Please continue to monitor our website as consular procedures may change from time to time.

	Table of Contents
1	General Information about Applications
2	For Qatari Nationals
3	General Information about Requirements        3-1: Letter of Employment        3-2: Bank Documents        3-3: Accommodation/Hotel Booking Information        3-4: Flight Booking Information        3-5: Travel Itinerary
4	Passport Collection, Visa Issuance and Rejection

 

Please visit our website: “Visa Information” and choose the List of Requirements that matches your situation as the requirements vary depending on:
  ・ the purpose of your visit (tourism, business and work/study etc.)
  ・ your accommodation (staying at a hotel or staying with your relatives/friends etc.)
  ・ your nationality: Qatari (Please see Q20-26) or Non-Qatari
Kindly note you may be asked for additional documents.
 
Q2) When should I start the process?
You can start the process 3 months prior to your departure date by securing an appointment through our online booking system.
 
Q3) How long does it take to get a visa?
There is NO Priority Service.
(A) Visa
It normally takes 3 or 5 working days from the date of acceptance depending on your nationality and circumstances. However, please start the process well in advance of your anticipated travel date because it may take a while for you to secure an appointment or the process may require additional confirmation such as submission of additional documents, an interview and inquiries etc.
(B) Qatari Passport Registrations for Visa Waiver
It normally takes 1 or 2 working days. Please see Q20-26.
 
Q4) What is the validity of visa?
The validity of a Single Entry Visa is 3 months from the date of visa issuance. The “Date of Issue” and “Date of Expiry” are printed on your visa. Once the visa is granted, you must enter Japan before the date of expiry.
 
Q5) How much is the visa fee?
Visa fee for a Single Entry Visa is QR73, QR20 or Free of Charge depending on your nationality. EXACT AMOUNT of fee must be paid in CASH at the time of passport collection. Please check the details of the fee on the Visa Fee page. 
 
Q6) Can I apply for a visa for my family, friends or work colleagues etc.?
Yes. A proxy can carry out visa applications, passport collections and passport drop-off on behalf of applicants themselves.
  ・ If a proxy is a family member, please bring marriage/birth certificates.
  ・ If a proxy is not a family member, please bring an authorisation letter.
 
Q7) Can I apply for a visa online?
(A) Visa
No. Visa applications must be made in person at the embassy.
(B) Qatari Passport Registrations for Visa Waiver
Qatari Passport Registrations for Visa Waiver can be made either in person or online(JAVES). Please see Q20-26.
 
Q8) Do I have to make an appointment to visit the embassy?

ATTENTION 1! Appointments must only be made through the online booking system.

ATTENTION 2! We are unable to communicate about appointment availability.

 You will be required to book an appointment to visit the embassy for the following procedures. The appointment system allocate time slots on a first-come-first-services basis. Available time slots are limited and there is no guarantee that your first choice is available. Appointments can be booked up to 4 weeks in advance. (New slots open at regular intervals, 30-31 days.)

	Purpose	Appointment
1	Visa Application	Required
2	Qatari Passport Registration for Visa Waiver                                                                  made in person at Embassy	Required
3	Qatari Passport Registration for Visa Waiver                                                                            made ONLINE/JAVES	Not Required
4	Visa Transfer	Required
5	Visa Inquiry	Required
6	Passport Collection   (10:00 -15:00 / Ramadan 10:00 - 13:30)	Not Required
7	Passport Drop-off       (7:30 - 15:00 / Ramadan   8:30 - 13:30)	Not Required

 
Q9) How many days can I stay in Japan?
The number of days you can stay in Japan is printed as “Duration of Stay” on your visa. For example, if the duration of stay is stipulated as 15 days on your visa, you can stay in Japan up to 15 days.

Short-Term Stay Visas:    allow you to stay up to 90 days for tourism, business, visiting friends or relatives etc.    You cannot be engaged in remunerative activities. (You cannot earn money.)

Long-Term Stay Visas:   allow you to stay in Japan over 90 days and/or may allow you to perform    remunerative work etc. depending on the status on your Certificate of Eligibility.

