan Visa Application Forms & Download Links
For convenience, we’ve listed all the forms that may be applicable or relevant to your application:
- Japan Visa Application Form
- Schedule of Stay or Itinerary
- Invitation Letter
- Guarantee Letter
- List of Visa Applicants
- Details of Company or Organization
- Request for a Multiple Entry Visa Form
Alternatively, if you’re a single-entry Japan tourist visa applicant, you may also download this PDF file that’s uploaded by the Embassy to guide you with your application.
To create your itinerary in Japan, get some ideas below:
5. Japan Visa Requirements for Other Categories (Non-Tourist Visa)
Aside from tourists, there are other categories that fall under the Temporary Visitor category. They are those who will travel to Japan for business or those who intend to visit for medical purposes. Here are the Japan visa requirements that you need to submit if your purpose of travel is any of these, as taken from this guide released by the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines:
A. Single-Entry Japan Visa Requirements for Business or Cultural Purposes
If your primary purpose of visit to Japan is business, i.e. business liaison, conference, business meeting, contract signing, after-sales service, advertising, market research, cultural exchange, sports exchange, and the like, you may apply for a single-entry Japan visa for short-term business affairs. Here are the requirements:
- Accomplished Japan Visa Application Form
- Download the Japan visa application form here.
- Fill out the application form completely either by hand or electronically. If an item is not applicable to you, use N/A.
- Application forms with empty fields may not be accepted by the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines.
- Make sure to supply truthful and accurate information.
- Valid Philippine Passport
- Ensure that your Philippine passport is not damaged and that it has at least two (2) blank pages.
- Affix your signature on your passport. If you have the new version that’s valid for 10 years, the signature field is on page 3. (The previous version of the Philippine passport already has the holder’s e-signature on the bio page.)
- One (1) passport-size photo
- 4.5cm x 4.5cm, with white background
- Should have been taken in the past six (6) months.
- Write your name and date of birth on back side of the photo.
- The photo must be pasted on the application form.
- Certificate of Employment
- Typically requested from your Human Resources or Administration personnel
- Proof of Sufficient Funds or Financial Capacity
- May include orders to travel from your employer, letter of temporary assignment, and the like.
- Invitation Letter
- Download the Invitation Letter template here.
- The inviter should be a business entity, organization, or the state or local government. If it’s a person like a professor or an associate professor, he or she can be recognized as the inviting organization if the university extended the invitation for the purpose of exchanges under his or her name.
- The Embassy of Japan in the Philippines stressed out here that the applicants must comply with this requirement. Do not leave any item blank.
- The Invitation Letter for your Japan Visa Application must be addressed to the Japanese ambassador or the consul-general.
- You must explain clearly the activities you intend to engage in in Japan. Do not use obscure reasons such as “tourism,” “visiting friends,” or “visiting relatives.”
- Supply the address, name, and telephone number in the column for the inviter or inviting person. Put your company seal or representative’s seal on this form. Private seals are unacceptable. A signature of person in charge would be acceptable if the company/organization does not have a seal.
- Write the visa applicant’s full name in alphabet. If there are more than one Japan visa applicant, specify the number of applicants and fill in this List of Visa Applicants form. The applicant’s information (those who requested the letter) should be Applicant #1 on the list.
- Documents that explain your activities in Japan
- Corporate contracts, conference documents, materials on trading goods, and the like.
- Accomplished Itinerary or Schedule of Stay (Taizai Yoteihyo)
- Download the editable or Word version of the Japan Itinerary Template or Schedule of Stay here.
- Specify the date of your arrival and departure. If already arranged, you may also indicate the flight number and your ports of entry and departure.
- Supply the full details of your accommodation, i.e. hotel name, address, and telephone number.
- Your itinerary must show your planned activities for each day of your stay. When similar activities continue on consecutive days, specify the range in the dates column, i.e. “YYYY–MM–DD to YYYY–MM–DD”.
- Corporate Registration or detailed information of the company or organization
- Registered corporations should provide an original certified copy of the corporate register that has been issued within the last three (3) months. This is not required for national or regional government entities. As an alternative, if a company is listed on Japan’s Stock Exchange, it may submit a copy of the latest Company Handbook or Kaisha Shikiho.
- If the corporation is unregistered, they should prepare a summary of the company or organization instead of a corporate register. Download the form here.
If you have a sponsor or guarantor who will fund your full or partial trip expenses, submit a Guarantee Letter along with the standard set of Japan visa requirements for a business visa. You may download the template here. Do not leave any item blank.
If you would like to apply for a multiple-entry Japan business visa, you may find more details here.
B. Single-Entry Japan Visa Requirements for Medical Stay
You may get this type of visa if you intend to travel to Japan for medical purposes, which typically includes treatments, medical examination, full medical check-up’s, and therapy. The same type of visa may be issued to your companions (family members or non-family members), if any, when necessary.
