Profile:

33 Years Old

No work for 2 Years since 2024 JULY

Well Travelled

Travel History:  2018 - 2 Months Backpacking Trip across 6 Countries in Asia, 2022 Australia (for work conference), 2023 Bali, 2024 - Bali. Singapore and Hongkong, 2025 - Bali, Malaysia, Bali, 2026 - Thailand, Brazil (Rio), Jakarta, Singapore

Requirements:

Philippine Passport

Completed Visa Application Form

Passport Size photo (Taken in VFS as I availed Premium Lounge)

PSA Birth Certificate (Both mine and my sister's to prove relationship)

Sponsorship Letter from my Sister, signed (Who lives in Manila, she is a housewife but her husband works overseas)

A Copy of her Passport (Bio Page)

Bank Certificate (Her joint account with her husband - ADB 18k USD for the last 6 months with a total Balance of 30k USD - Dollar Account)

Cover Letter (I'm going to Nagoya and Osaka, so I mentioned what this trip is, This is a birthday trip gift from my sister so I mentioned that, also I mentioned my travel history and promised that I never overstayed my visit to any countries that I always come back home within the Visa and Immigration requirements of each countries)

Explanation of Nonsubmission of ITR and COE for me and my sister (Only letter of explanation for me and one for my sister, total of 2 letters) coz both of us don't have work, so I stated in my application why I can't supply this and that this trip was fully funded by her and her husband and this trip won't cause any financial hardship to them. My birthday is August 17.

Planned Itinerary for 13 Days (August 15 to 31st)

Also submitted my recent Transit Visa page for Paris (that I used for my Brazil Trip last February)

No need for Hotel booking or Flight details as these are not required by the Embassy.

Timeline:

VFS Cubao (Premium Lounge as regular slot is not available, cost 3800 - 800 for Visa Fee and 3000 for Premium Lounge)

Day 1 Friday: Submission of Requirements (August 07 Friday)

Forwarded the same day to Paranaque Office

Day 2 to 4: Japan Embassy Received my application (Monday Afternoon) and under evaluation until Wednesday. Sent back to VFS and ready for picked up by 4pm

Day 5 Thursday: LBC picked up my passport 

Day 6 Friday: Received my passport back via Mail (Rizal Area)

Technically I can get my passport back in 4 days but opted for a courier service so additional 2 days.

Single Entry was approved with 15 days stay as I only requested for 13 days. I didnt push my luck with a Multiple Entry as it's my first time in Japan.

I'm now in Nagoya Japan writing this post. 🙏

Good luck to everyone!

Hello everyone! I will be applying Japan Visa soon BUT i have a very low adb (less than 20k) but I have stable job and I have stable salary naman. I have ITR and COE, and I have balance naman around 170k. Yung BPI savings ko kaya mababa adb is because ginamit namin sa buy and sell yung money. Ayoko ideclare na nag buy and sell kami. ANDD mostly transaction are in cash. What can I indicate sa cover letter kaya? Baka lang may mabigay kayo na idea.

Thank youu

Hi po!

First time stacking 4 countries in one trip. So my plan is to go to Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Indonesia but I'm still unsure of the correct sequence and where to exit. I want to stay in each of these countries for at least a week but I might want to stay longer pag nagustuhan ko yung vibe ng isang country, so I might do 3 country lang din instead of 4. I prioritize enjoying myself, so kahit 3 out of these 4 countries lang mapuntahan ko okay na ko. Pero syempre kung kaya kong sulitin, mas okay din po.

Hinihingi po ba sa immigration lahat ng tickets arriving and departing? I've only tried traveling to one country at a time so not sure of the requirements for this case. I would appreciate helpful responses! Thank you po.

Hello! Saan kayo usually nagbobook ng hotels nyo? My mom and I have a trip to Tokyo by the end of October. We're eyeing on staying around the Higashi-Shinjuku area (We've stayed here before) or Ueno (recommended by Redditors/Youtubers). My mom usually books us the hotels via Klook pero parang mahal padin yung prices e, compared to what I see on Agoda. I was hoping there's a better platform for booking hotels, price-wise and security-wise. Thank you sa makakasagot!

P.S. if may marerecommend din kayo na good affordable hotel (pref. with breakfast), please do so.

