The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on July 31 that it would mitigate the requirements for short-term visas for citizens of the Philippines, effective August 1.
This mitigation measure is based on the Japanese government’s “Tourism Vision Realization Program 2018” (Action Program for Realization of Tourism Vision 2018).
This program aims to increase the number of Philippine citizens who come to Japan to visit, live, and work, and to promote the exchange of human resources between the two countries.
The short-term stay visa, which was previously available only to businesspeople and to cultural and intellectual figures, is now also available to medical doctors, lawyers, and certified public accountants. The longest possible period of validity has also been increased from 5 years to 10 years.
According to data released by the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), the number of Phillipine citizens entering Japan increased in 2017 by 21% over the previous year to about 420,000 visitors. This represents the ninth largest number of entrants to Japan by country.
［Reference］The Ministry of Foreign Affairs to mitigate the requirements for short-term visas for citizens of the Philippines
［Reference］Statics for foreign visitors and Japanese going abroad
jopus Editorial Dep.
