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Inviting Family to Japan: Short-Term Visa and Guarantor Documents
Inviting family to Japan for a short visit comes down to two questions: whether your relative needs a short-term visa at all, and, if so, which documents you as the resident in Japan must prepare for their application.12 A weak or inconsistent Japan-side package can cost your relative the visa, and after a refusal the embassy generally will not accept a new application for the same purpose for a set period.1 Once admitted, your relative holds Temporary Visitor status for the length of the visit.3
Procedures, fees, and requirements can change. Confirm current details at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan visa pages and the website of the Japanese embassy or consulate where your relative applies. This article is general information, not legal or immigration advice; for your specific case, consult a licensed administrative scrivener (gyōseishoshi, 行政書士) registered as an immigration filing agent or an immigration lawyer.
Overview
A short-term visa for visiting relatives is a visa issued by a Japanese embassy or consulate abroad to your relative, the applicant, on the strength of documents prepared on both sides.14 You prepare the Japan-side documents; your relative files them with their own documents in their country.4
Several parties take part, each with a distinct role.
| Party | Role in the process |
|---|---|
| Inviter (招へい人, shōheinin) | The resident in Japan who invites the relative and writes the letter of reason for invitation54 |
| Guarantor (身元保証人, mimoto hoshōnin) | The resident in Japan who promises the head of the embassy or consulate that the applicant will stay legally in Japan1 |
| Applicant | The relative abroad, who files the visa application1 |
| Japanese embassy, consulate, or accredited agency | Receives the application; the embassy or consulate decides whether to issue the visa1 |
| Immigration inspector at the port of entry | Decides on landing, the status of residence, and the period of stay6 |
This article covers short visits by relatives who need a visa. Living in Japan with family long term is a different process, which runs through a Certificate of Eligibility or a visa obtained abroad for a mid- to long-term status.7
Visa exemption or visa required
Japan has visa exemption arrangements with 74 countries and regions (as of 2026-10-09; confirm current figures with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan).8 A relative with a passport from one of these countries needs no visa for a short visit; a relative from any other country must apply at a Japanese embassy or consulate before travel.2
The permitted stay under an exemption, and conditions such as holding an ePassport, differ by nationality (as of 2026-10-09).8 The exemption list itself is covered in J-Compass's Traveling in Japan section on visa waivers and on the exemption page of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (MOFA); if your relative is exempt, the document package and application steps below do not apply.
The decision comes first, because it determines whether you prepare any documents at all.
Who can invite and who can guarantee
MOFA defines the visa guarantor as the person who resides in Japan and promises the head of the embassy or consulate that the applicant will stay legally in Japan.1 The definition turns on residence in Japan, not nationality.
MOFA's Philippines checklist, for example, adds copies of the residence card (or special permanent resident certificate) and passport when the guarantor is a foreign national, so a foreign resident can act as guarantor for Filipino relatives (as of 2025-04).9
Inviter and guarantor are separate roles. China's procedure outline gives each its own document set, so the two can be different people (as of 2025-04).4
Stricter guarantor rules for Chinese applicants
For applicants of Chinese nationality, the outline narrows who may guarantee. Besides Japanese nationals, a foreign resident qualifies only if they hold one of the statuses or positions the outline specifies and have been granted a period of stay of three years or more; dependants (被扶養者, hifuyōsha) are excluded even when they hold an otherwise qualifying status (as of 2025-04).4
The outline's list includes work statuses such as Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, Highly Skilled Professional, and Business Manager, as well as Permanent Resident, Spouse or Child of Japanese National, and Long-Term Resident (as of 2025-04).4
Before assuming your own status qualifies, check the list of qualifying statuses in the current outline published by MOFA or the Embassy of Japan in China.4
Relatives versus acquaintances
Embassies also distinguish close relatives from other contacts. The visiting-relatives checklist used at VFS Global, the visa application center for the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines, covers relatives in Japan within the third degree; more distant relatives apply under the requirements for visiting friends and distant relatives (as of 2025-04).10
Temporary Visitor status after landing
The visa does not set how long your relative may stay. At the port of entry, the immigration inspector decides the status of residence and the period of stay and records both in the passport.6 For a family visit, the status is Temporary Visitor, which lists visiting relatives among its activities.3
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 短期滞在 | tanki taizai | "Temporary Visitor", the status of residence for short visits3 |
| 上陸許可 | jōriku kyoka | "Landing permission", granted by the immigration inspector at the port of entry6 |
| 在留カード | zairyū kādo | "Residence card", issued only to mid- to long-term residents6 |
| 中長期在留者 | chūchōki zairyūsha | "Mid- to long-term resident", a category that excludes Temporary Visitors6 |
Period of stay and permitted activities
The periods of stay for Temporary Visitor are 90 days, 30 days, or 15 days, or another period within 90 days designated by the Minister of Justice (as of 2026-10-09).3 Permitted activities are sightseeing, recreation, sports, visiting relatives, inspection tours, attending courses or meetings, business liaison, and similar activities.3
Paid work is not permitted. A Temporary Visitor may not run an income-generating business or engage in activity for which they receive remuneration without permission.6 Work Permission by Status of Residence compares this rule with other statuses.
