Japan is a fascinating destination with a unique culture, delicious food, and stunning scenery that attracts tourists from all over the world. If you’re a Philippine passport holder planning a trip to Japan, you’ll need to obtain a tourist visa before you can enter the country.
The process of obtaining a Japan tourist visa may seem daunting at first, but with proper preparation and understanding of the requirements, it can be a straightforward process. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to help you get a Japan tourist visa in the Philippines, so you can start planning your dream trip to this beautiful country.
Step 1: Determine your eligibility
Before you start the visa application process, it’s important to make sure that you meet the eligibility requirements for a Japan Tourist Visa. You must be a Philippine citizen or a foreign national legally residing in the Philippines for at least six months. You should also have a valid passport with at least six months validity from the date of your intended departure from Japan. Additionally, you must have sufficient funds to cover your expenses during your stay in Japan and a clear purpose for your visit.
There are many types of Japan Visa you can get but for this post, I’ll only talk about the Japan Tourist Visa for tourism and leisure purposes.
Step 2: Prepare the necessary documents
To apply for a Japan Tourist Visa, you will need to prepare the following documents:
- Philippine passport – Your passport must be valid for at least six months from your intended departure from Japan. Your passport must be signed and have at least two(2) blank visa pages.
- Visa application form – You can download the visa application form from the website of the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines or can download it from here. It must be printed on A-4 size paper. The application will ask for your flight and hotel details so just put your desired date of travel and a possible hotel that you will be staying in. You do NOT need to purchase a ticket or book a hotel when applying for a Japan Tourist Visa. (You can see a sample completed application form here.
- Photo – You will need to submit a recent 4.5cm x 3.5cm (45×35mm or 2×1.4in) colored photo with white background.
- Birth certificate – If you are a first-time applicant, you will need to submit your original PSA (Philippine Statistics Authority) birth certificate with a photocopy. This is no longer required if you have an expired Japan Visa. However, if your visa is on an expired passport, you will have to submit your old/expired passport along with your new passport.
- Marriage certificate – If applicable, you will need to submit your original PSA marriage certificate with a photocopy. This is not required if you have an expired Japan visa.
- Bank certificate – You will be required to submit an original bank certificate issued within the last three months, showing that you have sufficient funds to cover your travel expenses.
- Income tax return (ITR) – You will need to submit a photocopy of your ITR from the previous year. If you do not have an ITR, you need to submit an explanation letter stating the reason why you don’t have it.
- Daily itinerary – You will need to submit a detailed daily itinerary of your trip, including the places you plan to visit and the activities you plan to do. You can download the template here.
- Guarantee Letter (if there’s any) – If someone is paying for your expenses. You can download the form here.
- Proof of Relationship between the applicant and the guarantor (e.g.Birth Certificate etc.)
- Bank Certificate of the guarantor
- ITR Form 2316 of the guarantor
- Multiple-entry visa request form – you can get the form from the agency. You’ll have to pay an extra Php500 if you will request a ME visa (for Reli Tours) not sure with other agencies.
Please take note that all documents must be on A4-size paper except for the bank certificate and ITR.
Step 3: Submit Your Application
Once you have gathered all the necessary documents, you can submit your application through an accredited travel agency.
List of Accredited Travel Agencies
UHI – UNIVERSAL HOLIDAYS, INC.
Ground Floor – Receiving / 4th Floor- Releasing
Dusit Thani Manila Hotel,
Ayala Center,1223 Makati City
Website: www.universalholidays.com/JapanVisa
FB Page: www.facebook.com/UniversalHolidaysInc
email: japanvisa@universalholidays.com or uhijapanvisa@gmail.com
- Direct lines:
- 02-8859-3857
- 02-8859-3858
- 02-8859-3859
- 02-8859-3860
- 02-7618-2359
- Mobile Nos.:
- 0917-634-8280
- 0917-530-2998
DISCOVERY TOUR, INC.
