Apply Japan Visa From Singapore: A Complete Guide

If you are applying for a Japan visa from Singapore, the first thing to check is not your flight or hotel it is whether you actually need a visa and whether you are allowed to apply in Singapore at all. Singapore citizens do not need a visa for temporary visits to Japan of up to 90 days, but foreign nationals who need a visa can only apply in Singapore if they are long-term residents there with a valid Singapore-issued identity/pass document. The Embassy of Japan in Singapore says tourists or temporary visitors in Singapore are not eligible to apply there.

That one distinction already makes this guide more useful than many ranking pages. A lot of them jump straight into forms and documents, but the official rule is simpler: no long-term Singapore residence, no Japan visa application in Singapore.

Do You Need A Japan Visa From Singapore?

For many readers, the answer is actually no.

If you are a Singapore citizen traveling to Japan as a temporary visitor for up to 90 days, Japan’s visa exemption arrangement means you do not need a visa for that short stay. But if you are a foreign national living in Singapore and your nationality is not visa-exempt for Japan, or your purpose is not covered by short-term visa-free entry, you may need to apply.

So the real audience for this article is mostly:

Foreign Residents In Singapore Who Need A Visa For Japan
Residents Applying For Business, Multiple-Entry, Transit, Or Other Non-eVISA Categories
Applicants Preparing A Long-Term Or Work/Study-Related Visa Route

Who Can Apply For A Japan Visa In Singapore?

This is the rule most people miss.

The Embassy of Japan in Singapore says only long-term residents of Singapore who hold a valid Singapore-issued identity/pass document can apply there. The published examples include PR, Work Pass, Student Pass, Dependant’s Pass, and Long-Term Visit Pass. Temporary visitors or tourists in Singapore are not eligible to submit a Japan visa application there.

Your Singapore-issued pass including an S Pass should remain valid through your trip to Japan and your return to Singapore. If your pass is under renewal, the official checklist says you should upload the relevant IPA letter issued by the Singapore government.

That means if you are, for example, an Indian, Indonesian, Filipino, or other passport holder living in Singapore on a valid long-term pass, you may be able to apply in Singapore. But if you are only visiting Singapore briefly, this is usually not the correct place to apply.

If you are not fully sure whether your Singapore residency status is strong enough for a local Japan visa application, compare similar cases first in our Forum. And if your file involves pass renewal, mixed travel history, or documents that may need a second check before submission, Visa Concierge can help you review the case more carefully.

eVISA Or JVAC: Which Route Should You Use?

This is where most guides become confusing. The shortest clear answer is:

Use JAPAN eVISA If:

You Are Applying For A Short-Term Tourism Visa
It Is Single-Entry
Your Planned Stay Does Not Exceed 90 Days
You Hold An Ordinary Passport

The Embassy of Japan in Singapore says that, from Singapore, short-term tourism visas for stays not exceeding 90 days and single-entry only can be applied for online as JAPAN eVISA. The official VFS eVISA page also states that only ordinary passport holders are eligible to apply through JAPAN eVISA. This route is only for Tourism Or Sightseeing and does not allow income-earning or profit-making activities.

Use JVAC / In-Person Submission If:

You Need A Multiple-Entry Visa
You Are Applying For Business
You Need A Transit Visa
You Are Applying For Domestic Helper, Spouse, Or Other Special Categories
You Need A Long-Term Visa

For these categories, applications are generally handled through JVAC / in-person submission rather than JAPAN eVISA. The official Embassy and VFS wording for this route refers more broadly to a valid passport or valid passport or travel documents, instead of limiting it to “ordinary passport holders” only. So it is better not to add that restriction unless the checklist for the specific visa category says so.

Where Do You Submit The Application?

For most applicants in Singapore, the answer is not directly at the Embassy counter.

The Embassy’s FAQ says that, other than certain special cases, the Japan Visa Application Centre (JVAC) currently handles visa application and collection procedures in Singapore. The official VFS/JVAC step-by-step pages also direct applicants to identify the visa type, begin the application, book an appointment, pay fees, visit the centre, and track the application.

