Visa
Coronavirus (COVID-19) related Notice
Consular COUNTER SERVICE hours - 9:30 -12:00 (morning ONLY)
TELEPHONE ASSISTANCE hours - 9:30-12:30, 13:30-17:30 (02-9250-1000 press 2)(Afternoon Recommended)
*Our telephone assistance line could be very busy in the morning but you could get through to us relatively easily in the afternoon.
We recommend calling us in the afternoon.
“JAPAN VISA INFORMATION HOTLINE”- A New Visa Telephone Assistance 24/7
Phone: 1800 171 443 (24 hours & 7days a week)
Available language: English only
IMPORTANT NOTICE
Due to the recent increase in the number of visa applications and the Consular affair procedures, our waiting room is crowded and the waiting time could be longer.
We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
Furthermore, it might be difficult to make an appointment to schedule a visit to apply for a visa at the moment.
If it is urgent or your departure day from Sydney is coming up soon but you cannot make an appointment, please call us for further assistance.
1. Check if you need a visa
Exemption of Visa (Short-Term Stay)
Nationals of some countries and regions are not required to obtain visas to enter Japan for short term stay for tourism, commerce, conferences, visiting relatives/ acquaintances, etc up to 90 days.
The list below is just some examples of visa exempted countries/regions (as of December 2019, 68 countries and regions in total).
Table - Some examples of visa exempted countiers & regions
Please ensure to check the details of the visa exemptions in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan website below.
2. Check if you can apply in Sydney
Only Applications from the residents in NSW, NT and New Caledonia are accepted.
Who Can Apply? Who CANNOT?
Long Term Residents in NSW, NT, and New Caledonia
* Permanent resident visa holders
* Student visa holders
* Business visa holders
* Graduate visa holders
Visitors and Residents in other states (QLD, VIC, TAS, SA & WA) in Australia
* Australian temporary visitor visa holders
* Holders of an Australian visitor visa who changed their visa from a student Visa
* Residents in the other states in Australia except Northern Territory
3. Visa application period
You may apply for a visa 3months prior to entering Japan.
Depending on your travel plan, please apply for a visa accordingly.
4. Visa processing time
Visa application hours 9:30 - 12:00 (Online booking required)
Visa collection hours 9:30 - 12:00 (Booking NOT required) *Afternoon ONLY
Phone inquiry hours 10:00 - 12:00, 15:00 - 17:00 Phone : 02-9250-1000 (press 2)
"Japan Visa Information Hotline" (A new visa telephone assistance 24/7) 1800-171-443 (English only)
5. Opening hours
* Please click the questions and you will get the answers.
1. Do I need a visa to enter Japan?
Some nationals are not required to obtain visas to enter Japan depending on the purposes. Please visit Exemption of Visa (Short-Term Stay) for more information.
2. How long does it take to process a visa?
It takes at least 5 working days. When the assessment of your application has been completed, we will upload your visa application number on our website. You can check if your passport is ready for collection by checking our website. There is NO priority processing service.
3. Do I need 3 or 6 month validity left of my passport to enter Japan?
It is NOT required to have 3 months or 6 months passport validity in order to enter Japan, as long as your passport is valid until the end of your trip to Japan and return to Australia.
4. Can I apply for a visa online or by post?
If you live in a distant location from Sydney (Newcastle and northward in NSW, Lithgow and westward in NSW, Nowra and southward in NSW, and anywhere in NT), you may apply for a visa by post. We do not accept online applications.But when the assessment is completed, either the applicant or his/her representative with the power of attorney/authorisation letter must come in person to collect his/her passport at our Consulate office in Sydney.
5. Do all my family members have to come in person to apply for visas?
All visa applicants must come in person to apply for visas. As an exception, the family member (NOT friends or agents) can apply for a visa on behalf of the applicant. In that case the applicant who has NOT appeared yet including a baby has to come to collect his/her passport when the assessment is completed.
6. My husband is too busy to apply for a visa in person. Can I submit all the documents for him?
Yes, but he must come in person to collect his passport once the assessment has been completed. Family members may apply on behalf of applicants.
7. My mother will temporarily stay in Sydney for 3 months on a visitor visa. Can she apply for a visa?
We do NOT take applications from applicants holding an Australian visitor visa. They must apply for the visa in their home countries.
8. I live on the Central Coast NSW, and I am too busy to visit and apply for a visa. Can I send all the documents by post?
No, you must come in person. Only those who reside in distant locations may apply for visas by post - Newcastle and northward in NSW, Lithgow and westward in NSW, Nowra and southward in NSW, and anywhere in NT.But when the assessment is completed, either the applicant or his/her representative with the power of attorney/authorisation letter must come in person to collect his/her passport at our Consulate office in Sydney.
9. I am going back to my home country first and then I will depart for Japan from there. Can I apply for a visa in Sydney or should I do it in my home country?
You may apply for a visa in Sydney, however, please show us your booking confirmations for all of your flights. Please note, if you will stay in your home country for a long enough period to apply for a visa to Japan (longer than 1 month), please apply for the visa in your country.
10. My friend who lives in Adelaide SA is coming to visit me in Sydney and will stay for 3 weeks. Can he apply for a visa in Sydney?
No, he must apply for a visa at the Consulate-General of Japan in Melbourne. We can only accept visa applications from the residents of NSW, NT and New Caledonia.
8. Cancellation / Withdrawing your application
To cancel/withdraw the visa application, the applicant must come in person and submit a letter of the reason and the green receipt which is given when you lodge the application.
* All the submitted documents will NOT be returned except the passport.
Contact
Consulate-General of Japan in Sydney - Visa Section (Phone Inquiry Hours 10:00-12:00, 15:00-17:00)
Phone: 02-9250-1000 (press 2)
Postal address: G.P.O Box 4125, Sydney NSW 2001 Australia
Location address: Level 12, 1 O'Connell Street, Sydney NSW 2000 Australia
"Japan Visa Information Hotline" (A New Visa Telephone Assistance 24/7): 1800-171-443 (English only)
Please click the icon below for further information about
Visa Application (in person or by post) or Visa Collection (after assessment).
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except those who live in the distant locations from Sydney. |
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your application. |
