New Japanese Multiple-Entry Visa Requirements Start This June

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(SPOT.ph)Before you can ride the bullet trains,eat all the sushi you want, and explore Japan and its many prefectures, you first have to get a Japanese Visa. If this isn't your first time to plan a trip to the Land of the Rising Sun and you're not planning on it being the last, it makes the most sense to apply for a multiple-entry tourist visa.

This is a heads-up: Starting June 10, those hoping to get a multiple-entry visa will need a couple more documents to support their case. Check out the updated requirements for Filipino travelers applying for a multiple-entry visa under the "considerably high-income" category.

Also read:The SPOT.ph Guide to Applying for a Japanese Visa

Here are the updated requirements for a Multiple-Entry Japanese Visa:

Starting this June, the Japanese Embassy will be a bit stricter about who qualifies as a "considerably high-income individual." As such, they have released new mandatories for those applying under this category.

Here are the additional financial requirements to be considered for a multiple-entry visa under the "considerably high-income individual" category:

• Applicant’s Bank Certificate showing the balance within the last six months. If the Average Daily Balance (ADB) in the last six months is not indicated, bank statements must be submitted to prove transactions within the last six months.
• Applicant’s Employment Certificate indicating period of employment, salary, and position.
  • Alternatively, business owners must submit a copy of their business' DTI Certificate of Business Name Registration and Mayor’s Permit from City Hall.
• Applicant’s Tax Payment Certificate issued by Bureau of Internal Revenue, a.k.a. Form 2316. This document must have the signature of the Employer and Employee.
  • For business owners, proof of actual payment of tax must be submitted in addition to the BIR Tax Payment Certificate Form.

If you are unable to provide any of these new financial requirements, you must submit a letter explaining why. Retirees, housewives, and unemployed individuals are exempted from this.

Prior to this release, these documents were not strict requirements and were often only submitted "just in case," but now, not only are they required, but you must also furnish originals. Photocopies will only be accepted for the Tax Payment Certificate requirement.

Additionally, spouses and children of individuals with considerably high incomes are also eligible for a multiple-entry visa. All they have to do is submit proof of their relationship with the high-income applicant. Documents such as a PSA-issued Birth Certificate or Marriage Certificate will suffice.

If getting your hands on these financial documents may prove troublesome, any seasoned traveler will tell you that you could qualify for a multiple-entry Japanese Visa for other reasons such as being a frequent traveler to Japan or other G7 countries. Just make sure to check the appropriate category you fall under and make sure to submit all the necessary documents for that group.

Common Requirements for a Japanese Tourist Visa Application:

Regardless of which category of eligibility for a multiple-entry visa you fall under, prospective tourists will still be required to submit the following documents as staples to any Japanese visa application:

• Applicant's Passport
• Filled-out application form with an attached 4.5cm x 3.5cm facial photo attached
• Itinerary in Japan
• PSA-issued Birth Certificate and Marriage Certificate (for married applicants), issued within 1 year.

Now, just as before, submitting these requirements does not guarantee that an applicant will be granted a multiple-entry visa. In cases where the applicant has not been able to sufficiently prove their case, they may be granted a single-entry visa instead.

For more information, visit theEmbassy of Japan in the Philippines' website.

Also read:Fly to Over 30 Japanese Cities for Less With These Tourist-Only PassesThe SPOT.ph Guide to Exploring Tokyo by TrainOsaka Guide: The Best Things to See and Do for Two Days

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