Japan to further ease visa requirements for Filipinos

MANILA, Philippines – It will  be easier for Filipinos to travel to Japan.

This is after the Japanese government announced “substantial relaxations” of visa requirements for multiple and single-entry visas for nationals of the Philippines, Vietnam and Indonesia.

In a June 17 press statement on the Japanese embassy website, the Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) promised requirements for multiple-entry visa requirements will be less strict, while requirements for single-entry tourist visas “will be relaxed to a quasi-exemption-equivalent level when applied via specified travel agencies.”

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The MOFA said this measure hopes “to promote Japan as a tourism-oriented country with the even higher goal of attracting 20 million foreign visitors, to contribute to growth strategies as well as the promotion of people-to-people exchanges.”

The press statement did not specify how the embassy would ease the application process, but said Japan hopes to provide the exemptions “as promptly as possible.”

“The details of the measures including the beginning date of application are currently under consideration.”

Doubling visitors 

According to the Yomiuri Shimbun, the easing of requirements is part of government efforts to double the annual number of foreign visitors to 20 million by 2020, when Tokyo hosts the Olympics and Paralympics.

The paper quoted officials as saying the rise in Japanese tourism – 28.2% from January to April 2013 ­– was partly due to the weakening of the yen. The year 2013 was the first time overseas visitors exceeded 10 million.

The paper said the government “especially hopes to draw wealthy visitors from Southeast Asian countries.” Officials said they planned to allow wealthy visitors to stay a maximum of one year.

Step forward

The relaxation of requirements follows 2013’s relaxation of Japanese visa policies toward Filipinos toward the “further development of Japan-Philippines exchange.”

Starting July 1, 2013, Japan began allowing Filipinos to apply for multiple-entry visas for short-term trips. Applicants were asked to meet “certain conditions” for approval.

Before the relaxation, Japan only issued multiple-entry visas to businessmen, artists, and specialists, as well as immediate family members of Japanese residents.  – Rappler.com