Frequently Asked Questions

GENERAL VISA QUESTIONS

Q. I want to visit Japan. Do I need a visa?

Q. I am a foreign student living in the Netherlands, and I know that I need a visa to go on holiday to Japan. However, I don’t receive a salary in the Netherlands. Can I apply for a tourist visa?

Q. When does my single-entry visa expire?

Q. Can I apply for a multiple visa?

Q. How long is my multiple-entry visa valid?

Q. Do I have to leave Japan by the expiry date mentioned on my visa?

Q. My ordinary passport (not an emergency passport) is not valid for 6 months at the time that I enter Japan. Do I need a new passport?

Q. I have a travel document that was issued by the Dutch authorities. Can I apply for a visa?

Q. I have a transit via Japan to a third country. Do I need a visa?

Q. Can I apply for a working holiday visa?

Q. I am a Dutch national, living in France. Can I apply for the working holiday at the Japanese Embassy in France, or should I apply at the Japanese Embassy in the Netherlands?

Q. Are working holiday visas still available?

Q. I have a valid multiple-entry visa on my old passport. Is this still valid?

Q. I am an Indonesian national living in the Netherlands. I heard that it is possible to travel to Japan without a visa if you have an e-passport. To do so, you need to register online at the Japanese Embassy. Can I do this at the Japanese Embassy in the Netherlands? 

Q. I am a Qatar national living in the Netherlands. I heard that it is possible to travel to Japan without a visa if you have an e-passport. To do so, you need to register online at the Japanese Embassy. Can I do this at the Japanese Embassy in the Netherlands? 

 

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS QUESTIONS

Q. I want to apply for a multiple-entry visa. How much money do I need to show in my account?

Q. I am a Chinese national and I will visit Japan after I have visited my home country. Can I only show the flight from China to Japan?

Q. In the required documents list it is mentioned that I need to bring a bank statement. Do I need to print out all pages of my last statement? 

Q. In the required documents list it is mentioned that you advise me not to purchase the flight ticket until the visa is approved. However, I cannot buy a ticket without paying. What should I do?

Q. I am going to Japan as a student/ to work/as a spouse (of a Japanese national). I see on the required documents list that I need a Certificate of Eligibility. Where can I apply for the Certificate of Eligibility?

Q. I cannot fill in all the fields on the visa application form. What should I do?

Q. I see that I need to bring a valid Dutch Residence Card when I come to apply for the visa. However, my Residence Card will expire while I am in Japan. Can you accept my visa application?
 

VISA APPLICATIONS AND PICK UP QUESTIONS

Q. Do I need an appointment for visa applications?

Q. Who can apply for a visa at the Embassy of Japan in the Netherlands?

Q. When should I apply for a visa?

Q. How long does it take to get my visa?

Q. My departure date is approaching. Do you have an expedited service for issuing visas?

Q. Can I post or e-mail in my application?

Q. Do I need to come to the Embassy myself to apply for a visa?

Q. Is it possible for someone to pick up my passport and visa?

 

VISITING JAPAN QUESTIONS

Q. Are there any border measures to enter Japan?

Q. Can I bring my medications with me?

Q. How can I bring my pet?

Q. I am a Dutch national and I have been to Japan as a tourist for 90 days (without a visa). Can I visit Japan again as a tourist (without a visa) immediately after I have returned from Japan, or do I have to wait for some time before I am allowed to visit Japan again?

 

GENERAL VISA QUESTIONS

Q. I want to visit Japan. Do I need a visa?
A. People from visa exempt countries and regions do not need a visa if their period of stay in Japan is within 90 days AND they will not be engaged in income-earning activities. Refer to the List of Countries and Regions that have Visa Exemption Arrangements with Japan. 

Q. I am a foreign student living in the Netherlands, and I know that I need a visa to go on holiday to Japan. However, I don’t receive a salary in the Netherlands. Can I apply for a tourist visa?
A. Yes, please see the required documents for tourism on our website: https://www.nl.emb-japan.go.jp/files/100409972.pdf 

Q. When does my single-entry visa expire?
A. A single-entry visa is valid for 3 months from the day of issuance. Therefore, entry into Japan should occur within this time frame. You can stay in Japan for up to 15 days, up to 30 days, or up to 90 days from your day of entrance depending on your visa.

