Visa & Travel
2023/7/11
Visa Information
Welcome to the Visa Information page. The Visa Section of the Consulate General of Japan in Honolulu handles applications for visas to enter Japan. Whether you need to obtain a visa in order to enter Japan differs according to the purpose of visit, length of your stay, your nationality, etc.
List of Japanese Embassies and Consulates
Short-Term Stay refers to temporary visits of up to 90 days with non-paid activities as the purpose of the trip
Click on the nationality of the visa applicant traveling to Japan.
＊Countries or Regions that require a visa to enter Japan
▶China (→Multiple Entry)▶Russia ▶CIS countries, Georgia ▶Philippines ▶Viet Nam ▶ Other Nationalities
Procedures chart for short-term stay (tourism, business, visiting relatives, etc)
＊U.S. citizens or foreign nationals of Visa Exemption countries are not required to obtain a visa for short-term tourism/business/conference/study (See "the list of visa exemption countries and regions").
Please click on the below visa types to see requirements for each visa.
Click and apply *Please see list of all required documents for in-person applications here.
JAPAN eVISA can only be used to apply for Short-term Stay Visas for the purpose of Tourism (for a stay of 90 days or less, and Single entry only).
*For all other types of visa applications, including a short-term business visa, a short-term relatives/friends visiting visa, a transit visa, a double-entry visa, and a short-term tourism multiple-entry visa, you are required to apply at the Consulate in person.
[Note]
*It takes at least 5 business days to issue an eVISA.
*If your eVISA is approved, you will receive an email with the “Notice of visa fees”. The visa fee can be paid by credit card online or in cash at the Consulate. If you pay in cash, please bring a printed copy of "Registration Information Form" with the visa fees to the Consulate during our office hours. The eVISAs will be issued after your payment.
* You can check the status of your visa application through your visa application account. We do NOT accept any inquires about the status of your visa application.
A stay during which the applicant performs remunerative work in Japan or a stay of over 90 days in Japan, etc.
Please click on the below COE to see requirements
＊The application for a Certificate of Eligibility is made by your sponsor in Japan at the nearest regional immigration authority to his/her place of residence. Employers or schools as well as relatives could become your sponsors.
＊Once the Certificate of Eligibility reaches you by way of your sponsor in Japan, you are ready to apply for a visa at the Japanese Consulate. The Consulate highly recommends obtaining a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) before applying for visa. Contact the Immigration Services Agency of Japan to obtain a COE. Obtaining a COE takes 1 to 3 months.
＊You MUST enter Japan within 3 months of the designated day on your Certificate of Eligibility, regardless of any time limits noted on the actual visa you receive.
＊For further information about COE, please see: Application for issuance of a Certificate of Eligibility
＊Payment is due at the time of PICK-UP and we accept CASH only (Please prepare cash in the exact amount).
＊Visa fees are revised each year on April 1st.
Japan Visa Information Hotline
TEL: 1-808-468-3642
24 hours /7days a week, English only
About how to make a call on Skype
| (1) | Launch the Skype app. |
| (2) | Select the search icon that says "Groups & Messages" shown on the top of the window. |
| * The words displayed may vary depending on your device. | |
| (3) | Copy and paste the dedicated ID of the JAPAN VISA INFORMATION HOTLINE on the "Search Skype" field. |
| (4) | Select JAPAN VISA INFORMATION HOTLINE from the search results. |
| (5) | Press the Audio Call button. |
| * You need to download the Skype app. (Free） | |
Visa Section Service Hours
| * | Visa Section Service Hours: from Monday to Friday, 8:00am-11:30am (please arrive by 11:00am) and 1:00pm-3:30pm (please arrive by 3:00pm) |
| (Please check our holidays) | |
| * | No appointment required |
Visa Jurisdictions
The Consulate General of Japan in Honolulu has a jurisdiction covering the State of Hawaii and American Samoa. If visa applicants reside outside the State of Hawaii or American Samoa, please contact the Japanese Consulate or Embassy that handles visas for your area.List of Japanese Embassies and Consulates
General Rules for Visas
- Applications must be submitted in person or by a representative and we do not accept application by posted mail.
- In principle we do not accept an application from B1/B2 U.S. visa status holders.
- Visa processing time; In general, it takes at least 5 business days to issue a visa (ex., If you apply on Monday, you can pick up a visa next Monday. Our holidays are not counted as “business days”.) but this varies depending on the applicant's circumstances. If your case is special, it may take more time to process. We recommend applying for a visa at least 1.5 month prior to your departure date.
- We do NOT have expedited services.
Type of Visas & Requirements
| Short Term Stay |
Click on the nationality of the visa applicant traveling to Japan.
＊Countries or Regions that require a visa to enter Japan
▶China (→Multiple Entry)▶Russia ▶CIS countries, Georgia ▶Philippines ▶Viet Nam ▶ Other Nationalities
Procedures chart for short-term stay (tourism, business, visiting relatives, etc)
＊U.S. citizens or foreign nationals of Visa Exemption countries are not required to obtain a visa for short-term tourism/business/conference/study (See "the list of visa exemption countries and regions").
