FAQ
2018/10/26
I want to visit Japan. Do I need to apply for a Japanese visa?
This depends on your purpose and nationality. Please find the list of visa exemptions here
How can I apply for a Japanese visa?
You have to visit in person our office in Dusseldorf along with the passport, application form, photograph and other required documents according to the purpose of stay. Please note that we do not accept visa by mail.
Do I need to make an appointment?
No. We have no appointment system. Therefore you can visit our office during the opening times to submit the required documents.
-Opening hours: 9:00 - 11:30, 13:00 - 16:00
*For security control we close our counter between 11:30-13:00.
-Holidays
I cannot come in person to apply for a visa. What should I do?
In general, you have to come in person for the application. If you cannot visit our office yourself, we need a letter of proxy for the person who will come to our office and the passport of the proxy.
I cannot come in person to pick up my visa. Can you send my visa by mail?
It is possible to send your visa by mail, if there is no visa fee (for example: for German passport holders). In this case, we ask you to prepare a sufficent stamped envelope for returning your passport with the visa. Please note, that we can not assume any responsibility for trouble during mailing.
I’m a tourist without a residence permit in Germany. Can I apply in Dusseldorf for a Japanese visa?
No, without a permanent residence in Germany, unfortunately we cannot accept your application. You have to apply at the Embassy or Consulate-General of Japan in the country of your origin or residence.
Before I visit Japan, I will travel other countries. Can I still make an application in Dusseldorf?
Yes, if you have a residence permit for Germany. In this case, please submit all flights between Germany and Japan, not only the flights to/from Japan.
How long is my visa valid for?
In general you have to enter Japan within 3 months after visa issuance. The length of stay depends on your schedule of stay but for temporary visitor not longer than 90 days.
How much funding do I require for the financial proof when applying for a tourist visa?
There is no fixed answer to this question because we do not make a decision based on the amount of funding only. All factors in an application including the period of stay, booked hotels and flights etc. are taken into account to take a decision regarding the issuance of visas.
How many pages do I need in my passport for the Japanese visa?
One unused full passport page is needed for the Japanese visa. Furthermore the Japanese immigration authorities will give you stamps for landing permission and departure confirmation. Therefore they need a half page.
If you don’t have enough unused pages, make sure that you first obtain a new passport or supplement of passport pages before you apply for the Japanese visa.
How much extra validity do I need to have on my passport at the time of entry to Japan?
There is no relevant Japanese law regarding the validity of your passport. If your passport is valid for longer than the duration of your stay in Japan, you can enter Japan with it.
How can I get a Certificate of Eligibility?
The Certificate of Eligibility can be applied in advance at the regional immigration bureau in Japan via a proxy of the foreign national who wish to enter Japan and will be issued if the foreign national concerned conforms to the conditions set in the Article 7, Paragraph 1, Item 2 of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act of Japan.
Can I apply for the Working Holiday visa, even when I am not German?
No, we can only accept applications of German passport holders for a Working Holiday visa. You have to apply for a Working Holiday visa at the Embassy or Consulate-General of Japan in the country of your origin, if there is an agreement between Japan and your country.
This depends on your purpose and nationality. Please find the list of visa exemptions here
How can I apply for a Japanese visa?
You have to visit in person our office in Dusseldorf along with the passport, application form, photograph and other required documents according to the purpose of stay. Please note that we do not accept visa by mail.
Do I need to make an appointment?
No. We have no appointment system. Therefore you can visit our office during the opening times to submit the required documents.
-Opening hours: 9:00 - 11:30, 13:00 - 16:00
*For security control we close our counter between 11:30-13:00.
-Holidays
I cannot come in person to apply for a visa. What should I do?
In general, you have to come in person for the application. If you cannot visit our office yourself, we need a letter of proxy for the person who will come to our office and the passport of the proxy.
I cannot come in person to pick up my visa. Can you send my visa by mail?
It is possible to send your visa by mail, if there is no visa fee (for example: for German passport holders). In this case, we ask you to prepare a sufficent stamped envelope for returning your passport with the visa. Please note, that we can not assume any responsibility for trouble during mailing.
I’m a tourist without a residence permit in Germany. Can I apply in Dusseldorf for a Japanese visa?
No, without a permanent residence in Germany, unfortunately we cannot accept your application. You have to apply at the Embassy or Consulate-General of Japan in the country of your origin or residence.
Before I visit Japan, I will travel other countries. Can I still make an application in Dusseldorf?
Yes, if you have a residence permit for Germany. In this case, please submit all flights between Germany and Japan, not only the flights to/from Japan.
How long is my visa valid for?
In general you have to enter Japan within 3 months after visa issuance. The length of stay depends on your schedule of stay but for temporary visitor not longer than 90 days.
How much funding do I require for the financial proof when applying for a tourist visa?
There is no fixed answer to this question because we do not make a decision based on the amount of funding only. All factors in an application including the period of stay, booked hotels and flights etc. are taken into account to take a decision regarding the issuance of visas.
How many pages do I need in my passport for the Japanese visa?
One unused full passport page is needed for the Japanese visa. Furthermore the Japanese immigration authorities will give you stamps for landing permission and departure confirmation. Therefore they need a half page.
If you don’t have enough unused pages, make sure that you first obtain a new passport or supplement of passport pages before you apply for the Japanese visa.
How much extra validity do I need to have on my passport at the time of entry to Japan?
There is no relevant Japanese law regarding the validity of your passport. If your passport is valid for longer than the duration of your stay in Japan, you can enter Japan with it.
How can I get a Certificate of Eligibility?
The Certificate of Eligibility can be applied in advance at the regional immigration bureau in Japan via a proxy of the foreign national who wish to enter Japan and will be issued if the foreign national concerned conforms to the conditions set in the Article 7, Paragraph 1, Item 2 of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act of Japan.
Can I apply for the Working Holiday visa, even when I am not German?
No, we can only accept applications of German passport holders for a Working Holiday visa. You have to apply for a Working Holiday visa at the Embassy or Consulate-General of Japan in the country of your origin, if there is an agreement between Japan and your country.