JP country scene

Transit visa

JapanTransit

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

Official link

Which travellers require a transit visa/permission and which officially documented exemptions are important?

The checked official sources did not provide enough route-specific evidence to confirm which travellers need transit permission and the main exemptions.

Can the traveller remain airside, and under what circumstances must immigration control be crossed?

The checked official sources did not provide enough route-specific evidence to confirm whether the traveller can stay airside and when immigration control must be crossed.

What officially documented baggage collection, terminal, separate-ticket or self-transfer situations affect the immigration requirement?

The checked official sources did not provide enough route-specific evidence to confirm the baggage, terminal-change and self-transfer rules.

What maximum transit period, overnight, airport-change or multiple-stop rules matter?

The Japanese consular transit-visa guidance permits leisure/sightseeing, rest including a hotel for overnight flight connections, and arrival at one Japanese airport with departure from another. Activities must be unpaid; business or profit requires another visa. It states that neither a change of visa status nor an extension is permitted. The visa can be used within 3 months from issue for single entry or 4 months for double entry; these validity periods do not state how long the traveller may stay after entry. Anchorage requires accommodation covering the stay and, for more than one night, proof of sufficient funds.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The maximum admitted transit stay and rules for multiple stops are not established by this consular page.
  • Document submission details are those of the Anchorage office; airport operating or transfer procedures are not inferred.
  • https://www.anchorage.us.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/transit.html
    Travelers who stop in Japan en route to another country may require a transit visa. Activities are limited to: - Leisure and sightseeing - Rest (i.e. staying in a hotel with overnight flight connections) - Arriving at an airport in Japan and departing from another airport in Japan (i.e. arriving at Narita Airport and departing from Haneda Airport) Once the transit visa is issued, neither change of visa status nor extension of visa is permitted. Any activity involving business or profit requires a different type of visa, regardless of amount of time spent in Japan. Transit visas are for non-paid activity only.
  • https://www.anchorage.us.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/transit.html
    ## Validity of Visa Single entry: 3 months from date of issue, Double entry: 4 months from date of issue
  • https://www.anchorage.us.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/transit.html
    ### 6\. Hotel confirmation Hotel reservation must be issued by the hotel or a travel agency. Hotel reservation must cover entire stay in Japan. If the stay in Japan exceeds one night: hotel reservation confirmation plus proof of sufficient funds to cover stay (i.e. most recent U.S. bank statement) ### Visa for next destination country (if applicable) Must be in the passport at the time of Japanese transit visa application.

If permission is required, what permission is it, where/how is it obtained, and what core onward-travel evidence is required?

Where a transit visa is needed, apply to the competent Japanese embassy or consulate before travel. The Anchorage consular checklist requires a flight itinerary or confirmed reservation showing arrival and departure, passenger name, reservation number, flights, and departure/destination cities; its US-based applicants provide the complete round trip from and back to the US. Tickets need not be purchased, but a confirmed reservation is required. Any visa required by the next destination must already be in the passport. The local checklist also requires an application form, photograph and accommodation evidence, with proof of funds for stays exceeding one night. Fees vary by country; check the competent post for the current amount.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • This is the Anchorage application checklist; exact appointment/submission arrangements and current fees at other consular posts are not established. The former 700-yen fee is not asserted as current.
  • https://www.anchorage.us.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/transit.html
    ## Required Documentation A person applying for a transit visa to Japan must submit the following documentation: ### 1\. Valid Passport Must have at least one complete blank visa page. or **Immigration documents showing legal status and permission of reentry into the United States** May be a U.S. Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) or a valid U.S. visa sticker on a valid passport F or J visa holder must show an I-20 or DS-2019 (formerly IAP-66) with the valid signature of an appropriate official in order to reenter the U.S. **Please note that in principle we do not accept an application from B-1 (Temporary Business Visitor) and B-2 (Temporary Visitor for Tourism/Leisure) U.S. visa holders. If you hold a B-1 or B-2 U.S. visa, you should return to your country of origin and apply for a Japan visa from there.** ### 2\. One visa application form Must be completely filled and signed by the applicant. Blank visa application forms are available at the consular office or may be **[downloaded here.](https://www.anchorage.us.emb-japan.go.jp/files/000159915.pdf)** ### 3\. One 2” x 2” square passport-type color photograph Must be taken **within 6 months** of application date with front-face view of applicant and plain background. ### 4\. A flight itinerary or reservation confirming arrival and departure in Japan An e-ticket or print-out from a travel agency, airline, or travel website is acceptable. The print-out should include: 1. Passenger's name. 2. Confirmation number/record locator. 3. Airline names, flight number and all departure/destination cities. 4. Complete round-trip flight itinerary, starting/ending in the US. This should include all of the countries you are visiting other than Japan, if applicable. **Please note: We do not require the purchase of tickets, but we require a confirmed reservation. The Consular Office of Japan is not responsible for tickets which may be unusable due to the delay or denial of a visa.** ### 5\. Visa fees (if applicable) Visa fees vary by country. There is no visa fee for U.S. citizens. The consular office accepts exact payment in cash only. No checks or cards will be accepted. ### 6\. Hotel confirmation Hotel reservation must be issued by the hotel or a travel agency. Hotel reservation must cover entire stay in Japan. If the stay in Japan exceeds one night: hotel reservation confirmation plus proof of sufficient funds to cover stay (i.e. most recent U.S. bank statement) ### Visa for next destination country (if applicable) Must be in the passport at the time of Japanese transit visa application.

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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