No residence card
Residence cards are not issued to people granted Temporary Visitor status or to anyone granted a period of stay of three months or less.6 The landing permission in the passport is the record of your relative's legal stay.11 Visa vs. Status of Residence in Japan explains how this differs from the mid- to long-term statuses that carry a card.
Extensions, status changes, and re-entry
An extension is granted, in principle, only where there are genuinely unavoidable humanitarian circumstances or equivalent special circumstances, such as a need for medical treatment.3 Changing from Temporary Visitor to another status inside Japan is, in principle, not allowed except in special circumstances; someone who wants to live in Japan longer should obtain a Certificate of Eligibility or a visa through an overseas mission.7
Re-entry permits are, in principle, not granted to Temporary Visitors, and the special re-entry system does not apply to them either.7
The Japan-side document package
The Japan-side package shows who is inviting and why, who will cover the costs, and that the inviter and guarantor are lawfully resident in Japan.12594 Its exact contents depend on your relative's nationality and the mission where they apply.92
Several Japanese document names recur throughout this section.
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 招へい理由書 | shōhei riyūsho | Letter of reason for invitation5 |
| 滞在予定表 | taizai yoteihyō | Schedule of stay, or travel itinerary413 |
| 身元保証書 | mimoto hoshōsho | Letter of guarantee12 |
| 住民票 | jūminhyō | Certificate of residence, issued by your city or ward office14 |
| 戸籍謄本 | koseki tōhon | Certified copy of the family register; Japanese nationals only10 |
| 特別永住者証明書 | tokubetsu eijūsha shōmeisho | Special permanent resident certificate9 |
| 課税証明書 | kazei shōmeisho | Certificate of taxation (income and tax assessed)15 |
| 納税証明書 | nōzei shōmeisho | Tax payment certificate15 |
| 源泉徴収票 | gensen chōshūhyō | Withholding tax statement from an employer104 |
The table below compares two MOFA lists for visiting relatives, one for Filipino and one for Chinese applicants (as of 2025-04; confirm current figures with the Japanese embassy or consulate where your relative applies).94
| Japan-side item | Philippines | China | As of |
|---|---|---|---|
| Letter of reason for invitation | Required | Required, from the inviter | 2025-0494 |
| Schedule of stay | Required | Required, from the inviter | 2025-0494 |
| List of applicants | When there are several applicants | Not confirmed | 2025-049 |
| Letter of guarantee | Required in the guarantor's documents | Required, from the guarantor | 2025-0494 |
| Jūminhyō | Required, showing family relationships | Required, for both inviter and guarantor | 2025-0494 |
| Employment or enrolment proof | Not listed for the Japan side | Employment certificate from the guarantor; employment or enrolment certificate from the inviter | 2025-044 |
| Income proof | Income or taxation certificate, tax certificate, or bank balance certificate | Taxation certificate showing total income, or tax payment certificate (Form 2) | 2025-0494 |
| Residence card copy | Foreign guarantor: residence card or special permanent resident certificate copy, plus passport copy | Copies for both inviter and guarantor | 2025-0494 |
| Evidence of the purpose of travel | Not listed | Required, from the inviter | 2025-044 |
Letter of reason for invitation (招へい理由書)
MOFA publishes a standard form for this letter, with a blank line where you name the head of the Japanese mission where your relative applies.5 The form asks for your address, name, and telephone number, and for your relative's name in the alphabetical spelling used in the passport, nationality, occupation, sex, and date of birth.5
Three free-text boxes carry the substance: the purpose of the invitation, how the invitation came about, and your relationship to the applicant.5 The form's instructions ask for details of the purpose and background; if the space runs out, note that the details are attached and add a separate sheet.5
For several applicants on one letter, enter a representative applicant's details on the form and attach a list of applicants.5 Because the form asks for details, a concrete occasion with dates answers it better than a one-line purpose.5
When the visit is to an acquaintance rather than a relative, Chiba University's guide advises attaching photographs, letters, or emails that show the relationship.2
Schedule of stay (滞在予定表)
