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| Sorry for the crappy photo D: |
After I got my tickets, I started to read more about how to apply for a Japan Tourist Visa. Japan! Who wouldn't be excited? It's been a childhood dream of mine and I'm finally a step closer to it.
Most of the blogs I've visited were helpful, but none of them were in the same boat as me - An online worker with neither a Certificate of Employment nor an Income Tax Return. This was my first time to apply for a sticker visa that's why I was quite nervous.
Luckily, at a later date, I managed to chat with Ate Rox of I Travel Rox and she was able to give me some tips on how she got her visa, even without an ITR. So here, I'm also sharing with you the experience.
The Japanese Embassy doesn't accept applications done in person. All procedures will be handled by authorized travel agencies. Since these agencies don't have a local office in our city, I decided to send my application to Friendship Travel and Tours in Manila through courier.
Requirements:
- Fully accomplished application form (You can download from the embassy page, link below)
- 2x2 Photo, white background (to be pasted on your application form)
- Passport (valid for at least 6 months)
- A copy of my confirmed flight tickets
- Daily schedule in Japan (You can download from the embassy page, link below)
- Bank Certificate
- Certificate of Enrollment
- Photocopy of my Student ID
- Certificate of Employment from my previous company (2012, three years ago!)
- Letter of Explanation (as to why I'm unable to produce an ITR)
I sent all of these to Friendship Tours via LBC. A Japan Tourist Visa is actually gratis, but agencies would charge us for the handling fee. I paid 1200, plus 200 courier fee via BDO bank deposit and also sent the deposit slip along with my application.
I sent my application on August 28 and got my passport back on September 3. Considering the holiday and weekends, it was a pretty swift process! I highly recommend the agency. Miss Camille and her team were super accommodating. <3
So yes, Japan is truly within reach! :)
Helpful links:
Japan Embassy in the Philippines: http://www.ph.emb-japan.go.jp/visiting/new%20visa/tourism.htm
Friendship Travels and Tours: http://www.visa.friendshipmanila.com/
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