Temporary Visitor Visas

If your home country has a reciprocal visa exemption arrangement with Japan, then it is possible to enter Japan without first obtaining a visa for the following purposes:

sightseeing, recreation, amateur sports, visiting relatives, short-term study, inspection tour, participation in unpaid lectures or meetings, attending a conference, business contact or other similar activities.

Countries which have reciprocal visa exemption arrangements with Japan can be found on the Exemption of Visa (Short-Term Stay) page at the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, where Period of Stay is also explained.

Please note that the length of one Period of Stay depends on the visitor's nationality. However, a Temporary Visitor is only allowed to stay in Japan for a total of 180 days during a 12-month period.

Temporary Visitor Visa Application Requirements

For non-Swedish citizens: Confirm that you need a visa by visiting the Exemption of Visa (Short-Term Stay) page.

If your home country does not have a reciprocal visa exemption arrangement with Japan, please read the application requirements:

  1. Tourism or visiting friends or relatives
  2. Conference
  3. Business trip

If your application does not belong to one of the standard categories above, please contact the Visa and Consular Section directly to find out how to apply for a visa.

When calling on someone's behalf, please prepare the following details: the applicant's nationality, their purpose of visiting and their planned length of stay in Japan.

Please note:

1. Tourism or visiting friends or relatives

REQUIREMENTS

  1. Valid passport (with a minimum of 2 open pages).
  2. Copy of valid Swedish Residence Permit.
  3. Visa Application Form PDF, filled in digitally but signed by hand. (Russian nationals and nationals of NIS (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan) should submit 2 Visa Application Forms with photo.)
  4. Photo specifications:
    • Taken less than 6 months before the date of application.
    • Both color and black and white photos are accepted.
    • Approximately 35×45 mm.
    • Facing straight to the camera and with white background.
    • Well centered with room above and below the head.
    • Photo quality, without smears or markings and with no shadow over the face.

  5. A. For employed persons or students, recently signed letter from employer or academic institution in Sweden (issued within the last 3 months). Signature must be hand-written and in original, not copy.

    For employed persons (including PhD students), the letter should specify the following:

    • When you started working at the company.
    • Your position and salary.
    • Name and contact information to the person signing it.

    For students the letter should specify the following:

    • What program you are attending and for how long it will continue.
    • Name and contact information to the person signing it.

    B. For self-employed persons, please provide the following:

    • Company Registration for your company in Sweden.
    • Letter specifying the purpose of the trip to Japan.
    • An itinerary for the proposed trip (with flight and hotel information).

    C. For unemployed persons (for example young children), please submit a letter from the one paying the expenses (a parent, guardian, etc.) along with proof of relationship, their bank statement and letter of employment.

  6. Bank statement for the last 3 months, showing that you can cover all expenses for the visit to Japan. Please check that the following is showing: all transactions, balance and name of the owner of the account.
  7. Letter of Reason for Invitation PDF from Japan (this is needed in the case of you staying with friends or family).
  8. Letter of Guarantee PDF. (The Embassy will contact you if the document is needed.)
  9. Copy of either Residence Card or Japanese Passport of the person inviting you to Japan (in case of personal invitation).
  10. Schedule of stay for the proposed trip PDF.
  11. Flight information (preliminary itinerary with flight dates and flight numbers).
  12. Hotel information (preliminary information).

2. Conference

REQUIREMENTS

  1. Valid passport (with a minimum of 2 open pages).
  2. Copy of valid Swedish Residence Permit.
  3. Visa Application Form PDF, filled in digitally but signed by hand. (Russian nationals and nationals of NIS (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan) should submit 2 Visa Application Forms with photo.)
  4. Photo specifications:
    • Taken less than 6 months before the date of application.
    • Both color and black and white photos are accepted.
    • Approximately 35×45 mm.
    • Facing straight to the camera and with white background.
    • Well centered with room above and below the head.
    • Photo quality, without smears or markings and with no shadow over the face.

  5. A. For employed persons or students, recently signed letter from employer or academic institution in Sweden (issued within the last 3 months). Signature must be hand-written and in original, not copy.

    For employed persons (including PhD students), the letter should specify the following:

    • When you started working at the company / university.
    • Your position and salary.
    • If the company is paying for the costs of the conference.
    • Name and contact information to the person signing it.

    For students the letter should specify the following:

    • What program you are attending and how long it will continue.
    • If the university is paying for the costs of the conference.
    • If the conference is a part of your education.
    • Name and contact information to the person signing it.

    B. For self-employed persons, please provide the following:

    • Company Registration for your company in Sweden.
    • Letter specifying the purpose of the trip to Japan.
    • An itinerary for the proposed trip (with flight and hotel information).
    • Documents showing that you can cover all expenses for the visit to Japan.

  6. Letter of Reason for Invitation PDF from the conference organizers in Japan (in English or Japanese).
  7. Evidence of funding for the trip (Bank statement showing fund for the last 3 months).
  8. Schedule of Stay PDF for the proposed trip with flight and hotel information.
  9. Information about the conference and the conference organizers in Japan.
  10. Flight information (preliminary itinerary with flight dates and flight numbers).
  11. Hotel information (preliminary information).

3. Business trip

REQUIREMENTS

  1. Valid passport (with a minimum of 2 open pages).
  2. Copy of valid Swedish Residence Permit.
  3. Visa Application Form PDF, filled in digitally but signed by hand. (Russian nationals and nationals of NIS (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan) should submit 2 Visa Application Forms with photo.)
  4. Photo specifications:
    • Taken less than 6 months before the date of application.
    • Both color and black and white photos are accepted.
    • Approximately 35×45 mm.
    • Facing straight to the camera and with white background.
    • Well centered with room above and below the head.
    • Photo quality, without smears or markings and with no shadow over the face.

  5. A. If you are employed by a company: recently signed letter (note: Signature must be hand-written and in original, not copy.) from employer or academic institution in Sweden (issued within the last 3 months) stating the following:

    • The nature and purpose of visiting Japan.
    • The name and address of the business contact in Japan.
    • An itinerary for the proposed trip PDF (with flight and hotel information).
    • That your company will guarantee all expenses for the trip, including travel to and from Japan.
    • Company guarantee that the applicant will abide by Japanese law and Japanese immigration regulations.
    • The position, salary and period of employment of the applicant.

    B. If you are self-employed please provide the following:

    • Company Registration for your company in Sweden.
    • Letter specifying the purpose of the trip to Japan.
    • An itinerary for the proposed trip PDF (with flight and hotel information).
    • Documents showing that you can cover all expenses for the visit to Japan.
    • The name and address of the business contact in Japan.

  6. Letter of Reason for Invitation PDF from the company/organization to be visited in Japan.
  7. Letter of Guarantee PDF from the inviter in Japan.
  8. Flight information (preliminary itinerary with flight dates and flight numbers).
  9. Hotel information (preliminary information).