This page lists all 27 documents you need for “Relative visit”. Tap any document to see what it is, where to get it, how to request it and what it costs.
About this visitThese 8 answers decide which documents the route shows — and let the app tell you honestly, up front, how likely approval is.See detailsWhat this document is
These 8 answers decide which documents the route shows — and let the app tell you honestly, up front, how likely approval is.
What it must show
- Within the 3rd degree = spouse · parents · children · siblings · grandparents · grandchildren · aunts/uncles
- Beyond that it counts as an “acquaintance visit” — more documents, lower approval rate
- Inviting two or more people requires the 申請人名簿 (list of applicants)
- To settle long-term, a visit visa is NOT the right route — see the guide in the app
Notes
The inviter and the guarantor do not have to be the same person. If your income is still low (common on Tokutei Ginou 1), ask another relative or a Japanese acquaintance to sign as 身元保証人 — this is a legitimate route, not a loophole.
Residence CardYour current residence card. Photograph/enter it to capture the card number, residence status, and expiry.See detailsWhat this document is
Your current residence card. Photograph/enter it to capture the card number, residence status, and expiry.
What it must show
- Photograph BOTH SIDES
- The back has the address + renewal notes
Where to get it
You keep it (law requires you to carry it).
How to get it
- Photograph the front (photo + card number + status + expiry)
- Photograph the back (address + notes)
Notes
Bring the original when submitting at the Bureau.
Copy of the family register (戸籍謄本)A copy of the Japanese family register, replacing the residence card in the packet.See detailsWhat this document is
A copy of the Japanese family register, replacing the residence card in the packet.
What it must show
- Request it at the city or ward office holding your 本籍 — not necessarily where you live
- Ask for the 全部事項証明書 (謄本), NOT the 抄本 — the 抄本 covers one person only and hides the relationships
- About 450 yen per copy
- If you live far from your 本籍, apply by post: the form, a copy of your ID, a 定額小為替 money order, and a stamped self-addressed envelope
- Issued within the last 3 months is safest
- Submit a PHOTOCOPY to the Embassy and keep the original
Notes
Ask for the 謄本 (whole register), not the 抄本 (single person). The Embassy needs to see the other members listed in order to trace your relationship to the invitee; the 抄本 shows only you.
PassportPassport to verify identity. When submitting in person at the Bureau you must BRING THE ORIGINAL to show.See detailsWhat this document is
Passport to verify identity. When submitting in person at the Bureau you must BRING THE ORIGINAL to show.
What it must show
- Still valid
- Photograph/enter the personal-info page (the page with your photo)
Where to get it
You keep it. If expired: apply for a reissue at the Vietnamese Embassy/Consulate in Japan.
How to get it
- Photograph the info page clearly (photo + passport number)
- Bring the original when submitting at the Bureau
Notes
The app stores photos on your device and doesn't send them online.
Certificate of ResidenceCertificate of residence and household members (juuminhyo). For sponsorship / family cases you need the version that lists the WHOLE HOUSEHOLD and…See detailsWhat this document is
Certificate of residence and household members (juuminhyo). For sponsorship / family cases you need the version that lists the WHOLE HOUSEHOLD and INCLUDES the relationship, to prove your relationship with family.
What it must show
- The WHOLE-HOUSEHOLD version — 世帯全員 (not the single-person one)
- INCLUDES the RELATIONSHIP to the head of household — 続柄 shown (あり)
- INCLUDES NATIONALITY (国籍) and RESIDENCE STATUS (在留資格) for foreign residents
- Does NOT print the My Number (個人番号) — the Bureau will NOT accept a version with My Number
Where to get it
The CITY HALL where you're currently registered — 市役所 (city) or 区役所 (ward, in large cities). Find the nearest: open Google Maps and type “市役所” or “区役所” + your city/ward name → pick the closest. With a My Number card you can also get it at a kiosk in a convenience store.
How to get it
- Bring your residence card (在留カード) or My Number card to the city hall and take a number for the resident-record (住民票) counter
- Say (or hand over a note): 「世帯全員、続柄記載あり、マイナンバー無しの住民票を１通ください」— meaning: “Please give me 1 whole-household resident record, WITH relationship, WITHOUT My Number.”
- Pay ~300 yen, receive it the same day. Large households may span 2 pages → ask for both pages
Cost & time
About 300 yen per copy. Issued the same day.
Notes
A version missing the relationship, or one that PRINTS My Number, will be returned by the Bureau — remember to state both conditions when requesting.