Q. Can I apply for a multiple visa?
A. Multiple entry visas can be issued to some citizens of countries. If you can apply for this type of visa depends on your nationality, the purpose of your trip and your individual circumstances. (see website under multiple visa)
https://www.nl.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/r_visa_short.html

Q. How long is my multiple-entry visa valid?
A. A Multiple-entry visa is valid for 1 to 5 years. The maximum period that you can stay in Japan each time is 30 or 90 days. This means that you are allowed to enter Japan multiple times in a period of 1 to 5 years, counted from the day of issuance of the visa.   

Q. Do I have to leave Japan by the expiry date mentioned on my visa?
A. No, you must arrive in Japan before the expiry date mentioned on your visa.
Upon arrival in Japan, you get landing permission. The duration of the landing permission will be up to 15 days, up to 30 days, or up to 90 days from your day of entrance (per visit) depending on the period of stay mentioned on your visa.
 
Q. My ordinary passport (not an emergency passport) is not valid for 6 months at the time that I enter Japan. Do I need a new passport?
A. No, as long as your passport is valid during the time of your stay in Japan, it should not be a problem.

Q. I have a travel document that was issued by the Dutch authorities. Can I apply for a visa?
A. It depends on the travel document and the travel document needs to be valid for 6 months as of the time of your visa application date. Since we will confirm whether you can apply for a visa with the travel document, please contact us by e-mail.

Q. I have a transit via Japan to a third country. Do I need a visa?
A. If you do not go through the immigration office/passport control at the airport in Japan and you possess confirmed airline tickets to go to the third country, then you do not need a visa. Please confirm with your airline whether you will go through the immigration office/ passport control before applying for a visa.

Q. Can I apply for a working holiday visa?
A. Please see the link about working holiday visa.

Q. I am a Dutch national, living in France. Can I apply for the working holiday at the Japanese Embassy in France, or should I apply at the Japanese Embassy in the Netherlands?
A. Unfortunately, you cannot apply for the working holiday visa: You need to live in the country of your own nationality and apply at the Japanese Embassy of this country. It is not possible to apply at the Japanese Embassy of the country in which you live, but which nationality you don’t have. 

Q. Are working holiday visas still available?
A. When the number of working holiday visa applications reaches 200, we will post a notice on our website.

Q. I have a valid multiple-entry visa on my old passport. Is this still valid?
A. Yes, please bring your new passport and your old passport with a valid multiple entry visa when entering Japan.

Q. I am an Indonesian national living in the Netherlands. I heard that it is possible to travel to Japan without a visa if you have an e-passport. To do so, you need to register online at the Japanese Embassy. Can I do this at the Japanese Embassy in the Netherlands? 
A. No, this is only possible at the Japanese Embassy in Indonesia. Please contact the Japanese Embassy in Indonesia about this or visit their website to see if you are eligible for this visa waiver program.
https://www.mofa.go.jp/press/release/press4e_000498.html

Q. I am a Qatar national living in the Netherlands. I heard that it is possible to travel to Japan without a visa if you have an e-passport. To do so, you need to register online at the Japanese Embassy. Can I do this at the Japanese Embassy in the Netherlands? 
A. No, this is only possible at the Japanese Embassy in Qatar. Please contact the Japanese Embassy in Qatar about this or visit their website to see if you are eligible for this visa waiver program.
https://www.mofa.go.jp/press/release/press3e_000572.html

 

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS QUESTIONS

Q. I want to apply for a multiple-entry visa. How much money do I need to show in my account?
A. We don’t provide this information. Please bring as many documents showing your financial situation as possible. If you are not sure that you can get a multiple entry visa, please bring the required documents for the single-entry visa too. 

Q. I am a Chinese national and I will visit Japan after I have visited my home country. Can I only show the flight from China to Japan?
A. Please bring the whole flight itinerary (in your case the flight from the Netherlands to China and from China to Japan and the return flight from Japan to China or directly to the Netherlands.)

Q. In the required documents list it is mentioned that I need to bring a bank statement. Do I need to print out all pages of my last statement? 
A. No, we only need to check your name, the end balance, and the date on your bank statement. In most cases, this is mentioned on the first page of your statement, so please bring only this page.

