Frequently Asked Questions: Japan Visa

 

Content

(General)
Q1: Can I enter Japan if my passport has less than 6 months validity remaining? Can I board the aircraft?
Q2: Can I apply for a visa in Singapore if I am residing elsewhere?
Q3: Do I need to apply for a visa if I am transiting in Japan?
Q4: I renewed my passport, but there is still a valid Multiple-entry visa in my old passport. What should I do?

(Application Procedure)
Q5: How do I apply?
Q6: Can the visa application be submitted by a third party?
Q7: Why was my visa application not accepted?
 
(Application Examination)
Q8: How long is the application examination period?
Q9: Why was I asked to provide additional documents?
Q10: My departure date is approaching, can the visa be issued as soon as possible?
 
(Issuance or Rejection of the Visa Application)
Q11: Can a third party collect the visa on my behalf?
Q12: Why was my visa application rejected?
Q13: Is it possible for the submitted documents to be returned?
 

Q1: Can I enter Japan if my passport has less than 6 months validity remaining? Can I board the aircraft?
A1: To enter Japan, you do not need a passport with 6 months of validity. Japan only requires your passport to be valid for the duration of your stay until departure. However, if you are transiting to other countries, you may need a passport that is valid for 6 months. Additionally, some airlines may enforce their own 6-month validity rule, which could prevent you from boarding. Please confirm with your airline for their specific requirements.

Q2: Can I apply for a visa in Singapore if I am residing elsewhere?
A2: No. Only Long-term Residents of Singapore who hold a valid Singapore identity card (PR, Work Pass, Student Pass, Dependant’s Pass or Long-Term Visit Pass) and are currently residing in Singapore can apply. Tourists/temporary visitors are not eligible to apply for Japan visa here.

Q3: Do I need to apply for a visa if I am transiting in Japan?
A3: A visa is not required if you can complete the transit by staying within the transit area of the airport without clearing immigration. However, some airlines may require travellers to pass through immigration to transit as they do not have the necessary transfer facilities in the transit area of the airport. In such cases, a Transit Visa is required. Please double check with your airline on whether the transit requires immigration clearance.
On the other hand, if you plan to enter Japan even only for a few hours during transit, you are required to obtain a Transit Visa in advance. Please note that Japan visas cannot be issued on arrival at the airports. However, citizens of the countries & territories with visa exemption arrangements are not required to obtain visas for the above situations.

Q4: I renewed my passport, but there is still a valid Multiple-entry visa in my old passport. What should I do?
A4: If there is no change in your personal particulars(name, nationality etc.) and only the passport number has been updated, you can enter Japan by bringing both old and new passports. (Immigration officer will verify the multiple-entry visa on your old passport, and stamp the landing permission sticker in your new passport.) It is not mandatory to do a visa transfer once you have changed your passport.

Q5: How do I apply?
A5: Other than cases of diplomatic/official matters, Re-entry Permit Extension, Visa Transfer and Visa Waiver registration (State of Qatar nationals), the Japan Visa Application Centre(JVAC) in Singapore currently handles all procedures of visa application and collection. In principle, applicants should submit their visa applications to the JVAC in person. Applications submitted by post, fax or email will not be accepted.

Q6: Can the visa application be submitted by a third party?
A6: With the exception of Employers of Domestic Helpers, only family members (excluding minors) residing in Singapore are allowed to make submissions on behalf of the applicant to the Japan Visa Application Centre(JVAC). Please note that the application form must be signed by the applicant personally and not the third party submitting on behalf. If found that the form was not signed by the applicant, the application will not be accepted.

Q7: Why was my visa application not accepted?
A7: If any of the following cases apply to you, your application may not be accepted:
（1）Applicant is holding Japanese nationality
（2）The application is made to the Japanese Embassy / Consulate General outside your country/region of birth or long-term residence
（3）You currently hold a valid visa or Japan re-entry permit
（4）Your previous visa application to visit Japan for a specific purpose was rejected and you reapply to visit Japan for the same purpose within six months from the date of rejection
（5）The visa application is already being processed at a different Japanese Embassy / Consulate General
（6）The documents submitted contain errors or omissions
（7）The period of validity or the visa attachment space in your passport is insufficient
（8）The application is made by a person who does not have the qualifications to make a proxy application
（9）An application for issuance of a Certificate of Eligibility is still in progress

Q8: How long is the application examination period?
A8: Processing the visa application takes around 1 week from the date of submission. However, depending on the travel purpose or individual circumstances, applicants may be requested to submit additional documents and in some cases referral to our HQ, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan(MOFA) may be required. For such cases, examination may take longer than 1 week (from several weeks to months). Therefore, it is recommended that you make the application well before your scheduled date of departure.

Q9: Why was I asked to provide additional documents?
A9: Additional information is required for the examination process occasionally, and you may be asked to submit extra documents in addition to the basic documents required. Each applicant has different conditions and circumstances, and at times we are unaware of these until the application has been accepted. Therefore, some documents are not always requested upfront. If the additional documents are not submitted, the examination process is unable to continue and visa issuance will not be possible.

Q10: My departure date is approaching, can the visa be issued as soon as possible?
A10: The decision of whether to issue or reject the visa application cannot be made until the necessary examination has been completed. All applications are processed fairly in the order which we have received them. It is recommended to apply for the visa as soon as possible (within 3 months) once your travel plans have been confirmed.

Q11: Can a third party collect the visa on my behalf?
A11: Only family members (excluding minors) residing in Singapore may collect the result on the applicant’s behalf (except for those who have been specially instructed to collect the visa in person). The receipt which is issued by the Japan Visa Application Centre(JVAC), Singapore identity card of the family member, a copy of the applicant’s identity card, documents to prove kinship(Marriage/Birth certificate copy etc.), letter of authorisation and the visa fee must be presented upon collection.

Q12: Why was my visa application rejected?
A12: A visa will not be issued if the application does not meet the criteria of visa issuance. For example, any of the situations listed below, or if there is any related suspicion which cannot be clarified. We are unable to disclose specific reasons with regards to issues of an individual’s visa examination. (We will not accept your visa application if your previous application was rejected and you apply for the same purpose of visit within 6 months from the date of rejection.)
・ The passport of the applicant is not authentic or valid
・ The contents of submitted documents are false
・ The applicant has been sentenced to imprisonment for 1 year or more
・ The applicant has been convicted and sentenced for a drug offence in any country in violation of the law concerning narcotics, marijuana, stimulants or prostitution
・ The applicant has been deported or removed from Japan where the period set forth in the relevant provision has not yet elapsed
・ The purpose of the visit to Japan does not conform to “the authorized activities in Japan” under the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act
・ The purpose of the visit to Japan does not conform to the criteria of Ordinance of the Ministry of Justices which is related to the landing permission of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act.
・ There is a possibility that the applicant may commit acts detrimental to the interests or public security of Japan

Q13: Is it possible for the submitted documents to be returned?
A13: Please note that all submitted documents (with the exception of passports) will not be returned to the applicant. The personal information of the visa applicant, inviting person and guarantor will be managed appropriately by the Embassy of Japan based on the Act on the Protection of Personal Information. Also, the Japan Visa Application Centre(JVAC) must gain the approval of the Embassy of Japan, and the condition of such approval is that they have agreed to manage personal information appropriately based on the aforementioned act, under the same criteria as the outsourcing organization.