Please take note that there are two (2) types of Japanese Tourist Visa – the one with guarantor/sponsor and the other one without guarantor/sponsor. During my application, what I applied for is ‘without guarantor’ because I’ll be funding the trip by myself. Yes, I was doing solo backpacking!

A. Requirements for Tourist Visa without Guarantor:

(1) Passport – Make sure that your passport is valid for 6 months prior to your intended travel date.

(2) A duly accomplished Japanese Application form – Please print it in A4 size. You can download this form here. You can also download the sample filled-out form here with the guide on how it should be filled out. Ensure that you have completely filled it out, put N/A if the information is not applicable to you.

(3) Recent 2″ x 2″ photo – The photo should have a white background. You’ll need this photo pasted on the application form.

(4) Original NSO Birth Certificate – You can request an original copy of this through online via PSA website. I got my mine which was home-delivered after three (3) working days. Click here for the link

(5) NSO Marriage Certificate – This only applies if you’re married. In my case, this is not applicable. But you can request this also via online here, e-services are just hassle-free I think.

(6) Day-to-day Itinerary in Japan – You can download this form by going to this link. Just fill it out as completely as you can. This doesn’t need to be detailed, the embassy just needs to see this to have an idea of your tourism activities while you’re in Japan.

I can provide you a copy of this that I used when I applied, just leave a reply in the comment section so I can forward it to you. =)

You will be asked here to provide your day-to-day activity as well as your hotel or hostel accommodation. By the way, I booked all my hostel accommodation at booking.com.

Book hostels through booking.com as they have free cancellation or pay-at-the-hotel option. 

Use my link to book your hostel and you’ll get 10% of your booking back after your stay. Click this link to get that discount.

Or try Airbnb in finding comfy and cozy rooms! I have used Airbnb on some of my other trips and I love it!

Have you tried Airbnb? Sign up with my link and you will get up to 42 USD (2,200 Php) off your first stay. Click this link to get that discount.

(7) Bank Certificate – This should be an original copy issued by the bank. I got my bank certificate from PSBank for Php100. Note that the Japanese embassy did not mention the minimum balance in an applicant’s bank account. A lot of people are asking me about this. Well, when I applied, I have Php100,000+ in my bank account for a 9-day trip in Japan which I am confident would suffice the requirement. But I have read in some other blogs that others are granted with only Php50,000 balance for a 5-day trip. Also, just make sure you don’t deposit a sudden amount of money in order to assist your application, it would smell fishy!

(8) Proof of Income – If you’re employed, just submit your Income Tax Return (ITR) and Certificate of Employment (COE) from your employer. I actually did not submit my COE because this was not required by Reli Tours which was my chosen travel agency for applying for the Japanese visa, only the ITR. If you’re unemployed, it would be best that you have a guarantor/sponsor for your trip.

B. Requirements for Tourist Visa with Guarantor:

*If your guarantor is not a Japanese National and living outside Japan (e.g. this could be you mom, dad, boyfriend, or girlfriend that is sponsoring your trip). You need to submit all those documents under section “A. Requirements for Tourist Visa without Guarantor“ except for (7) Bank Certificate and (8) Proof of Income. These two documents shall come from your guarantor. In addition to that, you need to submit a (9) Guarantee Letter (click here to download the template, (10) Photocopy of your guarantor’s Passport, and (11) Proof of Relationship document. This can simply be NSO Birth Certificate or Marriage Certificate if the guarantor is a family member.

*If your guarantor is not a Japanese National but living inside Japan (this could be a family member or a friend of yours living and working in Japan). You need to submit the documents under section “A. Requirements for Tourist Visa without Guarantor” – (1) to (6) requirements only.  In addition to that, you need to submit a (7) Guarantee Letter (click here to download the template; (8) Photocopy of your guarantor’s Passport; (9) Your guarantor’s proof of income, these are Income Certificate (Shotoku Shomeisho), Tax Return Certificate (Nouzeishomeisho: Form2), Kakuteishinkokusho Hikae or Bank Certificate (Yokin Zandaka Shomeisho); (10) Foreign Registration Certificate of your guarantor; (11) Photocopy of Residence Card of your Guarantor.