  
Q10) What are the requirements for dependants (spouse/children)?
Each applicant must have his/her own set of necessary documents, however, there is no need to make photocopies of common documents for each applicant. One set of common documents is sufficient. (Common documents may include: Letter of Employment, Bank Documents, Flight/Hotel Booking Information and Travel Itinerary etc.)
A parent is eligible to sign for minor applicants.
The Family Entry Request Form that matches your situation must be submitted.
  ・ Family Entry Request Form 1 (Dependent Travelling with Guarantor)
  ・ Family Entry Request Form 2 (Dependent Travelling without Guarantor)
For school trip, please see Q14.
 
Q11) Can I apply for my family who does not live in Qatar?
No. We only accept applications made by those who reside in Qatar (QID holders). Visa Applications must be made only at the place of your residence or in your home country.
 
Q12) Can I ask my travelling companion to be my guarantor as I may not have enough funds?
No. As a general rule, only your family member with considerable financial capacity who resides in Qatar is eligible to become your guarantor.
 
Q13) What can I do if I cannot leave my passport at the embassy?
We normally need to keep your passport for 3 or 5 working days. However, if you cannot leave your passport with us, we can return your passport provided that you leave your passport with us another time for 1 WORKING night. Please follow the below procedures.
  (1) You must submit your passport at the time of application.
  (2) Once we register your passport information, your passport will be returned to you. 
  (3) Come back to the embassy at a later date (7:30-15:00) to drop off/submit your passport.
  (4) Collect your passport the next working day (10:00-15:00).

Example (Processing Time: 5 working days)
Date of Application  Date of Passport Collection	​  Monday 5th October    Monday 12th October   *This is the earliest date you can collect your passport if you:          ・leave the passport at the embassy for 5 working days.          ・drop off your passport on/by Sunday 11th.
Date of Passport Drop-off Date of Passport Collection	​  Tuesday 13th October (7:30-15:00)   Wednesday 14th October (10:00-15:00)

       
Q14) What is the requirements for a school trip?
Please ask your school to contact us first as there are documents the school need to prepare and provide you with for your application.
 
Q15) My application has already been accepted. Can I add more documents to my application?
No. You cannot add any documents once your application is accepted. The decision on your application will be made based on the submitted documents.
 
Q16) Can I apply for a Multiple Entry Visa?
Nationals of the following 6 countries who are applicable to one of the categories listed on our website are eligible to apply for a Multiple Entry Visa.  Please check the details on the Multiple Entry Visa page.  
Visa fee for a Multiple Entry Visa is QR146, QR20 or Free of Charge depending on the nationality. Please check the details on the Visa Fee page. 

Qatar, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Saudi Arabia with e-Passport

If you are a Qatari national, please see Q20-26.

Q17) How can I transfer my valid visa to my new passport?
Please book an appointment and visit us with the following documents. (The processing time is 1 working day. There is no charge.)
  (1) Application Form for Visa Transfer
  (2) Old Passport
  (3) New Passport
 
Q18) I am going to study/work in Japan. What type of visa should I apply for?

	Duration of your Stay in Japan or Type of Activity	Type of Visa you must Apply (Please see Q9 & Q19)	Certificate of Eligibility (See Q19)
1	Over 90 days                       Regardless of Activity	Long-Term Stay Visa	Required
2	Up to 90 days with                     Remunerative Activities (When you earn money.)	Short-Term Stay Visa	Required
3	Up to 90 days without                     Remunerative Activities (You don’t earn money.)	Short-Term Stay Visa	Not Required

*To apply for (1) and (2), Certificate of Eligibility (COE) is required.
* For more information about COE, please see Q9 & Q19.
Once you receive the COE from your sponsor (employer/school etc.) in Japan, please book an appointment and visit us with all the necessary documents. The list of requirements can be found on our website under:
  ・(3) WORK with Eligibility Certificate Holder
  ・(4) STUDY with Eligibility Certificate Holder
  ・(5) STUDY without Eligibility Certificate Holder
ATTENTION: We have no information on jobs in Japan nor do we issue visas for the purpose of job hunting.
 
Q19) How can I get a Certificate of Eligibility?

