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For those who’re a foreigner dwelling in Singapore and you might be fascinated with visiting Japan, you would possibly end up needing to use a vacationer visa.
As you’ll be able to guess from the variety of posts I’ve written about Japan, I’ve visited the nation many instances. I’ve a visa exemption to Japan now, however for a superb portion of my life, I used to have to use for a vacationer visa.
So sure – I’m fairly conversant in the Japan embassy, as a result of I’ve needed to bodily go to the embassy to use for a visa every time I wished to go to Japan. And even now, I nonetheless have to use for Japan visa since my members of the family require visa to go to Japan.
With out additional ado, right here is every thing I find out about making use of Japan visa in individual on the embassy in Singapore.
Necessities for making use of for a Japan visa in Singapore
Earlier than we go on, let’s decide in the event you can apply for a Japan visa in Singapore.
In Singapore, the in-person Japan visa software is just accessible to authorized residents of Singapore, which suggests you will need to maintain a sound residence move like an Employment Go or Lengthy Time period Go. In case you are simply visiting Singapore and never dwelling or working right here legally, you’ll be able to’t apply for a visa in Singapore. You’ll have to use on the nation of your passport as an alternative.
You’ll additionally have to e-book an appointment to use for the visa in individual on the Japanese Embassy at 16 Nassim Street. With out appointment, you’ll be turned away on the gate.
Ought to I apply for the Japan visa on-line or in-person?
The Japan tourism visa can really be utilized each electronically on-line and bodily in-person. Nevertheless, selecting the strategy of software will not be a matter of choice, however relatively based mostly on necessity. I’ll clarify extra intimately what I imply by this quickly.
Japan Digital Visa (eVisa): I’ve written an in depth course of on methods to apply for the Japan digital visa on-line. You can read my post here.
At first look, it is smart to attempt to apply for the visa on-line to avoid wasting time and problem. Nevertheless, there’s a down aspect to the eVisa. As a result of excessive demand in visiting Japan, the eVisa takes a very long time to course of. Particularly in the event you’re visiting Japan in the course of the peak interval like Sakura time, or faculty vacation season. To be protected, you need to apply for eVisa about two months earlier than your journey. That is based mostly on the various expertise of my reader which you’ll examine in the comments section of my eVisa post.
Alternatively, in the event you handle to safe an appointment on the embassy and submit your software in individual, you’d have your passport again with the visa inside 5 enterprise days.
So when you’ve got an impromptu journey to Japan in lower than a month, your best choice is making use of in-person. Sounds good proper? However no, there’s a huge catch: The in-person appointment is proscribed and really troublesome to get. I’ll write out extra tips on getting an appointment slot below.
The way to safe an appointment on the Japan Embassy
The appointment may be booked via the official Japan embassy website here. While you’re visiting Japan as a vacationer, you MUST e-book underneath Visa (Sightseeing). If it says “No occasions to show”, it means there isn’t any extra appointment slot. Don’t be cheeky and attempt to e-book underneath different classes, as a result of they’ll verify on the entrance and once more on the visa counter earlier than you’ll be able to submit your software.
As I mentioned earlier than, the visa appointment on the Japan embassy is extremely coveted they usually’re usually booked out rapidly upfront – principally as quickly because the slots open up, it will likely be gone inside minutes. Folks do cancel final minute so I counsel you to maintain checking and get all of your paperwork prepared so as to apply the following morning if the slot opens up. Typically, slots are additionally launched in bulk at a random time.
Some folks don’t have time to maintain checking again. Fortunately, a form soul named Dominic Arrojado has created an unofficial Japan visa slot notifier by way of Telegram: You may subscribe to the channel here and be notified when a slot opens up. However understand that there are a bunch of individuals watching this telegram channel (Virtually 4,000 subscribers on the time of writing), so you continue to have to be FAST. At the least, it saves you the time and efforts to manually verify. PS: The software is completely free. For those who discover it helpful, please consider donating to his efforts! I did 🙂
For those who’re making use of as a household, you solely want one slot. DO NOT attempt to e-book a number of slots, bc it would get canceled. Don’t ask me how I do know 😶
There are two appointment slots per day for 8:30-9:30am and 9:30-10:30am, however folks present up early to queue as a result of it’s first-come first-served. For those who managed to get the 8:30am slot and wish to return to work after, remember to be on the embassy by 8am so that you don’t have to attend too lengthy. I’ve waited so long as an hour simply to submit the applying.
