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You are here: Home / Destination / How to apply Japan Tourist Visa for Filipinos

How to apply Japan Tourist Visa for Filipinos

October 13, 2015 by sheena 17 Comments

What’s one of the most agonizing moments pre-travel? For us, it’s waiting for your Travel Visa to be approved. We applied for a Visa to China once and got approved and Edcel has applied for a US Tourist Visa last year and got denied.

We recently applied for a Japan Tourist Visa and have read through a number of horrors stories of a number of people’s application getting denied. After 5 days of waiting, we were ecstatic as our Japan Tourist Visa got approved.

Japan is actually more lax now in issuing Tourist Visas for Filipinos. as hear-says go they need to increase the number of tourists for the upcoming 2020 Summer Olympics.  It is easy as 1, 2, 3 provided that you submitted all the documents required by the Japanese Embassy.

japan-visa-image
Here’s our new ‘member’ sporting her Visa. We have not formally introduced her to you guys but we will definitely do on our next post. (some details blurred out for security reasons)

So here it is, sharing you tips and requirements for the first time applicants in applying Japan Tourist Visa in the Philippines.

There are a number of types of Visas for Japan, but this post is particularly for applying a Tourist Visa without a Sponsor/Guarantor as this is what we applied/experienced for. If you are looking for other types of Visas, you can directly visit the official website of Japan Embassy in the Philippines.

I’ve read some articles that before, Japan Visa processing is free, however, you really need to be up early and line outside the embassy located in Manila — quite a hassle and  time consuming.

Since July 30, 2007, Japan Tourist Visa application NO longer accepts walk-in visa applicants. It can only be processed through an accredited travel agency of The Japan Embassy in the Philippines. The travel agency will cross-check your documents before submitting it to the embassy and of course, will charge you an extra fee.

Requirements for a Japan Tourist Visa (without sponsor/guarantor)

  1. Passport (valid for more than 6 months)
  2. Visa Application Form 
  3. Photo (1 copy of 4.5cm x 4.5cm with white background)
  4. Birth Certificate (NSO issued with receipt and valid within (1)year)
  5. Marriage Contract (NSO issued with receipt and valid within (1)year) **if married
  6. Detailed Tour Itinerary
  7. Bank Certificate
  8. Income Tax Return (Form 2316 or 1701) – Original and Photocopy

Helpful tip 1: Since this application is for ‘no guarantor/sponsor’, then  it would be much better if you could also submit a Certificate of Employment (COE), booked plane tickets and accommodation.

Helpful tip 2: If you are a freelancer and you can’t obtain an ITR, you can simply write a Letter of Explanation and addressed to the Consulate-General of Japan.

Helpful tip 3: We’re not sure as to what the minimum amount you should have on your Bank Certificate because the travel agency nor the Japan Embassy never disclosed this information. Just make sure your bank account is opened for at least 6 months from the date you applied for a visa. The lowest amount we had on one of our bank certificate was roughly around 43,000PHP.

Below are the list of accredited travel agencies who can help you process your visa.

  1. Attic Tours Philippines, Inc
  2. Friendship Tours and Resorts Corp
  3. Rajah Travel Corp
  4. Reli Tours and Travel Agency
  5. Pan Pacific Travel Corp
  6. Discovery Tour, Inc

Once you have submitted all required documents to your chosen travel agency, it will take 5-7 working days to process the visa. The agency will give you either a call or text if your passport is ready for pickup.

For denied applicants, you can re-apply after 6 months.

We chose Friendship Tours and Resorts Corp (Oakridge Business Park in Banilad) to process our tourist visa application because of positive feedback we got from our friends and also due to proximity.

So since our Visas have been approved, it is safe to say, Japan, we’re finally coming for you!

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Comments

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Filed Under: Destination, Featured, Japan Tagged With: Japan Tourist Visa, Japan Visa, Japan Visa Requirements, Japanese Visa for Filipinos

Comments

  1. Belen agustin says

    October 14, 2015 at 9:19 am

    Paano ung katulad nmin na senior na itatravel lng kmi ng anak nmin sa japan na siya ang gagastos ano ang kailangan naming isubmit

    Reply
    • Edcel says

      October 14, 2015 at 6:21 pm

      Yung anak niyo po ba nag wowork sa Japan? If yes, then secure a letter of invitation (you can get this from the accredited agencies) & bank certificate nang anak mo.

      You can also contact the agency of your choice from the list to confirm this information.

      Thanks!

      Reply
  2. Jeff says

    October 19, 2015 at 11:12 am

    You’re so lucky for having your tourist visas got approved. My friends and I were planning to travel to Japan someday next year, but these requirements is doubting me. Anyways, enjoy your trip! 🙂

    Reply
    • Edcel says

      October 21, 2015 at 12:57 pm

      Which of the requirements would you have trouble securing?

      Reply
  3. Kayluh says

    November 28, 2015 at 3:08 am

    wow I declare na pag aq nag apply dn na kasama si 2 years old na baby q e approved agad.

    Reply
  4. JR says

    March 12, 2016 at 12:57 am

    Salamat sa info. Pila d.i ang bayad sa Visa?

    Thanks

    Reply
    • Edcel says

      March 22, 2016 at 2:27 pm

      1,200 PHP sir.

      Reply
  5. Summer says

    August 10, 2016 at 11:36 am

    Do you have “Letter of Explanation” sample? I intend to travel Japan with my senior citizen parents. They do not have ITR, retired a decade ago. I am an OFW and will apply to the country where I am working at but my parents and child will apply in Manila. Appreciate your reply, thank you.

    Reply
    • Edcel says

      August 13, 2016 at 5:16 pm

      I will try to dig up our documents. Do you have an email address where we can send the sample to? 🙂

      Reply
      • Jess says

        November 30, 2016 at 6:37 pm

        Hi, can you also send me a sample?

        Reply
        • Ana says

          January 16, 2017 at 3:23 pm

          Hi Edcel,

          Can you also send me a sample? I am planning to travel with my senior citizen parents and they do not have an ITR.

          Thanks,
          Ana

          Reply
      • JANICE GAY FRONDA says

        May 24, 2017 at 1:51 pm

        CAN YOU ALSO SEND ME THE SAMPLE? WE ARE APPLYING FOR THE VISA AND MY HUSBAND NEEDS ONE.. MANY THANKS

        Reply
      • ola says

        January 10, 2019 at 12:35 am

        Hi! Can you send me also a sample? I am also a travelling with my senior citizen parents. Appreciate your reply. Here’s my email – olaruestra02@gmail.com

        Reply
    • nef says

      July 23, 2017 at 11:10 pm

      Hi Summer, whats the process for obtaining visa’s for senior citiziens? I’m planning to go to Japan this november kasi and same with you, dito ako sa ibang bansa mag apply ng visa then lola ko sa manila.

      Reply
  6. An says

    September 7, 2016 at 4:13 pm

    hi there, may I ask if you submitted an explanation letter as regards the absence of signature in the passport of your child?

    thank you.

    Reply
    • Edcel says

      September 12, 2016 at 8:22 pm

      Hi. There is no need for such. 🙂

      Reply
  7. Mark Lucabertd says

    November 4, 2016 at 11:45 pm

    I want to go to japan i have my business but only barangay permit i stkll dont have BIR only next year im going to apply BIR coz oct 2014 to 2016 our business is on and off only last august of this year my business got stable. What wil, i do to get a tourist visa in japan

    Reply

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