Japan VISAS
Please use this section as a guide only.
The advice we give all artists is to speak directly with a professional visa agent and connect with artists that have successfully toured to the countries you are looking to perform in.
For acts touring Japan, you will need to apply for a visa. However, before you can apply for a visa, you will first need a Certificate of Eligibility.
Certificate Of Eligibility
The Certificate of Eligibility is a document issued by the Ministry of Justice in Japan. In order to obtain a Certificate of Eligibility, you are required to have a sponsor in Japan such as a promoter, record label or music festival. The sponsor in Japan must contact the local Immigration Office in order to apply for your Certificate.
Once this has been issued, the certificate will be sent to you and you are then able to apply for a visa. The application procedure for the Certificate of Eligibility is free of charge and generally it takes up to 3 months to process.
COE is only valid for 3 months from the date of issue and the visa must be applied for within the validity. If you fail to enter Japan within 3 months, you may be refused your entry even with a valid visa.
Speak to your sponsor who will tell you the information they require from you in order to apply for the Certificate Of Eligibility.
Visa
Once you have obtained the Certificate Of Eligibility, you can then apply for a visa at your local Japan Consulate or Embassy. To apply for the visa, you will need the following documents:
- A valid Australian passport or a valid passport with a valid Australian visa
- Visa application form, completed and signed by the applicant (which you can download from the website of the Consulate or Embassy you are applying at)
- One passport sized photo (taken within 6 months)
- The original Certificate of Eligibility