The appointment must be made within the applicant’s title, even in case you are making use of on behalf of somebody and the applicant will not be going to be current in individual. For instance, in case you are making use of for a home helper’s visa, the appointment must be made within the helper’s title even when its the employer who might be going to the embassy. And also you’ll want an influence of lawyer / letter of authorization signed by the applicant as nicely. You may download a template at the document list at the embassy website.
How lengthy does it take for the in-person Japan visa software to be processed?
For those who handle to get the extremely coveted appointment, congratulations!
From the appointment date, it would take 5 enterprise days to get your passport and visa again, supplied you could have submitted all the right paperwork and your software is accepted. You’ll get a small paper slip that particulars when you need to come again for the passport.
The date of doc submission is inclusive of the 5 enterprise days. So for instance, in the event you submitted your software on Thursday, 16 January, you’d get your passport again on Wednesday, 22 January within the afternoon. There may be NO different sooner route accessible, no specific or pressing visa.
Be conscious of each Singapore and Japanese public holidays, as a result of the embassy won’t be working and it’ll add to the applying course of time. Check for embassy holidays here.
How a lot does the Japan visa price?
The paper slip given by the visa consular after you’ve submitted your software will inform you how a lot money it is advisable to put together relying in your passport. Excellent news, sure nationalities might be exempt from visa charges so that you would possibly even not need to pay something!
Japan Visa Charges: You may verify right here for a list of Japan Visa Fee. This contains the listing of nationalities exempt from paying visa charges.
Bank card funds or some other cost strategies usually are not accessible. The embassy will solely settle for money and don’t give change, so it is advisable to put together EXACT quantity. Remember the embassy won’t settle for greater than ten cash in single transaction. I noticed notices quoting Section 13(4) of Currency Act of Singapore posted on the visa software window once I was there. Along with that, they’ll solely settle for S$1 cash, not the smaller cash like 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents cash. So ensure to organize payments!
Making ready paperwork for the in-person visa software
When you’ve secured an appointment, the following hurdle is getting ready for the paperwork for the visa software. And belief me, you wish to take this severely since you don’t wish to be despatched again after securing the extremely coveted appointment!
Listed below are my suggestions:
1. Evaluate the required paperwork guidelines
On the embassy official web site, there is a checklist you can review. On the day of the appointment, be sure you have ALL the paperwork required.
I counsel printing out the verify listing and manage the doc within the order that it’s talked about on the verify listing. Possibly you’ll be able to even preserve it in a folder. It is going to assist the embassy staff to assist evaluate your software.
2. Filling out a Schedule of Keep
A “Schedule of Keep” is a listing of day by day actions and itinerary of what you might be planning on doing while you’re in Japan. You should use the template provided and fill it in.
Be as detailed as you presumably can. This implies, listing down what you’re going to be doing each single day and the place you intend to remain that day. Do that even when your plans usually are not set in stone.
In my case, my Schedule of Keep was rejected as soon as. I used to be requested to redo the doc as I didn’t furnish sufficient particulars. So since then, I made positive to incorporate all of the plans I’ve and the place I used to be planning to remain. I used to be additionally trustworthy that a number of the home journeys I wished to do inside Japan are nonetheless within the strategy planning stage and put “TBD” as locations to remain as I didn’t know but. They have been okay with it at the moment, however I can’t say they’ll settle for this for anybody else once more, so I counsel to place as a lot particulars as you’ll be able to.
3. Downloadable Digital Go by way of myICA
For those who maintain Lengthy Time period Go (LTP) in Singapore and renewed it after 2023, ICA has ceased issuance of physical card since 27 February 2023. You’ll have been issued solely the digital move, which may be accessed via Singpass. LTP contains Scholar;s Go, Lengthy-Time period Go to Go (LTVP) and Dependant’s Go.
In the course of the Japan visa software, you’d be required to submit your LTP card, which must be bodily printed out. No, you’ll be able to’t simply print a screenshot of your LTP card from Singpass – it is advisable to present the official downloadable model of your LTP, which features a QR code that may be scanned to confirm the legitimacy of the print out by way of FileSG.
To acquire the downloadable model of your LTP, observe these steps:
- Go to MyICA and login by way of Singpass
- Navigate to MyICA House. Within the Paperwork part, click on on “View Paperwork”.
- You’ll be robotically redirected to a web site known as FileSG, the place you’ll be able to obtain a replica of your digital move with the QR verification.
- You may print this out and submit it together with your software.
4. Proof of relationship when sponsoring another person’s visa
Making use of for a visa for your self is easy, however making use of on behalf of one other individual may not be as straightforward. Remember the one rule of thumb: For those who’re sponsoring somebody’s visa (as in, you’ll be the monetary guarantor of the journey), it is advisable to present a doc that proves your relationship with that individual.
