Visa

2023/11/13

BOOKING ONLY policy
Visa applicants without an appointment are NOT allowed to enter our office.

Bookings can be made ONLY via the online booking site:   https://www.sydney.au.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_ja/online_appointment_booking.html
Please note that there could be long waiting times even if you have made a booking.

Visa application by agent
Alternatively, you may apply for a visa through agents regardless of the location where you reside as long as you live in our jurisdiction areas NSW and NT.

For more information regarding the agents, please see the link below.
https://www.sydney.au.emb-japan.go.jp/document/english/visa_info/visa-agent.pdf

* If you hold a "Certificate of Eligibility" and need a visa to travel to Japan soon but cannot make an online appointment, please contact us for further assistance.



* Christmas & New Year Holiday in 2023

* Foreign national coexistence policies



   NOTICE   
 

Visa exemption(Short-term stay) measures for 70 countries/ regions (incl. Australia)

Suspension of visa validity under the border measures were lifted from 0:00 am 11th October 2022.
(e.g. If you have a valid multiple entry visa, you can use that to enter Japan.)
For further details, please see the MOFA website

From 29th April 2023, valid vaccination certificate or pre-departure test is not required to enter Japan.
Current Japanese Border Measures
Visit Japan Web
(Online service for Immigration , Customs and Tax-free shopping service)

 
 

Contents

  1. Jurisdiction
  2. Opening Hours
  3. General Rules for Visas
  4. Visa Validity
  5. Processing Time
  6. Who can apply for a visa?
  7. How to apply for a visa? - In person, By post or Through agent
  8. Types of Visas & Application Documents
  9. Submitting More Information
  10. Visa Fee
  11. Enquiries
  12. FAQ
  13. Current procedure of entry into Japan
  14. Information on Border Measure
  15. Visiting Japan

Jurisdiction

Our jurisdiction areas: New South Wales, Northern Territory
Visa applications ONLY from the residents in NSW and NT can be accepted.


Opening Hours

Visa application hours
  9:30 - 12:30, 14:00 - 16:30  Online Booking Required
*☝*Please note that there could be long waiting times even if you have made a booking.


Visa collection hours
  14:00 - 16:30 (NO Booking required) *Afternoon ONLY


General Rules for Visas

  • The Consulate General of Japan in Sydney only accepts visa applications and visa inquiries from the residents in NSW and NT. For residents of other states, please refer to the List of Embassy/Consulates in Australia.
  • We do not accept any applications from Australian visitor (tourist) visa holders.
  • Applicants may authorise a proxy. To authorise a proxy for application drop off/pickup, the applicant MUST fill out an authorisation letter and have the proxy submit the original letter to the Consulate along with his/her ID card.
  • Please note that we will keep passports while processing visa applications.

Visa Validity

Temporary visitor visa
Visas are valid for 3 months (single entry).
We will not accept any visa applications more than 3 months before your departure date.
*Working holiday visas are valid for one year from the visa issue date.

 

Multiple entry visa
Multiple entry visa valid for 1-5 years.


Processing Time

The minimum assessment time is 5 business days for all visas. It generally takes longer if additional documents are required for further assessment.
We will call you if we need more information for further assessment.
In some cases, applications need to be referred to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, and it can take between 2 weeks and 2 months or more to complete the process.
There is NO priority and urgent processing service.



Who can apply for a visa?

CAN - Acceptable

Long-Term Residents in NSW and NT
* Permanent resident visa holders
* Student visa holders
* Business visa holders
* Graduate visa holders

CANNOT - UNacceptable

Visitors and Residents in other states (QLD, VIC, TAS, SA & WA) in Australia
* Australian temporary visitor (toursist) visa holders
* Residents in other states in Australia except the Northern Territory


1) The visa applicant may apply in person.
2) A proxy may apply on the applicant's behalf with an original authorisation Letter along with his/her ID card.


How to apply for a visa?

👤 In person

If you are ready to apply for a visa, please make an appointment online to schedule a visit to our office through our website below.
Book online:https://www.sydney.au.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_ja/online_appointment_booking.html

*We are implementing a BOOKING ONLY policy and we have completely stopped accepting walk-in applicants due to the high volume of applicants. Visa applicants without the online appointment are NOT allowed to enter our office.
Please note that there could be long waiting times even if you have an appointment.

 

For more detail about online booking, please see:
https://www.sydney.au.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_ja/online_appointment_booking.html

 

📪 By post

Applicants who live in distant locations (Newcastle and northward,Lithgow and westward, Nowra and southward in NSW, anywhere in NT) may apply for visas by post.
For more information please see:  Visa application by post.

 

👥 Through agent

You may apply for a visa through agents regardless of the location where you reside (even if you live in Sydney CBD) as long as you live in our jurisdiction areas NSW and NT.
For more information please see: Visa application by agent.


Types of Visas & Application Documents

Short-term visa (up to 90days)

- Holiday/Sightseeing/Transit in Japan

- Visiting Relatives/Acquaintances in Japan

- Business Meeting/Conference

For more information about required documents, please see Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan website.
https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/index.html


Multiple entry visa for short-term Stay
For those who want to apply for a Multiple-entry visa in the following nationalities, please check the link and prepare the necessary documents on top of the single entry visa requirements.

- Nationals of India

- Nationals of Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam

- Nationals of China

*In addition to the documents listed, you will also need to provide your visa information in Australia(VEVO).


Long-term visa

- COE Holders

- Spouse of Japanese national

- Child of Japanese national (Former Japanese national)

- Working Holiday

- Special Highly skilled professional (J-Skip) 

- Designated activities (J-Find) 

See also: About J-Skip and J-Find (Immigration Services Agency, link in Japanese)


Submitting More Information

We may request more documents when you lodge the application or when we review your application.
In that case, please send the document/s to us by email. Or alternatively you may send them by FAX or post as well.
- Email: visaextradoc@sy.mofa.go.jp
- Fax: 02-9252-6555
- Post: Consulate-General of Japan in Sydney, GPO Box 4125, Sydney NSW 2001
* Your application number and name have to be written in the email subject field.


Visa fee

Visa fees will be revised on 1st April 2023. The new fees will be applied to the applicants who lodge the visa applications and are accepted after 1st of April 2023.

new visa fees

*Australian citizens are exempt from visa fees.
(Some other countries are also exempted from visa fees. Please check the visa exempt countries list to find out if your visa fee is waived.)
* Payment is due at the time of PICKUP.
* We accept CASH only (Please prepare cash in the exact amount). We DO NOT accept personal cheques and credit cards.
* Visa fees are revised on 1st April each year.


Enquiries

Japan Visa Information Hotline (Visa telephone assistance 24/7)
0871-303-370 (English only)


We can only respond to questions regarding visas at the following address.
Please check FAQ before contacting us.

E-mail: cgryoji@sy.mofa.go.jp
The information that will be needed from you is:
Full name
Nationality / Citizenship
Visa status in Australia
Detailed purpose of your trip to Japan
Scheduled departure date
Intended length of stay in Japan
Your residence suburb and postcode
Telephone number
 
ATTENTION
Phone enquiries
We’re answering phone enquiries as quickly as we can, but we’re currently receiving very high call volumes.
Thank you for your patience, we apologise for the inconvenience.


Current procedure of entry into Japan

Anyone entering Japan on or after April 29, 2023 is no longer required to show a valid vaccination certificate or a test certificate obtained before departure.


For permanent residents who have difficulty re-entering Japan within the valid period of their re-entry permission due to the impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19)