This article is a translation of the Japanese original. Where the two differ, the Japanese version prevails. Read the Japanese original（日本語版を読む）
You can apply for a 短期滞在 visa yourself. There are drawbacks, though, such as the complexity of preparing the documents, the language barrier, and the fact that screening is not transparent. There are also situations where a specialist's support is especially useful, such as when you are unsure of your Japanese or when you are applying for business purposes.
A guide for people deciding whether to apply for a 短期滞在 visa themselves or to ask a specialist.
Yes. If you read the information on the websites of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the diplomatic missions carefully, you can apply yourself.
To put the conclusion first, you can apply for a 短期滞在 visa yourself. The websites of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and of the diplomatic missions abroad (Japanese embassies and consulates-general) set out in detail the documents required and how the procedure works. If you read that information carefully, prepare the required documents accurately, and apply as the mission instructs, obtaining the visa yourself is not impossible.
You keep costs down, but there are drawbacks such as the complexity of the documents and the language barrier.
Accurate information, help with the documents, removing the language barrier, and saving time and effort.
A specialist such as a certified administrative procedures legal specialist (gyoseishoshi) knows the procedures of the 地方出入国在留管理局 (Regional Immigration Services Bureau) and of the diplomatic missions well, and can be a strong help in moving a 短期滞在 visa application along smoothly. They explain the latest visa rules and required documents accurately and in plain terms, and advise on preparing the complex application form and the attachments on the basis of specialist knowledge. In some cases they will also prepare documents in Japanese and deal with the mission on your behalf, so the language barrier is no longer a worry. Drawing on past cases and on the tendencies of screening, they help you prepare documents that cover the points that matter for obtaining permission. This saves a great deal of time and effort, and reduces the risk of a refusal.
When you are unsure of your Japanese, when gathering documents is difficult, and when you are applying for business purposes.
We recommend considering a specialist's help when you are unsure of your Japanese; when gathering the required documents is difficult (where documents from abroad are needed, or where you have to collect many documents); when a visa application has not gone well for you in the past; when you are applying for business purposes (because such applications tend to require more documents and to be screened more thoroughly than ordinary sightseeing); and when you are short of time.
If you ask a specialist such as a gyoseishoshi to handle a 短期滞在 visa application, there are fees, such as a consultation fee, a document preparation fee and a fee for filing the application on your behalf. We recommend obtaining quotations from several specialists in advance and comparing the content of the support with the fees.
No. You can do it yourself, but if you are unsure about Japanese or about preparing the documents, a specialist's support is a useful option.
Yes. 短期滞在 visa applications for business purposes tend to require more documents and to be screened more thoroughly than ordinary sightseeing, so a specialist's support is said to be useful.
They include a consultation fee, a document preparation fee and a fee for filing the application on your behalf, and they differ between offices. You are advised to obtain quotations from several specialists.
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This page is a translation of the Japanese original. Where the two differ, the Japanese version prevails.