One frequent instance of that is for folks who wish to apply for a Japan visa for his or her children. On this state of affairs, the mother and father would be the monetary guarantor for the children. They must present copy of their start certificates together with your title clearly acknowledged as one among their mother and father. Equally, in the event you’re married and making use of for a visa on your partner, you will need to present a replica of your marriage certificates that states each of your title clearly. In case your paperwork usually are not in english, you’ll have to get it translated and authorized.
For a married couple, every individual can even apply for a visa individually, so it’s possible you’ll not want to supply a wedding certificates. Nevertheless, every individual would wish to have the ability to qualify for a visa on their very own, which suggests they want to have the ability to show that they’re financially in a position to help themselves, both by offering certificates of employment or enterprise registration profile if self-employed.
5. The place to print paperwork close to the Japan embassy in Singapore
Errors occur, and you’ll have forgotten a doc or be required to reprint some paperwork. The embassy would normally mean you can come again earlier than midday, so that you just don’t have to hunt for one more appointment slot.
The closest print store you may get to is the Fotohub on the basement of Discussion board Buying Mall (Google Maps). It’s about 10 minutes stroll from the Japan embassy. They may cost $1 per web page, which is far more costly than different printing providers, however determined instances name for determined measures.
The way to get a number of entry Japan visa
When making use of for a Japan vacationer visa, you could have the choice to use for single or a number of entry. There isn’t a down aspect in making use of for a a number of entry visa. Even in the event you apply for a a number of entry and don’t get it, you gained’t get rejected utterly. You’ll nonetheless be given a single entry visa.
To start with, if you wish to get a number of entry visa, ensure you aren’t planning to go to Japan greater than 30 days. You may solely keep for 30 days at a time underneath a number of entry visa vs as much as 90 days on single entry visa for sure nationalities.
I’ve been attempting to get a number of entry visa for my kin, however solely managed to get it on the third try. However they have been granted a number of entry visa that’s legitimate for five years, which made me tremendous glad!
Listed below are some paperwork which may assist you get a number of entry visa:
1. A number of Entry Visa Doc Guidelines
Be sure to’re referring to the mutiple entry visa doc guidelines, which you can find here. The listing of required paperwork differ relying in your passport.
2. Letter of rationalization
Relying in your nationality, you is likely to be required to connect a letter of rationalization stating the rationale of making use of for the a number of visa, addressed to the Embassy of Japan in Singapore. That is required for sure nationalities, however elective for others.
If the letter is required, here’s what it is advisable to embody:
- Record your previous historical past of go to to Japan. For those who’ve been to Japan a number of instances earlier than, listing all of them!
- Submit a replica of your passport pages, exhibiting previous Japan immigration entry stamp as proof of your go to.
- State the rationale why you desire to a number of entry visa (For instance, you’ll be able to say you intend to go to Japan once more within the close to future)
The way to get home helper visa for Japan
For those who rent a home helper in Singapore and want to carry her alongside on your loved ones journey, you’ll be able to apply for a particular visa. The method is similar as making use of for any tourism visa. There’s a separate guidelines for home helper visa, which you can find here.
A number of issues to notice:
- Home helper have to be accompanied by the employer or a member of the family. In different phrases, she can’t fly by herself out and in of Japan.
- It’s important to submit a letter of assure for home helper, which states that you just’re accountable for her journey. There’s a template for that here.
- For those who intend to use on her behalf on the embassy, your helper might want to signal an influence of lawyer / letter of authorization. You may download a template at the document list at the embassy website.
What ought to I do if my journey date is quick approaching however I nonetheless don’t have a visa?
As a final ditch effort, in the event you actually can’t safe an appointment on the Japanese embassy, you’ll be able to strive partaking a journey agent to use on your visa. I’ve not used them personally so I can’t vouch for them, however I’ve mates who’ve used JA Travel they usually can get you a Japan visa for S$120. A number of folks within the remark part of this submit have additionally used them efficiently.
You’ll nonetheless want to organize the paperwork and the company will nonetheless want 5 enterprise days to get the visa since you’re basically paying for somebody to pre-check your docs and go to the embassy for you. However hey, when push involves shove – it’s an answer.
… And that’s all I find out about making use of for a Japan vacationer visa on the embassy in Singapore! Please let me know when you’ve got any questions within the feedback beneath! If you wish to share your expertise making use of the Japan visa, it’s additionally very a lot welcomed as it might be a helpful information factors to different candidates.
Are you planning a visit to Japan? I’ve written masses in regards to the lovely nation. Take a look at the ‘Japan’ category of this weblog for some journey inspiration.
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