Applying for a visa is probably one of the scariest part of travelling to another country because it's a hit or miss. If you miss you'll forever ask the question why because they won't be giving you any reasons for denial. On the other hand being approved can be the greatest feeling of all.
When should you apply for a visa?
You should apply 2 months before your scheduled date of departure so that you'll have time to prepare and process in case the Embassy requires additional documents.
Where should you apply for a visa?
You should apply for a visa only at accredited agencies. There are currently 7 accredited agencies listed in the Japan Embassy website which you can find below.
How much does it cost to apply for a visa?
A tourist visa itself is free but agencies collect processing fees depending on the type of visa. A tourist visa with no guarantor only costs PHP950 at Reli Tours. You can find other details in the link below.
How to apply for a visa?
Basically you just have to complete the requirements, submit it to an accredited agency and pay the fees. Then the agency will submit your document to the Embassy for approval and contact you when your visa is ready..or not.
How long does visa processing take?
Processing takes 7-10days or longer. In our case, we applied for a visa on Friday and got to pick it up on Wednesday so it only took 3 working days. Though in the visa, the date of issue was Monday so processing is very fast. Although it may take longer if the Embassy requires you to submit additional documents. So don't take your chances and delay applying for a visa until it's too late.
In this picture you can find the requirements for a Tourist Visa
1. Passport - must have at least 2 blank pages. Fill up the emergency contact details at the back. To be sure, passport should be valid at least 6 months.
2. Application Form - print in A4 size paper. Write neatly without erasures.
3. Picture - 4.5cmx4.5cm with white background. Just tell the studio it's for a Japan visa application and you're good. Paste this in the application form. It costs PHP100.
4. Birth Certificate - from NSO, must be valid within the year. You can get it online at ecensus.com.ph or nsohelpline.com. I used NSOhelpline because they have online payment. It costs PHP350.
5. Daily Schedule in Japan - download the template from Japan Embassy website or from your agency and print in A4 sized paper.
6. Bank Certificate - valid within 3 months. Average daily balance is not required. Just the total amount certified will do. We will be staying in Japan for 11 days, so I got certification for 150k and my friend certified for 200k just to give you an idea. This is printed in short bond paper so you need to photo copy it into an A4 paper but still bring the original. Bank Cert costs PHP100.
7. Copy of Income Tax Return - you can request a copy from your company or from BIR. I have 2 companies within the year so I submitted an ITR from both.
Sample Application Form
Note that all documents should be in A4. If not, photocopy it into an A4 sized paper but bring the original. All documents submitted will not be returned except for the passport.
It's not required but I also submited a copy of my Certificate of Employment because I was worried about submitting 2 ITRs. We also submitted a copy of our plane ticket.
I would have also submitted my booking confirmations from Airbnb if I didn't forget to print it.
Even if you submitted all the documents, it does not guarantee visa approval. (sad I know)
The agency does not advise to buy tickets before applying for a visa because you can get denied. Visa application is advised 2 months before your departure. We all know buying tickets too close to the date of departure almost always guarantee high prices. Same goes for accommodation especially on peak seasons. So we already have a plane ticket and accommodation when we applied for a visa.
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