Starting November 1, the Embassy of Japan in Hanoi and the Consulate General of Japan in Ho Chi Minh City will start issuing Japanese e-Visas to Vietnamese tourists traveling in organized tour groups through approved travel companies or authorized agents.
With the new policy in effect, Vietnamese citizens who are part of tour package groups organized by designated travel companies or authorized agents will now be eligible for e-visas, VisaGuide.World reports.
These e-Visas are designed for short-term stays and a single entry for tourism purposes, allowing a 15-day visit. In addition, this type of e-visa is exclusively available to Vietnamese passport holders residing in Vietnam.
Upon arrival at the airport, visa applicants will be required to present the “Visa Issuance Notice” on their mobile screens. Travel companies predict that this new policy will simplify the group visa application process and attract more tourists, especially during the holiday season.
Regarding the traditional visa process, which Japanese representative agencies usually administer, will continue to be operational.
Moreover, the Japan National Tourism Organization in Vietnam revealed that in September 2023, the number of Vietnamese visitors entering Japan reached 43,000, reflecting an increase of 12.2 per cent compared to the same period in 2019 and a significant increase of 39,3 percent compared to the same period last year.
During the nine months, a total of 439,600 Vietnamese travelers visited Japan, marking a growth of 16.9 percent, compared to the same time in 2019.
In April of this year, Japan also decided to permit entry for citizens of the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia using e-Visas. At the same time, the country extended this e-Visa system to include citizens from various other countries.
In this regard, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed this decision. It unveiled a new online tourist visa system, benefiting citizens from the UAE, Brazil, the US, Canada, the United Kingdom, Cambodia, and others.
Kobayashi, a representative, emphasized that travel to Japan from the GCC area had recently seen a significant increase, making it one of the few international markets that has shown a post-COVID-19 recovery, surpassing pre-pandemic levels recorded in 2019.
Furthermore, as of March 2023, both citizens and residents of Saudi Arabia are eligible to apply for an electronic tourist visa to visit Japan. As a result, all individuals residing in Saudi Arabia can submit their applications for a Japanese tourist visa online, with the visa being valid for three months from the date of issuance.