VISA FOR TRAVEL TO JAPAN

According to the number of entries:

• Single-entry visa: This is a type of short-term visa for purposes such as tourism or business. You are only allowed to enter Japan once. For the next entry, you will need to apply for a new visa.
• Multiple-entry visa: With this type of visa, you can enter Japan multiple times without needing to apply for a new visa.

According to the purpose:

• Tourist visa
• Student visa
• Work visa
• Family visit visa
• Business visa
• Transit visa

The duration of stay in Japan indicated on the visa is 15 days, 30 days, or 90 days from the time of entry. You can enter once or multiple times depending on the type of visa you have registered. Currently, Japan has extended the validity of Japanese visas with a maximum duration of 5 to 10 years. The scope of application for short-term residents and multiple entries has been expanded for citizens with regular passports.

If you have been to Japan continuously in the last 3 years or have visas from developed countries such as the USA, UK, or France, along with stable finances and a clear travel history, you will be considered for a multiple-entry tourist visa with a maximum validity of 1 to 5 years. The maximum duration of stay for each entry is 30 days.

Personal Documents

• Passport: Must be valid for at least 6 months (original).
• Visa application form: Fill in all required information and attach a passport-sized photo measuring 4.5cm × 3.5cm. At the end of the application, the applicant must sign their name matching the signature on the passport. Visa applications for Japan will not be accepted if the photo has been edited using software. The back of the application must be processed on a machine; the embassy recommends not using staples.
• ID card (notarized photocopy).
• Household registration book (notarized photocopy for each page).

In case of applying for a group visa

• Family relationship: Includes birth certificates, marriage certificates, household registration, etc.
• Friendship relationship: Provide a group photo (faces must be clearly visible, no hats or sunglasses).
• Other documents: Can prove the relationship with other documents.
• If the group has 3 or more people, a clarification letter must be included to explain the relationship between members with a diagram.

Documents proving personal financial status

• Bank savings account statement must show a minimum balance of 5,000 USD and for at least the last 3 months.
• Salary statements for the last 3 months.
• Documents proving ownership of real estate, property, stocks, vehicles (if any) to increase the visa approval rate.
• Documents proving fixed-term deposits.

Documents proving current employment

For workers and civil servants:

• Labor contract;
• Appointment letter (if any);
• Bank salary statements for the last 3 months;
• Social insurance card, health insurance, etc.;
• Leave request letter to go to Japan with the company’s signature and stamp.

For business owners:

• Business registration certificate of the company/business;
• Documents proving tax payment in the last 6 months and other documents proving profitable business activities.

Documents related to the trip

• Documents proving flight bookings, reservations such as train tickets, hotel bookings, etc. (However, you should only purchase flight tickets after successfully obtaining a Japanese visa).
• The planned itinerary should be detailed for each specific day. You should not write vague locations like “Hokkaido” or “Tokyo” but should specify exact destinations with full addresses and contact numbers.

A few notes when preparing documents for a Japanese visa application:

• All documents must be prepared on A4 paper, minimizing wrinkles.
• It is not necessary for the application to have translations in English or Japanese.
• Important documents must be notarized, with a validity period not exceeding three months from the date of submission.
• Information about the hotel, itinerary, and leave request must match each other.
• It is advisable to highlight important information regarding the Japanese visa for easy identification.
• Documents should be arranged in the order listed above for convenience during the review process.

Passport: Ensure that your passport is valid for at least 6 months.

Visa application: The Japan tourist visa application form must be completed carefully and thoroughly with basic documents including: visa application form (template available on the website of the Japanese Embassy), travel and accommodation itinerary, employment verification letter (written in English), and a leave application certified by the company you are working for. Note that you must clearly state the date of the visa application and the signature in the documents must match the signature in the passport. Many people sign impulsively, based on emotions, or carelessly, which is very risky.

Photo: A passport-sized photo of 4.5 cm x 3.5 cm taken within the last 6 months, with your full name written on the back. Many cases of photo discrepancies with the actual person can lead to rejection for various personal reasons.

Financial capability proof: This is very important; it’s not just for studying abroad that you need to prove financial capability. If you receive your salary through a bank account, go to the bank and request a statement of your salary account for the last 3 months, with a red stamp on the statement. If you receive your salary in cash, go to your company and request a salary certificate for the last 3 months, with the company’s signature and red stamp. All documents should be original.

Additionally, you need to pay close attention to your account balance. A savings book in your name with a value of 100 million VND or more is required. You can go to the bank to request a balance certificate, in English. Just explain your reason to the staff, and they will understand and assist you. The cost of obtaining a statement varies by bank.

A certified copy of your employment contract, with the company seal, is even better. It is best to bring both copies and originals of all documents for the interview for verification if necessary.

Leave application with confirmation from the company where you are currently employed.

Accommodation itinerary: You can download a sample accommodation itinerary form from the website of the Japanese Embassy, including the local areas you will visit, tourist attractions, hotels, along with confirmation of bookings and flight tickets. The clearer and more detailed your itinerary, the better. Simply stating the city you are visiting without specifying tourist spots (parks, museums, shopping centers, etc.) or the address of your accommodation will make your application more likely to be rejected. You should also attach hotel booking confirmations and flight tickets (do not issue tickets until you have the visa) to make the information more credible. For couples who are married, it is also advisable to include a copy of the marriage certificate in the application.

*Some important notes to remember: You will not get back the documents you have submitted. If there are documents that need to be returned, you must inform before submitting the application. Additionally, documents that need to be returned in original (marriage certificate, birth certificate, household registration book, admission letter, etc.) and residence status documents must be brought along with a copy.

• Visa application fee for Japan: Contact Unique Travel for consultation.
• Submit directly or send by post the complete application to Unique Travel Company (Untra Tower – No. 37 Street No. 2, An Khanh Ward, District 2, Thu Duc City, HCMC)
• Processing time and result return: Approximately 14 working days (excluding holidays, Tet, Saturday and Sunday)