Visa to Japan

2020/6/29
Consular Hours: 9:00 am to noon and 1:30 pm to 4:00 pm Mondays to Fridays except for the designated holidays

Visa Operation Hours: 9:00 am to noon Mondays to Fridays except for the designated holidays

Mail: consul@ap.mofa.go.jp

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my entry status once I am in Japan? For example, can I change from a tourist to a work visa?
No. Once you are in Japan, you cannot in principle change your visa. If you want to work in Japan, you must obtain a working visa from a Japanese diplomatic mission in Samoa or a third country.

What supporting documents should I submit for my visa application?
Please see the navigation bar to select the relevant type of visa and see the list of required documentation.

How much does a visa cost?
Please see here for information about visa fees.

How long is the processing time for a visa?
Generally it takes about 5 working days but may take longer in some cases.

When should I apply for a visa?
Most visas are valid for three months from the date of issue, meaning you must enter Japan within three months of the visa being issued. The length of stay in Japan will be decided on a case-by-case basis based on your intended schedule.

Can I apply for a visa by post? 
No. We cannot accept visa applicantions by post.

Do I need to make an appointment to apply for a visa?
You do not have to make an appointment to apply. Simply bring in your application during our visa operation hours (see above).

How long does my passport need to be valid in order to enter Japan?
Japan does not have any regulations relating to passport validity, so long as your passport will be valid until after you leave Japan.

The visa application form asks for my "I.D. No. issued to you by your government". What is this?
The governments of some countries give their citizens individual I.D. numbers. However, many countries do not. It is okay to leave this section blank if your country does not have such I.D. numbers.

The visa application form asks for a guarantor/reference and inviter in Japan. What should I do if I do not have one?
If you are not being invited to Japan, you may leave this section on the form blank. It is not necessary to have a guarantor in every case.

Do I have to come and pick up my passport in person when the visa is issued?
Your passport must be collected in person from reception during opening hours and the visa fee (if applicable) must be paid in cash at that time. It is recommended that you collect it yourself but you can nominate another person to collect it on your behalf. He/she must provide an authorisation form. Passports will not be returned by post.

When should I come to the Embassy to collect my passport?
Please see here for visa processing time. Processing for most temporary visas should be completed after 5 working days. However, cases which require further documents or require referral to Japan, will take longer. Therefore, allow sufficient time for your visa to be processed. You can call to check whether it is completed before you come. Please make sure that you come to collect during visa operating hours.
Physical Address

Level 2, B-Building, SNPF Plaza
Savalalo, Apia, Samoa

Office Hours

Mondays to Fridays except for the designated holidays
For the designated holidays, please refer to the above.

8:30 am to noon and 1:00 pm to 5:15 pm
For consular and visa operation hours, please refer to the above.
Postal Address

P.O. Box 1375
Apia, Samoa
Contact

Phone: +685-21187
Fax: +685-21196
Mail: japanese.embassy@ap.mofa.go.jp