Hello! I need advice po, I am planning to get my visa this September for the October trip, I will be providing the requirements needed, the thing is yung bank account po na gagamitin ko for bank statement is my payroll acc. which is for sure na low ang ADB kase literal na in and out ang pera.

My work is salary and commission base, yung commission ko po is company issued cheque so nakukuha ko po yung money in cash. I am planning to deposit my commission or savings to my payroll acc. ng isang bagsakan para iprovide yung financial capacity ko, I have plan naman po to make a letter to explain it. Will that be a great move?

Guys I was wondering if it's okay to pass a Dollar Savings Account as your only financial document for Japan Visa Application?

The issue is, my father is a business owner and we plan to apply for Japan Tourist Visa (at least Single Entry).

But the only Bank Document he was able to request is a Dollar Account.

He would also be guaranteeing my student sibling and my retired mother, but he only obtained 1 copy of his Bank Certificate for himself.

If he is guaranteeing both my sibling and mother, should he also need to obtain his original bank certificate for my sibling and mother's pack of requirements?

Or is it okay to just photocopy his original Bank Cert to place in my sibling and mother's pack of requirements?

So again:

1. Is it okay if my father only passes a Dollar Savings Account as his only Financial Document?

2. Should he request additional ORIGINAL Bank Certificates for my Mother and Sibling if he is guaranteeing their trip? Or is it fine to photocopy his original?

Need help please!

Hi! I’m planning my trip to Japan on Jan 27-Feb 02 since seat sale siya and alam ko po na di advisable magbook ng flights prior to visa approval. And I’d like to know my chance of securing a japan visa.

Here’s my profile:
More than 2 years working on a BPO Healthcare acct
COE w/ annual salary of 1,xxx,xxx+ excluding 13th month pay and incentives
*A used SE Japan visa last 2016 (yup! More than a decade na po)
*countries visited this year: Vietnam & Taiwan

However here’s my dilemma; I just recently moved my funds from other bank acct to what I’m currently using right now. If I plan to apply on December 10 for Jan 27 travel schedule my 6 months ADB will be significantly lower. Eversince kasi sa passbook po talaga ako nag iipon. 0 balance po talaga yung *current account ko since June. I’ve calculated my ADB until the 1st week of December and roughly that will amount to 140k+.

What are my chances of getting approve po? Thanks

What are the chances of me getting a b2 us visa,

Profile:
-newly married, (ofw wife has existing b1/b2 visa)
-5 years office based work
-had previous j1 visa

Im so anxious right now, i did my own application and regrets not going thru an agency

Profile

• Occupation: Freelancer / Independent Contractor
• Financial Proof: ADB: ~75k | Bank Balance: ~100k
• ITR Status: Complete Tax Payment Documentation / BIR filings
• Travel History: 5x Hong Kong only (No prior Japan or OECD visa history)

Submitted Embassy-Required Documents:

• Philippine Passport (valid for > 6 months)
• Completed Visa Application Form (A4 size)
• Passport photo (45mm x 35mm, white background)
• PSA Birth Certificate
• Bank Certificate (showing 6-month ADB of ~75k and ~100k balance)
• Income Tax Return (ITR) + Cover Letter explaining freelance work structure
• Daily Schedule / Itinerary (Osaka, Kyoto, Nara)

Timeline & Agency:

• Agency: RELI Tours (SM North Branch)
• Day 1: Submitted documents at RELI SM North
• Day 4: Application processed by the Embassy
• Day 7: Passport received with visa sticker!

Frequently Asked Questions (Q&A)

Q1: Did you need to submit a cover letter as a freelancer/contractor?

• A: Yes! Submitting a clear cover/explanation letter detailing my source of income, tax filings, client relationships, and freelance nature helped bridge any gaps between my proof of work and ITR setup.

Q2: How did you research and organize everything for your application?

• A: Honestly, using Gemini and ChatGPT Pro helped a ton! Using prompts like "Check reddit and socmed for..." saved so much time when looking up localized tips, agency queues, document nuances, and itinerary planning.

Q3: Was ~75k ADB / ~100k Balance enough for the trip?

• A: Yes! It shows steady, genuine account activity relative to the length of the trip without looking like sudden "show money" deposited right before applying.

Q4: Did you already book non-refundable flights and Airbnbs before applying?