It is your sponsor (employer/school etc.) in Japan who will obtain the Certificate of Eligibility (COE) for you through a local Immigration Office in Japan.  The COE is handled by Immigration  Services Agency (Ministry of Justice) in Japan, NOT by the embassy.

(1) A COE is issued as:
     ・an e-mail. (sample of e-mail COE)
     ・a paper certificate. (A5 size)
(2) Once the certificate is issued, your sponsor in Japan should forward it to you by:
     ・email (for the digitally issued COE).
     ・post (for the paper COE).
(3) For your visa application, you can submit any of the following:
     ・a printout of the digitally issued e-mail COE.
     ・an original paper COE.
ATTENTION 1: For details of the Certificate of Eligibility, please contact your employer/school or the Immigration Services Agency.  
ATTENTION 2: The validity of COE is 3 months.
 

Q20) What is the procedure for Qatari Nationals?
Please check the list below.

Duration of Stay etc.	Procedures you must follow
Up to 30 days for Tourism etc.	Passport Registration for Visa Waiver
Over 30 days for Tourism etc.	Single Entry Visa
Work or Study with                                   Certificate of Eligibility	Long-Term Stay Visa (See Q9, 18&19)
If you hold Special/Diplomatic Passport	No Registration or Visa are required. (See Q26)

 
Q21) What is Visa Waiver Passport Registration?
It is the arrangement which allow Qatari nationals to enter and stay in Japan up to 30 days for the purpose of tourism etc. simply by registering their e-Passports. The registration is valid for 3 years or until your passport expires. During this period, you can travel to Japan multiple times as long as each stay does not exceed 30 days. (There is no need to register your passport every time you go to Japan.) For more information on Visa Waiver Passport Registration, please check the links below:
  ・EOJ website
  ・MOFA Japan website  

Q22) How can I register my passport for Visa Waiver Registration?
You can register your passport either in person at the embassy or online (JAVES).
(A) Register in person at the Embassy
Please book an appointment and visit us with the following documents:
   (1) Original Passport
   (2) Application Form for Visa Waiver Passport Registration
(B) Register Online (JAVES)
For Online Applications (JAVES), please see the details from the links below.
   ・General Information: English / Arabic
   ・Processing Time (IMPORTANT):  Processing Time for Online Applications (JAVES) 
   ・Inquiries: Visa Information Hotline: 00800-100-929 (English, 24/7)
 
Q23) How do I know my passport has been registered and what should I do at the airport?
(A) Registration made in person at the Embassy
     ・There will be a sticker and a stamp with the registered date on your passport.
     ・At the check-in counter, please show the page with the sticker and the stamp.   
(B) Registration made Online (JAVES)
     ・You will receive a “Visa Exemption Registration Notice” email from JAVES system.
     ・At the check-in counter, please show the notification email on your active device.
     ・Screenshots and printouts are not accepted. (The time displayed on the screen should count down. This confirms that the Visa Exemption Registration Notice displayed is authentic.)  

If a third party (proxy) has applied on your behalf, please follow the instructions below.    (1) Obtain the QR code from your proxy. (This could be the PDF data or paper copy.)    (2) Scan the QR code with your device.    (3) Enter your passport number and date of birth.    (4) Display your “Visa Exemption Registration Notice” on your device at the check-in counter.

Q24) What should I do if I’m staying in Japan for longer than 30 days?
If you want to stay in Japan for more than 30 days for tourism etc., please apply for a Single Entry Visa.  

Q25) What should I do if I’m staying in Japan for the purpose of work or study?
If you are staying in Japan for longer than 90 days and/or for the purpose of Work/Study, you must apply for a Long-Term Stay Visa. Please see Q9, 18 & 19.  

Q26) I have a Special/Diplomatic passport. Do I have to apply for a visa? (Short-Term Stay)
Special/Diplomatic Passport Holders are eligible to enter Japan and stay there up to 90 days without obtaining a visa or registering their passport. (NO Passport Registration or Visa are NOT required if you hold a Special/Diplomatic passport.)  Please see the further details from the MOFA Japan page.
 

 

ATTENTION 1!  ALL the documents stipulated in the List of Requirements must be submitted.  We cannot process visa applications with an incomplete set of documents.