MOFA's travel itinerary form is a table with columns for the date, planned activities, contact details, and accommodation.13 Both the Philippines and China lists require it for visiting relatives (as of 2025-04).94
The itinerary and the invitation letter describe the same trip, so the dates and the stated purpose should match across both documents.513
Letter of guarantee (身元保証書)
MOFA's standard form is addressed to the ambassador or consul-general of Japan in the applicant's country.16 On it, the guarantor guarantees three things in connection with the applicant's entry to Japan: the expenses of the stay, the return travel expenses, and compliance with Japanese laws and regulations.1216
Whether the letter is required depends on the list. The VFS Philippines checklist requires it, together with the guarantor's income documents, when the guarantor will pay part or all of the travel expenses; when the applicant pays, the applicant's own bank and tax documents are listed instead (as of 2025-04).10
China's outline lists the letter of guarantee among the guarantor's required documents for visits to relatives or acquaintances (as of 2025-04).4 The guarantee's legal weight is covered under Good to know below.
Proof of the inviter's residence and status
Embassy lists split this proof into two tracks, depending on whether the inviter or guarantor is a foreign national or a Japanese national.109
Non-Japanese inviter or guarantor
The Philippines checklist asks for copies of both sides of the guarantor's valid residence card (or special permanent resident certificate), a jūminhyō, and a passport copy (as of 2025-04).9 China's outline asks for residence card copies from both the inviter and the guarantor, plus a jūminhyō (as of 2025-04).4
Japanese-national inviter
The VFS Philippines checklist asks for a koseki tōhon when the inviter or the inviter's spouse is Japanese (as of 2025-04).10 The MOFA Philippines checklist also accepts a koseki tōhon, birth certificate, or marriage certificate issued by a municipal office as proof of kinship (as of 2025-04).9
What the jūminhyō must show
The VFS Philippines checklist requires the jūminhyō to describe all household members with nothing omitted except the Individual Number (My Number) and the resident record code (as of 2025-04).10 China's outline likewise asks for a jūminhyō showing all household members and their relationships (as of 2025-04).4
Both lists set a three-month window: documents must have been issued within the last three months, or, under China's outline, be within their stated validity period, except for items submitted as copies (as of 2025-04).94
Getting the jūminhyō
You request the jūminhyō from your city or ward office, which certifies details such as your address, name, date of birth, and nationality or region.14 Yokohama charges ¥300 per copy (as of 2025-05-30).14 Fees and issuance channels differ by municipality, so check your own office's page.
Proof of income and taxes
The income evidence embassies accept is narrow, and the three sampled lists differ in detail (as of 2025-04).1094
| List | Accepted | Not accepted | As of |
|---|---|---|---|
| MOFA Philippines checklist | Income or taxation certificate from the municipal head; tax certificate (Form 2) from the tax office; bank balance certificate | Not stated | 2025-049 |
| VFS Philippines checklist | Income certificate; tax certificate that includes total income; bank certificate | Final tax return; withholding tax statement | 2025-0410 |
| MOFA China outline | Taxation certificate showing total income; tax payment certificate (Form 2) | Withholding tax statement | 2025-044 |
The withholding tax statement your employer issues at year end is not a substitute: both the VFS Philippines checklist and China's outline reject it.104
The municipal kazei shōmeisho records income, deductions, and tax assessed; a municipal nōzei shōmeisho shows the same content plus the amount of tax paid, as Nerima Ward describes them.15
When the new year's certificate becomes available
Certificates for the new fiscal year, which reflect the previous calendar year's income, appear part way through the spring. Nerima Ward expects to start issuing the latest year's certificate each year in mid-May or mid-June (as of 2026-06-10).15
In Bunkyo Ward, the fiscal 2026 certificate, covering 2025 income, became available from 2026-05-15 for taxpayers whose residence tax is withheld from salary and from 2026-06-10 for others (as of 2026-04-13).17 Other municipalities set their own dates.
