Japan, Japan, Sagot sa Kahirapan

NA-MISS mo bang humigop ng masarap na Ramen sa Japan? Binabalik-balikan mo ba ang mga instagrammable moments mo o ng mga celebrities sa cherry blossoms?

Starting October 4, 2022, good news! Pwede nang mag-apply ng tourist visa sa Japan. Katulad ng dati, kailangan sa accredited travel agency ka mag-apply at hindi sa Japanese Embassy o Consulate mag-apply.

How to apply for tourist visa to Japan

Here are the steps to apply:

1. I-submit ang mga original documents.

A. Both for first-time applicants and those with previously-issued Japanese tourist visas

I. Passport valid at least 6 months from date of departure (pirmahan mo beh ang passport). Dapat may 2 pahina for visa na blangko

B. For first-time applicants only

I. Birth Certificate printed in security paper, issued by PSA within 1 year

If the certificate is unreadable, birth certificate issued by Local Civil Registrar.

If the birth certificate is marked “LATE REGISTRATION”, magsubmit pa ng Baptismal Certificate and School Record (Form 137)

If there is no record of birth in PSA, submit a Birth Certificate issued by Local Civil Registrar and Negative Certificate issued by PSA. 

Ii. For married

Marriage Certificate (issued by PSA within 1 year)

  If the certificate is unreadable, submit Marriage certificate issued by Local Civil Registrar

If there is no record of marriage in PSA, submit Marriage Certificate issued by Local Civil Registrar and Negative Certificate issued by PSA

2. Application Form downloadable sa website ng Japanese Embassy (google mo beh, wag kang tamad. Joke! Eto na nga: https://www.ph.emb-japan.go.jp/files/100365624.pdf)

1. Siguraduhing tama ang mga entries. Wrong entry, deny!
2. Enter “N/A” if there is no applicable item. Pag may blangko, di tatanggapin
3. Siguraduhin isulat ang date ng application – araw ng submission mo sa Embassy o sa travel agency
4. Siguraduhin may signature ang application (duh??)

3. Photo size: 4.5 long × 3.5cm wide

• Kuha within 6 months prior to application.
• black and white or color pwede
• clear photo with a white background
• Attach dun sa application form na may box for photo
• Sa likod ng photo, isulat ang full name and date of birth
• Pag photoshop mo yang letrato o digitally processed, di tatanggapin ng Embassy

4. Itinerary in Japan
   1. Siguraduhin ilagay ang arrival date and departure date sa Japan
   2. Kung alam mo na rin ang flight number o kaya ang airport name kung saan ang arrial o departure mo, maaari mo rin ilagay. Hindi kailangan may advance reservation ka na ng flight.
   3. Fill in details ng accommodation o hotel mo tulad ng name, address, phone number. Pero hindi naman required may advance booking ka na.
   4. Sa bawat araw na nasa Japan ka, isulat mo ang mga planong gagawin mo. Pag

5. Kung ikaw ang magbabayad ng trip mo, you need to submit the ff’ng:
   1. Bank Certificate
   2. Photocopy of Income Tax Return (BIR: Form 2316)
      1. Siguraduhing naka-indicate sa income tax return:
         1. gross income amount
         2. May receipt stamp ng BIR
         3. Kung naka e-tax, magsubmit ng receipt notification (cum-forward) and final tax return.
      2. Hindi tinatanggap ang tax withholding slips.
   3. Kung wala kang bank certificate at income tax form, pwede kang mag-appoint ng relative as guarantor.

6. Kung may mag finance ng iyong trip, eto mga requirements:

1. Guarantee Letter
2. Proof of relationship between applicant and guarantor(e.g. Birth Certificates)
3. Bank Certificate
4. Photocopy of Income Tax Return (BIR: Form 2316)

Accredited travel agencies

Hindi lahat ng travel agencies pwedeng mag-apply ng visa sa Japanese Embassy. Eto lang ang mga accredited travel agencies https://www.ph.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_ja/00_000253.html

Visa fees

P1,350 for single-entry visa

P2,700 for multiple-entry visa

May additional charges, i.e. handling fee, ang travel agency kung saan kayo nag-apply. 

Original document and validity

Lahat ng original documents, hindi na ibabalik ng Embahada. Kung kailangan mo yung original documents, magsubmit ka rin ng photocopy during application and magsulat sa Embassy na kailangan ang original document.

Check mo rin kung ang mga dokumento mo ay valid. Dapat 1 year validity sa birth certificate at marriage certificate. Ang ibang documents dapat within 3 months mula nang na-isyu.

Size ng documents

Dapat A4 ang size ng document. Kung ang original document ay hindi A4, palikihin o paliitin ito para magkasya sa A4 para sa copy size. Submit mo pa rin ang original document. Huwag gumamit ng stapler para mag-attach ng document

Incomplete or forged documents

Hindi tatanggapin ng Embassy ang incomplete documents.

Hindi rin tatanggapin ang passport na nasira o may punit.

Pag nakita ng Embassy na pineke ang document na sinubmit, deny ang visa application.

Pwedeng humingi ng karagdagan ng document ang Embassy. Kung may dagdag na hinihingi, dapat submit bago o sa araw ng itinakdang deadline. Pag di nasubmit sa deadline, di na ipa-process ang application.

Invitation letter

Kung pupunta sa Japan dahil may invitation ka, ilagay sa application anong klaseng mga aktibidad ang gagawin sa Japan. Ilagay din dun ano yung background ng invitation. “Sightseeing,” “visiting acquaintances” o “visiting relatives” ay hindi tatanggapin.  

Mas specific na invitation letter, mas maganda. Halimbawa “business trip order” from this group, “dispatch letter,” etc.

For more information, call the following hotlines

JAPAN VISA INFORMATION HOTLINE (24 hours / 365 days)

English : (+63-2) 8271-2259

Embassy of Japan in the Philippines

English/Filipino: 02-8834-7514

Japanese: 02-8834-7508

Email: ryoji@ma.mofa.go.jp

Consulate-General of Japan in Cebu

https://www.cebu.ph.emb-japan.go.jp/itprtop_ja/index.html

Tel: 032-231-7321/7322

E-mail: cebucoj@ce.mofa.go.jp

Consulate-General of Japan in Davao

https://www.davao.ph.emb-japan.go.jp/itprtop_en/index.html

Tel: 082-221-3100/3200

Email: cojd2@dv.mofa.go.jp

Photos courtesy Japan National Tourism Organization