ATTENTION 2! 2 Application Forms and 2 Photos are required if you are a national of Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Georgia.

  
Q27) Where can I find forms such as Application Forms?
  ・Forms are available on our website.
  ・All forms can be handwritten or typed except the signature.
  ・A wet signature is required. (A digital signature is not acceptable).
  ・A parent is eligible to sign for minor applicants.
  ・Please sign your forms before the submission of documents.
  ・Please paste your photo with glue before the submission of documents.
  ・Please do not use staples.  All staples must be removed before the submission. 

Q28) How long is the validity of the documents?
(A) Bank Documents
The validity of all the documents related to funds such as Bank Statements and Transaction Records etc. is 1 week.  The documents must be submitted within 1 week once they have been issued.
(B) Letter of Employment
The validity of the Letter of Employment is 1 month. The documents must be submitted within 1 month once they have been issued.
 
Q29) Why was I asked to provide additional documents?
Each applicant has different conditions and circumstances. Therefore, sometimes we become aware that additional information will be required only after your application has been accepted. If you do not submit the additional documents we ask for, the review of documents cannot be processed any further and you will not be able to get the visa.
 

3-1: Letter of Employment

Before visiting us, please check the contents of the letter by using the checklist below.

	Details	✓
1	The letter is ORIGINAL.
2	The letter includes all the required information such as:      □ 1) Name      □ 2) Nationality      □ 3) Passport Number. or QID Number      □ 4) Position      □ 5) Joining Date      □ 6) Monthly Salary      □ 7) Purpose of Visit (Tourism, Business etc.)      □ 8) Duration of Visit (especially for **Business Trip)      □ 9) **Business Trip: Sentence to confirm who bears the expenses
3	Names on the letter are the same as the names shown on the passport.
4	The “Joining Date” includes “DAY/Month/Year”.
5	The letter is authorised by the relevant authoriser listed on the Computer/Establishment Card.
6	Authoriser’s name and his/her job title are printed.   *Please see Q30.
7	The Letter has a wet signature and the wet company seal.   *Digital signature is NOT accepted.   *Only employees of major government institutions may submit digitally issued letters.
8	The photocopy of Computer/Establishment Card is attached if you work for a smaller-sized company.

Q30) Who can sign the Letter of Employment?
Only an authoriser who is listed on the computer/establishment card can sign the letter. Moreover, please ensure that the letter has the following information of the listed authoriser.
  (1) Wet Company Seal
  (2) Wet Signature                  
  (3) Full Name in Print                                         
  (4) Job Title in Print 

Image

Q31) I am the authoriser. Can I issue the Letter of Employment for myself?
No. You cannot issue a letter for yourself. Please ask another authoriser to issue the letter. If there is no other authoriser, a shareholder or a subordinate may be able to sign the letter. In this case, please submit their QID and/or passport copy.
 
Q32) I am a dependant (housewife/student etc.) and travelling without my sponsor.　Should I submit the Letter of Employment of my sponsor (husband/father etc.)?
Yes. Please submit the “Letter of Employment” and “Bank Documents” of your sponsor. You also must submit Family Entry Request Form 2 (Travelling without Guarantor). Please see Q10 for more details.

Q33) I am a domestic worker (e.g. maid, driver etc.) and I will be travelling with the family to Japan.  What type of letter should I prepare?
The sponsor must issue a letter of employment for the domestic worker.
・The letter must include the following information of the applicant.
　(1) Full Name
　(2) Nationality
　(3) Passport No.
　(4) Position
　(5) Joining Date (Day/Month/Year)
　(6) Purpose of Visit
　(7) Duration of Visit
　(8) Monthly Salary
　(9) Following sentences:       
    　  (a) “The applicant will come back to Qatar.”
     　 (b) “The travel expenses will be borne by the sponsor.”                        
・The letter must have a wet signature of the sponsor.  
・Please contact us for the list of requirements. 

 

3-2: Bank Documents

Before visiting us, please check the contents of the letter by using the checklist below.