Proof of relationship
Proof of the family relationship usually comes from the applicant's side. For Filipino applicants, the VFS checklist asks for a birth certificate issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority within the past year, plus a marriage certificate if married, sufficient to prove a relationship within the third degree (as of 2025-04).10
The Japan side adds to this when the inviter or the inviter's spouse is Japanese, by supplying a koseki tōhon (as of 2025-04).10 The MOFA Philippines checklist accepts a koseki tōhon, birth certificate, or marriage certificate issued by a municipal office as kinship documentation (as of 2025-04).9
How the application moves
The application crosses two countries. You and any separate guarantor prepare the Japan-side documents and send them to your relative abroad; China's outline says explicitly not to send them to MOFA or an embassy.4 Your relative files at an embassy, consulate, or accredited agency, the mission processes it, your relative travels within the visa's validity, and the inspector at the port of entry grants the status and period of stay.16
Sending the package abroad
Whether the Japan-side documents must be originals depends on the list. For Filipino applicants, MOFA's checklist accepts copies of documents prepared in Japan, though the embassy or consulate-general may ask for originals if it needs closer confirmation (as of 2025-04; confirm current figures with the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines).9 The embassy's own FAQ also says photocopies of documents issued or prepared in Japan can be submitted instead of originals (as of 2026-10-09).18
China's outline applies its three-month issuance rule to every submitted document except those marked as copies, and the mission may ask for originals when it needs closer verification (as of 2025-04).4
China's outline directs inviters to send the Japan-side documents to the applicant in China and not to MOFA or a Japanese embassy, consulate, or consular office (as of 2025-04).4
Submitted documents other than the passport are not returned, at least under the Philippines lists (as of 2025-04).109 Keep a full copy of everything you send.
The applicant's embassy, consulate, or visa-center filing
MOFA describes four ways to apply: in person, through a proxy, through an accredited travel agent, or online through JAPAN eVISA.1 Which methods are available varies by country, so your relative should check the local embassy's guidance first.1
On the applicant side, the VFS Philippines checklist asks for a passport, a visa application form, one photograph (4.5 × 3.5 cm, taken within six months), a copy of the passport's data page, a birth certificate, and a marriage certificate if married (as of 2025-04).10 If the applicant pays for the trip, their own bank and tax documents are added.10 Other countries' lists differ.2
JAPAN eVISA is available to nationals or residents of a set list of countries and regions, with applications from several countries, including China, the Philippines, and Vietnam, going through accredited agencies (as of 2026-05-15).19 It covers only a single-entry short-term visa for tourism of up to 90 days, with shorter periods of stay for some nationalities (as of 2026-05-15).19
JAPAN eVISA issues only single-entry visas for tourism (as of 2026-05-15).19 A visa for visiting relatives goes through the conventional embassy, consulate, or agency route, even when your relative's country is on the eVISA list.
