An e-ticket or print-out from a travel agency, airline or travel website is acceptable. Registered local TAs are legally responsible for the tourists and to the local authorities as stipulated. After showing the certificate to the customs, the ERFS system will handle the rest. Say you have changed your mind or the sponsor of the ERFS certificate is no longer willing to give you your documents. (Note) The receiving organizations located in Japan should complete prescribed applications in the Entrants, Returnees Follow-up System (ERFS) and obtain a certificate of completion of Registration to the ERFS system. No. There are certain requirements you must meet in order to get an ERFS certificate. I have hotels booked, as well. However, this is not without its own caveats all foreigners must complete the new ERFS in order to enter Japan. Each Temporary Visitor Visa applicant must submit the following documents: Changes under the application can be modified. All you have to do is to contact your sponsor again and have them issue a new ERFS certificate with the correct credentials. Although in addition to this system youll also need to complete the usual visa application process (Certificate of Eligibility, list other parts here) and have the respective documents ready as well. In either case, once you agree on terms and make payment, they will apply to the Japanese government system on your behalf. We used miles. To hear more about how Japan Switch can help you with your ERFS Certificate and make your move to Japan a little easier, click here to book a free consultation and level check with us! We all have those days where studying seems like a grueling task, and wed rather do just about anything else than sit down and focus on our Japanese. Please be aware that we will decline applications that have incomplete documents. She also told me that the reason the government is making that a requirement is to support the agencies that have been struggling the past 2 years, as they make a lot of profit this way. There were cases where foreigners who had entered Japan with special permits broke certain COVID rules which resulted in small outbreaks. birth certificate) Temporary Visit to Japan for Tourism Purposes with ERFS. Now I decided to change the hotel that I am staying at from the one submitted to the tour company on the ERFS certificate. We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. at mother or sister . Your visit needs to be arranged with a Japanese travel agency. (Link to their website below), https://japanexpotours.com/erfs-certificate-japan, I've emailed them about booking a non guided tour through them in order to get the ERFS and they've replied the following. This is because the ERFS certificate is only used to show you have registered on the ERFS system to the customs. Long-awaited news was finally delivered, but still traveling to Japan is under strict restrictions. / Corporate number for the sponsoring organization (find it, mizugiwa taisaku sochi daitai hjin bang, ) / Border measures alternative corporate number (find it, ) / Name of person in charge of sponsorship (E.g Personnel Department Manager its a company and your name if you're self-employed), ) / Email address of the person in charge of the sponsorship, ) / Email address of the person in charge of the sponsorship (for confirmation), ) / Authorization letter if youve hired a lawyer to apply the ERFS ID for you, ) / Any necessary documents to upload if youre self-employed (usually proof of your employment status), Now youll have to log in to file for an ERFS certificate for the foreigner coming into Japan. This is because the Japanese government wants to make sure theyre not letting too many people into the country at once. The rules require that we book your flights to and from Japan. In addition, visa exemption under the APEC Business Travel Card Arrangement has been resumed. If you would like to get the certificate to enter into Japan, please contact Conference Service Inc., after you register as an on-site conference participant. Applicants should submit the following documents. See below for information about the current visa requirements for Japan. We can issue ERFS only for purposes of tourism. We charge a booking fee of JPY 7,500 per hotel booking (per hotel, not per night, not per person). Embassy more concerned that your sponsoring agent will explain the Covid rules to you and be contactable throughout your tour of Japan in case you have a Covid issue, The erfs came back in about 5 minutes once the sponsor hits the submit button, (computer generated) you will only need one ERFS per person but if your nightly . Please refer to our introduction page. A Japanese travel agency must arrange your trip. Please visit the FAQs below to learn more about the Japan Tourist Visa. Click here for outline of application procedures for Multiple Entry VISA (English / Japanese), Note for Nationals of Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam For those visiting relatives -> a proof of the relationship (e.g. Please fill out the information in the form below. We will send you the ERFS certificate by e-mail and you will have to go to the Japanese embassy with this document to get your Japan tourist visa. If going for TOURISM, or to VISIT FRIENDS or RELATIVES, proof is required that the applicant has financial resources to stay in Japan for the given period. Yes. There are travel agencies that issue an ERFS if you let them book a hotel for the first night. First, youll need a guarantor that will sponsor your stay throughout the time youre in Japan. This includes business travelers on short stays, students in study abroad programs, participants in technical internships, and those who would provide a public benefit to Japan. To help you comply with ERFS regulations, please find our option below. The most common visa type foreign nationals use to enter Japan. We charge a booking fee of JPY 7,500 per hotel booking (per hotel, not per night, not per person). What happens if I give the wrong personal information to my sponsor? You can expect the price to be similar to booking directly with the airline plus our booking fees. Re: Erfs. In case of cancellation we will refund your hotel payment according to the hotel or OTA policy. A) A certificate for completion of Registration to the ERFS system obtained by a receiving organization through online application. Although in this case no one is required