Short-Term Japan Tourist Visa Application File: Required Documents

Are you preparing your application file for a short-term Japan tourist visa for an upcoming trip? Even missing one small document can mean you have to add more paperwork and delay the whole family’s plans.

This article summarises the documents required according to the source material for a short-term stay visa for tourism purposes. You can use the list below as a checklist to go through each item before you submit your file.

📋 The short-term Japan visa file has 7 main document groups

According to the source material, the file is divided into 7 groups. Each group has its own requirements for quantity and presentation.

You should arrange the file in the same order as these 7 groups. A clear order makes reviewing the file much easier.

🪪 How to prepare your passport and visa application form

The passport is the first document in the file. You need to submit 1 original copy together with 1 copy of the personal information page.

• ☐ Prepare the original passport
• ☐ Prepare a copy of the personal information page in the passport
• ☐ Check that the information on the passport and the copy is clear and easy to read

The visa application form is the next document, in a quantity of 1 copy. When completing the form, you need to write the date of submission.

The signature on the form must match the signature in your passport. This is a small detail, but it needs to be checked carefully before submission.

You can download the form using the link in the source material. You can also check the procedures on the official website of the receiving authority mentioned in the material.

📸 Japan visa photo 4.5 × 3.5 cm

The application photo measures 4.5cm × 3.5cm. The photo must have been taken within the last 6 months up to the time of submission.

• ☐ Prepare 1 photo in the correct size of 4.5cm × 3.5cm
• ☐ Check that the photo was taken within the last 6 months
• ☐ Place the photo in the correct position and prepare it according to the instructions on the form

The photo is the part that is easy to overlook when a family is preparing many files at the same time. You should have the photo taken early to avoid having to redo it at the last minute.

💳 Documents proving ability to pay for the trip

This group of documents requires 1 copy. The source material lists 4 options, and you prepare 1 of the following documents.

• ☐ Salary account transaction statement for the most recent 6 months
• ☐ Confirmation of a time deposit balance, stating clearly the deposit date, term and date of issue
• ☐ Time deposit savings book, showing the original and submitting a copy stamped with the bank’s confirmation and date
• ☐ Income certificate issued by a competent authority

If the individual is not paying for the trip themselves, you need to submit additional documents. These documents are used to identify the person paying for the trip.

You also need to submit documents clarifying the relationship between the payer and the visa applicant. This situation is common when travelling as a family or when a relative is supporting the cost.

When preparing financial documents, you should read the information on each document carefully.

🗓️ Programme of stay in Japan for a short-term tourist visa

The programme of stay requires 1 copy. The source material requires you to state clearly the date and time of arrival in Japan and the date and time of departure.

You need to state clearly the flight numbers and airports. The programme of activities must be clear for each day of the trip.

You also need to state information about your accommodation, including the address and telephone number. If the activities are the same continuously, the date can be written as a period from one day to another.

• ☐ State clearly the date and time of arrival in Japan and the date and time of departure
• ☐ State clearly the flight numbers, airports and the programme of activities for each day
• ☐ State clearly the address and telephone number of the accommodation
• ☐ Check that the dates in the programme of stay match the flight itinerary

The programme of stay helps the person reading the file understand your schedule clearly. You should write it clearly and coherently, and avoid leaving blank days with no activities.

✈️ Flight tickets and flight itinerary for the Japan visa application

This group of documents requires 1 copy. You need to submit a flight reservation confirmation or a flight itinerary.

Train tickets are also accepted according to the source material. The material also advises that you must not buy tickets before receiving your visa.

An itinerary is not a document written by the visa applicant or the inviter themselves. An itinerary is a printout of the flight itinerary, showing the departure and arrival dates and times, duration, flight name, and place of departure and arrival.

• ☐ Prepare a flight reservation confirmation or flight itinerary
• ☐ Check the departure and arrival dates and times, flight name, and place of departure and arrival
• ☐ Compare the information in the itinerary with the programme of stay
• ☐ Note the advice not to buy tickets before receiving your visa

If your trip schedule changes, you should update the related documents. Keeping the information consistent makes the file easier to follow.

👨‍👩‍👧 Relationships with fellow travellers in the Japan visa file

This group of documents requires 1 copy. The source material requires you to prepare documents proving the relationship between fellow travellers.

For family relationships, you can prepare a birth certificate or a marriage certificate. Other documents can also be used to clarify the relationship in each specific case.

For acquaintance relationships, the source material lists photographs as one of the documents you can prepare. Photographs should show the face clearly, without sunglasses and without a hat.

• ☐ Prepare documents proving family relationships, such as a birth certificate or marriage certificate
• ☐ Prepare photographs for acquaintance relationships according to the requirements in the source material
• ☐ Prepare other documents to clarify the relationship when necessary
• ☐ Recheck the relationships of all fellow travellers before submitting the file

The source material notes that before submitting the file, you need to confirm and prepare documents proving the relationships of fellow travellers. This is a final check, but a very important one for a family or group trip.

✅ Checklist before submitting a short-term Japan visa application

You can use the checklist below to review the entire file. The checklist helps the whole family check together without having to remember every detail.

• ☐ Original passport and copy of the personal information page
• ☐ Visa application form with the submission date written and signed to match the signature in the passport
• ☐ Photo 4.5cm × 3.5cm taken within the last 6 months
• ☐ Documents proving ability to pay for the trip
• ☐ Documents of the payer and documents clarifying the relationship if you are not paying for the trip yourself
• ☐ Programme of stay stating clearly dates and times, flights, airports, activities for each day and accommodation
• ☐ Flight reservation confirmation or flight itinerary
• ☐ Documents proving the relationship between fellow travellers

After completing the visa file, you should also arrange the tasks you need to do for the trip. The article Family Travel Insurance Checklist: Before You Buy Flexi can give you another checklist to review.

You can also see international travel insurance’s compulsory when you want to apply visa to understand more about the insurance documents related to your trip.

If you need support to learn about information and prepare your file in a calm, step-by-step way, please contact us via the website paa.vn or by phone at 0347674755 for further advice. Please check the latest terms and instructions from the receiving authority before submitting your file to make sure the information is always accurate.