Processing time, validity, and arrival
Processing times and validity are set by MOFA and by each mission, and they vary (as of 2026-10-09).194
| Stage | Typical time | As of | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard MOFA processing | Five working days from the day after acceptance | 2026-10-091 | When there is no problem with the application |
| Processing at missions in China | About one week | 2025-044 | Plus transit time between the agency and the mission, and the agency's own handling time |
| Processing for Filipino applicants | About one week | 2025-049 | Per the MOFA checklist |
| Single-entry visa validity | Basically three months | 2026-10-091 | Your relative must enter Japan within this window |
The visa is one of the requirements for landing, not a guarantee of entry.1 At the airport or seaport, the immigration inspector decides whether to grant landing permission and sets the status and period of stay, and the landing permission is stamped in the passport.116
Costs
Japan raised its visa fees for applications from July 1, 2026 (as of 2026-10-09; confirm current figures with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan).20 The Cabinet decided the revision on 2026-06-19, the first increase since 1978 (as of 2026-06).21
| Item | Amount | As of | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-entry visa (standard) | About ¥15,000 (previously ¥3,000) | Applications from 2026-07-01202221 | Charged in local currency |
| Multiple-entry visa (standard) | About ¥30,000 (previously ¥6,000) | Applications from 2026-07-01202221 | Charged in local currency |
| Missions in China: single-entry | 715 yuan | 2026-07-0123 | Example from missions in China |
| Missions in China: double-entry | 1,430 yuan | 2026-07-0123 | Example from missions in China |
| Missions in China: multiple-entry | 1,430 yuan | 2026-07-0123 | Example from missions in China |
| Missions in China: Indian nationals, single or multiple | 40 yuan | 2026-07-0123 | A reduced nationality-based rate, not an exemption |
| Proxy agency fee (China) | Set by each agency | 2026-07-0123 | Separate from the visa fee |
| Jūminhyō, Yokohama | ¥300 per copy | 2025-05-3014 | Municipal fee; varies by city |
MOFA states that, depending on the purpose of the visit and the applicant's nationality, a fee may not be required or the amount may differ (as of 2026-10-09).20 The reduced rate for Indian nationals at missions in China shows that such differences survived the revision (as of 2026-07-01).23 Check the fee page of the mission where your relative applies.
If a visa is not issued, no visa fee is charged, but agency fees are separate (as of 2026-10-09).20 Fees are, in principle, paid in cash in local currency (as of 2026-10-09).1
The revision applies to visas issued by overseas missions. It does not change the fees for procedures handled inside Japan by the Immigration Services Agency, such as renewals and changes of status.21 The jūminhyō fee in the table is Yokohama's; check your own municipality's page for its certificate fees.14
Single-entry and multiple-entry options
Multiple-entry visas for short-term stays are nationality-specific. MOFA keeps an index of schemes by nationality and region, including separate pages for China, the Philippines, and Vietnam (as of 2026-10-09; confirm current figures with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan).24
A multiple-entry scheme for nationals of Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam covers tourism, business, and visits to relatives or acquaintances, with stays of up to 30 days per visit (as of 2026-10-09).25 Holders may not run an income-generating business or receive remuneration.25
The scheme's eligibility routes, paraphrased from MOFA's outline (as of 2026-10-09):25
- A record of travel to Japan as a temporary visitor in the last three years, plus the ability to pay travel expenses.
- A record of travel to Japan as a temporary visitor, plus travel records as a temporary visitor to other G7 countries, in the last three years.
- Sufficient financial capacity.
- Being the spouse or child of a person who qualifies under route 3.
For Filipino applicants, the embassy's FAQ gives a maximum validity of five years for tourist multiple-entry visas, and ten years for cultural or intellectual figures (as of 2026-10-09).18 Submitting the form requesting a multiple-entry visa does not guarantee one will be issued (as of 2026-10-09).18
The Philippines also has a separate multiple-entry visa for people with considerable financial capacity.26 MOFA's list of visa relaxations records that this scheme was relaxed on 2024-06-10 to stays of up to 90 days over five years (as of 2025-09-01).27
China has its own multiple-entry schemes, which MOFA indexes separately; check that index for the current conditions for Chinese nationals (as of 2026-10-09).24
The multiple-entry schemes above turn on travel history and financial standing.25 A relative who meets none of a scheme's criteria applies for a single-entry visa, which must be used within its validity period, basically three months (as of 2026-10-09).125
Refusals and reapplying
Embassies and consulates do not give the specific reason for a refusal. MOFA explains that disclosing reasons would let the information eventually become public.1
After a refusal, MOFA does not accept a new application for the same purpose within six months of the refusal (as of 2026-10-09; confirm current figures with the Japanese embassy or consulate where your relative plans to apply).1 It sometimes accepts an earlier reapplication when circumstances have changed significantly and travel is needed for humanitarian reasons, and it asks applicants to consult the embassy or consulate first.1
Embassies can also ask for documents that are not on the published checklist (as of 2025-04).109 For Filipino applicants, the embassy's FAQ notes that a past deportation does not automatically mean a visa will be refused (as of 2026-10-09).18
The VFS Philippines declaration warns that any false document or inaccurate statement, whether intentional or negligent, may result in refusal (as of 2025-04).10
MOFA warns that a guarantor or inviter who makes a false statement about the relationship to the applicant or the purpose of the visit may be held criminally responsible, including where it leads to the entry of terrorists or to crimes such as human trafficking.1
Where a family member has a prior refusal, past overstay, or deportation on record, a gyōseishoshi registered as an immigration filing agent or an immigration lawyer can assess the case before your relative reapplies.