to sponsor your visa, thus youll have to find an employer who is willing to sponsor your ERFS certificate. After that, you only have to provide the necessary information (mentioned in the previous section) to your sponsor. Its an important point to note since every company / school has different conditions and policies on their ERFS sponsorship. No smiling. Japan is fully open for international travel Starting Oct 11: ERFS not required and we no longer offer ERFS service. After closing its border for two years, Japan will partly reopen to international tourists on June 10, 2022. It helps if you tell us where you live. If a visa is required for the third country, please obtain the visa first before applying a Japanese transit visa. From the time a tour is booked to the time a visa is issued, please allow at least one . Make sure, not to focus just on the ERFS certificate and forget everything else! In most cases, yes, you will need an ERFS certificate if you are entering Japan with a new visa. (link to regulations) You are only allowed to take public transportation within the 24 hours of the initial PCR test youve taken at the airport (same for Haneda Airport). Please note that doing so may violate the Administrative Procedures Legal Law. As required by the Japanese government, we need to prove we are the travel agent assisting your trip. A remarkable Japanese vacation awaits you with breathtaking discoveries, incredible thrills, and epic entertainment. Any changes or cancellation after booking will incur a fee of 5,000 per hotel. Passport issued by an eligible country with at least 6 months of validity as well as a minimum of two blank pages. Then you just need to get your visa, jump on the plane and enjoy Japan again after such a long, long time away. Green Card or valid I-94 and U.S. resident visa to re-enter the United States (F or J visa holder must show an I-20 or DS-2019 with the valid signature of an appropriate official in order for re-entry). This will grant them access to the ERFS system. Please note that it can take . Here at Japan Switch, we are currently creating enrollment plans for students who are in need of an ERFS certificate. What a scam for the agencies. Go to the JGA ERFS site, select the number of travelers, then checkout. travel agency to organize the trip and serve as the receiving organization. Although with the current regulation you will still need an ERFS certificate sponsor if you wish to enter Japan with this type of visa. Noun Town is a new virtual reality [], 3F, Iidabashi Building Based on the information you filled in on your application, the only thing youll have to be careful about is your passport number after renewing it (which might or might not change based on where youre from). For all payments we collect from you (our fees, ERFS fees, airline ticket cost, accommodation charges, rental car charges etc) we will supply a secure credit card link. We are not able to answe r this question. There are two parts to complete for the ERFS for your short-term stay in Japan. All of us look at reviews, right? Click here for outline of application procedures for Multiple Entry VISA (English / Japanese). Kindly refer to official sources and consult with a legal expert. We will request payment in JPY and the exchange rate will depend on your bank or credit card provider. We can issue your ERFS in less than 48 hours however many consulates have long backlogs in visa processing. Consult this article on how to fill in the ERFS certificate application (the site is Japanese but Google Translate works quite well, any new English guide will be updated here). Get a valid vaccination certificate or proof of a negative test. But what is the ERFS exactly, and how does that work? After 1 to 2 business days you will receive another email with your ERFS ID and password if the application is successful. If your COE was issued between February 1, 2022 to July 31, 2022, then it is valid for 6 months from the date of issue. But really, why would I want to pay more for the exact same room? If clients feel like they are being forced to spend more for zero benefit, they will take it out on the agency in reviews and word of mouth. An application form completed and signed. Please be aware that the visa application can take 5 business days. That agency, however, informed me that because of liabilities, they indeed must book all flights and hotels to sponsor an ERFS for me. If you have any further questions, please contact the Japanese embassy or consulate in your country of residence. Once your ERFS certificate is issued, youll notice that it has no expiry date. Considering that you will be spending time applying for the visitor's visa, we will handle it promptly. A certificate for Completion of Registration to the ERFS System, Confirm that your company, sole proprietor or travel agency can issue the ERFS, They will apply online to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, which will be processed through the foreigner new entry online application system (ERFS), Receive a certificate that is sent online, Once you get the ERFS certificate, prepare it with visa issuance application required in your embassy. In terms of actual regulations (i.e. If the purpose of your visit is tourism only a travel agency can . Since Japan Switch sponsors the ERFS, you will not have to worry about your ERFS as long as youre a student. They must apply for a guarantor login ID under the ERFS. In both cases, to get an ERFS certificate, youll need a receiving organization. We will request payment in JPY and the exchange rate will depend on your bank or credit card provider. This section is mainly aimed at organizations who want a brief rundown on how to apply and fill in the ERFS system. this will be the visa you apply for. Sign up for our email list for updates, promotions, and more. Travellers entering Japan from China (excluding Hong Kong and Macao) From 30 December 2022, passengers arriving from China, or who have visited China in the past seven days are required to submit . Instead travel agents or guests must apply either in person at a local Japanese consulate or embassy, or by mail. The new border measures now require an additional document on top of the COE - a certificate for completion of registration to the Entrants, Returnees Follow-up System (ERFS). The suspension of visas issued prior to December 2, 2021 has been lifted from 0:00 am (JST) on October 11, 2022.