Hey everyone! Great news today- I finally got my Japanese visa for our upcoming trip! And since this is my second time visiting Japan (and probably because I have a good record), it's multiple entry! I can now go to there whenever I want for the next five years.
Update: Birth Certificates may now be acquired via PSASerbilis instead of NSOHelpline.
Watch the video here:
After posting about this on Facebook, a lot of friends messaged me for some tips. And since I was planning on making a blog about my entire trip anyway, might as well start at ground zero: how to get your Japanese visa!
Disclaimer: the methods are are in no way a guarantee to get you a JP visa. Final say is with the JP Embassy.
Let's start with step 1-
A. READY YOUR REQUIREMENTS
Before going to any travel agency, it's best to be prepared prior so you'll save some time. Here are ten documents you'll need to secure and submit later on.1.) Valid passport - P950
- must be valid from date of application up to the entire duration of your trip
- if you don't have a passport yet, go to the DFA web site to get yours
2.) Japanese visa application form
- fill it out correctly
- if item is not applicable, fill in [N/A]
- embassy can reject form with blank item, no signature, no date or incorrect information
- download the form here
- if confused on how to fill it out, check guide here
3.) Photo - P80
- 4.5cm x 4.5cm, white background, formal attire, no edit
- taken within 6 months
- write applicant's name/birth date on backside of photo
- must be pasted on application form
- I had mine taken at Tronix. They have a specialized package for JP visas
4.) Birth Certificate - P365
- original, must be issued within one year from PSA
- if unreadable or incomplete, submit with BC issued by the Local Civil Registrar
- if late registration, submit with baptismal certificate and school record (form 137) from elementary or high school, and yearbook (if possible)
- click here to order your BC online at PSA
5.) Marriage Certificate - P365
- only if married
- original, must be issued within one year from PSA
- if no record in PSA, submit "Certificate of Non-Record" from PSA together with marriage certificate from Local Civil Registrar
- click here to order your MC online at PSA
Note: No need for #4 and #5 if you have old or valid passports with used Japan visa
6.) Flight Itinerary and Daily Schedule
- basically a list of your flights and what you will do on your day to day stay
- you don't have to book. Just indicate the plane you are planning to take to and from
Here's a sample similar to what I submitted:
7.) Bank Certificate - P100 (BDO)
- go to your bank and ask for bank certificate to be used for JP visa application
- original copy, must be within 3 months from date of issue
- how much should be in your bank? Check out part 3 below as we discuss it there
8.) Latest ITR (form 1701 or 2316) clear photocopy
- for employees, get your tax return document from your HR
- for self-employed, you should have this already
9.) Employee / Business documents
- for employees, Certificate of Employment which you can get from your HR
10.) Optional: supporting documents on visit
- e.g. wedding invitation, medical certificate for treatment, etc.
11.) If a Guarantor who lives in the PH will shoulder part or all of the applicant's travel expenses
- Guarantee Letter
- Proof of relationship between applicant and guarantor (e.g. birth certificates)
- Bank certificate and latest ITR of Guarantor
12.) Not Filipino?
- Foreign residents with long-term or permanent status must submit a copy of their Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR) issued by the PH government
- Those who have temporary short-term visa should apply at the Japanese Embassy / Consulate General with jurisdiction over the area in which the applicant resides or over the country the applicant's passport was issued
B. GO TO YOUR TRAVEL AGENCY
Got all the needed documents?Good! Next, visit your travel agency of choice and coordinate with them your plan to apply for a Japanese visa. They will require the documents I mentioned. Though some of them will also require additional ones that the embassy didn't list.
My experience with my agency (Trusty Travel) is that they also required a minimum of P80,000 on my bank certificate. I submitted one with P79,000 and they rejected it lol. I had to make a deposit and submit a new one. It's strange as other travel agencies don't require a minimum amount in your bank at all, and I know people who got approved with even just half the amount. Maybe they wanted their applicants to have a higher chance to get approved if they applied with a bigger bank account so it became a requirement.
If I remember correctly, Reli Tours and Attic Tours do not require a specific amount on your bank certificate.
Recommended agencies:
Trusty Travel Tours (Cubao)
Reli Tours (MOA, Megamall, Dusit Thani Makati, SM Southmall, Lucky Chinatown)
Attic Tours (SM North, SM Fairview, Pasay, SM Southmall, Lapu-Lapu City, SM Davao)
Rate: P950-P1,500
After the agency deems your requirements adequate, they will submit it to the Japanese Embassy for approval. It usually takes a week or two before you get the results. Now all you have to do is wait from here on out.
C. THEORIES TO INCREASE CHANCE
There's no surefire way to get approved on your JP visa application, but there have been talks regarding possible factors that may either increase or decrease your chances of getting approved. Most of these should be common sense already, but a lot of people tend to overlook them. Here are some:1.) Stable job or business
Embassies of various countries want to stop illegal immigrants from entering their land so they're always looking for things and reasons that would make applicants return to their home country no matter what. One of them is a job to return to, as you can't exactly go AWOL and breach your contract with your employer since it would be very disastrous.
Having a good job with stable income also solidifies the notion that your money is your own and not from a questionable source, that you are capable, and that you're less likely to go to Japan to get work or do shady and illegal stuff.
If you're a freelancer, at least abide by Philippine law and have yourself registered. Get the necessary documents, especially your tax returns as any indication of you being a fly-by-night is a red flag. I have a friend who has over a 100,000 in his bank and still got rejected.
2.) Have enough money
It's a no brainer that you also need to be financially capable. They can't have you going to Japan only to run out of funds midway and have you get stuck there. More so, they don't want you getting a job there illegally due to shortage of funds when you're just applying as a tourist. The minimum would be having money to at least pay for your flights, food, accommodation, local travel and then some pocket money.
3.) Have enough money to pull off your day to day schedule
This may seem repetitive, but I need to make a point. It should be money that's in line with your itinerary. They should match so at least be aware of what you will be spending on and how much you will be spending there.
A red flag would be something like having P40,000 for a 15-day trip, but your schedule says you'll be jumping between Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo while staying in 4-star hotels. You'd run out of money almost immediately with that plan.
To be safe, do not just have a detailed and informative itinerary, but also a humble one.
D. MULTIPLE ENTRY, HOW?
I applied for single entry, but I got multiple entry. What happened?To be honest, I'm not sure, as again, it's in the discretion of the embassy.
What I can share is that this will be my second time going to Japan. I applied for single entry last year at Trusty Travel and got approved with a 100k bank cert., and now I applied at the same agency with 80k bank cert. along with the requirements I listed above. The only conclusion I can draw from this is that if you have a good record and it's your second time, you're more likely to be granted a multiple entry visa.
So that's it! I hope you find this write-up useful.
For my next work, I'll probably write about how we booked our flight and AirBnB.
Thanks for reading and see you in Japan!
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