Japan Embassy Vows to Speed Up Visa Processing to 5 Days

Good news for Filipino tourists planning to visit Japan: the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines has announced that it is working to shorten visa processing to just five days.

Photo: Freepik

In a social media post, the embassy noted that it is currently transitioning its screening system to streamline visa processing in response to the unprecedented surge in applications.

“This is to further streamline the visa process, as well as to continue strengthening our robust people-to-people exchanges as a vital part of Japan and the Philippines’ bilateral relations,” it said in the announcement.

Despite its efforts to expedite visa processing, the embassy still urges Filipino tourists to submit their applications at least two months before their intended travel date for both single-entry and multiple-entry temporary visas.

“Please be informed that the Embassy will continue to make efforts to complete the procedures and return the visa within five (5) working days, after it is submitted to the Embassy by the travel agencies,” it emphasized.

However, it didn’t specify when this would be implemented.

The processing of a Japan visa initially takes seven to 10 business days. In January, the embassy announced that single-entry and multiple-entry temporary visa applications may take several weeks as the number of Filipino visitors continues to increase.

According to the Japan National Tourism Organization, approximately 818,700 Filipino tourists visited Japan in 2024, marking a 31.6% increase from the previous year.

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