Thinking of travelling to Japan soon? If you are, this blog will help you plan your trip to Japan.
Japan is a country in Asia, known as the "Land of the Rising Sun". It is approximately a 4-hour travel from Manila, and 9 hours directly from Dubai. Japan is the country where manga and anime originated, and where the only Disney Sea in the world is located.
Of course, before you go to Japan, you need to apply for the visa. For UAE residents, starting from August 1, 2024, the Japan visa application process should be done directly through VFS Global, with the exception of Diplomatic and Official visa applications. You can refer to this website for more details: https://visa.vfsglobal.com/are/en/jpn
With the new process through VFS, visa processing will take a minimum of 8-10 working days from the date of submission (excluding weekends and UAE holidays). However, in case the documents are not submitted as per requirements or due to other factors or justified reasons, the processing time may be extended up to 3 to 4 weeks.
I traveled to Japan in March 2024, and at that time, you could still apply for an e-visa online and receive it online. I checked online, and the requirements were still the same. In this blog post, I will help residents of Dubai by providing some points on each of the required documents based on what I submitted. We will review the VFS checklist and discuss it one by one. For easy reference, you can download the form here: https://www.vfsglobal.com/one-pager/japan/uae/dubai/pdf/Single-Entry-Tourism.pdf
So grab a pen and you can take notes. :)
VFS CHECKLIST
APPLICATION FORM
This was not part of the e-visa requirements. If I remember correctly, you will fill out the information online. The application form is almost the same as the form I fill out whenever I apply for a Schengen visa. With this, I can help with the questions below.
Port of entry is the place where you will enter Japan. For example, if your flight lands at Osaka International Airport, then you can put Osaka.
You can download the form here: https://www.vfsglobal.com/one-pager/japan/uae/dubai/pdf/Visa-Application-Form.pdf
PHOTOS
I remember when e-visa was still available, I was having a hard time uploading my photo as you needed to edit and place it in the correct position. The same requirement as before, but you have to take note that the photo should be glued to the application form (not stapled).
As per the website, photo must be:
- not taken more than 6 months before application time
- size should be 45 mm x 35 mm
- colored photo with white/plain background
- taken looking straight forward and face seen clearly
Note that the Embassy may request a new photo if it doesn't meet the requirements.
ORIGINAL PASSPORT
Note that it is also a requirement to have your passport photocopied. What I uploaded before was only the part where the name and other details like the passport number are there. Based on the applications I've done (though this is a case-by-case basis and it depends on the country), to be safe, I suggest you photocopy all the pages of your passport. If you're a frequent traveler, this will also be a good thing to support your application.
Since it's also mentioned that it should be with a UAE residence visa, just print your residence visa and take a photocopy as well. Lastly, it should have more than 2 blank pages.
UAE VISA COPY
Since you will include the residence visa as a requirement, as mentioned above, just photocopy your Emirates ID, front and back.
AIR TICKET
I've asked a lot of my friends who have been to Japan regarding this topic. Purchasing an air ticket is very risky. Most of my friends suggested purchasing an air ticket, giving me motivation that since I'm a frequent traveler, I will get the visa. One of them told me to get a dummy ticket, another risky move. We all know that air tickets, especially to Japan, are not cheap, but since Japan is one of my dream countries to visit, I opted to purchase an air ticket. In case my visa is rejected, I can cancel it and get a refund, but I will not be getting the whole amount (if I remember correctly, you will receive back only the unused taxes).
I booked my flight through Philippine Airlines with a layover in Manila. At the time of purchase, this was the cheapest flight ticket I could get online. I paid AED 2,900.00 for it.
NO-OBJECTION LETTER FROM EMPLOYER OR SPONSOR
Three points to be noted here:
a. Electronic letters (scanned copies and then printed) must have either the stamp or original signature and must state "Electronically Generated".
b. You have to carefully check the letter issued by your employer. In my case, initially, our HR only put "Consul-General of Japan," and I asked her to update the letter since it should be addressed to the "Consul-General of Japan in Dubai." If you request a letter from your HR, it's better to include a screenshot of the exact requirement in your request.
c. The signatory's designation should be mentioned, and the letter should be stamped.
PROOF OF FINANCIAL MEANS / BANK STATEMENTS
A 3-month SALARY bank statement is required. This means you have to provide the bank statement of your account where your salary is being credited. It is also mentioned that online statements are accepted.
Based on the cases I know: (a) If you're an ENBD customer, you can download your statement in the app (which includes the statement with a stamp). (b) If you're an HSBC customer, you can download the statement online. However, there's no stamp on the online statement, so you still need to go to the nearest branch to have it stamped. If you can't access your statement online, you can still go to the nearest branch, but they will charge you AED 25 per month.
TRAVEL ITINERARY
There is a form that you can download and fill out with your travel itinerary. On the website, they will also provide instructions on how to fill it out.
Flight details are required information. One thing to note is that in the box "Departing from Japan", if you have a layover, you need to put the first country you will arrive from Japan.
Itinerary should be planned day by day, and you should not skip any day. Be specific about your plans for each day. Below is a snippet from what I have uploaded previously.
Below are also the forms from VFS, including the sample itinerary.
In addition to all the requirements above, it should be noted that if your flight is scheduled within 2 weeks from the application date, VFS will not accept your application. Even though they said that it will take a minimum of 8-10 days, you have to remember that this is the MINIMUM. A lot of UAE residents want to go to Japan, especially now that EXPO 2025 is coming. I suggest that you allow plenty of time between your flight and the date of application. One month, I think, is the safest.
The required documents should be valid at the time of the visa application and should be submitted within 3 months of their date of issue.
Better also to print the checklist for your easy reference. Having it printed will help you check that your documents are complete. Here is the link: https://www.vfsglobal.com/one-pager/japan/uae/dubai/pdf/Single-Entry-Tourism.pdf
Now that you have ideas on the documents that you need to submit, you can start preparing your documents so that you'll be ready on the day of your application.
I hope this blog helped you prepare for your visa application. If you have any questions, please comment below, and I will try to answer based on my experiences and what my friends have also experienced.
Thank you for reading, and I hope you will travel to Japan soon.
If you're planning an itinerary for Japan, you can check out my blog about all the places I have been to in Japan.
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