Certificate of EmploymentA company-issued letter confirming you are an employee: position, job duties, start date, and salary.See detailsWhat this document is
A company-issued letter confirming you are an employee: position, job duties, start date, and salary.
What it must show
- Company name + official seal
- States position, job duties, start date, salary
Where to get it
Your company's HR / general affairs department.
How to get it
- Ask the company to issue this letter
- Say clearly it's for a residence renewal / change of status
Notes
The job duties must MATCH your residence status (e.g. Engineer = technical/office work, not manual labor).
Withholding Tax Slip (gensen)Year-end tax withholding slip issued by your company (源泉徴収票, gensen) — proves your annual income. The version matching the current tax set is Reiwa 7…See detailsWhat this document is
Year-end tax withholding slip issued by your company (源泉徴収票, gensen) — proves your annual income. The version matching the current tax set is Reiwa 7 nenbun · 2025 income.
What it must show
- The gensen Reiwa 7 nenbun · 2025 income version
- Or recent months' payslips (kyuuyo-meisai)
Where to get it
Your company's HR / accounting department.
How to get it
- Withholding slip: issued by the company at year-end; if lost, ask for a reissue
- Payslips: get paper copies or print from the company payroll system
Notes
If you changed companies mid-year, get the withholding slip from your FORMER company too. ⏱️ NEWCOMER — DO YOU ALREADY HAVE THIS? The gensen is issued by the company after 年末調整 (year-end tax adjustment), around December / early the next year. ➊ You've worked through at least one year-end adjustment (year 2025 or earlier): you HAVE a gensen (令和7年分, 2025 income). ➋ Just arrived / just started working this year: you have NO gensen yet since you haven't been through a year-end adjustment → the first one comes out in around December 2026 – early 2027; while waiting, submit your last 3 MONTHS' PAYSLIPS instead to prove income.
Payslips (last 3 months)The last 3 MONTHS' payslips (給与明細, kyuuyo-meisai) of the SPONSOR (you) — proving your CURRENT income. Especially needed when you're NEW to Japan /…See detailsWhat this document is
The last 3 MONTHS' payslips (給与明細, kyuuyo-meisai) of the SPONSOR (you) — proving your CURRENT income. Especially needed when you're NEW to Japan / just started working and don't yet have a full year of income, so you don't yet have income & tax certificates (課税/納税証明書).
What it must show
- 3 CONSECUTIVE, most recent months (one image per month)
- Clearly show the recipient's name + pay month + total received (支給額)
- The company-issued version (paper or printed from the payroll system)
Where to get it
Your company's HR / accounting department, or print it yourself from the company payroll system (給与明細 Web).
How to get it
- Request or print the payslips for the last 3 months
- Photograph each one clearly — one image per month (3 slots)
Cost & time
Free (issued by the company).
Notes
If you've worked in Japan for LESS than a year: you don't have 課税/納税証明書 yet → submit 3 months' payslips INSTEAD to prove income. If you already have the tax certificates, this is a supporting document for extra assurance.
Income certificate — latest yearCertificate of annual INCOME + municipal tax (課税証明書). This is the most recent version the city can issue: Reiwa 8 nendo · 2025 income. Immigration…See detailsWhat this document is
Certificate of annual INCOME + municipal tax (課税証明書). This is the most recent version the city can issue: Reiwa 8 nendo · 2025 income. Immigration reads this one to see the supporter's latest income.
What it must show
- Reiwa 8 nendo · 2025 income — shows total 2025 income and the municipal tax amount.
- You can get it if you had a 住民票 on 1/1/2026. If you were not in Japan that day the city cannot issue it — see the 🧭 station at the start.
- Low or no income still works: you get a 非課税証明書 (tax-exempt version), which Immigration accepts.
Where to get it
The city hall (shiyakusho) where you were REGISTERED AS A RESIDENT on 1/1/2026. Whichever city that was, that is where you apply — if you have moved, go back to the old city or request it by post.
How to get it
- Take your residence card (or My Number card) to the city hall
- State each fiscal year you need — read out the 令和 year shown above
- With a My Number card you can also use the kiosk in a convenience store, which is cheaper
Cost & time
About 300 yen per copy, issued the same day. Ask for all three at once (two income certificates + one tax-payment certificate) so you only make one trip.
Notes
This version is issued from about mid-May (if your tax is deducted from salary) or early June (if you pay it yourself). Before that the city only has the older version — Immigration understands this.
- Tax payment certificate — latest yearCertificate that municipal tax has been PAID with no arrears (納税証明書). Use the Reiwa 8 nendo · 2025 income version — the SAME fiscal year as the…See details
What this document is
Certificate that municipal tax has been PAID with no arrears (納税証明書). Use the Reiwa 8 nendo · 2025 income version — the SAME fiscal year as the latest income certificate above.
