Japan Visa for Filipino Citizens
Filipino citizens need a visa for every trip to Japan — tourism included. Here's how long a visa lets you stay, and how to apply in five steps.
Visa required
No visa-free entry and no visa on arrival. Apply before you travel, through the Japan Visa Center (VFS Global) in the Philippines.
- How long
- Up to 90 days per trip
- Visa fee
- Visa free — ₱800 VFS fee
- Processing
- About 6 working days (Metro Manila)
Last checked 25 September 2026 against the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines and VFS Global Philippines.
How long can you stay?
| Visa | Stay per visit | Use it within |
|---|---|---|
| Single entry — tourism, visits, business | Up to 90 days — 15, 30 or 90 days depending on your plan | 3 months from issue |
| Multiple entry — for those who qualify | Depends on the type — up to 90 days | Valid 1–5 years |
| Work, study, family | More than 90 days — needs a Certificate of Eligibility first | — |
Choose your visa
Short visits use a Temporary Visitor (short-term stay) visa. Which documents you need depends on why you're going and who pays:
Tourism
A holiday you pay for yourself
See documents →
Visiting relatives or friends
Someone in Japan invites you — they or you pay
See documents →
Short-term business
Meetings, negotiations, market research, conferences, cultural or sport exchange
See documents →
Multiple entry
For frequent business travellers and others who qualify
Who qualifies →
Prepare the documents
This is the official checklist for a tourist visa that you — or a guarantor in the Philippines — pay for. Visiting relatives or friends in Japan and business trips have their own checklists on the VFS website. Philippine documents must be originals issued within the last 3 months (PSA birth and marriage certificates: within 1 year), on A4 paper, in English or Japanese or with a translation. Only your passport is returned.
You prepare
- Passport, signed by you
- Visa application form — typed and signed
- One colour photo, 4.5 × 3.5 cm, taken within 6 months
- Colour copy of the passport bio page, and of any used Japanese visa
- PSA birth certificate (issued within 1 year)Not needed if your passport has a used Japanese visa.
- PSA marriage certificate, if married (issued within 1 year)Not needed if your passport has a used Japanese visa.
- Itinerary in JapanDates, flights and hotels — bookings are not necessary.
If you pay for the trip
- Bank certificate showing the average daily balance for the last 6 months
- Tax payment certificateBIR Form 2316 signed by employer and employee; business owners also show proof of actual tax payment.
- Employment certificate — position, salary and period of employmentBusiness owners: DTI business-name registration and mayor’s permit. Students: school ID or certificate of enrolment. If you can’t give bank and tax papers for another reason than being retired, a full-time homemaker or unemployed: a letter of explanation.
If a guarantor in your country pays
- Guarantee letter
- Proof of your relationship with the guarantor (e.g. birth certificate or photos)
- The guarantor’s bank certificate, tax payment certificate and employment certificate
Submit and pay
Since 7 April 2025 the embassy takes visa applications through the Japan Visa Center run by VFS Global — centres in Parañaque, Makati, Quezon City, Cebu and Davao. Book an appointment on the VFS website for the right visa category (it can’t be changed on the day). You can apply at the earliest 90 days before your travel date.
Fees
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Visa fee — single or multiple | ₱0 | Philippine nationals, temporary visitor visas |
| VFS service fee | ₱800 | Per application |
Wait for the decision
- At least 6 business days from the day VFS receives your application: about 6 working days in Metro Manila, about 3–4 weeks in Cebu and Davao (VFS).
- With many applications or extra checks it can take more than a month; the embassy warns that tourist visas may take several weeks — apply well ahead.
- Don’t buy tickets before the visa is approved. If the embassy asks for more documents, send them within 1 month, or the application is closed.
Receive your visa
Visa sticker in your passport
Collect your passport at the Visa Center. A single-entry visa is valid for travel within 3 months of issue.
eVISA — single-entry tourism
Package tours only: since 15 December 2025 travellers on a tour of a registered travel agency can get an eVISA — applied for through the Visa Center.
eVISA holders: show it live on your phone
A visa doesn't guarantee entry — the immigration officer at the airport makes the final decision.
If your visa is refused
- There is no visa fee to lose; the ₱800 VFS service fee is not refunded.
- The embassy does not tell you why — Japan does not give reasons for visa refusals.
- You can't reapply for the same purpose within 6 months. The exception: your circumstances have changed significantly and the trip is needed for humanitarian reasons — ask the embassy first.
Beware of visa scams
Next time: a multiple-entry visa
Philippine nationals can apply for three kinds of multiple-entry visa:
- Multiple-entry visa for frequent travellers
- Multiple-entry temporary visitor visa for Philippine nationals with considerable financial capacity
- Multiple-entry visa for business purposes and cultural or intellectual figures
The embassy publishes the conditions and documents for each as a PDF. Embassy of Japan in the Philippines — visa types
Staying longer than 90 days
Work, study and family stays need a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) first. Your employer, school or family in Japan applies for it; you then take it to the embassy for the visa.
Work visas
Engineer / Humanities, Highly Skilled Professional and more
See details →
Specified Skilled Worker (Type 1 & 2)
Skills test plus a Japanese-language test
See details →
Student
Language schools, vocational schools and universities
See details →
Spouse / Child of Japanese National
Marriage to a Japanese national
See details →
Frequently asked questions
Do Filipino citizens need a visa for Japan?
Yes, for every visit — tourism included. The Philippines is not on Japan's visa-exemption list, and Japan has no visa on arrival.
How long can I stay in Japan on a tourist visa?
Up to 90 days per visit on a single-entry visa — the officer grants 15, 30 or 90 days depending on your plan. Use the visa within 3 months of issue.
How much does a Japan visa cost?
Nothing for the visa itself — temporary visitor visas are free for Philippine nationals. You only pay the ₱800 VFS service fee per application.
How long does processing take?
About 6 working days in Metro Manila and about 3–4 weeks in Cebu and Davao (VFS). Busy periods take longer — apply early, up to 90 days before travel.
Can I apply online?
Only for package tours: Filipino nationals living in the Philippines who join a tour of a designated travel agency can get a 15-day tourist eVISA. Other trips need a visa sticker.
Can I reapply if my visa is refused?
Not for the same purpose within 6 months, unless your circumstances have changed significantly and the trip is needed for humanitarian reasons. The embassy won't tell you the reason for a refusal.
Do I need to book flights and a hotel?
No. The itinerary asks for your planned dates, flights and hotels, but bookings are not necessary — and VFS advises not to buy tickets until the visa is approved.
Sources
- Embassy of Japan in the Philippines — Visa/Consular Services
- VFS Global Philippines — Japan visa: fees, processing time, photo, documents
- VFS Global Philippines — tourism visa checklist, single entry (April 2025, PDF)
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan — Visa fees (from 1 Jul 2026)
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan — Visa processing time
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan — Validity of a visa
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan — Visa FAQ (refusals, re-applications)
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan — short-term stay rules for Filipino nationals
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan — JAPAN eVISA (eligible residences, 15 May 2026)
Nearby countries
Not sure which visa or documents fit your trip?
Ask us which visa fits your plan — free consultation by email.
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