Japan began to permit small-scale tourism arrivals in June this yr on rigorous packaged excursions, and barely over 8,000 guests arrived in June and July.
The federal government then determined they’d begin permitting non-guided excursions (learn extra right here and right here) on August 31. Nonetheless, all guests would wish to have interaction with an area journey company (pay $$$) to get them to subject an ERFS (Entrance, Returnees, Comply with-up System), required for visa issuance (there isn’t a visa-free entry to Japan in the intervening time).
It was meant that the Japanese journey companies issuing ERFS’ would deal with the reserving of air to/from Japan and lodge lodging at some point of the keep. Japanese embassies and consulates that subject the visas have been instructing candidates and companies that they need to not e book something earlier than the visa was issued.
As is commonly the case with these points we cowl, I made a decision to use for an ERFS by means of an company to see how the method works and preserve my choices open if I journey to Japan this fall.
I submitted the appliance to get the ERFS on the Air Canada Cafe in Toronto on September 1 whereas ready for a flight to Vancouver. The JGA’s web site requested for my primary info, entry and exit flight dates and numbers, and the title and tackle of the primary lodge the place I intend to remain.
The worth for this service was 20,000 yen just a few hours earlier than, however I ended up paying the up to date value of 30,000 ten (a bit greater than $200). (They’ve now stopped issuing ERFS.)
I promptly obtained affirmation of the product I had bought and a receipt. After which the ready started.
Because it was already Friday in Japan once I made the acquisition, I believed it might in all probability be Monday once they processed it. Nonetheless, I didn’t hear something from them on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday, and so they weren’t replying to my emails in regards to the issuance of the ERFS.
My good friend in Japan additionally dropped them an electronic mail, and I promptly had the ERFS in my electronic mail on Friday (September 9), and it was issued per week earlier than (September 2) on the date I utilized.
I adopted the Japanese Embassy’s directions on making use of for the visa, and so they requested paperwork to be despatched by electronic mail first for “evaluate,” which I did over the weekend.
The embassy promptly replied on Monday (September 12) that paperwork have been so as and I may both drop the passport or ship it to the consular part. I selected the latter and despatched it by FedEx. A couple of days later, I obtained an electronic mail that the passport can be able to be picked up on September 26.
Word that it seems that all embassies and consulates take 5 enterprise days to subject visas (the day whenever you depart or they obtain the appliance and the day when you may decide them up will not be counted).
United States, Canadian, and Taiwanese residents are eligible for an e-visa that considerably streamlines the visa software and approval course of. Sadly, this facility is unavailable for different nationals, and you’ll have to attend months to get an software slot at a few of Japan’s embassies and consulates.
What Has Occurred So Far:
- Japan’s Prime Minister Set To Announce Easing Of Entry Adjustments In New York
- Japan Set To Announce Entry Adjustments As Early As This Week
- Japan To Take away Each day Arrivals Cap & Take away Visa Requirement “Not So Distant Future”
- Japan’s Non-guided Excursions Partially Clarified
- Japan Will increase Each day Arrivals Cap To 50,000 & Quickly Permits Vacationers On Non Guided Excursions
- Japan Drops Pre-Departure PCR-RT Check Requirement September 7, 2022
- Japan Plans To Take away Covid-19 Check Requirement, Increase Each day Arrivals Cap To 50,000 & Excursions With out Guides?
- Japan Opens eVISA Purposes For Residents Of The US & Canada On August 18, 2022
- Japan Tourism Trial Catastrophe, Tight Entry Necessities Proceed & Lengthy Time period Targets
- Japan Tour Canceled After Thai Customer Exams Constructive For Covid
- Japan Permits Worldwide Guests On Bundle Excursions From June 10, 2022
- Japan Doubles Arrivals Cap & Testing Adjustments June 1, 2022
- Japan Tourism Trial Disappointment
- Japan Begins Tourism Trial In Might For Totally Vaccinated From United States, Australia, Thailand & Singapore
Conclusion
It’s unclear if I even want this visa as a result of there was chatter coming from Japan that vital adjustments can be coming to permit guests simpler entry to the nation.
Japan’s prime minister was speculated to announce one thing this week in New York, however undecided if that is delayed because of the hurricane.
It’s unclear whether or not an announcement is coming this week and what it is going to embrace. Nonetheless, no less than I ought to have a visa to enter the nation subsequent week, and I have already got just a few airline tickets reserved (issued utilizing miles for optimum flexibility).
I believed that the value I paid to JGA was truthful, and I assume that Japan determined to have this ERFS in place to discourage customer arrivals whereas letting these in who’re decided.
Let’s hope they quickly announce the reinstatement of visa-waiver services; in any other case, they’ll lose the winter and sakura guests for the third yr.
As a lot of our readers know, I spent six months in Japan again in 2020 when covid-19 was rapidly spreading and inflicting havoc at first in North America and Europe. I acquired in a few hours earlier than they closed the border in March that yr and left in September. I can’t wait to be again for a month.
