The Japanese government is planning to expand its system of electronic visa services to simplify the application process for foreign visitors. The move comes as tourism begins to recover following the lifting of coronavirus-related border control measures. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs introduced the online service in March, initially in 11 countries and regionswith the addition of China in June.
The eligible countries are : Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, China, Mongolia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America.
Advantages of this e-Visa system for Japan
One of the main advantages of this system is that eligible applicants can obtain short-stay visas without having to visit the local Japanese embassy or consulate. According to data from the Japan National Tourism Organization, approximately 15.19 million foreign tourists visited Japan in the first eight months of this year. The e-visa system has helped to speed up document issuance and reduce staff workloads, as one government official put it.
Reduced staff workload and faster processing of requests
As mentioned by another government official, the computerization of the visa system has not only speeded up processing times, but also lightened the workload for staff. Successful applicants can now present their visa notice from their smartphone when boarding the plane on a flight or upon entry into Japan by accessing the system's website.
Extension planned for this year
The Japanese government plans to extend this system to more countries and regions, with the aim of further simplifying the process for foreign tourists wishing to visit the country. As the number of incoming tourists increases, it is possible that at some point the current workforce will no longer be able to keep up with demand.
Payment of visa fees by credit card
Under the new scheme, applicants from all eligible countries and regions (except China) will be able to pay their visa fees by credit card. Successful applicants will be able to access their visa notification from their smartphone when boarding a flight or entering Japan. by visiting the system's website.
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