Embassy: Filipinos still need visa for Japan travel

MANILA, Philippines - The Embassy of Japan in the Philippines has clarified that Filipinos still need a visa to visit the "Land of the Rising Sun" contrary to online reports.

"Recently, false news have been circulating regarding the Japanese Visa for the Filipinos.  The news mentioned that Japan has lifted its Visa for the Philippines," the embassy said in a notice to the public posted on its website.

"The Embassy of Japan in the Philippines would like to clarify to the public that Japan has not lifted the visa exemption for the Philippines contrary to the recent reports," it added.

But the embassy said Japan has opened multiple-entry visas to Filipinos.

According to the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, the Japanese government has decided to begin issuance of multiple entry visas for short-term stay to Filipino nationals (ordinary passport holders) who reside in their home country.

The issuance of the multiple entry visas to Filipinos, which will begin on July 1, is in connection with the celebration of the 40th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation, the Ministry said.

"The further development of Japan-Philippines exchange is expected as a result of the issuance of multiple entry visas, including increases in the number of tourist from the Philippines who visit Japan and the enhancement of the ease of business transactions between the two countries," it said.

The ministry explained that Filipinos who may get a multiple entry visa are those who have fulfilled certain conditions and who have an ordinary Machine-Readable passport, which meet International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards or an ordinary IC passport.

Filipinos may stay for 15 days in Japan with the multiple entry visa, which will be valid for up to three years.

Contrary to reports circulating in the internet that the visa requirement for Filipinos has been lifted, the ministry said it only granted visa exemptions to nationals of Thailand and Malaysia.

The reports said according to the Foreign Ministry’s pronouncement, visa exemption will be effective for Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Vietnam after July 1.