Japan Visa Requirements For Kenyan Citizens

These are the Japan visa requirements for Kenyan citizens. Japan is an island country located in East Asian which prides itself on high literacy levels and technological advancement in the whole world. In fact, it’s ranked as the most technologically advanced nation in the whole world with headquarters to most of the popular such as Sony, Toshiba, Toyota, Mitsubishi, Honda, Nissan, Hitachi, Yamaha and many more. It’s also the world’s third largest economy.

Its education system was recently ranked as the second-best in the whole world according to a research done by OECD.  Compared with the US, Canada, and UK, Japan has lower tuition and living costs which makes it one of the top countries in the world with many international students. The island nation is also a leading destination for tourists in the world, in 2017 it attracted 28.69 million international tourists.   Mount Fuji, Tokyo, Hiroshima, Niseko, Kyoto, Osaka and Nara are popular attractions for tourists.

Looking at all the attractions and the level of development in Japan, no doubt that this country is a dream destination for many people. In this article, we are going to look at all the requirements one must meet before applying for a Japan visa. We will highlight the types of Visas available for Kenyans, documents required, processing time and the charges.

Japan Tourist Visa Requirements For Kenyan Citizens 

This is a short-term visa that is valid for a period of up to 90 days. This type of Visa guarantees entree to Japan for Kenyan tourists, visiting friends and family, attending conferences,  and short-term business affairs.  Below are the requirements and documents required before applying for this type of visa.

1. Duly filled and signed visa application form.  Download the Japan Visa Application Form here.

2. Your Passport must be valid for at least 3 months and have at least 2 blank pages at the time of application.

3.  1 recent clear and coloured passport-size photo with a white background.

4. Copy of your flight itinerary with dates and flight numbers specifying entry and exit from Japan.

5. Officially certified bank statement for the past six months.

6. If you are employed, provide a signed employer’s letter, dated, with contact details of employer and personal data of the applicant, leave of absence from the local company or organization showing position, salary, date of hire, type of employment (permanent or temporary), date of return to work, the purpose of the visit to Japan.

7. If you are self‐employed, please submit

• Copy of Kenya PIN Certificate
• Proof of registration with the relevant authorities (e.g. Registration Certificate and Memorandum & Articles of Association)
• Bank statements pertaining to the said business (last 3 months).

8.  Proof of accommodation while in Japan. A detailed travel Itinerary of the planned trip or a schedule of activities together with a confirmed hotel booking, complete with names and contact details of the hotel and hotel voucher will be required.

9. Cover letter; This cover letter must be well written and formatted clearly. It must mention the reason you are visiting Japan, how your trip is being funded, your itinerary and our intention to return to Kenya after your holiday.

The following documents will be required if you are visiting a relative in Japan. 

Please note that these documents are sent to the applicant, NOT to the Embassy of Japan. These documents must be valid and issued within the last three months of the date of submission.

1. (A-1) DOCUMENTS FROM THE GUARANTOR / HOST

• Original invitation letter with a reason for the invitation. The letter should be addressed to the Japanese ambassador.
• Original staying programmes and schedule in detail, covering the period of stay.

2. (A-2) DOCUMENTS FROM GUARANTOR WHO PAYS FOR THE APPLICANT’S TRAVEL EXPENSES

• Original invitation letter with a reason for the invitation.The letter should be addressed to the Japanese ambassador.
• Original letter of guarantee.
• Either one of the following documents concerning the guarantor.
  a) A certificate of income or taxation (issued by municipal office).
  b) A certificate of deposit balance.
  c) A copy of the counterfoil of the final tax return with the seal of reception of the Tax Office (E-Tax: submit Receipt Notification and Final
  Tax Return)
  d) A certificate of tax payment (Form 2)
• Original staying programmes and schedule in detail, covering the period of stay.
• Certificate of Residence (with a description of his/her family relationship with all family members).
• (When the guarantor is a foreign national) A copy of both sides of the valid Residence Card(the Alien Registration), A Certificate of Residence (with all matters listed except Resident Record Code), and A copy of his/her passport (including the pages of status items, records of entry/departure, and permission of residence.

3. Documents to prove kinship(Birth certificate, Marriage certificate, Certified copy of the family register, etc)

Japan Business Visa Requirements For Kenyan Citizens 

This is also a short-term visa which is valid for only 90 days. It’s given to Kenyans going to Japan for business trips, and those attending conferences.

1. A signed invitation letter from Japan i.e Business partner / official contact/event organizers containing the personal data of the applicant, complete details of the travel arranged by the host organizers (confirming purpose, duration of stay, travel and accommodation arrangement in the member state as well as the financial guarantee). The letter should be addressed to the Japanese ambassador.

2.  Original staying programmes and schedule in detail, covering the period of stay.

3. Duly filled and signed visa application form.  Download the Japan Visa Application Form here.

4. Your Passport must be valid for at least 3 months and have at least 2 blank pages at the time of application

5. 1 recent clear and coloured passport-size photo with a white background.

6. Copy of your flight itinerary with dates and flight numbers specifying entry and exit from Japan.

7. If you are employed,  provide a signed employer’s letter, dated, with contact details of  employer and personal data of the applicant, leave of absence from the local company or organization showing position, salary, date of hiring, type of employment (permanent or temporary), date of return to work, purpose of visit as well as financial guarantee. If finances are met by the local company, a recent certified bank statement for the last 6 months will be required.

8. If you are self‐employed, you will be required to submit :

• Copy of Kenya PIN Certificate
• Proof of registration with the relevant authorities (e.g. Registration Certificate and Memorandum & Articles of Association)
• Bank statements pertaining to the said business (last 6 months).

Important Documents Download Links 

Japan Visa Fees For Kenyan Citizens 

You will be required to pay Ksh 2,750 at the time of collection as the visa fees.

Japan Visa Processing Time in Kenya 

It take  4 to 5 working days to process a Japan visa for a Kenya citizen. However, some visa applications require may take up to one month to issue.