Does my friend need a visa?

[xbearbishopx]

Hi guys,

I am going to Japan in March, but my friend who is holding onto a China passport and she is residing in Singapore as a student. Is she required to get a visa ? Considering we are going there for 12 days. And the information at the Japan website is rather unclear about it.
Thanks !

 

[evilerniex]

i think ur fren need visa.
china is not listed as one of the country with visa exemption for entry to japan. dun think residing in Singapore make any difference coz she is still holding a china passport

 

[deodorant]

Visa requirements are based on passport and not country of residence.

But your friend, because she is a resident, should be able to apply for the Visa in SG's Japanese Embassy.

 

[xbearbishopx]

Thanks for your quick responds guys!
@ Deo& evil Psps, I mean like as Singaporeans we can just sign the immigration form and we can straight access the country. As for her, can she do the same ? Or must she apply through embassy ?

Yea I don't see the it the list. Their website also don't say they need apply or not. But under the HK. They did mention about short trip for PRC. But they say short trip don't need or smth.. Super unclear haha

 

[s7460597]

Read properly on PRC in HK. School trip only.


http://www.sg.emb-japan.go.jp/visa_exemption.htm

 

[evilerniex]

Thanks for your quick responds guys!
@ Deo& evil Psps, I mean like as Singaporeans we can just sign the immigration form and we can straight access the country. As for her, can she do the same ? Or must she apply through embassy ?

Yea I don't see the it the list. Their website also don't say they need apply or not. But under the HK. They did mention about short trip for PRC. But they say short trip don't need or smth.. Super unclear haha

we can just sign immigration form because Singapore passport is listed as visa exempted. for china passport holders, need to apply for visa.

as a student, she can apply for the visa through the japan embassy in Singapore:
http://www.sg.emb-japan.go.jp/visa_eligibility.htm

 

[dilphinus]

Thanks for your quick responds guys!
@ Deo& evil Psps, I mean like as Singaporeans we can just sign the immigration form and we can straight access the country. As for her, can she do the same ? Or must she apply through embassy ?

Yea I don't see the it the list. Their website also don't say they need apply or not. But under the HK. They did mention about short trip for PRC. But they say short trip don't need or smth.. Super unclear haha

hello, Disembarkation / Embarkation Card / immigration card are not visas.

Instructions are pretty straight forward
http://www.sg.emb-japan.go.jp/visiting.htm

Application Form
http://www.sg.emb-japan.go.jp/apply-form-2Apr2013.pdf

How to fill up the application form
http://www.sg.emb-japan.go.jp/apply-form-sample.pdf

Visa Fees
http://www.sg.emb-japan.go.jp/visa_fees.htm

Location of the Embassy / Consulate
http://www.sg.emb-japan.go.jp/visa_wheretoapply.htm

 

[jslim2]

Yes definitely need a visa. The other time a bunch of us headed to Tokyo for interview, but the people holding onto China passports were told to apply for visa beforehand from the company side, so it's a positive.

 

[lcpteck]

xbearbishopx,

You just need to understand that the passport of a person matters, not where he/she is a residence of. The passport is the only official international document that identifies the nationality of the person when in a foreign country. So there's not much point in bringing your IC to a foreign country since it's not internationally recognized.

The immigration forms you fill in when you enter a foreign country is just a record of your travel information for their Customs department, it's not a 'Visa'.

Japan exempts Visa for Singapore passports but not China passports. So for Singapore passports when we fly to Japan, we don't need to apply for a Visa beforehand (If staying within 90 days that Japan allows for Singapore passports. More than 90 days you would need a Visa though.). We just book the ticket and off we go (Make sure your Passport still have at least 6 months validity). For China passports, they would have to go to the nearest Japanese Embassy/Consulate (or do it online if there's such a facility) and apply for a Visa (there's a fee involved as well).

Please apply for a Visa BEFORE you book the air ticket just in case it gets rejected for whatever reason so the air ticket don't get wasted. Usually not a problem for tourists but you never know.

Another note is you might come across some countries advertising 'Visa On Arrival'. That means you don't need to apply for a Visa before you fly, you could just apply for it when you reach there at the airport. Qatar is an example.

This is my limited knowledge of Visas so far. Haven't had to apply for one yet so will be interesting for me when the time comes when I need to.

 

[xbearbishopx]

xbearbishopx,

You just need to understand that the passport of a person matters, not where he/she is a residence of. The passport is the only official international document that identifies the nationality of the person when in a foreign country. So there's not much point in bringing your IC to a foreign country since it's not internationally recognized.

The immigration forms you fill in when you enter a foreign country is just a record of your travel information for their Customs department, it's not a 'Visa'.

Japan exempts Visa for Singapore passports but not China passports. So for Singapore passports when we fly to Japan, we don't need to apply for a Visa beforehand (If staying within 90 days that Japan allows for Singapore passports. More than 90 days you would need a Visa though.). We just book the ticket and off we go (Make sure your Passport still have at least 6 months validity). For China passports, they would have to go to the nearest Japanese Embassy/Consulate (or do it online if there's such a facility) and apply for a Visa (there's a fee involved as well).

Please apply for a Visa BEFORE you book the air ticket just in case it gets rejected for whatever reason so the air ticket don't get wasted. Usually not a problem for tourists but you never know.

Another note is you might come across some countries advertising 'Visa On Arrival'. That means you don't need to apply for a Visa before you fly, you could just apply for it when you reach there at the airport. Qatar is an example.

This is my limited knowledge of Visas so far. Haven't had to apply for one yet so will be interesting for me when the time comes when I need to.

Haha thanks for the detailed explanation !

@all thanks too!