Impossible To Get A Tourist Visa In Tokyo

[nicolas18]

I am actually in Tokyo and I tried this week to get a new tourist visa at the Thai embassy in Tokyo.

It turns out that they only accept visa applications (any type) if you can supply:

A) a copy of your Japanese residency card

a copy of a Japanese bank account statement showing at least 20000baht

C) a signed letter from a guarantor.

In other words, if you are a tourist in Japan, forget about getting a Thai visa there.

[bangkokburning]

I believe Japanese get 90 days on arrival and being Asians I'm sure they can fly in and out indefinately. Hunch is the embassy is a pretty quiet place.

[lopburi3]

Japanese get 30 day visa exempt on tourist passport - only Diplomatic or Official passport holder gets 90 day entry without visa.

[nicolas18]

Actually the consular section was quite busy... Most of the Japanese people there seemed to be applying for non B's, probably sent by their company to work in Bangkok

[lopburi3]

Most non immigrant B visas I suspect are for business related travel rather than working in Thailand.

[Tomtomtom69]

Most non immigrant B visas I suspect are for business related travel rather than working in Thailand.

Yes, most likely. For some reason business visas are requested even if the passenger spends only a tiny amount of time in Thailand, which is common amongst Japanese businessmen. Case in point, in February I was on a THAI Airways flight from Bangkok to Yangon where I sat next to a Japanese businessmen that flew all the way from Tokyo via Bangkok to Yangon, Myanmar on a single entry 70-day Myanmar business visa. His ticket showed him arriving in Yangon on the 5.55pm flight I was on and leaving again the following day on the 7.35pm flight to Bangkok. I have no idea why his company went to all that trouble to get him a business visa when a tourist visa would have been perfectly adequate for one day of meetings in Yangon.

[lopburi3]

If having business meeting a non immigrant visa allowing that is required. That is not covered by tourist activities. Most business travelers use proper visa and it is easy for them to do so. Japan has always been very strict on proper visa/entry procedure and would not even allow diplomatic passport holders to vacation in Japan at one time (you had to obtain a tourist passport to be a tourist).

[bangkokburning]

Could swear I read they were giving 90 days after tsunsmi. Also interpreted it as a "we love you (r money) and want you back" campaign.

OK

[BrianCR]

Just to confirm what the original poster wrote - about 20 years ago I also applied for a tourist visa in Tokyo and was informed that I needed the same documents so they haven't changed over time

[nicolas18]

Could swear I read they were giving 90 days after tsunsmi. Also interpreted it as a "we love you (r money) and want you back" campaign.

OK

Japan does indeed issue a 90day stamp on arrival. I was talking about getting a Thai tourist visa in tokyo.

[ubonjoe]

Japan does give 90 a day entry for those from certain countries.

A Thai would have to apply for a visa for entry.

[tfc]

I tried to apply for a Thai tourist visa in Tokyo in 2010 and they wouldn't do it. I'd heard (from Thaivisa) that it could be a challenge in Tokyo but I thought to try anyway since I was there. I'm an Australian by the way and I was in Tokyo to visit a friend for 10 days so no residency card.

In the end I thought stuff it, came back to Thailand got my 30 days on arrival, stayed for 4 weeks then went to HCMC and got my double entry Tourist visa with no problems and no need for any of this extra stuff - just my passport, form, photos and money.

I don't know the current situation in HCMC as that was some years ago and visa situations change like the wind it seems. I'm now on an 1 year business visa and I don't know the Tokyo situation as it presently stands but after all the hassle last time I wouldn't bother with the Thai Tokyo embassy again anyway.

[ubonjoe]

Info on embassy website confirms they will not issue unless you are a resident.

http://www.thaiembassy.jp/rte2/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=618&Itemid=61

[nicolas18]

Info on embassy website confirms they will not issue unless you are a resident.

http://www.thaiembassy.jp/rte2/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=618&Itemid=61

Actually, it doesn't. The website says:

foreigners residing in Japan on specific visa such as permanent resident, long term resident, spouse or child of Japanese citizen, or student, are required to submit additional documents for each category of visa. Please click visa category below for further information.

Which only means that foreigners residing in Japan need to bring additional documents, not that foreigners who do NOT reside in Japan cannot apply for a visa at that particular embassy. This is the first time, btw, that I hear of an embassy (from any country), which refuses to deliver visas to non-residents.

EDIT:

That rule is actually stated here:

http://www.thaiembassy.jp/rte2/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=607%3Atourist-visa&catid=51%3Avisa&Itemid=61

4. For non-Japanese applicant, a copy of resident card or certificate of alien registration. The applicant is also required to present the original documents of identification upon visa application.

5. Airline ticket or confirmation slip with applicant’s name, flight number as well as date of entry and departure.

6. Personal history duly filled in and signed by the applicant.

7. For non-Japanese applicant, an original guarantee letter must be presented together with a copy of guarantor’s passport or driving license duly signed by the guarantor.

[Suradit69]

Info on embassy website confirms they will not issue unless you are a resident.

http://www.thaiembassy.jp/rte2/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=618&Itemid=61

Actually, it doesn't. The website says:

>>>foreigners residing in Japan on specific visa such as permanent resident, long term resident, spouse or child of Japanese citizen, or student, are required to submit additional documents for each category of visa. Please click visa category below for further information.

