Applying for Visa to Visit Relative or Acquaintance
2022/7/18
* A spouse or child of Japanese national, Permanent Resident or Long-Term Resident is excluded.
* Please note that 'Acquaintance' here means a person equivalent to relative such as fiance or partner of common-law marriage. A person who attends wedding or funeral ceremony of an aquaintance or visits an acquaintance hospitalized in Japan may apply for a visa under this category.
* Additional documentation may be requested with your application, depending on your particular status or circumstances.
* DO NOT staple documents.
1. Valid passport: properly signed by the bearer (original passport is required; please be sure your passport has available visa pages)
2. 1 Application Form
: Completely filled out and signed by the applicant; signature must be original. If there is a field not applicable on the application form, please write “N/A” or “None”.
*An applicant with an arrest or criminal record must provide a copy of his/her court and/or arrest record (including cases that ended with an acquittal or pardon), along with an English translation of those documents if they are in any language other than English. Even if the case did not go to trial, please provide a letter that explains in detail the circumstances surrounding the arrest. We would like to know about the charges, time served, fees paid, and probation (if any).
3. 1 passport-type photograph (2 in. x 1.4 in. front view) of applicant: must be taken within 6 months, with a white background and color printed on photo quality paper.
4. Copy of proof of relationship with a relative or an acquaintance: Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate or Family Registry (Koseki Tohon or Koseki Shohon) （戸籍謄（抄）本） , which was issued recently.
5. Copy of proof of Florida residential address: Proof of residency must be in the form of a Florida state issued ID card or driver's license with current address if applying by mail. Non Florida driver’s license or ID holders are required to apply in person, with a proof of residential address in Florida (e.g. apartment leases and/or utility bills).
6. Letter of Invitation attached with Written Pledge
or 招へい理由書と誓約事項 : Only a relative or acquaintance who resides in Japan may be an inviting person.
7. Authorization Form : required when documents are submitted and/or picked up by anyone other than the applicant. Required for applicants that are 15 years or older. Entire form must be filled out by the applicant, and signature on form must be original.
If not a U.S. citizen:
8. Proof of U.S. legal immigration status: Copy of U.S. Green card, or resident visa that allows re-entry to the U.S. and I-94. F and J visa holders must also submit a copy of properly endorsed I-20 and DS-2019 forms, respectively.
9. Payment of visa fee: if country of citizenship does not have a visa fee exemption. This fee is payable in exact cash, U.S. money order, or cashier's check, and must be made payable to the Consulate General of Japan. Neither personal checks nor credit cards are accepted.
Applying by mail
10. Release of Liability form
11. Prepaid, self-addressed envelope with tracking numbers: not required if picking up in person. Return mailing option is only available when the applicant possesses a valid Florida driver's license or a Florida state issued ID card with his/her current address. Visa section will not return passports without self-addressed envelope and sufficient postage.
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at consular1@mi.mofa.go.jp .
* Please note that 'Acquaintance' here means a person equivalent to relative such as fiance or partner of common-law marriage. A person who attends wedding or funeral ceremony of an aquaintance or visits an acquaintance hospitalized in Japan may apply for a visa under this category.
* Additional documentation may be requested with your application, depending on your particular status or circumstances.
* DO NOT staple documents.
1. Valid passport: properly signed by the bearer (original passport is required; please be sure your passport has available visa pages)
2. 1 Application Form
: Completely filled out and signed by the applicant; signature must be original. If there is a field not applicable on the application form, please write “N/A” or “None”.*An applicant with an arrest or criminal record must provide a copy of his/her court and/or arrest record (including cases that ended with an acquittal or pardon), along with an English translation of those documents if they are in any language other than English. Even if the case did not go to trial, please provide a letter that explains in detail the circumstances surrounding the arrest. We would like to know about the charges, time served, fees paid, and probation (if any).
3. 1 passport-type photograph (2 in. x 1.4 in. front view) of applicant: must be taken within 6 months, with a white background and color printed on photo quality paper.
4. Copy of proof of relationship with a relative or an acquaintance: Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate or Family Registry (Koseki Tohon or Koseki Shohon) （戸籍謄（抄）本） , which was issued recently.
5. Copy of proof of Florida residential address: Proof of residency must be in the form of a Florida state issued ID card or driver's license with current address if applying by mail. Non Florida driver’s license or ID holders are required to apply in person, with a proof of residential address in Florida (e.g. apartment leases and/or utility bills).
6. Letter of Invitation attached with Written Pledge
or 招へい理由書と誓約事項 : Only a relative or acquaintance who resides in Japan may be an inviting person.7. Authorization Form
: required when documents are submitted and/or picked up by anyone other than the applicant. Required for applicants that are 15 years or older. Entire form must be filled out by the applicant, and signature on form must be original.If not a U.S. citizen:
8. Proof of U.S. legal immigration status: Copy of U.S. Green card, or resident visa that allows re-entry to the U.S. and I-94. F and J visa holders must also submit a copy of properly endorsed I-20 and DS-2019 forms, respectively.
9. Payment of visa fee: if country of citizenship does not have a visa fee exemption. This fee is payable in exact cash, U.S. money order, or cashier's check, and must be made payable to the Consulate General of Japan. Neither personal checks nor credit cards are accepted.
Applying by mail
10. Release of Liability form
11. Prepaid, self-addressed envelope with tracking numbers: not required if picking up in person. Return mailing option is only available when the applicant possesses a valid Florida driver's license or a Florida state issued ID card with his/her current address. Visa section will not return passports without self-addressed envelope and sufficient postage.
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at consular1@mi.mofa.go.jp .