Complete Guide to Inviting Your Parents to Japan: Required Documents and Procedures

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If you're planning to invite a family member to Japan for a visit and are unsure about the necessary paperwork, please refer to this article. Recently, I invited my mother over and handled all the procedures from her departure to her return, so I have some experience to share in this article.

Step 1: Prepare the documents

1. Documents the Visa Applicant (parent, etc.) should prepare

  1. Passport (original)
  2. Visa application form (with a 4.5cm×3.5cm photo attached) (original)
  3. Document proving family relationship with the inviter (original - submit 1 photocopy)
    • Birth certificate
    • Marriage certificate, etc.
  4. Document proving the ability to cover travel expenses (original)
    • Bank balance certificate (obtain from the bank)
    • Or an income certificate issued by a government agency, etc.
  5. Documents confirming flight reservation or itinerary (original - print the PDF file after successful booking)
    • Flight reservation
      • Note: do not buy the ticket yet, just reserve it and get a reservation code, no payment needed yet.
      • If you have any questions about this, you can ask me via Facebook.

2. Documents the Inviter in Japan should prepare (me)

  1. Invitation letter (original or photocopy)
  2. Copy of the household registration (original or photocopy)
    • Only required if:
      • The inviter is Japanese
      • The spouse of the inviter is Japanese
  3. Itinerary (original or photocopy)

3. Documents the Inviter in Japan should prepare if I am covering the expenses, not the parent

  1. Guarantee letter (original or photocopy)
  2. Documents proving the financial ability of the guarantor (original or photocopy)
    • Any one of the following documents:
      • Tax payment certificate issued by the city, ward, town, or village office (Document showing the most recent total income)
      • Income certificate issued by the city, ward, town, or village office (Document showing the most recent total income)
      • Tax payment certificate issued by the tax office (Form No. 2 Certificate showing taxable income)
        • 様式その2　所得金額の証明)
      • Copy of tax registration certificate (copy with the tax office’s receipt stamp)
        • For online tax payments, use the "Receipt Notification" and "Tax Registration"
      • (May also be required by the embassy) Bank account balance certificate
      • Income source certificates are not accepted.
  3. Resident card (Document showing the relationship of family members)
    • If the guarantor is not a Japanese national, prepare a detailed resident card excluding My Number and Resident Card Code.
    • Additionally, submit a photocopy of both sides of a valid residence card.

Step 2: Request a travel agency to apply for the Visa

  • As of 2014, you cannot apply directly at the embassy but must go through authorized agencies:
  • List of authorized agencies:
  • After preparing all documents in step 1, bring them to the authorized agencies to apply for the Visa
  • It's recommended to have a relative submit the documents to avoid loss
  • Usually, no Visa fee is required when submitting the documents
  • After about a week, contact the authorized agency to check the result
  • If the Visa is granted, retrieve your parent’s passport (with the Visa) and pay the fee, which varies by agency, my case was 720k
  • Check the issued Visa for accuracy, including name, date, etc.

Step 3: Buy flight tickets and prepare for the trip

  • After obtaining the Visa, buy the plane tickets
  • If your parents have no experience with flying, prepare some knowledge in advance
    • Items not allowed on the plane
    • How to check in, find the boarding gate
    • Procedures after landing in Japan
      • This is important as Japanese airports are large and lack Vietnamese instructions
      • For me, I prepared and printed basic phrases like
        • "I am lost, please contact my child at this phone number ..."
    • Prepare a SIM card, in my case, I used international roaming, so my parents could call me immediately upon arrival in Japan

Step 4: Enjoy the holiday in Japan with your parents

  • Wishing you a happy holiday with your parents
  • If you have any questions, contact me via Facebook.