	(A) SALARY Information	✓
1	The statement is ORIGINAL.
2	The statement is authorised by the bank.  *Digitally authorised documents are also acceptable.
3	The authorised documents cover the period of full 6 months.
4	The authorised documents include 6 times salary payments.
5	The documents have been issued within 1 week.
	(B) SAVINGS Information The documents of account into which you keep savings have been prepared when your savings are not kept in account above.
6	The documents cover the period of full 6 months.
7	The documents have been issued within 1 week.
8	Documents issued by banks in Qatar must be authorised.

Q34) What kind of documents should I submit to show my financial situation?

ATTENTION The Balance Certificate / Salary Certificate / Payslips are not acceptable.

Please submit the following documents. 

(A) SALARY Information
  ・Latest 6 months of Bank Statements of the account into which you receive your salary.
       This must be AUTHORISED and ORIGINAL.
  ・Before bringing the statements (1), please check yourself that the statements include 6 times salary payments.
  ・When the savings are NOT kept in this account, please submit (B) as well as (A). 

(B) SAVINGS Information 
  ・Latest 6 months of Bank Statements or Transaction Records of additional account(s) in Qatar or your home country to show that you have funds for your trip.
  ・Documents issued by banks in Qatar must be authorised.
  ・Documents issued by banks outside of Qatar (home country etc.) do not necessarily need to be authorised. (The copy and printouts of transaction screenshots from a Bank App etc. are also acceptable.) 
 
Q35) Why do I have to submit bank information?
It is to examine your financial situation; to confirm salary payments (6 times at least) and to see how financially stable you have been etc. The validity of bank information is 1 week. 
 
Q36) How much should I have in my account?
We do not set any specific amount as circumstances vary depending on applicants. Many aspects such as salary and how stable the account has been maintained are reviewed and taken into consideration for the decision. 

Q37) Can I submit e-Statements for my main account?
We only acknowledge AUTHORISED e-Statements as valid documents for your main account into which you receive your salary. Even if it’s issued from a Bank App, unauthorised documents cannot be accepted. 

Q38) I have some savings in my home country. Can I submit the documents?
Yes, you can. Please submit the latest 6 months of Bank Statements and/or Transaction Records. Even the printouts of transaction screenshots from a Bank App are acceptable when the official documents are not available. Bank information from your home country does not have to be authorised but 1 week of the validity period remains the same. Please see Q34. 

Q39) The bank in my home country only issues statements to cover the period of 3 months. What should I do?
Screenshots of transaction records from your Bank App are acceptable to fill the missing period. Please submit your bank statements plus screenshots to provide us with a full 6 months of information. Please combine bank statements and screenshots of transaction records to cover the period of 6 months.

Example
From	To	Period	Type of Documents	Total Period
01/01/2025	31/03/2025	3 months	Bank Statements	In total  6 months
01/04/2025	30/06/2025	3 months	Screenshots of Transactions

・1 week of the validity period remains the same.
・Please ensure that screenshots contain the following information:
     (a) Account Holder’s Name
     (b) Account Number
     (c) Transaction Records
     (d) Latest Balance 

 

3-3: Accommodation / Hotel Booking Information

Q40) Do I have to make payments to the hotel?
It is not necessary ot complete the payment for booking. However, please submit the documents which allow us to confirm the following information: 
  (a) Hotel Name
  (b) Check-in / Check-out Dates
  (c) GUEST NAME(s)
  (d) Number of Guest
*Same rule applies for Airbnb. 

Q41) I am staying at my relative’s/friend’s house. What documents should I submit?
You can check the Lists of Requirements from the links below.*The requirements for this application include many documents which must be provided by your inviter in Japan. Please make sure to check the list on our website carefully and prepare all the necessary documents.
  ・1-3) Foreign Residents for Tourism (Staying with Relatives within the Third Degree of Kinship)
  ・1-4) Foreign Residents for Tourism (Staying with Friends)
If you are visiting or seeing relatives/friends but staying in hotels, please prepare the requirements as per 1-2) Foreign Residents for Tourism (Staying in Hotels). 