If you are interested to apply fora single-entry Japan visa for Medical Stay, you are advised to first contact and make arrangements with any of these medical coordinators and travel agencies.
Here are the requirements:
- Accomplished Japan Visa Application Form
- Download the Japan visa application form here.
- Fill out the application form completely either by hand or electronically. If an item is not applicable to you, use N/A.
- Application forms with empty fields may not be accepted by the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines.
- Make sure to supply truthful and accurate information.
- Valid Philippine Passport
- Ensure that your Philippine passport is not damaged and that it has at least two (2) blank pages.
- Affix your signature on your passport. If you have the new version that’s valid for 10 years, the signature field is on page 3. (The previous version of the Philippine passport already has the holder’s e-signature on the bio page.)
- One (1) passport-size photo
- 4.5cm x 4.5cm, with white background
- Should have been taken in the past six (6) months.
- Write your name and date of birth on back side of the photo.
- The photo must be pasted on the application form.
- Certificate from a medical institution about the planned medical services and references from a guarantor
- Documents showing the foreign patient’s financial situation
- An example would be your bank statement
- A document proving the foreign patient’s identity
- The Embassy notes here that ‘the documents which need to be presented may vary depending on the nationality of the foreign patient… [Contact] the Japanese Embassy or Consulate-General to see what specific documents [are needed] to be presented.’
If the foreign patient needs to stay longer than ninety (90) days to be hospitalized and receive medical services, submit a Certificate of Eligibility.
If the foreign patient needs to make multiple visits to Japan to receive treatment, submit a Medical Treatment Plan. Other notes on applying for a multiple-entry Japan visa for medical purposes may be found here.
More Japan Visa Application Tips
- Need help filling out the Schedule of Stay (Japan itinerary) template? Check out our guide here.
- If you’re missing a requirement (like the ITR) for your tourist visa application, you may write a cover letter. You can find our sample here.
- A visa applicant can only apply directly to the Embassy and the consular offices when the travel is for diplomatic/public purposes or the applicant is invited directly by a Japanese government institution or independent administrative agency.
- The Embassy of Japan in the Philippines does not collect a visa fee (yep, it’s free!). However, expect to pay your chosen designated travel agency an amount ranging from ₱900-1,500 for their visa processing service.
- Processing of Japan visa requirements takes at least five (5) business days from when the Embassy has received your application from the travel agency.
- Once issued, the Japan visa will be valid for three (3) months. No extension is allowed.
- Whether you’re applying for a single-entry or multiple-entry Japan tourist visa, you must print all of your requirements in A4-size papers. If your original document is printed out in a different size, make a copy that is adjusted to fit A4-size papers. Do not paste or staple together the pages.
- If you feel like you have other documents that can support your visa application (aside from the requirements listed above), the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines encourages you to submit them. Applicants who are employed typically prepare their bank statements and their employment certificates to help establish their economic and social ties in the Philippines. Those who own a business may want to submit a copy of their business permits. Other documents that may help strengthen your Japan visa application include a copy of your school records, school report cards, and proof of residence, among others.
- Those who have urgent reasons to travel to Japan may also submit a medical certificate, wedding invitation, and the like.
- Some applicants who have sponsor/s funding their full or partial trip expenses also opted to have their Guarantee Letter from their sponsor notarized.
- Documents that will come from your sponsor must be submitted to you (visa applicant) and not to the Embassy.
- As a general rule, your passport must have a validity of more than six (6) months from your intended departure date.
- If you’re wondering about Condition 3 and 4 for the Japan multiple-entry visa eligibility, there’s no provided definition of someone who has an abundant financial capacity. However, if we were to base it on economic researches such as this one, family or households who are considered rich (at 2017 prices) are those with a monthly income of at least ₱190,400.
- Japan visa requirements that are submitted to the Embassy will not be returned (except, of course, for the passport).
- If applicable, applicants are given three (3) months to submit additional requirements. Otherwise their Japan visa application will be terminated.
- As noted by the Embassy here, the reason for the denial of visa will not be disclosed. When a Japan visa application is denied, the individual may re-apply again for the same purpose after six (6) months.
Reference
To check if there are any changes or updates on the Japan visa application process, you may refer to the official website here.
Contact the Embassy
For inquiries on the visa application procedure, you may inquire from any of the designated travel agency or contact the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines through the following numbers:
- Embassy of Japan in the Republic of the Philippines: +632 834-7514
- Consular Office of Japan in Cebu: +63 32 231-7321 to 22
- Consular Office of Japan in Davao: +63 82 221-3100
You may also email them at ryoji@ma.mofa.go.jp.
