Is a visa necessary for Ukrainians traveling to Japan?
Yes, Ukrainians are required to obtain a visa to visit Japan. This rule applies to short-term stays, including tourism, cultural participation, and leisure travel.
To find comprehensive information about entry conditions, you can visit the official website of the Japanese diplomatic mission in Ukraine. Full details are available here.
Required documents for entering Japan
To enter Japan smoothly, ensure you have:
- A valid passport with the visa affixed.
- Proof of return or onward travel.
- Accommodation details (hotel booking confirmation or host’s address).
- Financial evidence, such as cash, credit cards, or recent bank statements.
- Health insurance is optional but advised due to potentially high healthcare costs in Japan. You can quickly arrange health insurance on the Visit World website.
Visa information for Ukrainian nationals visiting Japan
Japanese visas generally fall into two main categories based on the length and purpose of stay: short-term and long-term visas, with an additional multivisa option available for frequent visitors. The multivisa is granted to those who have visited Japan three or more times within the last year or ten times within the past three years.
For tourism, Ukrainian citizens typically need to apply for a single-entry short-term visa. This visa can be used for:
- Tourist activities
- Visiting relatives or friends
- Business-related visits or other short-term non-commercial purposes
This type of visa permits stays of up to 90 days and can be obtained from a Japanese diplomatic mission or, in select cases, through accredited travel agencies. More details on the application procedure can be found on the website of the Embassy of Japan in Ukraine.
What Ukrainians need for a short-term Japanese visa
To apply, Ukrainian citizens should prepare the following:
- Passport with six-month validity: make sure it’s valid for at least six months beyond the entry date.
- Visa application form: complete the form downloaded from the Japanese Embassy website.
- Photo: one recent color photo sized 4.5x4.5 cm.
- Proof of financial stability: documentation such as bank statements or salary certificates.
- Hotel reservations or accommodation confirmation.
- Travel tickets: return or onward journey evidence.
Applying for a Japanese visa: a guide for Ukrainians
When planning a trip to Japan, Ukrainian citizens must apply for a visa through a Japanese diplomatic mission or authorized travel agency. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
- Contact the Japanese embassy or consulate. Find out how to submit your application. Some missions require all submissions to be made through accredited travel agencies, which handle the document submission process for you.
- Gather the necessary documentation. Prepare your completed visa application, recent passport-sized photograph, valid passport, financial proof, hotel confirmations, and travel tickets. Since requirements may vary, check the official list in advance.
- Submit your documents. Submit your application in person at the embassy or consulate, or through an agency if specified. Agencies can help ensure your documents are in order and reduce the likelihood of mistakes.
- Processing time. Processing generally takes 5-10 business days. In some cases, additional time may be required, but the process is usually efficient.
- Collect your passport. Once processed, retrieve your passport with the visa stamped inside, valid for entry within three months.
Pro tip: Even when using a travel agency, verify the accuracy of all details to prevent issues or delays.
Japanese visa application fee information
To secure a Japanese visa, Ukrainians are required to pay a visa fee. For a single-entry visa, the cost is approximately 3,000 yen, which must be paid in the local currency of Ukraine.
Key details to remember:
- Fees may differ depending on your nationality and the purpose of your travel. In certain instances, the fee may be waived.
- No fee is charged if the visa is not granted.
- Additional fees may apply when using accredited travel agencies for application submissions.
Understanding Japan’s “Landing Permit”
When Ukrainians enter Japan, they must undergo a screening by immigration officers to receive a “Landing Permit”. This procedure ensures that travelers comply with the requirements of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, which include a valid passport and visa (if applicable), a clear travel purpose, and a designated stay duration.
If all criteria are met, the officer issues an “entry permit” by stamping your passport, detailing your “residence status” (permitted activities) and “period of stay.”
Keep in mind: once issued, a single-entry visa becomes invalid, but multiple-entry visas remain valid for their term. Modifications to your stay type or length are managed via the Regional Immigration Bureau’s processes for “changing residence status” or “extending stay.”
Top destinations to visit in Japan during your trip from Ukraine
1. Kyoto: immerse yourself in Japanese history and tradition through Kyoto’s stunning temples and meticulously maintained gardens.
2. Nikko: enjoy breathtaking natural scenery alongside historic shrines in the picturesque town of Nikko.
3. Osaka: famous for its lively streets and diverse food scene, Osaka offers a taste of Japan’s urban excitement.
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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