My Journey: Securing a 3-Year Japanese Multi-Visa Without Ever Visiting Japan
Hello everyone! After lurking in this group for a while and thoroughly reviewing everyone's posts about obtaining multi-year Japanese visas, I felt inspired to apply for my own, all by myself. And guess what? I was granted a 3-year visa! I wanted to share my experience to hopefully encourage others to go for it!
My Background
- I had never visited Japan before.
- I work in an office with a salary exceeding 20 million VND per month, with social insurance contributions and an indefinite labor contract.
- I've traveled to several Southeast Asian countries (Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand multiple times) and South Korea once.
- My passport contained a valid US visa and a European visa that had expired within the last 6 months.
- I have a savings account with over 200 million VND, a property deed for a house in Hanoi, and around 30 million VND in my bank account at the time of application.
- I am currently pursuing two Master's degrees at Hanoi Law University and National Economics University.
Looking at my profile, you might think my biggest hurdle was never having been to Japan. I applied for the multi-entry visa under Category B, which is for individuals with strong financial capabilities. Therefore, I meticulously prepared all the financial documentation to align perfectly with this application category.
My Application Documents
Although I gathered a lot, I'll list what VFS advised submitting and what I actually included:
- Passport and most recent old passport.
- Completed multi-entry visa application form (latest version from the Embassy website) with one 4.5x3.5 photo attached (remember to write your name on the back of the photo).
- Letter of explanation for requesting a multi-entry visa. I wrote this in English, clearly outlining my background: my name, place of residence, educational history, current employment, personal finances, travel history, the reasons for wanting to visit Japan and apply for a multi-entry visa, and my travel plans if granted the visa. This letter doesn't need to be excessively long, but it's crucial to convey sincerity, clarity, and a commitment to abide by immigration regulations and stay durations in Japan. If anyone needs a sample, feel free to message me!
- Employment verification documents:
- Original employment confirmation letter stating the last 3 months' salary.
- Screenshot of the vssID (not mandatory, but recommended).
- Financial verification documents:
- Photocopy of savings book and a balance confirmation letter.
- Bank account balance confirmation.
- Bank statement for the last 6 months (highlighting salary deposits).
- Photocopy of the property deed (if available).
- Other supporting documents:
- University degree and any other academic certificates (if applicable). For me, this included my legal training certificate.
- Photocopy or photo of student ID if currently enrolled in a program (I submitted student IDs from NEU and HLU).
- Itinerary for the first trip if the visa is granted (following the format on the Japanese Embassy website).
- Hotel and flight bookings (saveby).
I submitted my application through VFS Global in Hanoi. The waiting period for the result was about 7 working days. VFS contacted me to collect my passport once the result was ready, without revealing the outcome beforehand.
I felt quite confident when submitting my application because my profile wasn't weak. The only potential issue was never having visited Japan before. However, I reasoned that if the Embassy accepted applications under Category B, they wouldn't reject me solely for that reason. So, I proceeded with optimism. The real surprise was applying for a 1-year visa and receiving a 3-year one!
I genuinely wish good luck to everyone, and if you have any questions, don't hesitate to message me!
Credit: Thu Vân