What it must show
- Current version: Reiwa 8 nendo · 2025 income. Obtainable if you had a 住民票 on 1/1/2026.
- This year's municipal tax is still being paid in instalments (salary deduction June → May, or four instalments), so an outstanding balance on the sheet is NORMAL — you can still obtain it and submit it.
- The only thing to avoid is an overdue amount (滞納). Pay each instalment on time and the certificate stays clean.
- Immigration's own document list names the fully-due year (Reiwa 7 nendo · 2024 income); that sheet is the station below — worth adding.
Where to get it
The city hall (shiyakusho) where you were REGISTERED AS A RESIDENT on 1/1/2026. Whichever city that was, that is where you apply — if you have moved, go back to the old city or request it by post.
How to get it
- Take your residence card (or My Number card) to the city hall
- State each fiscal year you need — read out the 令和 year shown above
- With a My Number card you can also use the kiosk in a convenience store, which is cheaper
Cost & time
About 300 yen per copy, issued the same day. Ask for all three at once (two income certificates + one tax-payment certificate) so you only make one trip.
Notes
If you have OVERDUE tax you cannot get a “clean” certificate — pay it off first. Tax arrears weigh heavily in the assessment (素行不良). Switching to salary deduction (特別徴収) is the surest way to keep the certificate clean.
Bank Balance CertificateA bank balance certificate — proves financial capacity when you have NO salary income (in place of the income/tax certificates). Rarely used.See detailsWhat this document is
A bank balance certificate — proves financial capacity when you have NO salary income (in place of the income/tax certificates). Rarely used.
What it must show
- Issued by the bank, showing the balance at the time of request
- Only used when income can't be proven the usual way
Where to get it
The bank where you opened your account.
How to get it
- Go to the bank counter and request a balance certificate
- Say clearly you need a Japanese version to submit to the Bureau
Notes
If you already have income/tax certificates or payslips, this document is usually NOT needed.
Letter of reason for invitationThe MOFA letter of reason for invitation, written by the inviter in Japan.See detailsWhat this document is
The MOFA letter of reason for invitation, written by the inviter in Japan.
What it must show
- Write it in Japanese and sign as the inviter
- Keep it consistent with the schedule and the guarantee letter
- If sections 1-2 do not fit, write 「別紙のとおり」 and attach a sheet
- If inviter = guarantor, 「省略」 is allowed
How to get it
- Fill the embassy country/city
- Fill your address, name and phone
- Fill the applicant's passport details
- Write the three Japanese sections
- Download the filled PDF, print and sign it
Notes
The app only places your own words into the form's boxes. The wording is yours: read it again and sign it yourself.
List of applicants (申請人名簿)A sheet listing every applicant, filed when two or more people are invited.See detailsWhat this document is
A sheet listing every applicant, filed when two or more people are invited.
What it must show
- One block per person: nationality · occupation · name · sex · date of birth
- Plus: passport number · relationship to the inviter · relationship to the guarantor
- Write names in Latin letters exactly as in the passport
- The inviter (or guarantor) signs and dates the sheet
How to get it
- Enter the two accompanying people below (the representative is taken from the 📨 station)
- Press “Create the filled sheet” — the app fills name, nationality, occupation, birth date, age and relationship
- Print on A4, sign BY HAND, and date it (the app reuses the 招へい理由書 date)
- Groups of four or more: two blocks are left blank — write them in by hand
- Photograph the signed sheet and upload it here
Cost & time
Free — download and print it yourself.
Notes
The list must MATCH the passports and the 招へい理由書: one wrong letter in a name gets the packet returned.
- Detailed letter of explanation (extra)A free-form letter attached behind the official 招へい理由書.See details
What this document is
A free-form letter attached behind the official 招へい理由書.
What it must show
- Japanese, A4, about one page — longer rambles
- State the TIMING: why this year, this month (a new baby, ageing parents, a wedding, a memorial)
- State the MONEY: your monthly income, balance, who pays the flight — consistent with the tax documents
- State WHY THEY WILL RETURN: a house, land, family, or pension waiting at home
- End with the date, your full name and a HANDWRITTEN signature
Notes
Do not copy a template from the internet. The Embassy reads thousands of these and spots boilerplate instantly — a plainly written real story reads as more trustworthy.
Stay schedule in JapanThe stay schedule submitted with a relative-visit visa application.See detailsWhat this document is
The stay schedule submitted with a relative-visit visa application.
