The Japanese government has made travel to Japan easier for residents of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Starting immediately, UAE residents who are required to obtain visas to visit Japan no longer need to go to the consulate-general in Dubai or the embassy in Abu Dhabi. Instead, the application can be done online. This new measure will ease travel for many other residents of the country.
Also read: Faster US Green Card Access Now Available To UAE Residents & Here’s How You Can Apply
Japan Visa For UAE Residents
Since November 2022, UAE nationals have not been required to apply for visas to visit Japan. The full visa waiver for Emiratis has been successful, and now, all UAE residents can apply for an eVisa through a dedicated website. The digital confirmation visa will be sent to the applicant upon successful submission. When entering Japan immigration, the eVisa holder needs to simply log on to the Japan eVISA website and show the visa. No screenshots or printouts of the page will be accepted. This digital process has also been rolled out for residents of Saudi Arabia.
Also read: Travel Made Easy: Five Countries Offering eVisas to UAE Expats
No More Restrictions
Additionally, the Japanese government has announced that it will cease COVID-19-related entry requirements to the country from May 8. This means travellers no longer need to provide proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test from May 8 onwards.
Kobashi Daisuke, executive director of the Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO) in Dubai, expressed his delight with the commencement of the online visa applications for short-term stay visas in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, as well as the visa waiver arrangements for short–term stay for Qatari nationals. He stated that this move will ease the process of visiting Japan for touristic purposes. The timing is also ideal for Eid travel, with visitors to Japan in the months of April and May able to enjoy and make the most of the spectacular spring climate and striking new green verdant landscapes.
Travel to Japan from GCC countries has been steadily increasing, making it one of the few international markets showing post-COVID recovery levels. Current figures even surpassed the number of visitors in 2019. Daisuke is confident that with further resumption of the Japan routes by major airlines, the upward demand for travelling to Japan will continue.
Also read: UAE Visa On Arrival Rules – Here’s The Full List Of Valid Passports Applicable
How To Apply For The Japan e-visa?
- Log into this website.
- Upon successful submission, a digital confirmation visa will be sent to the applicant.
- When entering Japan immigration, the eVisa holder needs to simply log on to the Japan eVISA website and show the visa.
- No screenshots or printouts of the page will be accepted.
- For further details on how to apply online, check out the instructional video on the platform.
