Do Tajik citizens require a visa for Japan?
Yes, Tajik nationals are required to apply for a visa for travel to Japan. This includes short-term visits for tourism, cultural activities, or leisure purposes.
To understand the full entry requirements, please visit the official website of the Japanese diplomatic mission located in Tajikistan. You can find all relevant information here.
Japanese visa rules for Tajiks
The Japanese visa system offers short-term, long-term, and multi visa categories. The multi visa is designed for travelers with a history of frequent visits (three visits in one year or ten over three years).
Tajiks traveling for tourism typically need a single-entry short-term visa, valid for:
- Tourism
- Family and friend visits
- Short-term business engagements
The visa allows a stay of up to 90 days and should be applied for at a Japanese diplomatic mission. Detailed information is available on the Embassy of Japan’s website.
How do Tajik citizens apply for a visa to Japan?
If you’re planning a trip, here’s how Tajik citizens can apply for a Japanese visa:
- Contact the embassy or consulate. Determine the application method—direct submission or through an accredited travel agency. The agency route is common for some missions.
- Gather required documents. You’ll need a completed visa application form, recent color photo, valid passport (minimum six months), proof of financial stability, hotel bookings, and travel tickets. Requirements can change, so verify with the embassy.
- Document submission. Submit your application in person or through a travel agency. Agencies can check and validate your documents to avoid errors.
- Processing wait time. Applications typically take 5-10 business days to process, though some cases may require more time.
- Receive your visa. Collect your passport with the visa once processed. The visa is usually valid for up to three months from the date of issuance.
Reminder: Double-check all information to ensure accuracy and compliance with the requirements.
Documents for a short-term Japanese visa for Tajik citizens
To visit Japan for tourism, visiting friends, family, or conducting short-term business, Tajiks need to prepare the following:
- Valid passport. Your passport must have at least six months of validity remaining from the date of entry into Japan. Ensure that there are blank pages available for visa stamps.
- Completed application form. Download the form from the Japanese Embassy’s official website and fill it out in English or Japanese. Be accurate and thorough to avoid processing delays.
- Photograph. Provide one recent color photo measuring 4.5x4.5 cm with a clear background, meeting the specified requirements.
- Proof of financial stability. Submit documents such as recent bank statements, salary certificates, or other evidence demonstrating that you can cover your expenses during your stay.
- Accommodation confirmation. Present proof of your place of residence in Japan, such as hotel reservations or an invitation letter from your host (if applicable).
- Return or onward travel tickets. You will need to show confirmed tickets indicating your departure from Japan, whether back to your home country or to another destination.
- Submission. Submit your application, along with all required documents, at the Japanese Embassy or Consulate in your country. In certain cases, you may apply through accredited travel agencies.
Documents to bring for entry into Japan
To ensure a smooth entry, have:
- A valid passport with the visa stamped.
- Proof of return or onward travel.
- Accommodation verification (hotel reservation or host’s address).
- Financial documents, like cash or bank statements.
- Health insurance is optional but advised due to potential high medical costs. Insurance is available through Visit World.
Recommended places to see in Japan for travelers from Tajikistan
1. Kyoto: known for its historic temples and carefully designed gardens, Kyoto offers a glimpse into Japan’s past.
2. Nikko: explore a unique combination of scenic beauty and revered historical sites.
3. Osaka: experience Japan’s vibrant street life and world-class cuisine in this lively city.
What does a “Landing Permit” entail for Tajiks visiting Japan?
Upon arriving in Japan, Tajiks undergo an immigration screening to acquire a “Landing Permit”. Immigration officers evaluate whether travelers satisfy the entry conditions stipulated by the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act. This involves verifying the traveler’s passport (with a visa if needed), purpose of travel, and intended duration of stay.
Meeting all conditions results in receiving an “entry permit” via a stamp on your passport that specifies your “residence status” and “period of stay.”
Important: With an entry permit, single-entry visas become void, though multiple-entry visas remain active until their expiration. If you wish to modify your residence type or extend your stay, visit the Regional Immigration Bureau of Japan’s Ministry of Justice.
Cost for obtaining a Japanese visa
Tajiks applying for a Japanese visa need to pay a fee of approximately 3,000 yen for a single-entry visa. Payment is made in the local currency of Tajikistan at the Japanese diplomatic mission.
Key points:
- Fees may differ based on nationality and the travel purpose, with exemptions in some cases.
- If your visa is not issued, there will be no charge.
- Accredited travel agency applications may come with additional fees.
Transit visa.
It is issued when Japan is not the final destination of the tourist, its validity is 72 hours. For those who plan to go on a cruise with a call to Japanese ports, it is also recommended to obtain a transit visa - it will allow you to go ashore.
If a tourist flies with a change at a Japanese airport within one day, a transit visa is not required. In case of force majeure, the visa-free stay is extended to 72 hours, and a special mark in the form of a sticker is made on the passport in such an event. In this case, passengers cannot leave the transit area of the airport.
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Documents required for issuing a transit visa to Japan:
● A valid international passport (for visa and immigration stamps, the passport must have at least 2 blank pages).
● A copy of the first page of the international passport with a photo and information about its owner.
● Two completed visa forms in English
● Two photos sized 4.5x4.5, necessarily in color.
● Two copies of the visa to the country of destination.
● A copy of the airline ticket reservation, which indicates a stay in Japan of up to 3 days.
● Two copies of hotel reservations where tourists will stay in Japan.
You may need to provide financial documents:
● certificate from the place of work indicating the position, length of service, and salary;
● statement from a bank account with cash flow for the previous 3 months.
