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Consultation content: Procedures for allowing a foreign relative to stay in Japan for 90 days
A Nepalese woman (42 years old) is married to a Japanese man (57 years old) and wants to invite her parents who live in her home country to Japan. Her parents are not in a position to visit Japan frequently, so she strongly wants to invite them while they are still healthy. Her plan is to use a villa in Kamikochi as a base and travel to Kyoto, Nara, Okinawa, Hokkaido, etc., and she plans to stay for about 60 days to complete this itinerary.
Checkpoint: Important points to check when applying for a short-term visa
- Clarify the purpose of your stay: Clarify the purpose of your stay, such as visiting relatives or sightseeing, and prepare evidence for it.
- Create a stay schedule: Create a stay schedule that includes specific planned visits and dates.
- Proof of financial support: Prepare documents that prove your financial support during your stay (bank balance certificate, employment certificate, etc.).
- Prepare an invitation: Prepare and submit an official invitation from a person living in Japan.
- Confirm health insurance and emergency response: Also consider medical care during your stay and emergency response.
Solution from an administrative scrivener: Specific steps to obtain a short-term visa
1. Clarify and prove the purpose of your stay
First, it is important to clarify the purpose of your relatives’ stay. If your main purpose is visiting relatives, you will need to prepare documents that show your family relationship (for example, birth certificates and marriage certificates). Also, if your main purpose is sightseeing, it is a good idea to list the tourist attractions and activities you plan to visit and prepare related documents (such as reservations and copies of tickets). This will increase the credibility of your purpose for staying.
2. Create a detailed itinerary
Create a detailed schedule of your stay. Prepare an itinerary detailing the places you plan to visit, the length of your stay, your means of transportation, and your accommodation. This schedule is a required document when applying for a visa, and by being particularly detailed, you can prove that your actions during your stay are specific. You can make your itinerary more credible by including the addresses and contact information of the places you plan to visit.
3. Proof of financial support
Make it clear who will cover the expenses during the stay and prepare evidence of financial support for that purpose. If the expenses are covered by a resident of Japan, submit a certificate of employment, bank statement, salary statement, etc. Also, if the resident is covering the expenses themselves, they must prepare their income certificate and bank statement. In addition, it is more reassuring to estimate the expected expenses during the stay and show that they have funds to cover that amount.
4. Prepare an invitation
Create an invitation from a resident of Japan. This invitation should detail the purpose of the stay, the length of stay, and the relationship between the inviter and the invitee, and should be submitted when applying for a visa. The invitation should state the inviter’s address and contact information, and should also include a description of emergency procedures. In addition, the inviter can carefully explain the background and motivation behind the invitation, which will increase the chances of the visa application proceeding more smoothly.
5. Prepare health insurance and emergency response
We recommend that you subscribe to overseas travel insurance in case you need medical care during your stay. Especially when inviting elderly relatives to Japan, medical expenses can be expensive, so it is important to choose insurance with sufficient coverage. It is also important to plan in advance how to respond to emergencies and check the support system in Japan. For example, it is a good idea to make a list of information about nearby medical institutions and emergency contacts.
Eligible residence status: Short-term visa
A short-term visa is a visa that allows you to stay in Japan for up to 90 days, mainly for the purpose of tourism or visiting relatives. Applications cannot be made in Japan, but at the Japanese embassy or consulate in the applicant’s country of residence. The review process may take some time, so it is important to prepare early.
Documents required at the time of application
- Short-term visa application form: Visa application form to be filled out by the applicant.
- Copy of passport: A copy of the applicant’s passport.
- Stay schedule: A schedule detailing the specific plans for the stay.
- Proof of financial support: Bank balance certificate, employment certificate, pay slip, etc.
- Letter of invitation: An official invitation from a person living in Japan.
- Letter of guarantee: A document stating that a person living in Japan guarantees the applicant’s stay.
- Certificate of relationship: A document proving family ties (birth certificate, marriage certificate, etc.).
- Health insurance certificate: The resident’s health insurance certificate (overseas travel insurance card, etc.).
Summary: Early preparation is important for obtaining a short-term visa
In order to obtain a short-term visa to invite relatives to Japan, you need to make sufficient preparations in advance. By making sure to prepare all the necessary documents, such as creating a schedule of your stay, proving financial support, and preparing an invitation letter, you can increase your chances of successfully obtaining a visa. Also, since the review process can take some time, it is recommended that you apply early. With the support of an administrative scrivener, you can proceed with the process reliably.