• A: No, only target accommodations and tentative flight details were listed on the official Japan Itinerary Form. The embassy explicitly advises against purchasing non-refundable tickets prior to visa release.

My partner and I were granted Japanese Visas! For context:

Me:

• Granted ME Visa, 5 years up to 90 days stay
• 24 M
• CPA
• 2 full-time employers, 150k monthly gross combined
• 50k ADB, 150k BB
• 580k ITR (only had 1 employer at the time, started in March)
• Previous travel history: Taiwan
• My partner's guarantor

My partner:

• Granted SE Visa, up to 15 days stay
• 26 F
• LPT, currently non-practicing
• Unemployed (currently pursuing a master's degree)
• No ITR
• 20k ADB, 60k BB
• Previous travel history: Taiwan

We've been in a relationship for 7 years, so we submitted 5 pages of photos together from 2019 and our lease contract as proof that we've been cohabiting for several years already.

Our appointment date via regular slot was August 6, 2026; passports were ready for pick-up by August 12; and we received them via courier (we reside in Bicol) on August 15, 2026. Completely DIY.

Feel free to ask us anything!

Hi guys! Magtatanong lang sana sa mga naka experience na bumili ng eSIM from Klook.

I’ll be travelling to Taiwan this coming November and nakita ko na may Taiwan eSIM sa Klook.

Since may voucher ako ngayon, I’m thinking of buying it already.

I did some research about this pero I can’t seem to find a definite answer. 😅

Question lang, okay lang ba na bilhin and i activate ko na yung eSIM ngayon kahit November pa yung flight ko? Or may expiration/activation period ba na kailangan bantayan?

I’ve read na for some eSIMs, mag start lang yung validity once mag connect ka na sa network sa Taiwan. Pero hindi ako sure kung applicable siya sa Klook Taiwan eSIM or if kailangan gamitin within a certain number of days after purchase or activation.

Sa mga nakapag try na bumili ng Klook Taiwan eSIM months before their trip, okay pa rin ba siya nung nasa Taiwan na kayo?

Ayoko lang bumili ngayon dahil sa promo tapos pagdating ng November hindi na pala usable. 😂

Thanks in advance sa mga makakapag share ng experience!

May nakapag try na po ba dito na nag request sila ADB sa Bank A then transferred funds to Bank B then requested ADB again para mas mataas yung BB & ADB? Can I submit both ADB po ba? 😅

Kakauwi ko lang from my first solo travel and it made me realize gaano ka hassle sa cebu pac hahaha may bus pa, may stairs pa for boarding at minsan need pa mag lakad, ma init man o ulan 😂

I’ve tried PAL before but never ganun na experience ko tho for domestic flights lang yun. Is it the same pag PAL international ba? Or always ba may bridge?

I got recently denied Japan Tourist visa because I think my adb is too low, now, I wish to apply for a Japan Visa under “Visiting a Friend” category instead, having my girlfriend as my guarantor (who already have a ME japan visa).

We are planning to visit his uncle who lives and works in Japan and we already have the his requirements as an inviter.

My girlfriend has 300k adb and 250k bb, has been working for 2 years as an engineer with 40k monthly salary, also planning to submit another bank certificate from maribank with 36k adb and 100k bb (this is our joint account, however, it is under her name)

what are the chances of getting approved?

Which appropriate category should I applying for a Japan ME Visa? Frequent Traveller category or the Professional category?

For your reference, here are my details:
Age: 31 years old
Profession: CPA
Previous Japan Visit: SE Visa during my visit last Nov 2025
Travel history: Japan and Taiwan (Feb 2025)
Financial capacity: I currently have P105K in a newly opened savings account, which represents my current savings for this purpose. I also maintain other bank accounts separately, but they always fall below 1k.

Thank youu!

Applied for a Japan ME Tourist Visa as a first time traveller to Japan. DIY doc prep.

Since I saw that lawyers and notaries could apply for an ME, I just took my chances to save time and money for having to apply for a visa on every visit.

Profile & Docs:
- Lawyer, notary, 3 yrs work experience (submitted docs to support this)
- Travel History: Thailand, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Greece, Hong Kong, Macau, Vietnam
- Presented 2 bank certificates reflecting my ADB and 1 bank statement worth 6 months (both accounts around 6 digits each)
- