The Japanese visa is obtained to allow foreigners entry into Japan. Without the Japanese Visa, entry into the country is not possible.

Visas are issued by embassies or consulates under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Visas are acquired before departing for Japan and not after arrival in Japan. A visa signifies that a foreigner wishing to enter Japan is indeed allowed to enter and stay in the country.

The Japanese visa, though, is just a pre-requisite for the application for a landing permission. The visa, in itself, does not guarantee landing permission.

The Landing permission serves as the legal basis for the foreigner’s stay in Japan. It is stamped in the passport at the airport or seaport where immigration procedures are being done.

Upon arrival at the airport or seaport in Japan, foreigners should first apply for a landing permission to an immigration officer, who will in turn validate the foreigner’s passport, the visa and the purpose of entering Japan. Landing permission will only be granted when all of the conditions mentioned are met. The visa becomes invalid immediately after the immigration officer completes the examination of landing and grants landing permission.

For any foreigner traveling to Japan, a valid visa is required to be stamped and attached to their passports in order to enter as “temporary visitor” The visa may be acquired from the Japanese embassy in their country.

Japan’s Immigration Control Act stipulates that “anyforeigner wishing to enter or land in Japan must possess a valid passport and a visa obtained from an embassy or consulate” it further follows that without the valid visa; a foreigner is not granted the right to enter Japan. A temporary visa expires in 90 days from it was stamped.

However, foreigners coming from Austria, Germany, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Mexico, Switzerland or the United Kingdom may request for an extension of their temporary visas to up to six months.

A visa however, does not automatically warrant a landing permission. This landing permission is determined by the immigration, upon the foreigner’s arrival at the airport or seaport. The immigration officer must stamp not only the arrival date and port of entry, but also the status of residency of the foreigner. This further determines whether or not a foreigner is allowed to engage in any activity inside Japan.

The validity of the landing permission will determine whether future immigration applications, such as extension of term or a change in residency, is granted.

A Japanese Visa is not required from any of these scenarios:

* Nations with Reciprocal Visa Exemption Agreement with Japan – The nationals of these countries need only to acquire landing permissions if their stay is for vacation and business trips. There is, however some additional requirements in case the visit should extend the period stipulated between the agreements of the two countries.

* Re-entry Permission – This is when a foreigner wishes to temporarily leave the country even while he has acquired residency status in Japan. The foreigner must obtain re-entry permission before departing to another country.

* Special Landing Permission cases - This is with cases that require foreigners a quick stop over in Japan, before departing to another destination. This allows foreigners to shop or go sightseeing, for a very short and restricted period or stay.

Visa or entry is denied to a foreigner if he/she is suspected of the following:

* Fake/tampering of passport
* False identity
* Criminal record with more than a year of imprisonment
* Criminal record involving narcotics
* Deported for illegal residency

Depending on the case, a Japanese visa may be availed of again in the future.