How to Get a Japanese Visa
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With cherry blossoms in the spring, amazing fall colors, hot springs and sashimi, Japan is always THE PLACE to go. Plus, it’s really easy for Chinese passport holders to get a Japanese Visa in the US.
Which consulate do I go to?
Japan has 17 embassies in the United States. This list of Japanese embassies in the US will help you decide which one you should go to. You don’t need to make an appointment to apply for a Japan Visa, you can just get a number when you arrive at the embassy.
Things to prepare:
- The application form
You’ll need to download the application from the official website page. You can fill it out by hand or on the computer. Make sure to put the Chinese characters of your name beside your English name in the name column.
2. Your original, valid passport. Make sure you have a photocopy of the information page and the F-1 Visa page.
3. One recent 2 inch x 2 inch photograph (taken within the past 6 months)
Printing passport-sized photos in the US can be much more expensive than printing regular photos. Thankfully, there are lots of online photo cropping tools that will help you print out a 2 in. x 2 in. photograph from a 6 inch one. (For example: https://www.idphoto4you.com/）
4. Both the original and a copy of your I20 or DS-2019.
5. A copy of your flight reservation.
If you bought your tickets from StudentUniverse, you can ask customer service to help you find your itinerary or go to the airline’s website to look for yourself. You can also see all your upcoming itineraries in the StudentUniverse app. Note that because your visa is from the US, your itinerary should include all of the flghts from USA→（to any other countries）→Japan→ back to the USA.
6. Hotel confirmation for the entire trip.
If you booked an Airbnb, print out the billing receipt and make sure that the billing receipt includes your name.
7. Your bank statement for the past month.
8. If you’re a student:
- A copy of the official enrollment letter from your school. Don’t just print it out yourself, you’ll need to go to the registrar and get an official copy.
If you’re an employee:
- A formal original employer confirmation letter. This should include your salary, employment start date, position, and the date of your vacation.
9. A plan for your trip:
You’ll need to bring a day-by-day schedule for your trip. Try to be as specific as possible, and include what you’re planning on doing and where you’ll go each day.
After all your materials are accepted by the consulate, they will give the original copies back to you along with a receipt. This is usually completed after 3 business days.
Picking up your visa:
- Keep in mind that your student Japan Visa will probably take about 3 business days to process.
- You can pick your visa up in person from the embassy. Bring your receipt and $27 to pick up your visa.
- You can also receive your visa by mail. If you need your visa mailed back to you, bring a prepaid envelope from FedEx Air or UPS with you when you apply.
- Also, you can arrange to have someone else pick up your visa for you. To do this, you’ll have to download the authorization form from the official website and bring a completed and signed copy with you when you apply. Persons authorized by applicants must bring their passport or driver’s license to pick up the visa.
And you’re done! You’re all ready for your trip to Japan. Keep in mind that requirements and specific documents can vary. Remember to check the page of the embassy you are applying at for specific requirements.
