HOW TO APPLY JAPAN VISA IN PAKISTAN

Getting Japan Visa definitely make your Passport stronger for genuine travelers and it can also help getting approvals of other visas (USA, UK, SCHENGEN).

DISCLAIMER: I am writing this blog after my first hand experience of applying and getting Japanese visa in June-2023 from their Embassy in Islamabad. Things might get change anytime.

IS IT EASY TO GET JAPAN VISA?

The answer is both YES and NO 🙂

YES ! because as of today, there is NO VISA FEE for Japan Visa and very few documents are required for Tourist visa

NO ! because the process of submitting application (as of June-2023) is very insane

Currently Japan embassy has no appointment system and they are issuing only 50 visas per day. Out of which 25 visas for Visit (tourist) and 25 for Business (work). Hence you must be in first 25 people to submit your application otherwise you will be sent back.

PROCESS OF APPLYING VISA

After filling the Application form and attaching your documents, you have to submit your documents in Japan embassy. Since their Appointment system is yet to be launched, so you have to reach as early as possible at Visa-Seeker-Shuttle-Point in Islamabad

Embassy opens at 9:00 AM, but i reached at Shuttle point around 5:00 AM and see how many people were already standing in the que

*PEOPLE WAITING OUTSIDE SHUTTLE AREA GATE AT 5:00 AM FOR JAPAN VISA*

When i asked the first 20 people about their time, they told that they came at 1:00 AM at night so that they should be included in first 25 people. Hence i went back and then thought to come back next day.

I am sure when Appointment system will be launched by Japan embassy then this type of Hassle will be finished.

In case you are in Lucky 25 people, you have to pay 1000 Rs + CNIC copy to Shutte point and a Token will be given to you. On this token, a van will drop you at Japan embassy.

SECOND METHOD: WITHOUT SHUTTLE SERVICE

If you have any reference in Japan embassy or any other embassy inside Diplomatic enclave, you can avoid this hassle. Your friend will ask the security to enter your car inside Diplomatic enclave and you can directly reach to any Embassy on your own car. Park your car outside Japan embassy. The guards will initially send first 50 people who came there through shuttle point. Then they will ask the embassy to entertain without-token applicants. If they allow, they will send you inside. On second day, i applied through this method with reference of my friend.

TYPES OF JAPAN VISAS

You can apply Japan visa on the following basis:

Tourist
Business
Work
Relatives/Friend visit

Out of all above, the easiest is Tourist visa, however the approval is not 100% sure. Your Travel history and Bank statement matters a lot. I suggest to have closing balance above 25 Lac in your account.

For Business visa, you need Invitation letter, Guarantee letter and many other documents from Invitee that must attested from Japan Ministry.

FILLING APPLICATION FORM FOR JAPAN VISA

Japan application form are present on their official website. You must download and fill the form from HERE

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR VISIT/ TOURIST VISA

Current Passport (original)
Photocopy on current passport 1st page (on A4 page)
All previous passports (original)
CNIC original
CNIC photocopy (on A4 page)
Application Form
Picture (2 x 2 inch) with white background must be pasted with Glue on form
Day wise plan in detail: ITINERARY
All Hotel bookings mentioned in above Itinerary
Flight booking (only reservation)
Visa request letter on your Business Letter Head (or Employer Letter head in case of Job)
Business/Firm registration Certificate (to prove that you are running a registered business)
Last 3 months Bank statement (closing balance above 25 Lac Rs)
Bank Maintenance letter
Nadra FRC (In case of family travel)

IMPORTANT NOTES: Take below points seriously otherwise your application will not be accepted

The Date + Sign at the end of Application should be the done after you reach inside embassy
All photocopies should be on A4 papers
All the blank fields in Application form must be filled and must not left empty. If any thing is irrelevant, write “NOT APPLICABLE” . e.g the 2nd page of Application (Invitor + Guarantor information is for Business visa applicants only. A tourist visa applicant must write “NOT APPLICABLE” in all the fields)
No document must have staple pins. Even picture should be Glued on the form

VISA INTERVIEW

Once your token number is called. You will go to the interview window. The glass window is one-side blind. The interviewer can see you from inside but you can not see him from outside. The officer is Pakistani and will ask questions in Urdu. He will judge you seeing your business, job, travel history, bank balance etc. If you do not satisfy him, he will return the documents as it is. If you satisfy him, he will submit your application but that does not mean that your visa will approved. Your application is accepted only for Processing.

VISA APPROVAL AND PROCESSING TIME

Once your application is submitted, they give you a tracking bar code and ask you to wait for 10 days to receive a call. Once you receive a call, you have to again go to Shuttle point and pick the passport. The approval chances are 50/50. If your visa is not approved you get a rejection stamp on your passport and you can not re-apply before 6 months.