Japan Visa for Thai Citizens

Japan offers a wide range of visas to pick from, each catering to a specific purpose. The most commonly issued Japan visa is the Japanese Tourist Visa, which we will go into detail on this page before covering the other Japanese visas that are more suited for long-term stays in Japan.

Japanese Tourist Visa

Also known as the Japanese Visitor Visa, this is a type of short-term visa that falls under the Japan Non-Working Visa category that allows you to stay up to 90 days in Japan for purposes such as tourism, business, and visiting friends or relatives. However, it is important to note that none of these activities should be financially rewarding. You may attend business meetings or seminars for example, but cannot engage in any paid work.

Japan Visitor Visa Application Requirements

To apply for a Japanese Tourist Visa from Thailand, you will need to provide the following documents:

• Completed visa application form
• Valid passport with at least 6 months of validity and 2 blank pages remaining
• Recent passport-size photo (in color)
• Certified copy of birth certificate 
• Certified copy of marriage certificate (if any)
• Letter of invitation (if visiting family, relatives, or traveling for business)
• Proof of financial funds to support yourself during your stay in Japan
• Proof of accommodation such as hotel reservations and apartment bookings
• Flight itinerary containing a detailed plan of arrival and departure dates
• Daily itinerary containing information such as the places you’ll visit and things you'll do in Japan

Failure to provide any one of these documents, submitting incorrectly prepared ones, or making errors on any forms can lead to delays in your application or a denial.

Japan Tourist Visa Application Process in Thailand

Once you’ve gathered all the necessary documents, the application process is as follows:

• Complete the Japanese Tourist Visa application form (must be printed)
• Arrange an appointment with the correct government agency (as explained below)
• Submit the visa application
• Pay the visa issuance fees
• Once approved, collect the Japanese Tourist Visa at the government agency and enter Japan within 3 months.

Japanese Embassy in Thailand

Like many countries in Thailand, Japan’s embassy does not handle visa applications. Instead, you must go to their visa application center.

You can apply for a Japanese visa in Thailand at the Japan Visa Application Center (JVAC) on the 4th floor of Chamchuri Square (MRT Sam Yan Station, Exit 2). However, it is important to note that the JVAC accepts applications for all visa categories, except for official and diplomatic visas.

If you are residing in any of the 9 northern provinces in Thailand (Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lampang, Mae Hong Son, Phayao, Phrae, Nan, Uttaradit), you must apply for a Japan visa at the Consulate-General of Japan in Chiang Mai.

Japan Visa Types

If you are looking to live in Japan rather than just to visit, below is a list of the 3 different types of Japanese visas you can choose from and apply for.

Japan Working Visa

As the name suggests, these visas are only for those who intend to work, start a business, or invest in a business in Japan.

Japan Engineer/Specialists in Humanities/International Services Visa

This visa is for those who are working in specific fields such as physical science, engineering, human science, and translation and interpretation. This visa allows you to work in Japan for 1 year, 3 years, or 5 years.

Japan Intracompany Transferee Visa

This visa is for expats of foreign companies or subsidiary companies of Japanese firms that are located overseas. This visa allows you to work in Japan for 3 months, 1 year, 3 years, or 5 years.

Japan Skilled Labor Visa

This visa is for professionals possessing skills in certain areas such as foreign cooking, architecture, and civil engineering characteristic to foreign countries. This visa allows you to work in Japan for 1 year and is renewable for up to 5 years.

Japan Business Manager Visa

This visa is for entrepreneurs who are starting or investing in a business or are managing a business on behalf of other investors. This visa allows you to work in Japan for 3 months, 4 months, 1 year, 3 years, or 5 years.

Japan Highly Skilled Professional Visa

This visa is only available to those who have passed all evaluations on their educational level and professional background, income, and academic achievement. This visa allows you to work in Japan for 1 year, 3 years, or 5 years.

Japan Non-Working Visa

These visas strictly prohibit any form of work during your stay in Japan. You may also notice that the Japan Tourist Visa also falls under this type.

Japan Students Visa

This visa is for students who are enrolled in universities, vocational schools, high schools, junior high schools, elementary schools, or Japanese language schools. This visa allows you to study in Japan from 6 months to 2 years and 3 months, depending on your length of course.

