DUBAI: Foreign nationals residing in Saudi Arabia and the UAE who require a visa to visit Japan can now apply online for a short-term stay visa for the purpose of tourism travel, according to a statement released by the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO).
Applicants need to apply via the dedicated website JAPAN eVISA, where upon successful submission, a digital confirmation visa will be sent to the applicant. When entering Japan immigration, the eVISA holder needs to simply log on to the Japan eVISA website and show visa.
New measures have also been implemented for Qatari nationals, who can now apply at Japanese embassies, consulate-generals or consulates, to have their passport registered. Upon registration, applicants will then receive a “Visa Waiver Registration” seal within their passport, which will entitle them to multiple short-term stays in Japan without a need for a visa for a period of 3 years (or expiration date of the passport).
JNTO’s Dubai office Executive Director Daisuke Kobayashi said the new measures will “will ease the process to visit Japan for touristic purposes.”
“It is also especially timely as these measures have been activated in time for Eid travel, with visitors to Japan in the months of April and May able to enjoy and make the most of the spectacular spring climate and striking new green verdant landscapes,” he added.
Kobayashi said travel to Japan for the GCC region has been “steadily increasing, making it one of the few international markets showing post-COVID-19 recovery levels even surpassing the numbers of visitors achieved in 2019.”
