Japan, here I come! 🇯🇵

I finally got my Japanese visa, and I couldn’t be more excited! This trip has been on my bucket list for a while, and now it’s officially happening. 🥳

For anyone planning to visit Japan, especially Nigerians in New Zealand, here are a few things I learned during the visa application process:

Visa exemption: Only 71 countries across 7 regions are exempted from applying for visa. And NO! Nigeria is not on the list which means, I being a Nigerian citizen, had to submit a visa application.

Who can apply in New Zealand? This was the first eligibility screening. To apply in New Zealand, I needed to either be an New Zealand passport holder or hold a valid long-term New Zealand visa (e.g. resident, work, student etc.) AND should be residing in NZ. As such, NZ visitor visa holders are automatically ineligible to apply in New Zealand

Choose the right visa type and purpose of visit: Japan offers different visa categories, so ensure you apply for the correct one (tourist, business, etc.). The purpose of the visa is as important as the type of visa because it determines what extra documents you need to support your application. Because I will be visiting for a short-term stay, I applied for temporary visitor’s visa to Japan for the purpose of tourism and sightseeing.

Japan’s temporary visitor’s visa is for a stay of up to 90 days in Japan for the purposes of tourism, visiting friends/relatives, business, attending a conference and/or other unpaid activities. Similar to all other tourist/visitor visa, paid or profit-making activities are prohibited.

Prepare your documents: This was the step that made me appreciates Japanese level of orderliness, or should I call that proactiveness. They ,made it so easy for us by providing a checklist both on their website and via a Microsoft Form. It was a great way to understand certain areas that seemed gray. They even provided tips on things to do to expedite their process.

Another key point here is that this is where the purpose of your trips differentiates the document required. At minimum, you’ll need to submit, a valid identity document, eg passport, with at least 2 black pages and a validaity for at last 6 months post your intended departure date, one standard 4.5×3.5 passport photograph, a travel itinerary, confirmed hotel bookings, proof of sufficient funds, proof of relationship, In my case, I submitted my passport, a filled-out application form, flight itinerary, hotel bookings, proof of financial stability, and a travel itinerary., employment letter, copy of visas to other countries, payslips. because.. Nigerian

Be patient: Processing times can vary, so apply well in advance of your trip.
Check embassy-specific requirements: They may require additional documents if you are from certain countries, so always verify with the Japanese embassy or consulate in your region.

I can’t wait to show you all my explorations – from the culture, food, and stunning landscapes of Japan! If you’ve been before, drop your must-visit recommendations in the comments. ✈️🎎🍣

#JapanVisa #TravelGoals #ExcitedTraveler #BucketListAdvent