The Embassy also says walk-ins are not allowed for visa application submission, and the VFS/JVAC booking pages say you should book an appointment and ensure your form and documents are complete before attending.

What Documents Do You Usually Need?

The exact document list depends on purpose, but for the tourism eVISA single-entry up to 90 days route in Singapore, the official checklist includes:

A Valid Passport
A Recent Color Photo
Your Singapore Government-Issued Identity/Pass Document
SGWorkPass Verification If Your Pass Uses QR Verification
A Certificate Of Employment Or ACRA Business Profile
Income Tax Notice Of Assessment Or Updated Bank Statement / Passbook History
Sponsor Documents If You Are Retired, Unemployed, A Homemaker, A Student, Or A Minor
Flight Information Departing From And Returning To Singapore
A Daily Schedule Of Stay In Japan
A Letter Of Authorisation If Someone Is Applying On Your Behalf

The checklist also says the Singapore pass must remain valid through the Japan trip and return to Singapore, and if you are renewing the pass, you should upload the IPA letter issued by the Singapore government.

For long-term or work/study-type visas, the official process is different: the Embassy’s long-term visa guidance says you usually need a Certificate Of Eligibility (COE) first, issued via a proxy in Japan, before the actual visa application stage begins.

Step-By-Step: How To Apply From Singapore

Step 1: Confirm You Are Eligible To Apply In Singapore

Before anything else, check that you are a long-term resident in Singapore and that your Singapore-issued ID/pass is valid. If you are only visiting Singapore temporarily, the Embassy says you cannot apply there.

Step 2: Decide Whether Your Case Fits eVISA Or JVAC Submission

If you are going for short-term tourism only and single entry, the online eVISA route may be the simplest. If your case is business, multiple-entry, transit, domestic helper, spouse-related, or long-term, plan for JVAC/in-person handling instead.

Step 3: Download Or Follow The Correct Checklist

The Embassy says required documents differ by travel purpose and also notes that applicants may be asked for additional supporting documents depending on the case. That is why using the checklist for the exact visa type matters more than reading a generic blog post.

Step 4: Prepare The Documents Carefully

For the tourism eVISA checklist, document accuracy matters a lot. The checklist says:

Start Well In Advance
Double-Check All Information Before Submission
Combine Documents Into A Single PDF For Upload
Keep The File Size Within The Published Limit
Be Specific In The Daily Schedule Of Stay

The published tourism eVISA checklist says the combined upload should be a single PDF up to 2MB, and that the itinerary should be specific rather than vague labels like “Sightseeing” or “Shopping.”

Step 5: Book An Appointment If Your Route Requires JVAC Submission

The VFS/JVAC booking system requires applicants to book an appointment, and the site says the VFS service fee must be prepaid online at the time of booking.

Step 6: Submit The Application

The Embassy FAQ says applications by post, fax, or email are not accepted. In principle, applicants should submit to JVAC in person, though certain family members residing in Singapore may submit on behalf of the applicant in allowed cases.

Step 7: Track And Collect

VFS/JVAC provides application tracking using the application reference number from the receipt/invoice. The Embassy FAQ also says result collection can in some cases be done by family members residing in Singapore if the required documents and authorisation are presented.

How Much Does It Cost?

As of the Embassy fee page dated 1 April 2026, the published visa fees for “Others” are:

Single-Entry: S$26
Multiple/Double-Entry: S$53
Transit: S$6

The same page shows different fee lines for Indian nationals and notes that credit card payment is only applicable for eVISA.

On top of the visa fee, JVAC/VFS also charges a service fee, and VFS published a notice that the service fee changed from S$18.50 to S$22.00 effective 1 April 2026. The VFS step-by-step snippet also says the service fee must be paid online at appointment booking, while the visa fee is paid separately.

How Long Does Processing Take?

The official baseline is at least 5 working days if the documents are complete and there are no issues. The Embassy’s processing-time page says normal cases can be issued in 5 working days, but referral cases can take up to 2 months, and urgent or express visas are not available.