Good to know
What the guarantee legally means
MOFA states that a visa guarantor's responsibilities are moral only, not the legal liabilities of a guarantor under the Civil Code.1 If the guaranteed matters (the stay's expenses, return travel, compliance with the law) are not met, the guarantor loses credibility as a guarantor in later visa applications.1
The Immigration Services Agency describes the guarantee given in its own domestic procedures the same way: no legal enforcement, but a guarantor who fails to perform may be judged unsuitable to guarantee in later applications.7 The moral nature of the guarantee does not cover false statements, which can carry criminal liability.1
Visiting relatives is permitted; paid childcare is not
Visiting relatives is one of the activities listed for Temporary Visitor status.3 Any activity for which the visitor receives remuneration is barred without permission.6
Those two rules frame a grandparent's visit around a birth. Being with the family falls under visiting relatives, while being paid for childcare would be remunerated activity.36
Longer stays need a different route
Ninety days is the longest Temporary Visitor period, and extensions are granted in principle only for humanitarian or equivalent special reasons, such as medical treatment (as of 2026-10-09; confirm current figures with the Immigration Services Agency).3 A change from Temporary Visitor to another status inside Japan is, in principle, not allowed; longer residence requires a Certificate of Eligibility or a visa obtained from abroad.7
Routes for longer family stays are covered in Designated Activities Visa, Dependent Visa: Spouses and Children of Residents, and Certificate of Eligibility (COE).
The Swedish embassy's 180-day guidance on repeat visits
The Embassy of Japan in Sweden tells visa-exempt visitors they may stay as a Temporary Visitor for a total of 180 days in a 12-month period (as of 2026-10-09).11 The figure is that embassy's guidance to visa-exempt visitors such as Swedish nationals.
The inspector at the port of entry decides on landing and the period of stay at each arrival, and a visa does not guarantee landing permission.116
Tax certificates show payment status and change each spring
The nōzei shōmeisho shows the tax paid as well as the tax assessed, so it reflects whether your residence tax is up to date.15 If an embassy list asks for it, payment status is visible to the reviewing officer.
Certificates for the new fiscal year appear in mid-May or mid-June in Nerima Ward, and Bunkyo Ward's fiscal 2026 certificates appeared on 2026-05-15 and 2026-06-10 depending on how the tax is collected (as of 2026-06-10).1715 A request made in early spring may return the previous year's certificate.
Temporary Visitors cannot join National Health Insurance
Meguro City's National Health Insurance page lists people with Temporary Visitor status and people with a period of stay of three months or less among those who cannot enrol.28
Check the embassy page for your relative's country
The Philippines lists accept photocopies of Japan-prepared documents, while China's outline applies a three-month issuance rule to all but copies and limits which foreign residents can guarantee (as of 2025-04).9184 Both the VFS Philippines checklist and China's outline reject the withholding tax statement as guarantor income proof (as of 2025-04).104
Chiba University's guide notes that required documents may differ by the applicant's nationality and may change.2 MOFA's Philippines checklist likewise states that documents may vary when the applicant applies in another country.9
See also
- Bringing Aging Parents to Japan
- Statuses of Residence in Japan: The Complete Map
- Period of Stay in Japan: How ISA Sets It
- Immigration Services Agency (ISA): Who Decides What
- Jūminhyō: Japan's Residence Record Explained
- Special vs Ordinary Collection of Residence Tax