How long can Filipinos stay in Japan as a visitor?

15, 30 or 90 days under the Short-Term Stay Visa (Temporary Visitor). Paid work is not allowed on a visitor stay.

Can Filipinos work in Japan on a visitor stay?

No. Visitor entry covers tourism, family visits, business meetings and conferences only. To take a job, study or settle, Filipinos need one of the longer-stay routes compared in our Japan visa guide for Filipinos.

🇯🇵 Japan tourist visa for Filipinos 2026

Tourism, visiting family and friends, conferences and business trips. Facts verified against Japan's official pages; see the source at the end.

Yes. Filipinos need a visa before a short visit to Japan. Philippine passport holders need a temporary visitor visa for Japan.

Quick facts

Visa: Short-Term Stay Visa (Temporary Visitor)
Maximum stay: 15, 30 or 90 days
Government fee: Free
Processing time: 1–4 weeks
Paid work: Not allowed
Business or conference: Covered

Where Filipinos apply

Since April 2025 every temporary visitor application in the Philippines is filed by appointment at a Japan Visa Application Centre (JVAC, run by VFS Global) in Manila, Cebu or Davao, while MOFA-accredited travel agencies remain the route for package-tour eVISAs limited to 15-day stays.

Fee and processing time

The visa itself stays free of charge for Filipinos even after Japan raised fees for other nationals to JPY 15,000 on 1 July 2026; you pay only JVAC's handling fee of a few hundred pesos. The Embassy warns processing can take several weeks and appointment slots are tight, so start one to two months before travel.

Travelling for business or a conference?

Invitation letter from the Japanese host or organiser plus a Philippine employer letter about the trip.

Documents and steps

Check your passport validity and sign itSigned passport valid for the stay with two blank pages; old passports with prior visas help.
Book a JVAC appointment as early as possibleJVAC appointments are mandatory and scarce in peak months; book before gathering documents.
Complete the application form with a 4.5 x 3.5 cm photoMOFA form, one 4.5 x 3.5 cm white-background photo, daily Schedule of Stay.
Obtain PSA birth certificate (and marriage certificate if married)PSA birth certificate (and marriage certificate) issued within a year, unless you hold a used Japan visa.
Get a bank certificate and six months of statementsOriginal bank certificate with six-month history plus ITR and employment or business proof.
Prepare flight and hotel bookings or a host's invitationFlight reservation and hotel bookings for every night, or a host invitation with guarantee letter.
If travelling for business or a conference: get the host's invitationInvitation letter from the Japanese host or organiser plus a Philippine employer letter about the trip.
Submit at JVAC and pay only the handling feeVisa fee is zero for Filipinos; only a small JVAC handling fee applies and no biometrics are taken.
Wait for the decision and collect your passportAllow one to four weeks; the Embassy gives no fixed timeline and peak season runs longer.
Pre-register on Visit Japan Web and respect the stamped stayOptional Visit Japan Web QR codes; the landing permission stamp, not the visa validity, sets your limit.

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Frequently asked questions

Do Filipinos need a visa for Japan?: Yes. Filipinos need a visa before a short visit to Japan. Philippine passport holders need a temporary visitor visa for Japan.
How long can Filipinos stay in Japan as a visitor?: 15, 30 or 90 days under the Short-Term Stay Visa (Temporary Visitor). Paid work is not allowed on a visitor stay.
How much does the Japan Short-Term Stay Visa (Temporary Visitor) cost for Filipinos?: The visa itself stays free of charge for Filipinos even after Japan raised fees for other nationals to JPY 15,000 on 1 July 2026; you pay only JVAC's handling fee of a few hundred pesos.
How long does the Japan Short-Term Stay Visa (Temporary Visitor) take for Filipinos?: The Embassy warns processing can take several weeks and appointment slots are tight, so start one to two months before travel.
Can Filipinos attend a conference or business meeting in Japan on this visa?: Invitation letter from the Japanese host or organiser plus a Philippine employer letter about the trip.
Can Filipinos work in Japan on a visitor stay?: No. Visitor entry covers tourism, family visits, business meetings and conferences only. To take a job, study or settle, Filipinos need one of the longer-stay routes compared in our Japan visa guide for Filipinos.

Thinking of staying longer?

A visitor stay never allows paid work. Filipinos who want to work, study or settle in Japan have 2 main routes, compared in the Japan visa guide for Filipinos.

Japan for Filipinos, in depth

Visiting other countries as Filipinos

Visiting Japan from elsewhere

Always confirm entry rules with the official government source. Fees and stay limits change; this guide is general information, not legal advice.