Please click on the below visa types to see requirements for each visa.
| 【Definition】 A foreign citizen traveling stand-by OR who must leave the airport while enroute to a third country, such as passengers with overnight flight connections or passengers arriving in Japan at one airport and departing from a different airport (Example Narita to Haneda or vice versa). (For passengers who transit in Japan for immediate flight connections and are not required to go through immigration clearance, a visa is not required.) | |
| Tourism | 【Definition】 A foreign citizen traveling to Japan for tourism/sightseeing, not including business, academic or visiting relatives/acquaintances purposes. It is not permitted to perform activities to undertake revenue generating business operation or activities to receive remuneration. |
| Business Affairs | 【Definition】 A foreign citizen traveling to Japan for business affairs, commerce, conferences, etc. for business purposes. It is not permitted to perform activities to undertake revenue generating business operation or activities to receive remuneration. |
| Visiting Relatives/Acquaintances | 【Definition】 A foreign citizen traveling to Japan for visiting relatives/acquaintances as a tourist, not including business or academic purposes. It is not permitted to perform activities to undertake revenue generating business operation or activities to receive remuneration. |
| Visiting/Meeting Person who is Stationed In a U.S. Military Base |
【Definition】 A foreign citizen traveling to Japan for visiting relatives/acquaintances who reside in Japan as an U.S. military member (SOFA), not including business or academic purposes. It is not permitted to perform activities to undertake revenue generating business operation or activities to receive remuneration. |
Click and apply *Please see list of all required documents for in-person applications here.
*For all other types of visa applications, including a short-term business visa, a short-term relatives/friends visiting visa, a transit visa, a double-entry visa, and a short-term tourism multiple-entry visa, you are required to apply at the Consulate in person.
[Note]
*It takes at least 5 business days to issue an eVISA.
*If your eVISA is approved, you will receive an email with the “Notice of visa fees”. The visa fee can be paid by credit card online or in cash at the Consulate. If you pay in cash, please bring a printed copy of "Registration Information Form" with the visa fees to the Consulate during our office hours. The eVISAs will be issued after your payment.
* You can check the status of your visa application through your visa application account. We do NOT accept any inquires about the status of your visa application.
| Work or Long-Term Stay |
Please click on the below COE to see requirements
| COE (Certificate of Eligibility) |
【Definition】A Certificate of Eligibility is a document that verifies the activity in which the foreigner wishes to engage in Japan. The advantage of this document reduces the time required to obtain a visa and complete immigration procedures when work or long-term stay are the purposes of the trip including: dependent, work (entertainer, artist, professor, researcher, instructor, journalist, investor, business manage, legal or accounting services, medical service, engineer, humanities specialist or international services, intracompany transferee, skilled labor), religious activities, study (student/trainee/internship), cultural activities, or long-term resident. |
＊Once the Certificate of Eligibility reaches you by way of your sponsor in Japan, you are ready to apply for a visa at the Japanese Consulate. The Consulate highly recommends obtaining a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) before applying for visa. Contact the Immigration Services Agency of Japan to obtain a COE. Obtaining a COE takes 1 to 3 months.
＊You MUST enter Japan within 3 months of the designated day on your Certificate of Eligibility, regardless of any time limits noted on the actual visa you receive.
＊For further information about COE, please see: Application for issuance of a Certificate of Eligibility
Download Files
Visa Validity
| Type of Visa | Validity | Note |
| Single Entry | 3 months | You must enter Japan within this time frame. We will not accept any visa applications more than 3 months before your departure date. |
| Double-Entry Transit | 4 months | It can be used twice (once on the way to your destination and once on the return trip) to complete a round trip. |
| Double-Entry | 6 months | It can be used twice. |
| Multiple Entry | 1 to 5 years depending on the visa | Multiple entry visas can be issued to citizens of countries that Japan has bilateral agreements with. Maximum stay at a time is decided as either 30 days or 90 days depending on the visa. |
Visa Fees
＊US citizens are exempt from visa fees. (Some countries are also exempt from visa fees. Please check the Visa Fee Exempt countries list to find out if your visa fee is waived. )＊Payment is due at the time of PICK-UP and we accept CASH only (Please prepare cash in the exact amount).
| Type of Visa | Fee | |
| Single Entry Visa | $22 | |
| Double and Multiple Entry Visa | $44 | |
| Transit Visa (Including Double-Entry Transit) | $5 | |
| Indian Passport Holder | Single, Double, and Multiple Entry Visa | $6 |
| Transit Visa | $1 | |
| Extension of Re-entry Permit* (Only available for “Re-entry Permit” not for “Special Re-entry Permit”) |
$22 | |
Criteria of Visa Issuance
A Japanese visa will be issued to an applicant, when he/she meets all of the following requirements and if the issuance is considered to be appropriate.
| 1. | The applicant possesses a valid passport and is entitled to re-entry to a country of his/her nationality or a country of his/her residence. |
| 2. | All submitted documents are authentic, completed and satisfactory. |
| 3. | The activities to be engaged in Japan/the civil status or the position of the applicant/the period of stay meet the requirements for the status of residence and the period of stay stipulated in the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act. (Cabinet Order No.319 of 1951. hereinafter referred to as the "Immigration Control Act") |
| 4. | The applicant does not fall under any of the items of Article 5, Paragraph 1 of the Immigration Control Act. |
Information on Border Measures
＊Border Control Measures Japan
＊Visit Japan Web:
Foreign national coexistence policies
* Road map for the Realization of a Society of Harmonious Coexistence with Foreign Nationals
* Comprehensive Measures for Acceptance and Coexistence of Foreign Nationals
* A Daily life Support Portal for Foreign Nationals
* Guidebook on Living and Working
* New to Japan? Useful pages for foreign nationals
* Comprehensive Measures for Acceptance and Coexistence of Foreign Nationals
* A Daily life Support Portal for Foreign Nationals
* Guidebook on Living and Working
* New to Japan? Useful pages for foreign nationals
Recommended Information
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan(MOFA)
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan
- Visiting Japan
- Japan National Tourism Organization(JNTO)
- Bringing Medication
- Bringing Animal Products
- Bringing Pets
- Travel Insurance
- Travel Information and News
- Guide for when you are ill
- Visa fee exemption for MIYAGI/FUKUSHIMA/IWATE Visitors