How to get a Japan visa from Sierra Leone

• This visa is issued to applicants who want to go into Japan for reasons such as vacationing, tourism, visiting family and other short term purposes.
• Those issued this visa are given the Temporary Visitor status.
• It is also possible to have business meetings, seminars, conferences, sign contracts, engage in PR activities and conduct market research.
• The visa is issued on both Single and Multiple entries.
• The application form should be filled with a black pen.
• The passport used for the application must be signed by the bearer. It should also be valid for 6 months.
• If you are meeting a family relation in Japan, you are required to provide documents that sufficiently prove the family relationship.
• The document to be submitted should include either a birth certificate, marriage certificate or an extract from the civil status certificate.
• A certified copy of the family register is required if your host is your spouse and is also Japanese.
• All applicants of this visa should make sure they present a letter of invitation which bears the seal of the host.
• It is important that details of the program of stay are provided along with the coordinates of your accommodation.
• This visa does not allow visitors to undertake paid activities while in Japan.
• A visitor visa to Japan is valid for a period of up to 90 days.
• People traveling on this visa must have the intention to leave Japan at the end of their authorized stay.

• This visa is issued to people who have been given employment in Japan.
• The Japan work visa only covers the kind of work that requires a high level of professional knowledge or skills.
• Applicants are to fill a visa application form from the embassy and present a valid passport.
• The company of employment serves as the sponsor for the applicant. Hence, the company is required to present a letter stating the applicant's intending position and expected salary.
• The company is also expected to ensure that the applicant is issued a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) as this is a vital part of the application process.
• Work visas are normally issued to be valid for a period of 1-3 years.
• Applicants are required to take their letter of employment and work contract to the embassy for application.
• For work applicants, a CV containing a proof of previous work experience should be submitted along with the contract letter.
• Applicants are to also get a residence and work permit.
• A Specified Skills visa has been newly introduced to foreigners coming to Japan for work and it has two sub-types:
• The Specified Skills Visa No.1 allows foreigners to work in Japan for a period of 5 years and is immediately accessible for application.
• The Specified Skills Visa No.2 allows foreigners to work in Japan indefinitely. It is however to be noted that this visa is yet to be released for use.
• Applicants can renew their work visas if they are found eligible to renew it.

• The student visa is issued to foreigners who have intentions to study in Japan.
• Applicants of this visa have to get a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) issued by the Ministry of Justice from their institution or school of admission.
• A copy of the applicant's last school leaving certificate or transcript is necessary for the application process.
• Documents that show that applicants can support themselves or are being sponsored is to be provided. Self-sponsored applicants are expected to have ¥3,000,000 or the equivalent in dollars.
• For those sponsored, they are required to bring the income statements of the sponsor along with bank statements and scholarship award letters.
• If the applicant's sponsor is a resident in Japan, he or she is expected to submit a proof of residency in Japan.
• A person on a student visa may apply for permission to do part-time work.
• Once granted permission, the student is allowed to work for up to 28 hours per week during the study term and up to 8 hours per day during study vacation periods.
• Note that the time of application is usually limited. Applicants are to always be on the lookout for the right application period.

If you are planning a trip to Japan, avoid breaking the rules of chopstick etiquette, do not ignore the queuing system, do not blow your nose in public, and do not leave a tip.