Expats in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, as well as Saudi citizens can now apply for a tourist e-visa to Japan, Arabian Business reported last week.
Applicants can apply for the visa via the Japan e-visa website, after which the visa will be sent to the applicant following “successful” submission.
Once in Japan, e-visa holders must log on to the Japan e-visa website and present their visa.
Qatari nationals will also benefit from these new measures, by registering their passport at Japanese Embassies, Consulate-Generals or Consulates.
“I am delighted with the commencement of the online applications for short-term stay visas in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, as well as the visa waiver arrangements for short–term stay for Qatari nationals, as it will ease the process to visit Japan for touristic purposes. It is also especially timely as these measures have been activated in time for Eid travel, with visitors to Japan in the months of April and May able to enjoy and make the most of the spectacular spring climate and striking new green verdant landscapes,” Kobayashi Daisuke, the executive director of Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO) in Dubai said.
“Travel to Japan from GCC countries has been steadily increasing, making it one of the few international markets showing post-Covid recovery levels even surpassing the numbers of visitors achieved in 2019. With further resumption of the Japan routes by major airlines, I am confident that the upward demand for traveling to Japan will continue,” Daisuke added
Multiple entry visa to Japan for UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar
Once the passport has been registered, applicants will receive a ‘Visa Waiver Registration’ seal in their passport, entitling them to multiple short term stays in Japan.
This will allow them to visit Japan without the need for a visa, for up to three years or up till the expiration date of the passport.
In addition to these changes, the Japanese government has announced that COVID-19-related entry requirements will stop from May 8, 2023.
This move comes as Covid-19 is classified as a common disease, and that travellers will no longer need to provide proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test from May 8 onward.
These new measures are a welcome development for travelers from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar who wish to visit Japan.
The simplification of the visa application process and the removal of COVID-19-related entry requirements will make it easier for people to plan their trips and enjoy their time in Japan.
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