Important Note: Once Japan opens to visa-free travel on October 11, 2022, the eVISA system becomes irrelevant and probably just disappears. We are leaving this on our site as a reference and record, but you can safely ignore it.
If you’re a citizen of the United States or Canada and you’re living in your own country, you can apply for your visa online using Japan’s new eVISA system. You can apply for most short-term visas using this system. This means anything requiring an ERFS certificate (like a package tour, business visa or work-holiday visa), or a kinship visa (which doesn’t require an ERFS certificate). This is huge, because it means you do not have to visit a Japanese embassy or consulate in person (or send your stuff in by FedEx etc). It significantly speeds up and simplifies the entire process.
For ERFS visas, you need to submit the following online (additional documents may be requested later):
- Copy of passport photo page
- Photo
- ERFS certificate
For kinship visas etc, you need to submit the following online (additional documents may be requested online):
- Copy of passport photo page
- Photo
- Invitation letter
- Documents to prove kinship (birth certificate, marriage certificate, certified copy of the family register, etc.)
eVISA Application Stages
These are the status messages you will see as you go through the eVISA process. In total, the whole process usually takes 4 or 5 days, but this varies according to which office processes your application.
- Temporarily accepted: Your submission is complete.
- Accepted: Your completed submission will soon be examined (usually within 24 hours).
- Examined and passed: Almost there.
- Ready for issuance: Your application has been approved.
- Issued: Your e-visa is ready to be downloaded.
For more information, visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Japan eVISA page.
Kyoto Vacation Checklist
- For all the essentials in a brief overview, see my First Time In Kyoto guide
- Check Kyoto accommodation availability on Booking.com and Agoda.com - often you can book with no upfront payment and free cancellation
- You can buy shinkansen (bullet train) tickets online from Klook - popular routes include Tokyo to Kyoto, Kyoto to Osaka and Kyoto to Tokyo
- Need tips on where to stay? See my one page guide Where To Stay In Kyoto
- See my comprehensive Packing List For Japan
- You can buy an eSim to activate in Japan or buy a data-only SIM card online for collection when you arrive at Tokyo's Narita or Haneda Airports or Kansai International Airport. You can also rent an unlimited data pocket wifi router
- Compare Japan flight prices and timings to find the best deals
- If you're making frequent train journeys during your visit, you might save money with Japan Rail Pass – see if it's worth it for you
- A prepaid Welcome Suica card makes travelling around Kyoto easy – here's how
- World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world
- Do you want help planning your trip? Chris Rowthorn and his team of Japan experts at Japan Travel Consulting can help