Applying for a Japan transit visa in South Korea as a Filipino

My husband and I will be flying to the US next year with Japan Airlines. Since we will have a layover of 7 hours at Narita Airport, I thought that it would be a waste of time if we just stayed inside. Hence, I decided to apply for a transit visa. I was not feeling very positive about this process because the first time I went to the Japanese consulate in Busan to apply for a tourist visa, I was not accepted. I was told that since I am on a D-10 visa (at that time), I am not allowed to apply and the lady at the consulate suggested that I go back to the Philippines to do so. I previously wrote about that experience in this post. With only three months left on the validity of my alien card (but I am planning to apply for an extension in January 2019), I was also worried that it might affect my chances of getting approved.

I first searched online for what documents are needed when applying for a Japan transit visa in South Korea but I was only able to get information about the transit visa on the website of Japanese embassies in other countries. In the end, I just decided to follow the requirements for a Japan tourist visa that were outlined in a document I downloaded from the consulate of Japan in Busan (which was thankfully in English).

List of documents needed when applying for a Japanese tourist visa in South Korea

Aside from the basic documents though, I also provided a photocopy of my US visa, a photocopy of my marriage certificate (I gave the original copy too but it was returned to me), a copy of my husband’s alien card (front and back) and a letter explaining the issue with my alien card (where I mentioned that I will be applying for an extension in January 2019). As I am on an F-3 visa now, the bank certificate I provided was under my husband’s name. The bank certificate I gave did not show three months of deposit and withdrawal history (which is the one required for a tourist visa) and just showed the amount in each of my husband’s accounts and the total amount for all. I was thinking that since I was only applying for a transit visa, the consulate might not be so strict in this regard. I am glad that they accepted it.

A copy of the Schedule of Stay I provided during application

On the day I went to Busan to apply for my visa, I arrived at the consulate before 1:30PM so the gate was closed. I asked a guard if I can wait by the gate and he said it was no problem. Before 1:30PM (maybe around 1:28PM), the gate opened and we (including the other applicants) entered the building. Our belongings were x-ray scanned and then we proceeded into the inner room. There are 4 windows and seats in this area with window 1 for the visa application. I approached window 1 once the blinds were lifted and seated behind was the same lady who did not accept my application the first time I applied. She asked for my documents, passport and alien card. She checked the documents and asked a few questions (in English) such as if I have a US visa and if I wanted a double entry instead of a single entry visa. Although we also have a layover in Narita Airport on the way back to Korea, it was less than 2 hours so I said that a single entry would be fine.

Once she was finished checking the documents, she gave me a small green piece of paper and told me to come back tomorrow. I asked if I have to pay any visa fee and she said that Filipinos do not have to pay which surprised me. I think this might be the case only for certain types of visa like a transit and tourist visa. I also asked if I will find out tomorrow whether I got the visa or not but she said that I am most likely to get one.  I inquired as well if there is a passport delivery service but she said no and that I have to personally come back to get it.

This piece of paper will be given after your documents have been accepted

On my way back to Daegu, I was wondering if I really heard right that I will get my passport back the next day because that seems really quick. I did come back to the consulate the next day, handed the small green paper and got my passport with a Japanese transit visa attached.

My Japanese transit visa

When I was checking the website of the consulate of Japan in Busan recently, I noticed that some of the information has changed since my post last year about Japanese visas. Here is the updated info as of November 2018:

• Application time: Mon to Fri, 9:30-12:00 and 13:30-17:00 (excluding holidays)
• Issuance of visa result: Mon to Fri, 9:30-12:00 and 13:30-17:00 (excluding holidays)
• For non-Koreans, a visa issuance fee (31,000 won for a single visa, 61,000 won for a multiple visa, 7,000 won for a transit/pass visa) is required when issuing a visa. Depending on the nationality, visa fee may be exempted. Please check during the time of application.