Japan Trainee Visa

This visa is for trainees who are looking to learn and acquire technology, skills, or knowledge at private or public organizations in Japan. It is only granted to candidates who will engage in a job requiring the technology, skills, or knowledge they had learned in Japan after returning to their home country. This visa allows you to train in Japan from 6 months to 3 years.

Japan Technical Internship Visa

This visa is only available to those who have already completed their training under the Japanese Trainee Visa. The maximum duration of this visa is 5 years.

Japan Dependent Visa

This visa is for spouses or children of those staying in Japan under a Working or Non-Working Visa (excluding the Japanese Temporary Visitor Visa and Japanese Trainee Visa). This should be applied for if you intend to stay in Japan for more than 90 days.

Japan Cultural Activities Visa

This visa is for artistic or cultural activities that provide no income and for studies or research of artistic or cultural activities. This visa is also available to university students who are on an internship in Japan that brings no financial income. This visa allows you to stay in Japan for 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, or 3 years.

Japan Temporary Visitor Visa

Also known as the Japanese Tourist Visa, this visa is for those who are coming to Japan for purposes such as tourism, vacation, sports, family visits, participation in seminars, conferences, or reunions. It is also possible to hold business meetings, sign contracts, engage in PR activities, and conduct market research on this visa. This visa allows you to stay in Japan for up to 90 days.

Japan Family-Related Visas

These visas are only for those who are related to Japanese nationals or have met certain requirements to stay in Japan long-term.

Japan Spouse or Child of Japanese Nationals Visa

This visa is for the spouses and children of Japanese nationals who wish to remain in Japan long-term. This visa allows you to stay in Japan from 6 months to 3 years.

Japan Long-Term Residents Visa

This visa is for refugees, descendants of Japanese nationals, divorcees of Japanese nationals, and others who wish to remain in Japan long-term. This visa allows you to stay in Japan for a period not exceeding 5 years.

Japan Permanent Residents Visa

This visa is for those who have met certain conditions such as the length of time spent in Japan, tax payments, and income, and wish to remain in Japan long-term. Once obtained, you will be able to stay in Japan indefinitely.

Japan Spouse or Child of Permanent Residents Visa

This visa is for the spouses and children of those who hold the Japanese Permanent Residents Visa. This visa allows you to stay in Japan for 6 months, 1 year, 3 years, or 5 years.

What Siam Legal International Can Do for You

Organizing a visa alongside planning a trip to Japan can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. Siam Legal International is here to support you and handle all the legal paperwork on your behalf to ensure your application process is swift and has the maximum chance of approval.

We are a full-service law firm and visa consultancy in Thailand with over 20 years of experience in helping clients from all around the world enter foreign countries. With our help, your experience with obtaining a Japan visa will be swift and stress-free, so you can put all your focus on making the most out of your trip to Japan.

Our services include:

• A consultation with our Foreign Visa Immigration Specialist to determine your eligibility and required documents.
• A comprehensive checklist of all the required documents.
• A professional and precise review of your visa application to ensure that nothing is missing and there are no errors.
• Assistance with arranging an appointment with the proper government agencies to avoid any delay that could disrupt your planned trip.
• Submission of your visa application to the proper government agencies.

Should you have any further questions regarding Japanese visas, do not hesitate to contact Siam Legal.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Japanese Visa

Can I apply for a Japanese visa again after being rejected on a previous application?

If you had re-applied for a Japanese visa within 6 months from the previous application’s rejection, you may not be accepted unless your circumstances have significantly changed since the rejection or traveling to Japan is necessary for humanitarian reasons. If you wish to apply again for a Japanese visa after experiencing a rejection, it is recommended that you consult with the Japanese Embassy or Consulate before making the application.

Can I apply for a Japanese visa in a foreign country?

Yes, you have the option to apply for a Japanese visa at the Japanese Embassy or Consulate-General in your home country or at Japan’s visa center in Bangkok.

Can I pay the Japanese visa issuance fees with a credit card?

The fees must be paid in cash using the local currency. This means that if you are paying the Japanese visa issuance fees in Thailand, the currency of the payment must be in Thai baht.