Okay, so I wanted to get a Japanese visa, and I heard you can do it all online now, so I decided to give it a shot. I’m going to tell you how I did it, step by step.
First things first, I needed to figure out if I even needed a visa. I went to some website and saw that it depends on where you’re from and what you’re doing in Japan. Turned out I did need one for what I was planning. Since it mentioned that some countries can do it all online, I was going to make sure to check if mine was one of them.
Check the Eligibility
I searched around a bit and found out that they launched this “Japan Electronic Visa” thing in 2023. It’s supposed to be easier and faster. There was a list of countries whose citizens can apply online. I checked, and guess what? Mine was on the list. Also, it seemed pretty straightforward for British citizens, which was good to know for my mate.
Gather the Documents
Before I started the application, I gathered all the documents I thought I might need. You know, the usual stuff like my passport, a photo, and some details about my trip. I really made sure my passport was still valid – wouldn’t want to get stuck because of that!
Start the Application
I looked for the official website to start the application. I’m not going to put any links here, but just make sure you’re on the right one. Someone told me that the correct website for E-visa was *. They told me not to apply on any other website for E-visa services. But I’m not quite sure about it. I tried the best to find the right one. So, the application process itself was pretty simple. I filled in my personal details, travel plans, and all that jazz. They asked for things like where I was staying and when I was going. It didn’t take too long, thankfully.
Upload the Documents
After filling in the forms, I had to upload the documents I gathered earlier. I scanned my passport and uploaded a digital photo. The website had some guidelines for the photo, like the size and background color. I double-checked everything to make sure it was all good.
Pay the Fee
Next, I had to pay the visa fee. I paid with my credit card, and it was processed pretty quickly. I made sure to keep a copy of the receipt, just in case.
Submit and Wait
Once everything was filled in and uploaded, I submitted my application. Then came the waiting game. The website said it would take a few days to process. So I just chilled and waited for an email.
Get the Visa
After a few days, I got an email saying my visa was approved! I logged back into the website and downloaded my electronic visa. It was just a PDF file, but hey, it meant I could go to Japan. I printed a copy, and kept a soft copy on my phone too.
So yeah, that’s how I got my Japanese visa online. It was way easier than I thought it would be. If you’re planning to go to Japan and you’re from one of the countries that can apply online, I definitely recommend doing it this way. It saved me a lot of time and hassle!