[Bringing Your Family in Your Home Country to Japan] Application Procedure, Required Documents, Processing Time, and Country-by-Country Differences for the Short-Term Stay Visa (Visiting Relatives)

Hello! This is Legal Gate Immigration Lawyer Office (VISA SUPPORT JAPAN) in Oita Prefecture.

We often receive inquiries from foreign nationals and Japanese nationals living in Japan such as, “I want to invite my parents from my home country to Japan for sightseeing,” or “I want to invite my sibling to help with childbirth or to attend a wedding.”

When you want to bring family members living abroad to Japan temporarily for sightseeing or to visit relatives, procedures for a “Temporary Visitor visa (sashō)” may be required.

This time, we will explain in detail the differences in the length of stay for the Temporary Visitor visa, the required documents, differences in the application process by country, and points to note when applying!

1. Differences in the “Length of Stay” for the Temporary Visitor Visa (15 days, 30 days, 90 days)

There are mainly three types of periods of stay permitted under the Temporary Visitor visa: “15 days,” “30 days,” and “90 days.”

• 15 days: This period is granted for short trips or for attending specific ceremonial occasions such as weddings or funerals.

• 30 days: A period suitable for a planned stay of about one month.

• 90 days: This is the longest period permitted for visiting relatives. It is used for support before and after childbirth, or for long-term sightseeing or medical recuperation.

Points to note when applying: Is it fine to apply for “90 days” from the start?

If you apply for “90 days” without a clear reason or financial backing, simply thinking, “Since we are inviting them to Japan, we want them to stay a long time,” the Immigration Bureau or the embassy may have doubts such as, “Is such a long stay really necessary?” or “Are there sufficient funds for living expenses?” and the examination may become stricter.

It is important to apply for a reasonable number of days that matches the “schedule of stay (day-by-day itinerary)” and the “income and bank balance of the guarantor.”

2. Documents Required for the Temporary Visitor Visa (Visiting Relatives)

Generally, the procedure flows as follows: the person in Japan (the inviter / guarantor) prepares the documents and sends them to the family member overseas, and the family member overseas submits them to the Japanese embassy or consulate (or an authorized proxy application agency) in their country.

[Japan side] Documents prepared by the inviter / guarantor

1. Letter of Reason for Invitation (stating why you wish to invite them to Japan, the relationship, and the purpose)

2. Letter of Guarantee (a document guaranteeing travel expenses, living expenses during the stay, and return travel expenses)

3. Schedule of Stay (a day-by-day plan of activities and accommodations from entry to departure)

4. Identification documents of the inviter / guarantor (certificate of residence, copy of residence card, etc.)

5. Documents proving income and assets (tax certificate, tax payment certificate, certificate of bank balance, etc.)

6. Copies of documents proving the family relationship (family register, birth certificate, family photos, etc.)

[Overseas side] Documents prepared by the applicant (family member)

1. Passport

2. Visa application form (with photograph attached)

3. Documents proving the family relationship (birth certificate, marriage certificate, etc. issued by a public authority in the applicant’s country)

3. Differences in Procedures by Country

The application method for the Temporary Visitor visa differs greatly depending on the country or region where the visiting family member resides.

① Visa-exempt countries and regions (South Korea, Taiwan, the United States, European countries, etc.)

If your family member holds the nationality of a country or region that has a visa exemption arrangement with Japan, there is no need to obtain a Temporary Visitor visa in advance. They can enter Japan with their passport alone.

② Countries requiring a visa (China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Nepal, etc.)

When inviting family members from these countries, a visa must be obtained in advance at a Japanese embassy or consulate. In addition, the rules for the application counter differ depending on the country.

• For China: Applications cannot be made directly at the Japanese embassy counter; they must be made through a designated “proxy application agency (such as a travel agency).”

• For the Philippines: In principle, applications are made through an embassy-designated “proxy application agency.” In addition, submission of documents such as a birth certificate issued by the PSA (Philippine Statistics Authority) is strictly required as proof of identity.

• For Vietnam, Nepal, etc.: Applications are made through a designated proxy agency, or at the embassy counter by advance appointment.

* Since the documents required for additional submission and operational practices may change without notice depending on the local embassy, it is essential to check the latest local information.

4. “Points You Absolutely Must Know” When Applying for a Temporary Visitor Visa

Point ①: In principle, “extension” or “change to another visa” is not possible within Japan

If you enter Japan on a Temporary Visitor visa, in principle it is not legally permitted to extend (renew) the visa during your stay in Japan, or to change it to a work visa, Dependent visa, or the like (* except in unavoidable special circumstances such as medical treatment for illness or a disaster). When the period expires, the person must return to their home country once.

Point ②: If denied, you cannot reapply for “6 months”

Once an application for a Temporary Visitor visa is denied (refused), reapplication for the same purpose will not be accepted for 6 months thereafter. Since the embassy does not clearly disclose the reason for the denial, it is extremely important not to make mistakes on the very first application.

Leave the document preparation and invitation procedures for the Temporary Visitor visa to our office!

In the examination of a Temporary Visitor visa, the “persuasiveness of the reason for invitation” and the “consistency of the schedule of stay and proof of funds” are valued above all else.

“I don’t know what to write to make approval more likely.” “I applied on my own once and was denied, and now I’m in trouble.” “I’m too busy with work to find time to prepare the documents.”

If you have concerns like these, please feel free to contact Legal Gate Immigration Lawyer Office (VISA SUPPORT JAPAN) in Oita Prefecture. We will prepare the optimal submission documents tailored to your family’s circumstances and provide full support!