Website: http://discoverytour.ph/japanvisa/classes/japanese-information-253.html
Main Office:
Address: Unit301 G/Floor Sagittarius Building, H.V.Dela Costa Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City
Contact Number: 02-8812-3328 / 0915-320-0780 / 0999-943-5231
FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/discoverytourmakati/
Cebu Branch
Address: Zone 5H Bridge Town Square, Plaridel St., Alnag-Alang, Mandaue City
Contact Number: 032-340-1819 / 0945-460-6613 / 0999-420-5556
FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/discoverytourcebu
Davao Branch
Address: Address: G/F Door 109 – 110 Quimpo Blvd. Ecoland Brgy. Bucana, Talomo District Davao City
Contact Number: 082-285-7188 / 082-321-1315 / 0915-326-0111
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/discoverytourdavao/
RAJAH TRAVEL CORPORATION
Website: www.rajahtravel.com
Makati Branch
Address: 3/F 331 Building, 331 Senator Gil Puyat Ave., Makati City
Contact Number: 02-8894-08860917-529-6774
Manila Branch
Address: Room 202, GLC Bldg, A. Mabini cor. T.M. Kalaw St. Ermita, Manila
Contact Number: 02-8523-8801 / 02-8523-8802 / 0917- 854-3628 / 0917- 854-3614
RELI TOURS & TRAVEL AGENCY
Website: www.relitours.ph
Dusit Thani Hotel – Main Office
Address: 3rd Floor, Dusit Thani Hotel, Ayala Center, Makati City
Contact Number: 02-7004-3009 / 0967-446-2000 / 0995-109-6034
SM Mall of Asia Branch
Address: South Entrance SM Department Store, SM Mall of Asia, Bay City, Pasay City
Contact Number: 0906-513-6777
SM Megamall Branch
Address: Grand Floor, Mega Strip A, SM MEGAMALL, EDSA, Mandaluyong City
Contact Number: 0906-513-6555
ANTEL Branch
Address: 2F Antel Seaview Towers Condominium, 2626 Roxas Blvd., Pasay City
Contact Number: 0916-448-7000 / 0999-942-5000
SM South Mall Branch
Address: 3F Cyberzone, SM Southmall, Almanza Uno, Las Pinas City
Contact Number: 0906-513-6222 / 0917-135-9884 / 0916-220-3240
Binondo Branch
Address: FS414, 4F, Lucky China Town Mall, 293 Lachamber Street, Binondo, Manila City
Contact Number: 0927-870-9552
ATTIC TOURS PHILS., INC
Website: www.attictours.asia
Roxas Blvd.Manila – Main Office
Address: G-05 A Antel Seaview Tower 2626 Roxas Blvd. Pasay City
Contact Number: 0917-631-0845
SM Mall of Asia Branch
Address: Unit 126 Level 1, South Parking Building, MALL OF ASIA, Pasay City
Contact Number: 02-8252-0868 / 0917-631-0848
SM North EDSA Branch
Address: G/F The Block, SM CITY NORTH EDSA, SM CITY NORTH EDSA Complex, Quezon City
Contact Number: 02-8372-3254 / 02-8373-2594 / 0917-898-0905
SM City Fairview Branch
Address: Upper Ground Flr. Annex 3 Bldg. SM City Fairview, Quirino Highway cor. Regalado Ave. Brgy. Greater Lagro, Novaliches, Quezon City
Contact Number: 0916-618-6165
SM Southmall Branch
Address: Loc. 343 3F, SM Southmall Almanza Uno, Las Pinas City
Contact Number: 02-8281-8506 / 0917-1866-853
SM Megamall Branch
Address: Unit MS104(A) Mega Strip Bldg. A SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City
Contact Number: 02-8706-6030 / 0906-516-3246
SM City Clark Branch
Address: Ground Level, Service Lane of SM City Clark, Manuel A. Roxas Hwy, Clark Freeport, Angeles Pampanga
Contact Number: 045-499-7546 / 0917-305-4292
SM City Cebu Branch
Address: 2F, SM CITY CEBU, North Reclamation Area, Mabolo Cebu City
Contact Number: 032-239-8435 / 0956-551-9834
Cebu Waterfront Airport Hotel Branch
Address: Lobby, Waterfront Airport Hotel 1, Airport Road, Lapu- Lapu City, Mactan Island, Cebu
Contact Number: 032-341-2299 / 032-341-2012
SM City Davao Branch
Address: Level 3, SM City Davao, Quimpo Blvd., Talomo Davao City
Contact Number: 082-225-89200917-321-1328
FRIENDSHIP TOURS AND RESORTS CORPORATION
Website: www.friendshipmanila.com
Main Office
Address: 3rd. Flr., Dusit Thani Manila, Ayala Center, Makati City
Contact Number: 02-8810-9622 / 02-8819-5644 / 0915-839-4654
Cebu Branch
Address: Unit 2-508, 5th Floor, OITC 2 Building, Oakridge Business Park, A.S. Fortuna Street, Banilad, Mandaue City
Contact Number: 032-345-3459 / 032-344-4825 / 0917-724-3373
PAN PACIFIC TRAVEL CORPORATION
Website: www.panpacifictravel.ph
This agency only caters to applications WITHOUT documents written in Japanese
Main Office
Address: 353 E.T. Yuchengco St., Binondo, Manila
Contact Number: 02-8243-6666
Ermita Branch
Address: Space A, Ground Flr. & 2nd. Flr., Pacific Pace Apartelle suite, 539 Arquiza St., Ermita, Manila
Contact Number: 02-8521-3141 to 46
Makati Branch
Address: LG01, Herrera Tower Condo, 98 V.A. Rufino St. (Herrera St.) cor. Valero St., Salcedo Vil., Makati City
Contact Number: 02-8810-8551 to 56
Cebu Branch
Address: Diplomat Hotel, 90 F. Ramos St. Cebu City
Contact Number: 032-254-0343/0345/0347/0349
Step 4: Pay the Visa Fee
The Japan Tourist Visa is FREE but travel agencies collect handling fees for processing/sending your application to the Japan Embassy. Based on my experience applying from Reli Tours in the Dusit Thani Branch, the handling fee for a single entry visa application is Php950. You will also be asked to pay an additional Php500 if you apply for a multiple-entry visa. The additional fee will be reimbursed if you are only granted a single-entry visa.
Step 5: Wait for Your Visa to Be Processed
The processing time for a Japan tourist visa is approximately five to ten working days. However, this may vary depending on the embassy’s workload and the volume of visa applications received. I got mine approved in two days but got it from the agency after 5 working days.
Once your passport is returned to the agency from the embassy, you will be notified by SMS. You will only know if it’s approved or rejected once you collect the passport.
Step 6: Enjoy Your Trip to Japan!
Now that you have your Japan tourist visa, it’s time to start planning your trip and enjoying your time in Japan! You can check out our comprehensive Tokyo Travel Guide to help you plan your trip to Japan.
