Japan Visa Information

It is the attendee’s responsibility to investigate visa requirements for Japan and apply for a visa if required. 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan provides a list of countries that are exempt from needing a Short-Term Stay visa.  Check to see if you are on the exempt list.  

Your passport must have at least one blank page and be more than 6 months from expiration.  This applies to all visitors. 

Visa Applications 
  • The processing time for a Visa is 5-10 business days assuming there are no discrepancies.  If extra steps are required to collect missing information, the process can take up to 1 month.  Expedited services are not available.  
  • Your visa is only valid for 3 months from your approval date.  You must complete your trip to Japan within 3 months once you receive your approved visa.  Therefore, you cannot apply for a Visa before March 15, 2024. 
  • You (the applicant) must apply for a visa in-person at the Japanese Embassy / Consulate General with jurisdiction over the area in which the applicant lives (or those with jurisdiction over the country of which the applicant’s passport is issued).
  • The documents that are necessary for the application differ depending on the travel purpose and the nationality of the applicant. In some cases, the applicant will need to provide not only documents prepared by the applicant him/herself but documents prepared by the inviting person in Japan are required to apply for visa.  
  • Read below on how to request a Letter of Invitation from the conference organizers.
  • Instructions for Short-Term Stay visa applications should be reviewed carefully on the Ministry website.   



Helpful Notes  
  • Always carry your passport on you while in Japan.  It’s a legal requirement to have your passport as identification during your stay.
  • Your passport must have at least one blank page and be more than 6 months from expiration.  This applies to all visitors.

Invitation Letters   
Your visa application may require you to submit an official letter of invitation from the conference organizers. Follow these steps precisely to receive your letter. 

Send an e-mail to info@metabolomicssociety.org with the subject line: Invitation Letter – Your Name 

Provide these details, with a corresponding number:

  1. Country you reside in, where you will apply to the Consulate
  2. Full Name as it appears on your passport
  3. Male or Female (must check one box on Japan form)
  4. Date of Birth: Year/Month/Day
  5. Age
  6. Nationality
  7. Occupation
We will prepare your invitation letter (.pdf) and send via e-mail within 2 business days. We are not able to provide letters via postal mail. 

Customs Requirements
General guidelines on what you can and can’t bring into Japan can be found here.  


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