Philippines to Japan transit visa
Complete Japan transit visa guide for Filipinos passing through a Japanese airport on the way to a third country. FREE visa fee (waived for Philippine nationals), plus the Visa Center’s PHP 520 service charge. Not needed if you already hold a valid Japanese visa on your passport. Japan does not publish official per-category approval rates, so this is a conservative estimate based on typical outcomes for well-documented applications, not an official figure. Updated August 2026.
- Visa
- Japan Transit Visa
- Fee
- Free
- Processing time
- About 5 working days (standard Visa Center processing)
- Length of stay
- Short stopover only — typically up to 72 hours
Required documents
- Valid Passport — Signed, and with a valid visa for your final destination if one is required there
- Passport Bio Page Copy — Photocopy of your passport’s identification page
- Visa Application Form — Official Visa Center form with your facial photo (4.5×3.5cm) attached
- Flight or Vessel Booking — E-ticket or confirmed itinerary showing your onward connection through Japan
- Itinerary in Japan — Your layover schedule, even if it’s brief
- PSA Birth Certificate — Issued within the past year — not needed if you’ve held a Japanese visa before
- PSA Marriage Certificate — Only if married, and only if you don’t already have a previous Japanese visa on your passport
- Bank Certificate — Showing your account standing, to demonstrate funds for your trip
- Income Tax Return (BIR Form) — Photocopy of your latest BIR income tax return
How to apply
- Check if you actually need this visa — Filipino citizens aren’t on Japan’s visa-free-transit list, so if you’ll stay airside only and never clear immigration, check your airline’s routing — some layovers don’t require a visa at all.
- Book a Visa Center appointment — Schedule at visa.vfsglobal.com/phl/en/jpn.
- Complete the visa application form — Fill out the official form in English, matching your passport exactly.
- Gather your supporting documents — Flight booking showing your onward connection, PSA birth certificate (skip if you already hold a prior Japanese visa), bank certificate, and income tax return.
- Submit at the Visa Center — Bring originals and photocopies, all in A4 size and unstapled. Pay the PHP 520 service charge.
- Collect your passport — Return to the Visa Center or use courier service when notified, before your travel date.
Common questions
- Do Filipinos need a transit visa for a layover in Japan?
- If you’ll leave the airport during your layover, or clear immigration for any reason, yes. Filipino citizens are not on Japan’s visa-free airside transit list. If you already hold a valid Japanese tourist or multiple-entry visa, that covers transit too and no separate transit visa is needed.
- How long can I stay in Japan on a transit visa?
- A transit visa covers a short stopover only, typically up to 72 hours — it’s not meant for sightseeing or extended stays.
- Do I need a Japan transit visa fee?
- No — it’s gratis for Philippine nationals under the Temporary Visitor category. You still pay the PHP 520 Visa Center service charge.