Legal Status Questions on Japan Visa Application

Are you pausing at the legal status section of your Japan visa application because you are not sure whether to choose Yes or No?

This is a part that needs to be read slowly and completed honestly.

An unclear choice can cause the information in your application form not to match your supporting documents.

📋 What is the legal status section on a Japan visa application?

Section 1.22 of the Japan visa application form is titled Have you ever.

This section asks about the legal status of the visa applicant.

You need to mark either Yes or No.

If you choose Yes for any question, you must provide detailed information in the blank space below it.

This information is checked against the other documents in your application file.

Therefore, you should read all the questions before ticking a box.

You should also review page 1 of the Japan visa application form and the information you need to provide to make sure the form is completed fully and consistently.

✍️ Five questions to read carefully in section 1.22

Section 1.22 contains five consecutive questions.

Each question relates to a specific legal situation.

You need to read each question one by one and avoid ticking a box too quickly.

• Have you ever had a criminal conviction or offence in any country? The English question is Been convicted of a crime or offence in any country?
• Have you ever been sentenced to imprisonment for 1 year or more in any country? The English question is Been sentenced to imprisonment for 1 year or more in any country?
• Have you ever been deported from Japan or any other country for overstaying your visa or violating the law? The English question is Been deported or removed from Japan or any country for overstaying your visa or violating any law or regulation?
• Have you ever been involved in prostitution, soliciting prostitution, or providing a place for prostitution? The English question is Engaged in prostitution, or in the intermediation or solicitation of a prostitute for other persons, or in the provision of a place for prostitution, or any other activity directly connected to prostitution?
• Have you ever committed human trafficking, or incited or assisted others to do so? The English question is Committed trafficking in persons or incited or aided another to commit such an offence?

These are the five questions that the guidance document asks visa applicants to answer.

You should not add your own interpretation of situations beyond the wording of the questions.

When you are unsure how to interpret a question, you should check the relevant terms or contact the office receiving your application for guidance.

✅ How to tick Yes/No and add details when you choose Yes

The general principle is to declare the truth and keep the information consistent.

You should follow the steps below.

1. Read each question in section 1.22 carefully, including the English wording.
2. Mark Yes or No for each question.
3. If you choose Yes, write the detailed information in the blank space below that question.
4. Check again whether the details are clear, easy to understand, and match the question.
5. Review the whole form to make sure no section requiring details has been left blank.

The details need to be written clearly and in line with the question asked.

You should not write vague details or leave the blank space empty after choosing Yes.

If you choose No for every question, you should still check again to make sure you have not missed any box.

After completing this section, you should continue to check the application date and signature at the end of the form.

The signature should match the signature in your passport, as instructed in the application file.

To understand the supporting documents better, you can refer to the documents required for a short-term Japan tourist visa application.

⚠️ Common mistakes to avoid when declaring your legal status

Many people focus only on the personal information section and treat section 1.22 lightly.

This is an easy mistake to make.

The information in the form needs to be completed fully and accurately in line with the other documents submitted in the file.

Even a single error or inconsistent information can make the application review more difficult.

You should not declare something untruthfully in order to avoid questions.

You also should not guess about the outcome of the review.

Choosing Yes does not mean there is a definite commitment that a visa will be issued.

Choosing No also does not guarantee that the application will be accepted.

The final decision depends on the reviewing authority and the entire application file.

Therefore, your goal is to declare information clearly, honestly, and consistently.

If your application has a guarantor or inviter, you also need to make sure the related information is completed fully.

You can refer to the guarantor and inviter in the Japan visa form to check this information.

🧾 Checklist to check before submitting your application

Before submitting your application, you should review the legal status section together with all your documents.

The checklist below helps you check each step.

• ☐ You have read all five questions in section 1.22 carefully.
• ☐ You have chosen Yes or No for each question, with none left blank.
• ☐ If you chose Yes, you have written the detailed information in the blank space below.
• ☐ The details are written clearly and match the content of the question.
• ☐ The information in the form matches your passport and the other documents in the file.
• ☐ You have checked the application date and the visa applicant’s signature again.
• ☐ You have checked the entire file against the list of documents required for a short-stay tourist visa.

You should take the time to check again rather than submitting in a hurry.

A carefully prepared file makes it easier for the reader to follow.

If anything is unclear, you should check the relevant terms or contact the office receiving your application for further guidance.

You should not create additional conditions, figures, or regulations that are not stated in the documents.

If you need support reviewing your Japan visa application file, please contact us via the website https://paa.vn or by phone at 0347674755 for further advice.