Further information about visa applications

Types and procedures of visas

The type of visa may vary depending on the nationality of the traveler and the type of trip, such as a short-term stay, long-term stay or a work.
Please refer to the following pages.
*Countries and regions with visa exemption (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan) 
*Requirements for Visa Application by Nationality and Type of trip (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan / About Visas) 
 

Visa for a short-term stay

• Tourist visa
• Visa for visiting relatives/friends
• Visa for business trip
• Visa for conference participation

• Visa for students, internship and work (applications with CoE)
• Worling holiday visa

• Visa information for Chinese nationals
• Requirements for Visa Application by Nationality and Type of trip (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan / About Visas) 

Applying to our office

〇 Applications can be submitted at the earliest 3 months before departure, as the visa itself is valid for 3 months from the date of issue.
〇 The Japanese Consulate General Düsseldorf only accepts visa applications and visa requests from residents of North Rhine-Westphalia. For residents of other federal states, please refer to the list of embassies/consulates in Germany.
〇 Applications can only be submitted at our counter. We do NOT accept applications sent by mail.
〇 NO appointment is required to apply for a visa. Just come to our office during our opening hours.
〇 It takes 5-10 business days to issue a visa after we received the completed documents in original. In some cases the processing time can take longer. We do NOT have expedited services.
〇 If you are unable to appear for collecting a visa:
- it is possible to send the passport with the visa  only if there is no visa fee, e.g. for German nationals. Please bring a sufficiently stamped envelope with you when you apply.
- collecting a visa via authorized person is possible under certain circumstances with a signed power of attorney and ID of the representative. Please ask us when you apply.

Visa Fees

The visa fee depends on your nationality.
We only accept Euro in CASH. We DO NOT accept personal checks and credit cards. You will not be required to pay visa issuance fees if the visa is not issued.

*Examples of nationalities that are required to pay the general visa fee:
Examples for general visa fee: Nationals from China, Brasil, Indonesia, Vietnam, France, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Finland and all African countries.
 

Criteria of visa issuance​

〇 The visa information above is based on information of the Ministry of Justice in Japan and is supplied without liability and not legal binding. The final decision regarding the entry to Japan is taken by the responsible office in Japan. For this reason, we cannot give a binding statement.
 
Following points are basic prerequisite to issue a Japanese visa listed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Japan:

• The applicant possesses a valid passport and is entitled to the re-entry to a country of his/her nationality or a country of his/her residence.
• All submitted documents are authentic, completed and satisfactory.
• The activities to be engaged in Japan/ the civil status or the position of the applicant/ the period of stay meet the requirements for the status of residence and the period of stay stipulated in the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act. (Cabinet Order No.319 of 1951. Hereinafter referred to as the "Immigration Control Act")
• The applicant does not fall under any of the items of Article 5, Paragraph 1 of the Immigration Control Act.

〇 A visa is only one of the requirements for the application to land in Japan and it does not guarantee that you will be able to enter Japan.
Even if you have a valid visa, sometimes you will not be given permission to enter Japan, for example in cases where the person who makes the landing application is different from the person whose name is recorded in the visa, and also in cases where you cannot properly explain to the immigration officer the activities you plan to engage in Japan.
Please find further information here:
Japanisches Außenministerium
Japanische Einwanderungsbehörde