Which only means that foreigners residing in Japan need to bring additional documents, not that foreigners who do NOT reside in Japan cannot apply for a visa at that particular embassy. This is the first time, btw, that I hear of an embassy (from any country), which refuses to deliver visas to non-residents.

EDIT:

That rule is actually stated here:

http://www.thaiembassy.jp/rte2/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=607%3Atourist-visa&catid=51%3Avisa&Itemid=61

4. For non-Japanese applicant, a copy of resident card or certificate of alien registration. The applicant is also required to present the original documents of identification upon visa application.

5. Airline ticket or confirmation slip with applicant’s name, flight number as well as date of entry and departure.

6. Personal history duly filled in and signed by the applicant.

7. For non-Japanese applicant, an original guarantee letter must be presented together with a copy of guarantor’s passport or driving license duly signed by the guarantor.

"This is the first time, btw, that I hear of an embassy (from any country), which refuses to deliver visas to non-residents."

Depends on the type of visa and the country. I obtained my Non-O "retirement" visa for Thailand at the Thai Consulate in Dubai, but had to show I was a legal resident of the UAE, supply a letter of confirmation from my then current employer specifying salary level and get a statement from the UAE police that I had no criminal record ... along with all the other things required for that type of visa.

Generally when I came to Thailand from the UAE for a short time I would just use the 30 day visa exemption, but for longer holidays I got Tourist Visas and I'm fairly certain I needed to supply a letter confirming my employment status & salary and a photocopy of my UAE residence visa (which they also checked in my passport) even for that.

[ubonjoe]

Click on :+: ACKNOWLEDGE :+: at bottom of page and it takes you to another page that states the following.

[4. For non-Japanese applicant, a copy of resident card or certificate of alien registration. The applicant is also required to present the original documents of identification upon visa application./quote]

[masuk]

Actually the consular section was quite busy... Most of the Japanese people there seemed to be applying for non B's, probably sent by their company to work in Bangkok

When I was staying at a Condo in the city, I was surprised to see what seemed to be a Japanese club office and mini-library on the ground floor, and always a good few Japanese folk staying there and also shopping nearby. So there's obviously a market for longer-term stayers.

[sometimewoodworker]

Click on :+: ACKNOWLEDGE :+: at bottom of page and it takes you to another page that states the following.

[4. For non-Japanese applicant, a copy of resident card or certificate of alien registration. The applicant is also required to present the original documents of identification upon visa application.[/quote]

You are correct in the information on the website.

However it may well be that it isn't all the conditions that are available. The consulate staff are very reasonable and willing to advise. They are also somewhat flexible. Recently I was asked for a document I hadn't brought with me and was permitted to return in the afternoon (they are officially closed in the afternoon) with my missing document.

I was chatting to the consulate officer when I went back and was told that I wouldn't need some of the documents listed on the website. This is Japan so it is a case by case situation.

There is one point the OP didn't make and that is that they operate a VABO (VISA APPOINTMENT BOOKING ONLINE) and at the moment the first date avalible is Tue 04-Jun

[TheWeeknd]

Well this is a downer for me. Was going to combine a visa trip with a life-long desire to go to Japan later this year.

May need to cut the Japan trip short to get a visa somewhere else Still, better to know now and plan accordingly than find out later. Thanks for the info. Guessing S. Korea would be similar?

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[ubonjoe]

This report is over a year old but I can recall some others that got a visa in Seoul. http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/533828-double-entry-tourist-visa/#entry5059415

Website does not mention residency for visa unless from certain countries. http://www.thaiembassy.org/seoul/en/services/2532/31162-List-of-countries-for-additional-requirements.html

[Pikiss]

I too have long wanted to visit Tokyo and at the same time try to obtain a tourist visa to Thailand. The OP’s report was a great heads-up and now I am changing my plans.

Likewise the poster TheWeekend, next on my wish list is Seoul, South Korea. Thank you Ubonjoe for the link to previous thread in TV. Do any of you TV members have even more recent experience of Seoul?

Any info is greatly appreciated as I am starting to plan the trip. I am a Finnish passport holder and the Seoul visa would be my third consecutive tourist visa this year (two previous tourist visas are from Thai embassy in Finland). I have already a return ticket to Finland before the third visa would expire. After that I am not planning to come back to Thailand until after 6-7 months. I’m under 50 so retirement visa is not an option for me yet.

[ubonjoe]

At the nearby embassies or consulates a visa from your home country are not a concern for getting tourist visas. Having several from the same nearby location is normally where the problem comes up.

In your case you should have no problem getting a tourist visa anyware.

[ProThaiExpat]

Years ago I tried to get a non-imm-OA from the Sydney Thai Consulate and after road block after road block, the Thai lady who was running things in those days said that each Thai consulate is different, with differeing policies and that I should give up and try in my home country. She was most explicit and forthcoming and advised that the Consul General of each Thai Consulate is given broad authority to issue or not issue visas in accordance with his own interpretation of the guidelines and regulations regarding those matters issued by the Department of Foreign Affiairs in Bangkok.

[lopburi3]

An O-A visa is special and only issued in country of residence/home as it requires police check and medical and currently can only be processed by official consulates

[Lengthy Travel]

Wish I had seen this thread before booking an online appointment (required) at the Tokyo Thai embassy for yesterday (May 22, 2013). I had read elsewhere that a guarantor was not required so I ignored it but was quickly told I needed it. No visa for me. It makes no sense to me, but that's that.