Getting Tourist Visas
If you are traveling to a country that is not your home country, it is important to check whether you require a tourist visa or not. Tourist visas are generally valid for a two week to one month stay, depending on the county of course. Getting a visa can be as easy as walking straight through customs to prolonged advanced applications. Plan accordningly.
Re-entry Permits
http://www.pref.ehime.jp/kokusai/e-seika3.htm
If you leave Japan while on the JET Programme and wish to re-enter, you must have a re-entry permit. You can choose from either a Single Re-entry Permit or a Multiple Re-entry Permit. Both permits are only valid for the length of your working permit. To get a re-entry permit, you must go to the Ehime Office of Immigration.
Bring:
- Your Passport
- Your Certificate of Alien Registration (a.k.a. gaijin card)
- Revenue Stamps (pre-purchase at the a post office)
- An idea of your date of departure (you won't be required to leave on this exact date, but you'll need it for the forms)
Cost
- Single Re-entry Permit: 3,000 yen (in revenue stamps)
- Multiple Re-entry Permit: 6,000 yen (in revenue stamps)
- Many JETs get this during the Ehime JET orientation period held in Matsuyama in August. If you choose not to do it then, some JETs are allowed a day of special leave in their contracts to complete this task (not paid leave: nenkyu) because if you leave without your permit you will lose your work visa. Talk with your supervisor.
Revenue Stamps (shunyu-inshi)
Revenue stamps can be purchased at EPIC, or at any post office at the stamp counter and not the bank counter. You can also purchase them on the second floor of the Matsuyama Immigration Building.
Immigration Office
Matsuyama Joint Government Building 1F
188-6 Miyata-cho, Matsuyama-shi
Ehime-ken, 8790-0066
[Office Hours]
Monday – Friday (9:00am-12noon / 1pm – 4pm) closed public holidays
[Phone Numbers]
089-932-0895
Tourist Visa Links
In order to make it easier to find information about Tourist Visas, we've collected a list of links and basic information for you. This list is not comprehensive and focuses primarily on countries in Asia, the ones most Ehimites tend to visit. We also highly encourage you to double check these visa requirements from your home country embassies. If you have other additions, please don't hesitate to contact us!
South Korea
http://www.visitkorea.or.kr/ena/GK/GK_EN_2_1_1.jsp
Most Countries are exempt from tourist visas, but please double-check your country in the above link.
Thailand
http://www.thaivisa.com/visa/passport-holders-who-can-enter-thailand-without- visa.html
Most Countries are exempt from tourist visas, but please double-check your country in the above link.
Taiwan
http://www.boca.gov.tw/content.asp?CuItem=1900
Most Countries are exempt from tourist visas. See the above link for more information.
Singapore
http://www.ica.gov.sg/services_centre_overview.aspx?pageid=252&secid=165
Most Countries are exempt from tourist visas. See the above link for more information.
India
http://goindia.about.com/od/planningyourtrip/a/indianvisa.htm
Advance tourist visas for most countries are required. See the above link for more information.
Phillipines
http://immigration.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=329&Itemid=80
Most visitors can aquire visas through the Visa on Arrival. See the above link for more information.
Vietnam
Tourist Visas for Vietnam can be aquired through a combination of evisa and Visa on Arrival if you arrive by air. I have used the above site for this service in the past, and it was recommended on the Lonely Planet fourms. (Be forewarned that this company, as others of its kind, will email you the "invitation letter" with a list of the passport information of you and everyone else who applied at the same time as you.)
Malaysia
http://www.2malaysia.com/visa.htm
Most Countries are exempt from tourist visas. See the above link for more information.
Cambodia
http://www.mfaic.gov.kh/evisa/
Evisas can be aquired prior to arrival. Please see the above link for more information.
China
http://www.rto.co.jp/visa.htm
Visa form page 1:http://www.china-embassy.or.jp/chn/lsfw/bgdy/P020070830376620622048.pdf
Visa form page 2:http://www.china-embassy.or.jp/chn/lsfw/bgdy/P020070830378656885516.pdf
Advanced visas are required for most countries. The above site is a Japanese travel agency based in Osaka that specialzies in getting Chinese Visas for foreign residents in Japan. Allow at least a week for processing.