Japan. Endless Discovery.

Japan

Everything you need is right here, and so are we if you need us!

Overview

Explore Japan...

Japan is a unique fusion of rich history, stunning landscapes, and cutting-edge technology.

Fun Fact: Japan is home to more than 95,000 centenarians, meaning the Japanese have the highest life expectancy of any country in the world!

Japanese Flag

9-11hrs

Average Flight Time

Tokyo

Capital City of Japan

Japanese

Official Language

Japanese Yen

The currency used in Japan is the Japanese yen (JPY), which has been the official currency since its introduction in 1871, during the Meiji Restoration.

Asia

Asia is the largest and most populous continent, covering about 30% of the Earth’s land area and home to more than 4.7 billion people, roughly 60% of the global population. It is traditionally divided into several regions, each with distinct cultures, languages, and historical influences. Known for its vast diversity, Asia is home to major world economies like China, India, and Japan, as well as iconic landmarks such as the Great Wall of China, the Taj Mahal, and the Arabian Desert, while also being a centre of innovation, rich traditions, and some of the oldest continuous civilisations on Earth.

GST +5

Time-Zone

All Year

Climate

Japan has a diverse climate, ranging from snowy winters in the north to subtropical warmth in the south.

The country experiences four distinct seasons: hot, humid summers; a vibrant autumn; and mild, cool winters, with a rainy season in early summer.

Country Code: +81

Emergency Contact Numbers

119 119 110

Visa Guidelines

To be successful your content needs to be useful to your readers.

Start with the customer – find out what they want and give it to them.

Visa applications? Not exactly riveting, but often essential and always unavoidable.

We’ve done the research and pulled everything together to save you time, effort, and energy.

In the tabs, you can check if your child or student needs a visa for their trip. If they do, you’ll find clear guidance, embassy links, required documents, and step-by-step instructions.

And when it comes to submitting the application, parents really are best placed. After all, no one knows the travelling student better.

Parents should ensure that their child's documents meet the official travel requirements for Japan.

If your child requires a visa to travel to Japan, you must apply for it using the same passport that holds their UAE residency visa.

Review the sample documents and the relevant official checklists to ensure that all specific criteria are met.

Passport Validity (Minimum):

6 months after entry into Japan

UAE Residency Validity (Minimum):

3 months after expected return to UAE

Parent/Guardian NOC:

Required

School/College NOC:

Required

There are 71 nationalities who do not require a visa to enter Japan. Please click here to learn if your child is a citizen of one of these countries.

All other nationalities will require a sticker short-term tourist visa to enter Japan.

Please note, Japan does offer eVisas, however minors travelling without their parent/guardian(s) on a school trip are unable to apply for this.

We recommend that all minors travelling internationally, without a parent or guardian, carry both a signed parental NOC and a school NOC with them. Samples of each are provided below. This can help to mitigate any potential issues at border control and streamline the immigration process.

Sample Parent/Guardian NOC

Sample School NOC

Classification

Sticker Short-Term Tourist

Entry

Single/Multiple

Validity

90 days from the date of issue

Length of Stay

Varies depending on visa issued

How do I apply for a tourist visa for my child?

The Japanese Embassy outsource their consular services to VFS Global.

During the visa application process, including scheduling the mandatory appointment, you will therefore be required to liaise directly with VFS Global.

Please kindly note, that it is the Japanese Embassy that ultimately make the final decision as to whether or not to approve or deny any visa to Japan.

All steps have been outlined below for your reference:

1. Schedule the mandatory visa appointment (Although a tourist visa, you will be required to schedule the appointment under the eVisa category)

2. Collect and collate all required paperwork

3. Attend the visa appointment in-person

4. On average, the visa process takes 8-10 working days

5. Collect/receive passport with attached visa

6. All set – we hope your child has a great trip!

When should I apply for my child's tourist visa?

The earliest you can apply is 90 days before departure.

If you are fortunate to receive a prompt appointment, please ensure you have enough time to request the supporting documents from both the school and trip provider.

Which documents are required to apply for my child's tourist visa?