What it must show
- Prepared by the Japan side
- ⚠️ Every day filled, no gaps — a rest day still needs a line such as “resting at the inviter's home”
- Write concrete daily plans
- Arrival/departure dates must match flight reservations
- Include the home or hotel details
How to get it
- Fill the applicant name
- Write arrival on row 1
- Write concrete plans in the middle rows
- Write departure on the last row
- Download the filled MOFA PDF
Notes
Do not buy the actual ticket before the visa is issued; a flight reservation or schedule is enough.
Who is the guarantorDetails of the 身元保証人, used to fill the guarantee form.See detailsWhat this document is
Details of the 身元保証人, used to fill the guarantee form.
What it must show
- The guarantor must be LIVING IN JAPAN
- A Japanese national or a foreign resident with stable status (permanent resident, engineer, long-term resident) all qualify
- Clearer income is better — the Embassy assesses who could cover costs if needed
- One person may guarantee several cases, but too many at once draws scrutiny
- The inviter and the guarantor need not be the same person — this is a legitimate route
Notes
Ask early: the guarantor must obtain their own tax and employment documents, which usually takes one to two weeks.
Letter of guarantee (身元保証書)The pledge signed by the guarantor, submitted with the visa packet.See detailsWhat this document is
The pledge signed by the guarantor, submitted with the visa packet.
What it must show
- Free download from the Japanese Embassy site
- Covers three undertakings: living costs, return costs, and compliance with the law
- Signed BY HAND in ink with the date — a stamp does not replace a signature
- The name and address must match the guarantor's identity document
Notes
If they hesitate for fear of liability, show them the 🤝 station above: this is a moral undertaking; neither Immigration nor the Embassy collects money from a guarantor.
The guarantor's identity documentProof that the guarantor exists and lives in Japan.See detailsWhat this document is
Proof that the guarantor exists and lives in Japan.
What it must show
- A 住民票 is issued at the guarantor's city hall for about ¥300, same day
- Documents issued IN JAPAN are valid for only 3 MONTHS — do not collect them too early
- Photograph BOTH SIDES of a residence card, all four corners, no glare
- No translation needed
Notes
Do not collect the guarantor's 住民票 at the same time as yours if the packet is still weeks away — it expires in 3 months and you would be troubling them twice.
The guarantor's employment certificateEvidence that the guarantor has stable work and income.See detailsWhat this document is
Evidence that the guarantor has stable work and income.
What it must show
- Ask their HR department — usually 3-7 days
- Shows name, position, start date and the company seal
- Self-employed: a tax return or business notification instead
- You can proceed without it — this station does not block
Notes
Asking for this is a second favour — request it in the same conversation as the signature, to avoid going back twice.
The guarantor's tax certificateThe guarantor's tax certificate, needed only when they also fund the trip.See detailsWhat this document is
The guarantor's tax certificate, needed only when they also fund the trip.
What it must show
- A tax certificate and a tax-payment certificate, about ¥300 each at the city hall
- Take the most recent; documents issued in Japan are valid 3 months
- A newly arrived guarantor without tax records can submit three recent payslips instead
- You can proceed without it — this station does not block
Notes
A tax certificate reveals someone's actual income — ask first whether they mind, rather than assuming they will hand it over.
The invitee's passportThe passport of the person travelling to Japan, submitted by them at the Embassy.See detailsWhat this document is
The passport of the person travelling to Japan, submitted by them at the Embassy.
What it must show
- Bring the ORIGINAL, not a copy
- ⚠️ Valid for at least 6 MONTHS from the filing date — anything shorter is returned
- At least two blank pages for the visa
- Page 3 (the holder's signature field) MUST be signed — and that signature must MATCH the one on the visa application form
- The name must match letter-for-letter the name you wrote on 招へい理由書 and 滞在予定表
Notes
One wrong letter in the name (missing accent, swapped order) gets the packet returned. Copy the name exactly as printed in capitals on the photo page.
Photo 3.5 × 4.5 cm (W × H)The photo attached to the Embassy visa application form.See detailsWhat this document is
The photo attached to the Embassy visa application form.
What it must show
- 4.5 cm tall × 3.5 cm wide — not 3 × 4
- Taken within the last 6 months
- Plain white or light background
- Face forward, no hat, no sunglasses, eyebrows visible
- Printed on photo paper, not an office printer
- Write the applicant's full name on the BACK of the photo before attaching it
- Attach it with GLUE — ⛔ never staple it to the form
- A dirty, torn or blurred photo is refused and must be retaken
Notes
The 3 × 4 photo elsewhere in this app is for Immigration in Japan — only 5 mm different and nearly identical to the eye, but do not reuse it for the Embassy visa.
