Announcements:Great East of Japan Earthquake
1. Visa Overview
(1) Exemption of Visas
Visas are not required when applying for landing permission at a port of entry in Japan in the following cases:
A. Nationals of Countries and Areas with Visa Exemption Arrangements with Japan
B. Those Having Obtained Re-entry Permission
C. Special Cases of Landing
(2) Visa Exemption Arrangements
Generally, a national of a foreign country who wishes to enter Japan must obtain a visa. Under the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act of Japan, it is stipulated that any foreigners wishing to enter Japan must possess a valid passport and a visa obtained from an embassy or a consulate. Travelers from certain countries may be eligible to visit Japan without a visa under visa exemption arrangements.
Visa Exemption (http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/index.html)
The nationals of the Czech Republic and other countries which have reciprocal visa exemption arrangements with Japan may be eligible to visit Japan without a visa for a short-term stay for the activities allowed to Temporary Visitors.
(3) Jurisdiction
Visa applications should be made at the Japanese embassy or consulate with the jurisdiction over applicant's place of permanent residence or long term residence. You may apply for a visa at this Embassy if you live, work or study legally within the territory of the Czech Republic.
2. Short-term Stays (Excluding Work)
Short-term stays refer to temporary visits of up to 90 days for such purposes as sightseeing; sports; convalescence; visits to relatives, friends, or acquaintances; amateur participation in athletic meetings or other contests; business trips (such as market surveys, business liaison, business talks, signing contracts, and after-sale service for machinery imported into Japan); and friendship visits. These activities require either a temporary visa or transit visa. (However, this category excludes profit-making operations and paid activities.)
Documents to be Submitted with Visa Application
1. Passport
2. 45mm x 45mm passport-type photo taken within the previous six months
3. Official visa application form, available at the embassy or consulate
4. Documents certifying the purpose of the visit (see the website mentioned below)
http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/index.html
3. Work and Long-term Stays
If a foreigner wishes to enter Japan for activities other than those described in section 2, he or she will need a diplomatic visa, official visa, working visa, general visa, or specified visa. Naturally, foreigners who enter Japan having acquired a working visa are able to work in Japan. Typical types of employment include the long-term assignment of foreign company personnel to Japan; employment in Japanese companies to make use of the foreigner's knowledge of other countries; entertainment activities, such as concerts, theater performances, and sport activities; and educational activities, such as foreign-language teaching.
It is also possible to get permission for long-term stays for some activities that meet certain criteria, such as Japanese university or college education or company training, although work is not permitted in these cases. Permission for long-term residence in Japan is also granted in the case of spouses of Japanese nationals and others who settle in Japan.
When applying for a visa for the above-mentioned activities, it is advisable to apply for a Certificate of Eligibility in Japan beforehand. If a foreigner submits a visa application to an embassy or consulate together with a Certificate of Eligibility, he or she will be able to obtain a visa more easily than applicants without such a certificate. Foreigners can apply for a visa without such a certificate at an embassy or consulate in the case of long-term stays also. But if the purpose of the stay is work, the application documents might be forwarded to a regional immigration authority in Japan for screening. In this case applicants are advised to leave plenty of time for their application to be processed.
Documents to be Submitted with Visa Application
1. Passport
2. 45mm x 45mm passport-type photo taken within the previous six months
3. Official visa application form, available at the embassy or consulate
4. Certificate of Eligibility (The applicants who cannot submit Certificate of Eligibility must submit other documents instead of it (see the website mentioned below)
http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/index.html
4. Number of Days Required for Acquiring a Visa
The number of days that it takes from application to issuance of a visa varies slightly depending on such factors as the situation in this Embassy and the content of an application. In the case of application with a Certificate of Eligibility, it usually takes five working days. In the case of application without a Certificate of Eligibility, it usually takes five working days to several months.
5. Visa Fees
Foreigners who obtain a visa for Japan must pay a visa fee. Generally speaking, the fees are about 3,000 yen for a single-entry visa, 6,000 yen for a double-entry or multiple-entry visa, and 700 yen for a transit visa (fees are collected in local currencies). In the case of applicants from countries with reciprocal arrangements relating to visa fees with Japan, fees are reduced or exempted in accordance with the arrangement.
6. New Immigration Procedures
http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/english/index.html
7. Contact
If you have any questions, please feel free to send an e-mail to ryoji@japanembassy.cz, call the Visa Section at 257 533 546 or visit Visa Section.
