The first thing you need to know in applying for a tourist Visa in Japan is to have an accredited agency where you can submit your application. I'll repeat. An accredited travel agency, not the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines, because there is no direct visa application, no personal appearance needed unless you fall under some special case of exception which you can check through the official website of Embassy of Japan.

I got my family's visa together with my group of friends from UHI (Universal Holidays Inc.) in the Mezzanine Floor at Dusit Thani Manila Hotel, Makati City. Their office address is very posh, I must say. Good thing I attended the Travel Expo early this year in SMX and that's where I learned this agency. I was actually looking for other tours for the family, but their booth is just too inviting so I just signed up for their promo visa application and got a discounted deal for the three of us (for my husband, my son and I).

Actually, panalo ang deal na yon considering our date of visit was about 7 months away from the time I paid for it. And no other travel agency exhibitor offered the same thing when I was there. But because I have no concrete plan yet on how to go about our Japan tour, I sadly missed their next best offer - which is the discounted JR pass!

Touring around Japan means a lot of local and bullet trains and buses. And this is an advance information for you if you get chances to steal good deals like that, you should go for it! You may want to know what else are for grab.

Read: Top 5 Travel Tips For First Time Visitors in Japan 

Regular fee for visa application at UHI is Php1200. It's a little higher than the others but their service is super fast. I submitted ours on a Saturday, they texted me to get the result on their office by Monday afternoon. That's how you'll be notified. They don't discuss the result through phone but you need to get it from their office either personally or thru a representative.

The other agency that my friends tried is Reli Tours at SM Megamall. They charge Php950.00 and processing usually takes 3-5 days.

For other accredited agencies, you may find it here:

List of Accredited Agencies for Japan Visa Application



And that's the start, an accredited travel agency. What you'll need to present to them for the success of your visa application are up next.

Required Documents for Tourist Visa Application Without Guarantor In Japan

1. Philippine Passport

It should be valid at least six months prior to your date of travel. This is an old requirement so I hope your passport will pass this initial check. If not, renew it asap coz queing line has already been filled up fast for the next months or so to get an appointment with DFA. 

There's a link below where you can download it. Fill it up completely especially if you'll just send it out on your travel agency thru a representative. Don't forget those signature boxes!

Visa Application Form

3. Photo

Photo must be clear and in business attire, forget those sandos and sexy attire when having your picture taken for visa application. It should not be pixilated and must be in white background. Size specs is 4.5cm x 4.5cm. Attach it on your application form.

It should be valid within 1 year from the date of issue from NSO. We had to apply for a new one and we had ours thru online application which took about 3 working days before they delivered the documents at home.

If birth certificate is a late registration, you need other documents like baptismal certificate. To be sure, you need to ask the travel agency what they require instead.

This is also required to have at least 1-year validity from date of issue from NSO. You can also have it thru online application.

NSO Documents Online Application

You can create your own or you may ask help from your agency. But if you really are planning to have that tour to Japan, it is better to prepare your own. That's for you to plan the budget so that you'll know how much is supposed to be on your bank account at least, which is another essential document that will be asked from you. Anyway, tour itinerary should be your daily activity in Japan - from airport to hotel check-in to check-out and flying back home shall be on your itinerary. Other details such as contact numbers and addresses of the places you'll visit should be listed.

It's important that you can prove to the Embassy thru your documents that you can finance your trip especially if you wish to have multiple entry visa. Being financially prepared when applying for a tourist visa is a must. It's just practical that will tell them how sincere you are on your purpose of visit on their country. So, the biggest factor is to establish your capability to sufficiently fund your trip.

If you'd like to have an estimate of your budget for let's say 7days, try the search box on this site from Agoda. Lists of hotels where you'd like to stay will give you an idea on how much you'll spend on your accomodation. Other expenses will be fare, food, tour and extra pocket money. I'll show you how to plan your itinerary on a different post. 

About your financial document, you need to ask for an original copy of your bank certificate from your branch and it must be valid for at least two months upon issuance.

8.  Income Tax Return

So, you have shown them that you have money to grease your trip. Another financial document and a strong document to show that you're coming back from your trip is your employment status. If you have business, then an ITR is also required from you. Form 2316/1700/1701/1702 is needed (whichever is applicable) with original and photocopy. 

If you don't have an ITR, for some valid reasons like you're a housewife, retired or a senior citizen, an explanation letter is needed.

9.  Signed Guarantee Letter

It's asked from applicants who cannot provide an ITR and a bank certificate. Japan Embassy has that form and I put the link below or you may download it from their official website.

Letter of Guarantee

My son needed a guarantor since he's still a kid so we signed a letter. It's also possible that only one of the parents guarantee the whole family as long as financial statement will show that you can support the trip for the whole group.

And that's just it. Simple, right? If your application will be thru a representative, you must provide an authorization letter and a copy of one valid ID.

By the way, validity of a single-entry tourist visa to Japan is three months while mulitple-entry visa is valid for one to five years.

Now I hope that you are ready to get your visa for Japan! Feel free to comment and share this post. Ganbarou!



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P.S. Photos on this post are not my own