I have been living in Japan for almost seven years already (I will be seven years exactly on September 24th.)
With that span of time, I have invited my family to visit Japan three times already.
The first time was in the spring of 2017. I invited four family members – my mother, two sisters (eldest and youngest), and my sister-in-law.
The second time was this year`s spring. I invited four family members again this time – my mother, my sister (second eldest), my youngest brother and his daughter, my niece.
The third time was two months ago. Only my mother and my youngest sister came at this time.
Few friends, both Filipino and Japanese, asked me how I did the invitation process.
So, in this article, I will give you the details of how I invited my family to Japan in the hope that it will help somebody planning to do the same.
First of all, you have to have savings and a job here to be able to show that you are capable to be a guarantor. In my first year of work here, when I had an instructor’s visa, I invited my sister but the application was denied because the agency said my savings were not enough. I don’t know if that is still the policy now, but that was what happened with me five years ago.
Three years later since my arrival in Japan, my visa was changed from Instructor’s Visa to Spouse of a Permanent Resident because as the word ‘spouse’ means, I got married to a Permanent Resident.
I don’t think your visa status is important to be able to invite but it helps. Whether you are a student, working visa, or spouse, you can still invite as long as you fulfill the requirements.
I wasn’t really planning to invite my family to Japan anymore, but the promo of Cebu Pacific (Piso Fare) got me thinking. I was in the US in July of 2016 when I found out the airline promo and right there and then booked their travel ticket for spring 2017. I got a very good deal for four people round trip. Imagine, P1 fare! I can`t remember anymore how much I paid exactly for four people but it was very cheap. I only paid the taxes and fuel surcharge etc.
At the back of my head, I thought if their visa will not be approved, it would not hurt that much to lose the money I used to purchase the travel ticket because it was just a promo fare but at least I tried.
But I was optimistic they will get approved. I`m not gonna waste this chance.
Next, I went to uncle Google to check the requirements for visiting Japan.
For the information of non-Filipino readers, yes, we Filipinos need to get a visa to most countries to be able to travel.
It did not take me long to arrive on this website: https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/index.html
That`s the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. There you can check everything about visa and coming to Japan.
To make it easier for you, I copied here the necessary documents to be prepared for visiting relatives:
(Provided by visa applicant)
① Valid Passport
② Visa application Form
③ 1 Photo（Passport Size）
④ Birth certificate (Note1)
Including the birth certificate that can attest that the relationship of the applicant to the Japanese relatives is within the third degree.
[Examples] when a spouse of Philippine nationality residing in Japan invites her younger brother, 2 certificates – the younger brother’s (applicant) and spouse’s one- are required.
⑤ Marriage certificate (if married)
⑥ Proof of sufficient funds to defray all the expenses while in Japan
・A certificate of income or tax payment issued by a public agency
・Certificate of deposit balance(Provided from Japan)
⑦ Invitation Letter
⑧ Documents explaining the reason for invitation (copies of medical checkup,maternal health log, etc.)
⑨ Family register ’Kosekitohon’ (when the inviting person or his/her spouse is Japanese)
⑩ Itinerary during stay in Japan
⑪ A certificate of residence ‘Jyuminhyo’ (with description of his/ her family relationship with all family members)
(Note) When the guarantor is a foreign national, submit a photocopy of the both sides of the valid Residence card , a Certificate of residence with full details except for Individual
Number(“My Number”) and Resident Record Code, and a photo copy of his/her passport(including the pages of status items,the record of entry/departure, and of residence permit)(Please submit the following documents if the guarantor pays a part or all of the travel expenses)
⑫ Letter of guarantee
⑬ More than one of the following documents pertaining to the guarantor:
(a) The latest Certificate of Income / Taxation issued by the head of administration of the place of residence, or a certificate of tax payment (Form 2) issued by the
director of the tax office
(Note1) Each certificate should indicate the gross income for the previous year.
(Note2)Statement of Tax Withholding is not acceptable.
(b)A copy of the counterfoil of final tax return with the seal of reception of the Tax Office. (e-Tax: please submit Receipt Notification and Final Tax Return)
(c)A certificate of deposit balance
You can download the forms on the website I mentioned above.
And for further details, you can check this link: https://www.mofa.go.jp/files/000121323.pdf
They have included necessary forms in that link as well.
Take note that for visiting visa, you have to submit these documents through accredited agencies. The list of accredited agencies are also in the link.
In my case, my family submitted the documents to Discovery Agency, Inc., Davao Branch (address: Door 109G/ F Court View Inn Bldg., Quimpo Blvd. Cor. Sandawa Road, Davao City, telephone numbers: 082-285-7188, 082-284-4114, 082-321-1315, 0915-326-0111（GLOBE）, 0920-210-4677（SMART), 0923-423-2207（SUN）
After about two weeks of submission, my family was notified about the result. The agency asked them to pay P2,500 for each visa. And that was it. They got their passports with a Japanese visa in it.
Next, I asked them to get travel insurance thru Pacific Cross. It is not the best but it is better than nothing.
Inviting a family to visit Japan seems complicated at first but as long as you communicate with the travel agency, they will help you comply with everything so you can get your visa approved.
If this information is too much for you, I advise you go direct to the travel agency nearest you or just give them a call and I am pretty sure they will assist you all the way.
Good luck to you and may you enjoy having your family in Japan.