Based on the current situation in Ukraine, Japan has decided to apply to dogs and cats evacuated to Japan, the provisions on rescue dogs, etc., provided by the order of the Minister. You can find this provision
here.
General rules for importing pets to Japan.
First, let us briefly list the necessary documents and conditions, and then consider them in more detail:
1) Obtaining an international passport and implantation of a subcutaneous chip.
If the animal does not have an international veterinary passport, you need to get one to start the first stage. It is desirable to register the animal for the person who will transport it.
Next - identification chip installment. If the animal already has a chip implanted, please check its compatibility with Japanese requirements. The microchip must comply with ISO 11784 and 11785 standards (15-digit code consisting only of numbers).
Make sure that the microchip number can be identified by a microchip reader in veterinary hospitals.
2) Double vaccination against rabies.
The Japanese quarantine service requires double vaccination of animals, each dose of which is noted in the veterinary passport.
1st vaccination:
If the animal was vaccinated before the installation of the chip, these vaccinations are not considered valid. In this regard, you can take the opportunity and put the first vaccination immediately after installation of the chip or after 1 week.
If the animal has been vaccinated with the chip installed, the duration of this vaccination should not exceed 91 days (the date of vaccination is considered zero day).
2nd vaccination:
No earlier (mandatory condition!) than in 31 days the animal is given the 2nd rabies vaccination.
Importantly! Japanese requirements state that vaccination must contain a dead virus! "Killed" recombinant / modified viral vaccine. Vaccines made with "live" viruses are not accepted by the Japanese side. Please consult your doctor in advance during this step to avoid unpleasant consequences.
3) Test for antibodies to rabies and 180-day quarantine.
This test can be done on the day of the 2nd rabies vaccination or in the following days.
The certificate is issued within 2 weeks. Be sure to check this document for spelling information, especially the microchip number. Otherwise, if an error is detected at the border, the animal will simply be not accepted. The certificate validity is 2 years.
Importantly! The antibody titer should be greater than or equal to 0.5 IU per 1 milliliter, which means that the animal is eligible for import into Japan. If the titers are unsatisfactory - the analysis is repeated.
The waiting period is 180 days. Dogs and cats must arrive in Japan 180 days after the blood test for rabies antibodies. The date of blood collection is considered to be day 0.
In addition, the date of arrival in Japan must be within the validity of the administered rabies vaccine and the validity of the rabies antibody test (certificate valid for 2 years).
Importantly! Dogs and cats waiting less than 180 days will be quarantined in the Animal Quarantine Service remand center for the period of replenishment of missing days. The age of the animal imported into Japan must be at least 10 months.
4) Prior notification of the quarantine service.
You must notify the Japanese Quarantine Service of your arrival with the pet at one of the airports/seaports at least 40 days in advance. Communication is in Japanese or English.
When making a notification, you need to send information about the upcoming flight with your pet and special completed notification forms:
Notification form for dogs:
Notification form for cats: https://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/english/animal/dog/pdf/notification-cat.pdf
What can be imported into Japan by plane:
● The import and export of local or foreign currency are not restricted (amounts equivalent to 1,000,000 JPY or more are subject to mandatory declaration). Gold products of millesimal fineness 900 must also be declared if their total weight exceeds 1 kg.
● Persons over the age of 20 are allowed duty-free import of up to 400 cigarettes or 100 cigars or 500 g of tobacco
● Up to 56 ml (2 ounces) of perfume
● Other goods up to JPY 200,000
What is forbidden from imports into Japan:
● Firearms and ammunition (cold steel, hunting, and pneumatic weapons are imported only with the permission of the National Security Service of Japan).
● Drugs and psychotropic substances (their importation is subject to deportation and a life ban on entry into the country).
● Some medications (especially those containing 1-deoxyephedrine).
● Counterfeit securities and banknotes.
● Fresh fruits, vegetables and plants, animals and a number of foods of animal and vegetable origin (primarily meat and meat products, as well as various fruit crops).
● Pornographic material, movies, or publications that contain scenes of violence and cruelty.
● Magazines, photographs, drawings and engravings of obscene content.
● Printed publications and other materials that undermine public order
● Counterfeit products, as well as things and items that damage the trademark, copyright and patent law.
What is forbidden from exports from Japan.
● Art and antiques without the permission of the competent authorities
How much alcohol can be imported into Japan.
● Up to 3 bottles of alcoholic beverages (up to 0.75 liters each)
What you need to know before renting a car in Japan.
Most rental companies allow people to rent cars from the age of 18, but this depends on the specific company and the type of vehicle may vary. Young drivers should learn about age restrictions in advance.
In addition, a valid driver's license is required. A valid driver's license is the International Driving Permit (IDP).
1) When you rent a car in Japan, all drivers must be registered in the rental documents. To do this, either all drivers must be present in person at the time of the lease, or one person must have all the driver's licenses to confirm the identity of drivers and the validity of licenses.
2) Depending on the rent, a number of services are offered. Discuss additional services in advance, such as car seats for young children, multilingual GPS devices, ski racks, and more.
3) Japan has many toll roads and highways, and some routes can be very expensive. An electronic payment card (ETC) is a useful tool that allows you to charge a fare directly from your credit card or include it in your car rental bill.
● This means you don't have to stop at a payment point - just slow down and the ETC card will be activated. For more information on ETC devices and ETC card rental, see the official website.
● If you do not have an ETC card, you can only go through paid checkpoints labeled “General” in green or general paid checkpoints labeled “ETC / General”. "ETC-only tollgate" - only ETC signs marked in purple.
4) Return of the car
Be sure to fill the fuel tank before returning the car to the rental company, or you will have to pay extra for the missing gasoline. Some rental companies require a receipt as proof that you have filled the tank.
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