Current Visa Application Procedures (COVID-19)

(For spouses/children of Japanese citizens and permanent residents, see application procedure here)


Update: Visa exemption measures for Australian passport holders have been paused. For details, see here.
Australian passport holders and travellers from Australia currently need a valid visa to enter Japan.

Travellers from Australia to Japan (even Japanese passport holders) will need a negative PCR Test certificate to enter from 26/12.

You will still need to quarantine and not use mass or public transport (including domestic flights) upon arrival, so please read the details below.

As of the 26/12, visa applications are currently paused due to the new strain of COVID-19. For details, see here.

If you wish to apply for another type of long-term visa or enter Japan for humanitarian reasons (such as death or illness of a family member or medical treatment) please contact us.

Please note that the application and entry procedure is slightly different than the typical application, so please read the following instructions carefully.

 

1. Information for applicants in the ACT (Canberra):

A. Long-term Visa (Residence Track) (with CoE)

• (i) Visa application form (with passport photo attached)
• (ii) Passport and copy of passport photo page
• (iii) Certificate of Eligibility and/or copy of Certificate of Eligibility
• (iv) Written pledge (PDF)  (Residence Track)
• *Filled in by your Japanese sponsor (2 copies; copy of original is acceptable)
• *Please contact us if you cannot obtain a Written Pledge.
• (v) Your valid long-term visa for Australia if you are not an Australian citizen

B. Short-term Visa for Business (Residence Track)  (without CoE)

To enter Japan for up to 90 days on business related purposes such as office communication, business negotiations, signing contracts, after sales service, promotion and marketing, market research, attending meetings, local government exchange, cultural exchange, sporting exchange etc.

• (i) Visa application form (with passport photo attached)
• (ii) Passport and copy of passport photo page
• (iii) An original copy of the applicant’s Certificate of Employment or contract
• (iv) Letter of Invitation
• (v) Letter of Guarantee  
• (vi) Written pledge (PDF)  (Residence Track)
• *Filled in by your Japanese sponsor (2 copies; copy of original is acceptable)
• *Please contact us if you cannot obtain a Written Pledge.
• (vii) Your valid long-term visa for Australia if you are not an Australian citizen

  C. Working Holiday Visa

• (i) Visa application form (with passport photo attached)
• (ii) Passport and copy of passport photo page
• (iii) Written pledge (PDF)  (Residence Track)
• *Filled in by your Japanese sponsor (2 copies; copy of original is acceptable)
• (At this time, working holiday applicants must have a written pledge filled out by a sponsoring company or organization)
• (iv) Flight details
• (v) Curriculum Vitae/Resume
• (vi) (Proposed schedule
• (vii) Letter of intention explaining your working holiday
• (viii) Proof of funds: applicants must prove funds in excess of A$2500 (A$3500 for a married/de facto couple)

 For more detailed information, see the working holiday visa page.

 For application procedures in other areas of Australia than the ACT, please confirm with your appropriate Consulate

 2. To enter Japan

In principle, please enter Japan on a direct flight. Please carry your (1) passport and visa and (2) a copy of the Written Pledge (Residence Track). 

After entering Japan you must self-isolate at home or a hotel for a period of 14 days.

You must not use any kind of mass or public transport (taxi, domestic flights, ferry, bus, train etc.) during your self-isolation or to get to the place where you will self-isolate.

Please use a private car (your family may pick you up) or a rental car or a specific service.

For more information, see here at the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's website: (Japanese only)

3. Leaving Australia as an Australian citizen or Permanent Resident

If you are a citizen or permanent resident of Australia, you will require an exemption from the Australian government to travel. Please see here for details. If you are normally a resident in another country (i.e. Japan), you may not require an exemption, but we recommend you check directly with the Department of Home Affairs on their COVID-19 Hotline at 1800 020 080 or their immigration information line at 131 881.

4. Frequently Asked Questions

A Certificate of Eligiblity (CoE, 在留資格認定証明書, zairyuushikaku nintei shoumeisho) is applied for by your sponsor in Japan (employer, school or family) on your behalf. For more details see the Ministry of Justice page on Certificate of Eligibility.

Due to postal issues I don’t have the original of my CoE. Can I still apply?
As a special COVID-19 related measure, you can currently use a copy or the original to apply (if you use a copy to apply, you must obtain the original when you arrive in Japan and return it to the appropriate Immigration Office).

My Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) is older than 3 months. Can I still use it?
You can use your CoE as long as it was issued after October 1^st 2019.

I cannot obtain a Written Pledge, what should I do? Can I fill in the Written Pledge (Residence Track) myself?
If you are being sponsored by a Japanese company, they must fill in your written pledge for you to be issued a visa. If you are self-sponsoring (e.g. you own the company) or sponsoring a family member, please contact us.  
 
I have visited another country on the restricted list other than Australia in the last 14 days. Can I still apply and enter Japan?
This application process and entry process is only available to travellers who have been only in Australia for the last 14 days. In addition, you must use a direct flight to go to Japan.
 
Can I apply for a tourist visa, or enter on a visa exemption?
At this stage you cannot apply for a tourist visas or enter on a visa exemption scheme from Australia.

Can I work on the short-term Business (Residence Track) visa?
No. The Business visa is for the purpose of business consulting activities such as the activities listed (office communication, business negotiations, signing contracts, after sales service, promotion and marketing, market research, attending meetings, local government exchange, cultural exchange, sporting exchange etc.). If you need to work in Japan, please apply for a working visa through your sponsor.

What is the difference between the Business (Residence Track) and Business Track visa?
The Business Track visa is only for Singaporean and Korean residents. Please see MOFA’s page here for more information.


Please feel free to contact us on 02 6273 3244 or at consular@cb.mofa.go.jp. If you live outside of the ACT, please contact your appropriate Consulate instead.

 
For more detailed information related to this matter and procedures, see the Ministry of Foreign Affair’s information page here.