- Proof of the family relationshipProof that you and the invitee are related within the third degree.See details
What this document is
Proof that you and the invitee are related within the third degree.
What it must show
- Parent: YOUR birth certificate showing your parents' names, or a household register stating the relationship
- Spouse: the marriage certificate
- Child: the child's birth certificate
- Sibling: BOTH birth certificates, showing the same parents
- Grandparent · grandchild · aunt/uncle: a chain of certificates through the person in between
- ⚠️ If the guarantor is a son-/daughter-in-law or brother-/sister-in-law: also submit THEIR marriage certificate — the relationship only connects through their spouse
- ⚠️ A birth certificate must at least show the parents' YEAR OF BIRTH (or their age at registration) — without it the Embassy cannot trace the relationship
- ⚠️ Every document must be NOTARISED. Plain photocopies are rejected
- Documents issued abroad are valid for 6 months from the date of issue
Notes
This document does NOT need a Japanese translation, unlike an Immigration filing. But it MUST be notarised — this is the most common reason packets are returned, because people bring a plain photocopy to save time.
- The invitee's proof of occupationEvidence of what the invitee does at home — employed, self-employed, retired or a student.See details
What this document is
Evidence of what the invitee does at home — employed, self-employed, retired or a student.
What it must show
- ① EMPLOYED: an employment certificate in ENGLISH or JAPANESE (or bilingual) stating JOB TITLE · YEARS OF SERVICE · INCOME, signed by a manager and stamped with the company seal
- ② BUSINESS OWNER: a notarised translation of the business registration
- ③ RETIRED: a notarised translation of the retirement decision, or the pension book if available
- ④ STUDENT: a copy of both sides of a valid student card, or an original enrolment certificate from the school
- ⑤ NO EMPLOYER AT ALL (farming at home · homemaker · no longer working): there is nothing to submit and the Embassy does not ask for it — leave this station empty. Instead write the true occupation (農業 · 主婦 · 無職) in the 📨 station and state in the 招へい理由書 that you in Japan cover all costs. The weight then rests on YOUR tax certificates and bank balance
- 📌 Optional extra: a confirmation from the local ward/commune office, or a land-use certificate with a translation. This is voluntary supporting evidence, NOT an Embassy requirement
- ⚠️ If the student card expires this year, an enrolment certificate is mandatory — the card alone is not enough
- ⚠️ For a MULTIPLE-entry visa the employment certificate must be the ORIGINAL, not a copy
- For a single-entry visa this item is not mandatory — submit whatever you have
Notes
The employment certificate must be in ENGLISH or JAPANESE — a Vietnamese-only version is not accepted, nor is an uncertified translation. The fastest route is asking the company to issue it in English directly.
Flight reservation confirmationThe outbound and return flight reservation submitted with the visa packet.See detailsWhat this document is
The outbound and return flight reservation submitted with the visa packet.
What it must show
- Include BOTH outbound and return — a missing return leg signals intent to stay
- Travel agents and airlines issue reservations free or for a small fee
- The return date must fall within the requested stay (15 / 30 / 90 days)
- The name must match the passport
Notes
Issue the real ticket only after the visa is granted, and re-check the fare — held bookings usually keep the price for only a few days.
- The invitee's proof of fundsEvidence that the invitee can fund their own trip.See details
What this document is
Evidence that the invitee can fund their own trip.
What it must show
- A 6-MONTH bank statement certified by the bank, with salary or income lines marked
- ⚠️ Submit the ORIGINAL — photocopies and ELECTRONICALLY SIGNED bank documents are not accepted
- ⚠️ The closing balance must cover the trip — plenty of transactions but a near-empty closing balance fails
- Or an original savings-balance certificate bearing the bank's seal and signature
- Income or employment documents if available
- Property deeds do NOT replace a statement — the Embassy looks at cash flow, not assets
Notes
Do not deposit a borrowed lump sum just before applying — the Embassy reads the flow, and an unexplained deposit right before filing counts against you.
Visa application form (査証申請書)The visa application form issued by the Japanese Embassy or Consulate-General.See detailsWhat this document is
The visa application form issued by the Japanese Embassy or Consulate-General.
What it must show
- Download free from the Japanese Embassy website in your relative's country
- Fill in CAPITAL letters in English or Japanese
- The address in Japan must match the one on your 招へい理由書
- The guarantor field names the 身元保証人, who may differ from the inviter
- Sign by hand, matching the passport signature
Notes
The form is free. Anyone charging you for it is cheating you.