Q42) What should I do if I want to travel by Night Bus? 
Booking Information of the night bus is required. Please submit documents which include following information.
  (a) Travelling Time and Date,
  (b) Name of Passenger
  (c) Place of Departure
  (d) Place of Arrival 

Q43) I am staying at Airbnb, what documents should I submit?
Booking Information issued by airbnb with an accommodation name, guest name(s), number of guests and check-in/out dates are required. Please see Q40. 

 

3-4: Flight Booking Information

Q44) Do I have to purchase and submit the flight ticket?
It is not necessary to complete the payment for booking. However, you need to provide us documents with your Flight Booking Information which allows us to confirm:
  (a) Passenger Name(s)
  (b) Flight Booking Number(s)
  (c) Flight Number
  (d) Dates and Times of Departure/Arrival 
 
Q45) I’m flying to Japan via another country/other countries. What information should I submit?
Please submit all the information for your whole trip between Qatar and Japan regardless of how many stops you make between Qatar and Japan. 

Example

If you are travelling between Qatar and Japan via Dubai and Manila,                                 you must provide booking information of ALL 6 FLIGHTS below. Qatar to Japan:  (1) Doha to Dubai  (2) Dubai to Manila   (3) Manila to Tokyo Japan to Qatar:  (4) Tokyo to Manila   (5) Manila to Dubai   (6) Dubai to Doha

 

3-5: Travel Itinerary

Q46) I haven’t decided my schedule yet. Do I have to submit the document?
Yes. Travel Itinerary/Schedule of Stay is a mandatory document for the application. 

Q47) How can I fill out the Travel Itinerary form?
Details for each day from the arrival date to departure date including names of specific places you are planning to visit and/or activities must be provided. Plans with no details such as “Sightseeing in Kyoto”, “Tour in Osaka”, “Shopping in Tokyo” are not accepted. Please check the sample below for your reference. You don’t have to use our format if you have your own.

No. ✔ / ✕	Date	Activity Plan	Contact	Accommodation
1. ✔	2 Aug 26	Exploring Asakusa, visiting Senso-ji   Shopping in Ginza and Harajuku	+81-xxx-xxxx	ABC Hotel Tokyo  1-2 xxx, xxx…
2. ✔	3 Aug 26	Travel to Kyoto by Shinkansen, visit   Kinkaku-ji and Ryuan-ji temples	+81-xxx-xxxx	EFG Hotel Kyoto  3-4 xxx, xxx…
3. ✕	4-8 Aug 26	Sightseeing in Osaka	+81-xxx-xxxx	XYZ Hotel Osaka  5-6 xxx, xxx…

*No. 3 is not acceptable due to the following reasons.
     Date: Each day must be listed separately.
     Activity Plan:  Specific names of places and activities must be provided.

　　　　　　　
 

Q48) I cannot come to the embassy on the collection date written on my Collection Receipt.
You don’t have to come on the exact date written on your Passport Collection Receipt. You or your proxy can come for passport collection anytime after the collection date. When your passport is collected by a non-family member, your proxy must bring an authorisation letter. Collection Hours: 10:00 – 15:00 (Ramadan 10:00 – 13:30)
・Please bring the Passport Collection Receipt.
・No appointment is required for Passport Collection.

Q49) My application was accepted at the visa counter. Does this mean I can get a visa?
No. Please be aware that the acceptance of application at the visa counter does NOT guarantee that your visa will be granted. Once your application is accepted at the visa counter, then your documents will be reviewed by a relevant authority who makes the final decision. 

Q50) When and how do I know my result?
You will only come to know the result at the time of passport collection at the visa counter. We will not inform you the result by phone or e-mail or disclose the result during the process. 

Q51) Why was my visa application rejected?
Your application will be rejected if your application did not meet the criteria of visa issuance. We do not disclose the reasons for the rejection nor can we communicate on this matter. 

Q52) What happens if my application is rejected?
You will not be able to apply for a visa to Japan for the next 6 months. 

Q53) Does my visa guarantee my entry to Japan?
No.  A visa is only one of the requirements for the applicant to land in Japan and it does not guarantee entry into Japan. (There is a warning on the visa application form and your signature on the application form means you have accepted this fact.) Even if you have a valid visa, sometimes you will not be given permission to enter Japan.