General Information to Apply for a Visa

【IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT ENTERING JAPAN 】 Currently, we are experiencing a high volume of requests for a visa. Please make a reservation at least one month in advance to apply for a visa. All the visits are by appointment only. Please make an appointment before visiting the Consular Section.

 

If you are…

• from a country or region NOT listed on the Visa Exemption List below
• Your stay is long term
• your stay is profit-making operations and paid activities

please apply for a visa to enter Japan.  
    

• Every visa applicant has to bring the required visa application documents to consular section. After the visa is issued, passports have to be collected at consular section.
• Please note that we don’t accept visa application documents by post and we don’t send passports by post.
• It takes 7 working days for visa applications to be processed.

Visits to Consular Section by Appointment Only.
Please make an appointment before visiting the Consular Section.
Click here to visit the consular office reservation site.
 

Visa applications may not be submitted earlier than 3 months prior to arrival in Japan and later than 1 week before departure. (Exceptions are possible for "certificate of eligibility" holders.)  
 

Visa Fee

The fee for a visa is according to nationality. Please contact consular section.
 

Visa categories

　　　　  
 

Consular Section

Address:	Engestrasse 53, 3012 Bern Switzerland
Tel:	+41-(0)31-300-2222
Email:	consularsection@br.mofa.go.jp
Opening Hours:	Monday to Friday, 9:00–11:30 and 14:00–16:30 (except our holidays)

 

Japan Visa Hotline

If you have a question regarding a Japanese visa, you can also contact a Japan Visa Hotline which is available 24 hours. Tel:　+41-43-550-4460  
 

Attention

• If your residence is in one of the following cantons, Geneva, Vaud, Valais, Ticino, please contact the Consulat du Japon à Genève (022 716 99 00)
• Visa applications cannot be accepted by the Honorary Consul General of Japan in Zurich. For visa and other consular matters, please contact the Embassy of Japan in Bern directly.