The Japanese Embassy in Vietnam and the Japanese Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City announced on October 2 that they will begin issuing electronic visas to Vietnamese tourists visiting Japan from November 1st.
The electronic visas will be issued to Vietnamese passport holders residing in Vietnam for short-term stays of up to 15 days, with a single entry only. The electronic visas will not be available to individual travelers, and will be gradually introduced starting from designated travel agencies (Note 1) that offer package tours as they are prepared.
Vietnamese who have been issued an electronic visa must display the “Visa Issuance Notification” on their mobile device screen at the airport upon arrival in Japan. PDF data, screenshots, or printed copies of the notification will not be accepted. Details on visa application can be found on the website of the Japanese Embassy in Vietnam.
Expectations for further expansion of Japanese visitors from Vietnam
According to statistics from the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), the number of visitors from Vietnam to Japan in 2019 reached 495,051, the highest ever. (Note 2) Although it decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of visitors from Japan to Japan from January to August 2023 was 396,600, exceeding the same period in 2019. It is expected to further expand.
Local travel agencies have expressed the following opinions: “The application process for group visas will be easier with the start of the issuance of electronic visas. The package tour price in Japan has become relatively cheaper due to the impact of the yen depreciation, so it will attract more tourists.” (VN Express October 5th).
(Note 1) The two embassies operate a system to register Vietnamese travel agencies that organize group travel to Japan and apply for visas on behalf of participants as “designated travel agencies.”
(Note 2) Of the Vietnamese visitors to Japan in 2019, 173,936 were tourists, 39,615 were business travelers, and 281,500 were others (excluding tourism and business purposes). It is important to note that the proportion of others, including students and technical intern trainees, is high in Vietnam.
Source: https://www.jetro.go.jp/biznews/2023/10/de34e0077017d5a9.html