Once Upon a Japanese Visa Time

Long before the news on the planned visa-free entry for Filipino tourists, visa is being required upon entry.

Not too long ago (Nov 2013), I visited beautiful Japan as part of our honeymoon trip.
We stayed there for 10days.
So how did I get my tourist visa from Cebu?



Here's how:

A. Requirements:

• duly accomplished visa application form. Download here. 

• Philippine passport

• Birth certificate

                    NSO certified (with receipt. Issued within 1 year)

• Marriage certificate (if married)

                    NSO certified (with receipt. Issue within 1 year)

      **** those who have used Japanese visa in their passport (old or valid) are exempted to submit Birth & Marriage certificates.

• Tour itinerary/ Daily Schedule in Japan

• Bank Balance certificate

• Income Tax Return (Form 2316)

                original & photocopy

The Japanese Embassy here in the Philippines requires an accredited travel agency for the processing.
Unlike other countries, personally processing our documents in the embassy is no longer allowed.

B. Submit your requirements to any of the Accredited travel agency.
Click here for detailed list.
 
I submitted mine at:

FRIENDSHIP TOURS AND RESORTS CORPORATION

Unit 101 Bldg. 1, Oakridge Business Park,

880 A.S. Fortuna St., Banilad, Mandaue City, Cebu

345-3459 / 344-4825 / 724-3373

Fee: Php 1,200.00

Duration: After 6 working days from submission of requirements, I got my passport with Japanese visa from the agency.


NOTE:
Before I applied for my tourist visa, I already have my plane tickets and accommodations.
Those are not required during visa application though.
In the application form, you need to input date of arrival, port of entry, name of airline, and address of hotel/person with whom you intended to stay.
You can just put "Not yet decided" on those fields.


There's a POSSIBILITY we won't be needing tourist visa in the near future.
Let's pray it gets approved.  ^_^
In the news:
[4/15/2014] Japan eyes visa waiver for Pinoy tourists
[4/17/2014] Japan says visa-free entry still a plan