Visiting Japan

2022/12/6

Visa Information

Who needs a visa?

From October 11, 2022 at 0:00 AM (JST), foreign nationals who meet ALL of the criteria below are no longer required to obtain a visa.

*The visa waiver arrangement with the United States does NOT apply to COE: Certificate of Eligibility holders, travel to Japan for news media related activities, attending depositions taken by U.S. Consul, or U.S. Federal Government employees on diplomat/official business or transit to/from official mission.

From October 11, 2022 at 0:00 AM (JST), the temporary suspension of validity of single entry visas and multiple entry visas (including APEC Business Travel Cards) issued before December 1, 2021 will be lifted. 

  • Your visa or APEC card must not be expired when you enter Japan.

*Please note that every entrant including people from visa waiver countries are still required to upload either a pre-departure COVID-19 testing result or a valid vaccine certificate through Visit Japan Web: See "Information on Border Measures"


NOTICE: Due to the large volume of inquiries we receive by email and phone call, the response from us may take longer than usual.

 

General Rules for Visas

  • The Consulate General of Japan only accepts visa applications and visa inquiries from residents of Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, or South Carolina.
    Please click here if you do not live in one of the above US states.
  • In principle, visa applicants should apply for a visa in person. However, applicants within our jurisdiction can apply for a visa by mail. Please see "Applying By Mail" under "Applying for a Visa" below for more details.
  • Applicants may designate a proxy. To authorize a proxy for application drop off/pickup, the applicant MUST fill out this authorization form and have the proxy submit the original form to the Consulate along with their ID card (electronic signatures are invalid).
  • We do not accept any applications from U.S. B-1 and B-2 visa holders.
  • Applicant's passport must have at least 1.5 blank visa pages left.
  • Please note that we will keep passports while processing visa applications.

Type of Visas and Visa Application Documents

Please click on the applicable box below to see application documents on each visa.

 
Short-Term Tourism, Business, Study Transit COE Holders Other Visas
 

Visa Validity

Type of Visa Validity Note
Single Entry 3 months You must enter Japan within this time frame. We will not accept any visa applications more than 3 months before your departure date.
Double-Entry Transit 4 months It can be used twice (once on the way to your destination and once on the return trip) to complete a round trip.
Double-Entry  6 months It can be used twice. 
Multiple Entry 1 to 5 years depending on the visa Multiple entry visas can be issued to citizens of countries that Japan has bilateral agreements with. Maximum stay at a time is decided as either 30 days or 90 days depending on the visa.
 

Applying for a Visa

Applying In-Person

In order to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), Consular Section has modified several operations and services.

  • Visitors will be subject to a thermal imaging check at the entry of the consulate. Those with a fever will not be allowed to enter the Consulate.
  • Visa Application drop-off & Passport Pick-up: 9:00am to 12:30pm / 1:30pm to 4:00pm (No appointment required.)
  • All other Consular Services: Appointment required. Please contact the Consular Department at (404) 240 4300 or at ryoji@aa.mofa.go.jp to schedule an appointment.
    • Extension for Japanese Passport services: 3033
    • Extension for Japanese Citizenship services: 3032
    • Extension for Other Documentation services: 3029 / 3032

We are anticipating longer than usual wait times at the consular office. Longer wait times are also expected when contacting us by phone or email, therefore, please also consider contacting the Japan Visa Information Hotline (available 24/7) if your visa-related matter is urgent.

Our window is open Monday thru Friday except during office holidays. Please click here for directions to our location.

Applying by Mail

In addition to your visa application documents, if applying by mail, please also include the following:

  1. Release of Liability Form
  2. Proof of Residence (such as copy of Applicant's Driver's License/ID card or utility bill etc. showing current address)
  3. A pre-paid self-addressed for Certified, Priority, and Express Mail (USPS) or a prepaid mailing label with an envelope for UPS Express must be submitted for return.
    (*Your name and address must be both sender and recipient on the return envelope.)

Mailing Address
ATTN: Visa Section
Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta
Phipps Tower, Suite 850
3438 Peachtree Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30326

NOTE: We only ship to addresses within our jurisdiction (Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina). The Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta is not responsible for your passport in case of its loss when sending through the mailing service for return.

Processing Time

In general, it takes 5 business days to issue a visa. We do NOT have expedited services.

*The Consulate recommends applying for a visa 1.5 months prior to your departure date, but no earlier than 3 months prior to your departure.

Visa Processing Timeline  

Visa Fees

  • Single Entry Visa: 28 USD
  • Double and Multiple Entry Visa: 56 USD
  • Transit Visa (Including Double Entry Transit): 6 USD
  • Indian Passport Holder Fees: 8 USD (for Single,Double, Multiple Entry); 1USD (for Single and Double Transit)
  • Extension of Re-entry Permit: 28 USD

*US citizens are exempt from visa fees.
(Some countries are also exempted from visa fees. Please check the visa fee exempt countries list to find out if your visa fee is waived. )
* Payment is due at the time of PICK-UP.
* We accept CASH only (Please prepare cash in the exact amount). We DO NOT accept personal checks and credit cards.

Cash Only
 

Information on Border Measures

COVID-19 Mitigation Requirements to Enter Japan

ALL entrants (including people from visa waiver countries and regions) are still required to upload either a pre-departure COVID-19 test result or a valid vaccine certificate through Visit Japan Web.

  • Fast Track/My SOS system has been integrated into Visit Japan Web.
There are no quarantine requirements after entering Japan.

 

Visit Japan Web: Fast Track Registration

Additional Information:

COVID-19 Travel Guidelines

Prevention
Measures
General Etiquette Accommodation
Dining
Transportation Sightseeing
Shopping
Prevention Measures General Etiquette Accommodation/Dining Etiquette Transportation Etiquette Sightseeing/ Shopping Etiquette
Mask Use Insurance
Before Travel
Insurance
After Entrance
If you feel ill If infected with
COVID-19
Mask Use Insurance Before Travel Insurance After Travel Guidebook for when you are ill When infected with Covid-19

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