General Information to Apply for a Visa

2023/9/28

 
【IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT ENTERING JAPAN 】
  • NEW! Brazilian passport holder (ICAO compliant IC passport only) who is entering Japan as a short-term visitor (less than 90 consecutive days) can enter Japan without obtaining a visa from 30th September 2023. This visa waiver will not apply to those who wish to enter Japan with an intention of seeking employment or working there.
  • Travelers are no longer required to present a valid vaccination certificate nor pre-departure PCR-test to enter Japan


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Who needs a Visa?

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.  
    

Visa Application Procedure

  • 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
Tel: +41-31-300 22 22
It is no longer possible to send applications by post.

Visa Application Deadline

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.