Temporary Visits - Visiting Relatives and Acquaintances

A short-term visa for people who wish to visit relatives, friends or acquaintances living in Japan. Please find the list of the required documents below.

All submitted documents must be originals (copies will not be accepted unless stated otherwise below); these documents should not be more than 3 months old.

All documents written in a language other than English, French or Japanese must be accompanied by a translation in one of these languages.

WARNING: Be aware of fraudulent websites, social media, emails attempting to extract payments from visa applicants

Frequently Asked Questions

Requirements

  1. Application Form
    • Screen-Fillable PDF Application Form (Sample)
      • Fill out the form on your computer and print it out.
    • Do not leave any blanks; if an item does not apply to you, write "Not Applicable" or "N/A".
    • The signature must be identical to the one in your passport.
    • You can also obtain the basic form at the Consular Section's counter.
  2. One photo (45mm × 35mm; Canadian passport size is also acceptable)
    • The photo must have been taken within the last 6 months, with the date stamped at the back.
    • The photo must be of professional quality, showing your full face, without hats or backgrounds.
  3. A passport and a photocopy of this passport (with your personal information and picture)
    • The passport must be valid; 2 adjacent pages must be blank.
    • If your signature does not appear on the first page, provide us with a photocopy of the page where it does appear, as well.
  4. Proof of your status in Canada (the original of your Permanent Resident Card, Work Permit or Study Permit) and a photocopy (both sides) of the same document
  5. Confirmation of your airline tickets' reservations or flight itinerary
    • The itinerary must clearly indicate your point of departure within Canada, your point of arrival within Japan, your point of departure from Japan, your final destination in Canada, as well as any other place that you may visit during your trip.
  6. Valid entry visa for the country of destination after leaving Japan (INCLUDING layovers)
    • If the country of destination gives a visa exemption to citizens of your country, please provide us with written proof of said exemption.
  7. Confirmation of your hotel's reservation
    • If you have not booked your accommodation yet, you must submit the information of the accommodation that you are planning to book.
  8. Your most recent bank statement(s) (to prove your financial stability)
    • The name of the applicant must appear on the document.
    • The document must be recent, which means it must have been issued within the last two weeks prior to your visa application.
  9. If you are visiting relatives, include documents which prove your kinship (birth certificates, family registers, etc.)
  10. If the applicant is a minor (under 18 years of age), a letter of consent signed by both parents or legal guardians. Please include the photocopy of each parent or guardian's proof of ID with photo and signature (passport, driver's licence, etc.)
  11. Documents to be prepared by the party living in Japan:
    1. Letter of reason for invitation (English / Japanese
    2. Letter of Guarantee (English / Japanese)
    3. Schedule of Stay (English / Japanese) (Sample)
      • The Schedule must include at least one (1) line per day spent in Japan, including the day of arrival and the day of departure; a Schedule of a stay of 12 days must thus include 12 lines at minimum.
      • Make sure to provide sufficient details; for example "Visiting Tokyo" is not an acceptable entry.
    4. Resident's Registration (Jūminhyō)
    5. If the party living in Japan is a foreign national, a photocopy (both sides) of this person's Residence Card (Zairyū Kādo)
    6. If the party living in Japan pays for travel expenses (in total or in part, such as accommodations), submit one of the following:
      • Certificate of income or taxation (available at the municipal office)
      • Certificate of deposit balance
      • Copy of the counterfoil of final tax return with the official seal (e-Tax: submit the Receipt Notification and Final Tax Return)

Important notes