Visa and consular services
The purpose of the Consular Section of the Japanese Embassy in Finland is to:
1. Issue visas under certain conditions to those who are travelling to Japan (see right).
2. Issue Extension of Re-entry Permission
When a foreign national who has left Japan after obtaining a Re-entry Permission has justifiable reasons, such as illness, for being unable to re-enter Japan within the valid term of the permission, he or she may be granted extension of the validity at the Embassy.
3. Issue certificates for non-Japanese nationals
a) Police certificate
A certificate for those who used to live in Japan and are required to obtain this certificate for designated purposes, such as adoption or emigration.
Please note that police certificate is made by Japanese police authorities based on research of applicants' fingerprints. It will take at least 2 months to get the certificate so please prepare enough time for the procedure.
b) Certificate of Japanese driver's licence
A certificate for foreigners who have a Japanese driver's licence. To be issued, the Japanese licence must be valid.
4. Provide consular services for Japanese nationals
a) Passports
b) Family registration
Birth
Marriage
Divorce
Death
Adoption
Acknowledgement
Entry in the family register
Change of family name upon marriage or divorce
Choice of nationality
c) Certificates for Japanese nationals
Will
Contract for engagement of mariner
Nationality
Residence
Personal status (birth, marriage, death)
Occupation
Authenticity of translation
Seal or signature (official or others)
Ashes box
Origin
Japanese goods unloaded abroad
List of effects left aboard vessel
Report of navigation
Other certification (e.g. Japanese driver's licence)
d) Security information for Japanese nationals
Travel advice and warnings by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Safety information for Japanese nationals abroad
5. Registration of Japanese nationals in Finland
Registration forms are available at the Embassy.
| Visas
The information below is SUBJECT TO CHANGE and is solely for reference purposes. We recommend that our customers ALWAYS check the current information by contacting our consular section:
Tel. 09-6860200 or e-mail: consular(AT)hk.mofa.go.jp
Exemption of visas for Finnish nationals
In accordance with a general visa exemption agreement between Japan and Finland, Finnish nationals can travel to Japan without a visa for short-term stays for such purposes as sightseeing and business trips. However, the stay in Japan should not exceed three months (i.e. 90 days).
The exemption concerns Finnish citizens only. Foreigner, who is married to a Finnish citizen, may need a visa. He/she should check the possible exemption of visa before entering Japan.
List of countries and regions that have visa exemption arrangements with Japan:
It is equally important to notice that visa regulations depend on person's nationality. For example, the "working holiday" system for young people does not include citizens of Finland. When working in Japan, Finnish citizens always need a visa.
Short-term stays (exclunding work)
The above-mentioned short-term stays are temporary visits up to 90 days for such purposes as sightseeing; sports; convalescence; visits to relatives, friends or acquaintances; amateur participation in athletic meetings or other contests; business trips (such as market surveys, business liaison, business talks, signing contracts and after-sale service for machinery imported into Japan); and friendship visits.
Work and long-term stays
If a foreigner, including Finnish nationals, wishes to enter Japan for activities other than those of above-mentioned short-term stays, he or she will need a working visa, a general visa, or a specified visa. Only those foreigners who enter Japan having acquired a working visa are able to work in Japan. Typical types of employment include the lorng-term assignment to Japan of foreign company personnel; employment in Japanese companies to make use of the foreigner's knowledge of other countries; entertainment activities, such as concerts, theatre, and sports; and educational activities, such as foreign-language teaching.
A visa is also required for long-term stays for such activities as attending a Japanese university or college education or company training. A visa for long-term residence in Japan is also granted in the case of spouses of Japanese nationals and others who have settled in Japan.
In principal in order to apply visa for work or long-term stay Certificate of Eligibility should be applied from Immigration Bureau in Japan before applying visa from the Embassy Of Japan in Helsinki.
Visa application form can be printed from HERE.
Please contact the Embassy for further details and for the list of necessary documents to be submitted with your application.
Number of days required for acquiring a visa
The number of days it takes from application to issuance of a visa varies slightly depending on the nature of the application. In the case of visa applications that can be processed by the diplomatic establishment itself (not requiring any inquiries to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tokyo), the process usually takes 1-3 weeks.
In the case of applications that require inquiries to and consultation with the home Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it could take two or three months or even longer, so please allow plenty of leeway.
Please contact the Embassy for further details.
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Registration Procedure at lodging facilities in Japan to be changed as of April 1, 2005
As of April 1, 2005, foreign nationals who visit Japan will be required to do the following when they check in at lodging facilities such as hotels and inns in Japan for the purpose of effective prevention of infectious diseases and terrorism.
- To fill in their "Nationality" and "Passport Number" in addition to "Name", "Address" and "Occupation", which are already required, to the guest registration form.
- To present their passports to be photocopied (The proprietors of lodging facilities will be obligated to keep the photocopies).
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