Frequently Asked Questions
BEFORE VISA APPLICATION
Q 1: I'm New Zealand citizen with New Zealand passport, do I need a tourist visa to go to Japan?
A 1: No, New Zealand passport holder who enter Japan as tourists may stay for up to 90 days as long as your passport remains valid during your stay and do not receive any income while in Japan.Q 2: Do I need a visa to enter Japan?
A 2: Please check here to see if your country has a visa exemption agreement with Japan. If your country is not on this list you will need a visa to enter Japan.Please note that anyone intending paid activities in Japan will need a visa regardless of their nationality.Q 3: I am planning to go to Japan next year. Can I apply for a temporary visitor's visa now? or how soon can I apply?
A 3: You can apply 3 months prior to the date you will leave NZ. Generally, a temporary visitor's visa is expiring three months (1 year for WH visa) after the date of issue.Q 4: How long can I stay in Japan?
A 4: You may stay for up to 90 days as long as provide us with all correct documents.
Q 5: My travel agent told me that I don't need a visa to stay in Japan for less than 72 hours. Is this correct?
A 5: NO, it is not correct. Please see "Question 2" for further detail.Q 6: Can I apply for a visa at the Consulate-General of Japan in Auckland?
A 6: Applicants must hold a valid long-term New Zealand visa (Resident, Work, Student, Guardian) and must be residing in the top half of the North Island to be eligible to apply at the Consulate-General of Japan.⚠️Applications from those in New Zealand on a any visitor's visa will not be accepted⚠️
Q 7: How long is the validity of the visa?
A7-1: Visas are valid for three months from the date of issue, meaning you must enter Japan within three months of the visa being issued. The length of stay in Japan will be decided on a case-by-case basis based on your intended schedule.A7-2: Working Holiday visas are valid for one year from the date of issue with a length of stay of one year from your first entry into Japan.
Q 8: Do you have priority visa processing service?
Q 9: What kind of photo should I use?
A 9: Please use a professional service (photo can measure 35mm x 45mm or NZ passport-sized photo). Please use a proper quality photo and do not scan and print onto paper and do not use staples. Do not use any filters, apply touch-ups, or alter the image in a way that misrepresents the actual person.Q 10: The visa application form asks for my "I.D. No. issued to you by your government". What is this?
A 10: The governments of some countries give their citizens individual I.D. numbers. However, many countries (including New Zealand) do not. It is Okay to leave this section blank if your country does not have such I.D. numbers.Q 11: The visa application form asks for a guarantor/reference and inviter in Japan. What should I do if I do not have one?
Q 12: Is it necessary to go to the office by myself to apply for a visa?
A 12: All applicants age 18 and over MUST appear in person when applying for application OR collection of visa (All CoE applicants must appear in person at once).Q 13: How much does a visa cost?
A 13: Please see here for information about visa fees.Q 14: How long is the processing time for a visa?
A 14: Please see here for the processing times for visas or it make take longer due to the nature of visa process.Q 15: Can I apply for a visa by post?
A 15: All visa applicant must appear in person at once. However, you may send your application by courier post (must be trackable) if you are within in our jurisdiction. However, you MUST come in person to collect your own passport when a visa is ready for collection. Please see "How to apply" section for more information.Q 16: Do I need to make an appointment to apply for a visa?
A 16: You must make an online appointment in advance for visa applications from 16 June 2025. Please click HERE for detailsPASSPORT
Q 17: How many unused visa pages do I need to have remaining in my passort when I apply for a visa
A 17: A Japanese visa needs one full visa page and the Japanese immigration authorities need at least half visa page for landing permission and departure confirmation stamp, therefore at least one and a half pages are essential at the time of visa application. Please note that we can't use any pages other than designated visa pages to issue a visa seal or immigration stamp.
Q 18: How long does my passport need to be valid in order to enter Japan?
A 18: Japan does not have any regulations relating to passport validity. If your passport is not expired when you depart from Japan there should be no problem with your entry into Japan.Q 19: I lost my passport with my Japanese visa in. What should I do?
COMMON QUESTIONS
Q 20: I am Australian citizen curently living in New Zealand. Can I appy for a Working Holiday Visa for Australian citizens, while in New Zealand?
A 20: No. You can apply for a Working Holiday Visa only at an Embassy or Consulate General of Japan in your passoport issueing country.Q 21: Since my passport with a valid Japanese visa has exired, I have obtained a new passport. Whould it be possible for me to use the Japanese visa which is in the expired passport when I undergo an immigration insepction at the airport?
A 21: You can show both the new and the old passports with the visa at the border control. Alternatively, a visa transfer service is also avialble at our office (may take around 5 working days).
Q 22: I received a visa to work in Japan for three years, but the “Date of Expiry” on the visa is only three months from the "Date of Issue" Is this an error?
A 22: The "Date of Expiry" indicates the final date the visa can be used for entry into Japan. The "Period of Stay" starts from the day after your arrival in Japan. Be aware, however, that the expiration date on a Certificate of Eligibility is 3 months from the date of issue not the "Date of Expiry" of a visa.Q 23: If I have a criminal record, can I visit Japan?
A 23: Not all crimes will affect entry into Japan. Crime types that are deemed serious enough to prevent entry into Japan can be found here (Chapter II → Section 2 → Article5 iv & v). If your record includes these crimes, you can expect that your entry into Japan will likely be denied by Japanese Immigration.Q 24: Is it recommended to take out overseas travel insurance?
A 24: Yes, it is highly recommended to take out overseas travel insurance since:*Medical Coverage: Healthcare can be extremely expensive in Japan. Travel insurance can cover medical treatment, hospital stays, and emergency evacuations.
*Trip Cancellations/Delays: If your trip is cancelled or delayed due to illness, natural disasters, or other unforeseen events, insurance can reimburse your costs.
*Lost or Stolen Items: It helps cover lost luggage, passports, or stolen personal belongings.
*Peace of Mind: Traveling with insurance gives you peace of mind knowing you’re protected from many unexpected situations.
Q 25: Tell me why you rejected my visa application
A 25: The reason for the rejection is that your application did not meet the criteria of visa issuance. We do not give you the specific reason of the rejection because if we do so, the information would eventually become known to the public. Once that happened, there is a danger that some people might misappropriate such information to get around the visa examination process and try to enter Japan for illegal purposes. It would impede the proper visa examination process in the future and have negative effects on Japanese society. The Administrative Procedure Act, Article 3, Paragraph 1, Item 10 excludes "dispositions concerning departure and immigration of foreign nationals" from application of the obligation to show the examination criteria or the reasons for the rejection of the application.
Q 26: Why can't I reapply immediately after my visa application was rejected?
A 26: We do not accept your visa application if your previous application was rejected and you will apply for the same purpose of visit within six months from the rejection. This is because if, for example, we accept the same application the day after it was rejected, the circumstances of the applicant would not change so that the result of examination would be the same.
Q 27: My departure date is approaching so could you issue the visa ASAP?
A 27: Please note that visas are not issued based on your flight schedule, and expedited processing is not available. We strongly recommend that you plan well in advance, as you may submit your visa application up to three months before your intended departure from New Zealand. (*up to 12 months prior to your intended arrival in Japan for WH Visa)