The Embassy’s main visa page also says the earliest you can apply is 3 months before your travel date. For the Singapore tourism eVISA route, the Embassy specifically warns that longer processing should be expected during high-volume periods and says applicants should submit at least 2 months in advance; the tourism eVISA checklist separately recommends starting at least 3–4 weeks before travel. The safest reading is simple: do not leave it late.

Common Mistakes That Cause Trouble

These are the mistakes most likely to waste time or cause intake problems:

Applying In Singapore Without Being A Long-Term Resident
Using The eVISA Route For A Category That Is Not Eligible
Submitting Incomplete Or Mismatched Documents
Booking Too Late
Using A New Passport After eVISA Issuance Without Reapplying
Assuming A Generic Blog Checklist Is Enough For Every Case

That passport point is especially important. The tourism eVISA checklist says the eVISA is tied to the passport used for the application, and you have to reapply if you change to a new passport. The Embassy FAQ separately says that a valid multiple-entry visa in an old passport may still be used with a new passport in some circumstances if personal details did not change and you bring both passports, but that is a different scenario from a new eVISA tied to a changed passport.

A Small But Useful Passport Validity Tip

A lot of generic guides still say Japan always requires 6 months of passport validity. The official Embassy of Japan in Singapore FAQ says that Japan only requires your passport to be valid for the duration of your stay until departure. However, it also warns that airlines or transit countries may impose their own 6-month-validity rule, so you should confirm with the airline.

That is exactly the kind of nuance many competitor pages miss.

If You Are Applying For Work, Study, Or Other Long-Term Stay

This is not the same process as a simple tourist application.

The Embassy’s long-term visa guidance says work and long-term stay visas are generally a two-step process:

A Proxy In Japan Applies For A Certificate Of Eligibility (COE)
The Applicant Uses The Original COE To Apply For The Visa

So if your move to Japan is for employment, study, training, or long-term residence, do not treat it like a normal short-term visitor visa. The COE stage is a major part of the process.

Final Take

If you want the cleanest version of the process, remember these four points:

Singapore Citizens Usually Do Not Need A Short-Stay Visa
Foreign Residents Can Apply In Singapore Only If They Are Long-Term Residents There
Short-Term Tourism Single-Entry May Be Eligible For JAPAN eVISA
Most Other Categories Go Through JVAC And Need More Careful Preparation

If your case is straightforward, this is manageable on your own. But if your file is less clean — sponsorship, mixed travel history, confusing residency documents, or a tighter-than-comfortable timeline — compare similar cases in our Forum first. And if you want someone to sanity-check the file before submission, Visa Concierge can help review the case before you commit to the appointment.

FAQ

Can I Apply For A Japan Visa In Singapore If I Am Just Visiting Singapore?

No. The Embassy says only long-term residents of Singapore with a valid Singapore identity/pass document can apply there. Tourists or temporary visitors in Singapore are not eligible.

Do Singapore Citizens Need A Visa For Japan?

For short temporary visits up to 90 days, generally no. Singapore is on Japan’s visa exemption list for temporary visits.

Can I Apply Online?

Yes, but only for the right category. In Singapore, the Embassy says short-term tourism, single-entry, up to 90 days can be applied for online as JAPAN eVISA. Other categories generally need JVAC/in-person processing.

How Early Should I Apply?

The Embassy says the earliest application timing is 3 months before travel. It also says normal cases take at least 5 working days, but some referrals can take up to 2 months, and urgent or express service is not available. For eVISA in Singapore, the Embassy advises applying well ahead because processing can be longer during heavy demand.

Can Someone Else Submit My Application?

In limited cases, yes. The Embassy FAQ says family members residing in Singapore may submit on behalf of the applicant in allowed cases, and the tourism eVISA checklist requires a Letter Of Authorisation if the application is made on behalf by a travel agent or company staff member other than direct family.

Is There Visa On Arrival In Japan?

Do not plan around that. The Embassy FAQ states that Japan visas cannot be issued on arrival at the airports in the situations it describes for visa-required transit and entry cases.

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