Parent/Guardian to provide:

Japan visa application checklist
Japan visa application form
1 x studio-quality passport photograph (<6 months old)
Child's original passport (this must be the passport they will travel on)
Photocopy of child’s passport (this must be the passport they will travel on)
Photocopy of child’s UAE residency visa
Photocopy of child’s Emirates ID
Photocopy of all child’s previous visas
Photocopy of child’s birth certificate (English)
Parental no objection certificate (NOC)
Photocopy of parent/guardian(s) passport
Photocopy of parent/guardian(s) UAE residency visa
Photocopy of parent/guardian(s) Emirates ID
Salary certificate (From the child’s UAE sponsors employer)
Trade licence (If child’s UAE sponsor is self-employed)
Bank statements (Last 3 months, original, stamped by the bank, in the name of the child’s UAE sponsor). Foreign accounts will not be considered.
Pay slips (Last 3 months, in the name of the child’s UAE sponsor)
Divorce certificate (If applicable)

Please note, if your child is a citizen of Georgia, Russia, Ukraine or a CIS member country they will require 2 application forms and 2 studio-quality photographs. If your child is a citizen of China, 6 months’ bank statements will be required to be submitted.

Parent/Guardian to request from school:

School no objection certificate – The NOC should include the child’s full name as per their passport, along with the details of all other travelling students. In addition, the letter must state parent/guardian consent for the trip, who is paying for the trip, what the school is responsible for, the dates of travel and finally, the accompanying teacher(s) information.

Parent/Guardian to request from trip provider:

Invitation letter
Flight confirmation
Proof of accommodation
Full day-to-day itinerary
Travel insurance

Do I need to accompany my child to the visa appointment?

Unless extenuating circumstances, it is mandatory for both parent/guardian(s) to attend with their child. This requirement is of utmost importance.

How long does the tourist visa process take?

On average, visa applications take 8-10 working days.

Will the Embassy/Consulate keep my child's passport?

Yes, the Japanese Embassy/Consulate will keep your child’s passport whilst their application is being processed.

What should I do if there are no available appointments?

It is important to understand, VFS Global cannot arrange additional appointments, or ‘squeeze one more person in.’ All appointments are pre-approved and released by the relevant authority.

If you are unable to secure an appointment with VFS Global, you will need to contact the embassy directly to request an appointment. However, please note that this is not guaranteed.

Checklist (Abu Dhabi)

Japan

Checklist (Northern Emirates)

Japan

Itinerary Form

Japan

Application Form

Japan

Visa applications are part of the adventure, right?

Contact Details

Embassy of Japan, Abu Dhabi

+971 2 443 5696
[email protected] / [email protected]
Villa 633, Mubarak Bin Mohammed Street, Abu Dhabi, UAE

VFS Global: UAE - Japan

[email protected] (Residents of Abu Dhabi & Al Ain)
[email protected] (Residents of Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Fujairah, Ras Al-Khaimah)

Consulate General of Japan, Dubai

+971 4 293 8888
[email protected] / [email protected]
28th Floor, Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai, UAE

gray pathway between red and black wooden pillar

people gathered outside buildings and vehicles

This page was last reviewed on 19 February 2025. We update our content regularly to ensure accuracy.

Japan

Everything you need is right here, and so are we if you need us!

Explore Japan...

Japanese Flag

9-11hrs

Tokyo

Japanese

Japanese Yen

Asia

GST +5

Climate

Country Code: +81

Bahrain

Kuwait

Oman

Qatar

Saudi Arabia

United Arab Emirates

Visa applications are part of the adventure, right?

Bahrain

Kuwait

Oman

Qatar

Saudi Arabia

United Arab Emirates

Social Media

Social Media

Social Media

Japan

Everything you need is right here, and so are we if you need us!

Explore Japan...​

Japanese Flag

9-11hrs

Tokyo

Japanese

Japanese Yen

Asia

GST +5

Climate

Country Code: +81

Bahrain

Kuwait

Oman

Qatar

Saudi Arabia

United Arab Emirates

Visa applications are part of the adventure, right?

B​ahrain

Kuwait

Oman

Qatar

Saudi Arabia

United Arab Emirates

Social Media

Social Media

Social Media

Explore Japan...

Bahrain