Do South Africans Need A Visa For Japan? Moving to another country can be tricky especially if you have never done it before. There are numerous practical aspects to consider and eventually get your head around. This includes foreign visas, travel documentation and health insurance. It’s a good idea to do your homework before committing to a move like this.

In this article, you’ll find out if South Africans need a visa to Japan, and how to go about getting it. I’ll also answer questions related to the Japanese embassy in South Africa and other visa requirements.

Though some may not plan it, most people in this world have lived through at least one disaster. For many residents of Japan, the natural disasters of recent years have left them with a lot of uncertainty. However, these events have also served to bring the two countries closer together. So close, in fact, that it might be possible to move your business to Japan someday soon and not need to obtain a Japanese visa. This is more likely than you think–and with a South African passport you could be eligible for this opportunity!

Do South Africans Need A Visa For Japan

Japanese eVisa for South African Citizens

By 2030, Japanese tourism officials hope to attract around 60 million travelers per year. In order to expedite this lofty goal, Japan is set to introduce a new system for visitors to apply for and receive permission to visit the island country.

The Japanese eVisa system will soon be introduced and will be made available to citizens from nearly every country in the world, including South Africa.

Find out all the details that South Africans have to know in order to get their eVisa for Japan.

Do South Africans Need a Online Visa to Visit Japan?

Yes, South African passport holders are required to hold a visa in order to visit Japan. Luckily, once the eVisa for Japan is officially made available to travelers, the process for South Africans to acquire an electronic travel authorization will be streamlined as they will be able to do it all from the comfort of their homes, without the necessity to visit an embassy or consulate or otherwise rely on the mail system.

There are a few documents and prerequisites that are required, as well as an application form, but the entire process, from start to finish, will be easy to complete.

Other visas to Japan are also available to South African nationals, for instance when they are entering the country for academic, permanent settlement and/or work-related endeavors. However, in those cases, travelers from South Africa will need to apply through a Japanese embassy or consulate.

South African Nationals’ eVisa Options for Japan

The types of Japanese eVisa that South African travelers should apply for will depend on the duration and type of trip they are taking to Japan.

For the vast majority of South African travelers, the tourist eVisa for Japan is the option they will select as this electronic travel permit covers tourism, leisure, visiting family, and short-term business ventures. The tourist eVisa is available in either single- or multi-entry options and is valid for up to 90 days.

The Business eVisa to Japan is meant for South Africans who are visiting Japan only for commercial and business affairs.

The Japanese Transit Visa is the option suitable for South African travelers who are laying over in Japan for a few hours when waiting for a connecting flight that has another country as its final destination.

Long-Term eVisa Options to Stay in Japan for South Africans

There are a variety of Japan’s longterm visa options for South African passport holders. These are more specific to the applicant’s reason for visiting Japan and their length of stay.

• General Visa to Japan: For stays exceeding 90 days up to three years
• Japan’s Working Visa: For South African citizens who have received an offer to move to Japan for professional reasons
• Specific Visa to visit Japan: For the spouse of a Japanese resident who wishes to relocate to Japan for up to five years
• Diplomatic Visa to enter Japan: This option is for South Africans who are doing diplomatic work in Japan. The length of the visa depends on the specific needs of the applicant
• Japanese Official Visa: The official visa is offered to a variety of applicants, including those doing international relations or governmental work. The length of this visa is also duty specific

Japan e-Visa Requirements for South African Nationals

As is the case with any visa application, the Japanese eVisa for South African citizens will require a handful of documents and personal details when filling out Japan’s eVisa application form.

The most basic eVisa requirements to Japan that each applicant must provide are the following:

• A valid South African passport. The passport must be at least six months away from expiring and have at least two blank pages
• A digital, recent upload of the South African applicants’ passport photograph
• A detailed itinerary including proof of plans to enter and exit Japan before the visa has expired, and hotel or alternative accommodation plans
• If the traveler from South Africa is married, they must provide a marriage certificate
• Proof of ability to finance the entirety of the trip. If South Africans are not visiting Japan with the aid of a guarantor or a sponsor, then they must provide documents such as tax statements or account statements that prove they are financially capable of undertaking the costs for their time in Japan
• A second piece of South African government-issued identification such as a birth certificate or driver’s license

In the event that a South African traveler is visiting Japan with the financial aid of a Japanese sponsor or guarantor then they must also provide the following:

• A letter that explains in detail the relationship between the South African applicant and the Japanese citizen who is sponsoring their visit
• Documents corroborating the information detailed in the letter
• Financial documents of the guarantor or sponsor that prove that they are indeed capable of financing the South African traveler’s time in Japan