Q. In the required documents list it is mentioned that you advise me not to purchase the flight ticket until the visa is approved. However, I cannot buy a ticket without paying. What should I do?
A. We mention this on our website because we are not able to refund your ticket in case we cannot issue a visa for you. However, if you bring all documents as mentioned in the checklist and if the questions on the visa application form concerning offences and crimes are answered with ‘no’, we will normally accept your application. Only in exceptional cases (you have an emergency passport, your passport is damaged, you don’t have any pages left in your passport, you have a criminal history which you didn’t mention, you are going to engage in criminal or illegal activities in Japan, etc.), we advise you to contact us by email about the flight reservation. 

Q. I am going to Japan as a student/ to work/as a spouse (of a Japanese national). I see on the required documents list that I need a Certificate of Eligibility. Where can I apply for the Certificate of Eligibility?
A. Your employer, school, or the party/individual inviting you to come to Japan should apply for the Certificate of Eligibility in Japan through the Immigration Services Agency of Japan. Please visit their website for more information here.

Q. I cannot fill in all the fields on the visa application form. What should I do?
A. You don’t have to fill in all the fields. We have one visa application form for all types of visas. (i.e., If you don’t have a Certificate of Eligibility, you don’t need to fill in the field: ‘Certificate of Eligibility no.’ If you don’t have an ‘I.D. no. issued by your government’, you don’t have to fill it in. If you are a going to Japan as a tourist, you normally don’t have an inviter or guarantor, so you don’t have to fill in those fields).  

Q. I see that I need to bring a valid Dutch Residence Card when I come to apply for the visa. However, my Residence Card will expire while I am in Japan. Can you accept my visa application?
A. We can accept your application (1) if we can see from the flight reservation that you will not return to the Netherlands after your trip to Japan, or (2), that you have a letter from the Dutch IND showing that the extension of your Residence Card is approved.     

 

VISA APPLICATIONS AND PICK UP QUESTIONS

Q. Do I need an appointment for visa applications?
A. No, an appointment is not required for a visa application or collection. However, visa applications are ONLY accepted from 9:00 am to 11:30 am in the morning. Collection is only from 1:30 pm to 4:00 pm in the afternoon.

Q. Who can apply for a visa at the Embassy of Japan in the Netherlands?
A. Dutch nationals (only with C.O.E. or for working holiday visa) or those living in the Netherlands can apply for a visa at our embassy. If you don’t live in the Netherlands and stay as a temporary visitor, you cannot apply for a visa at our embassy. Those persons should apply for a visa at the Embassy of Japan in their home country.

Q. When should I apply for a visa? 
A. You can visit us to apply for a single-entry visa if you plan to arrive in Japan within three months from the day of your visa application. The reason for this time frame is that your visa automatically expires after three months counted from the issuance day. We recommend applying for a visa at least 1.5 months before your departure date. 

Q. How long does it take to get my visa?
A. In general, the Embassy needs 5 business days to issue a visa, however, issuing a visa could take a few months depending on individual circumstances, like the type of visa you request, or we might need to investigate your guarantor in Japan or your personal situation further.  

Q. My departure date is approaching. Do you have an expedited service for issuing visas?
A. We do NOT have expedited services. We process the applications fairly and in the order in which we receive them. It is your responsibility to make sure you have enough time to apply for a visa.

Q. Can I post or e-mail in my application?
A. No, we do NOT accept any applications by post or e-mail.

Q. Do I need to come to the Embassy myself to apply for a visa?
A. There are two ways to apply for a visa.
1. The visa applicant visits the Embassy in person.
2. The visa applicant completes the Letter of Proxy and has a proxy visit the Embassy on his/her behalf.

Q. Is it possible for someone to pick up my passport and visa?
A. Yes. The proxy needs to bring the application receipt, cash for the visa (if applicable), and the Letter of Proxy.
 

VISITING JAPAN QUESTIONS

Q. Are there any border measures to enter Japan?
A. No. After April 29, 2023, pre-registration for quarantine procedures on Visit Japan Web are no longer required, however, you can still use Visit Japan Web to pre-register for "Immigration", "Customs" and "Tax-free Shopping Service" (Optional).

Q. Can I bring my medications with me?
A. Please visit the following page for more information here.

Q. How can I bring my pet?
A. Please visit the following page for more information here.

Q. I am a Dutch national and I have been to Japan as a tourist for 90 days (without a visa). Can I visit Japan again as a tourist (without a visa) immediately after I have returned from Japan, or do I have to wait for some time before I am allowed to visit Japan again?
A. Immigration Service Agency has responsibility for this, we cannot inform you of the exact answer.
Please contact them as below.
https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/about/region/index.html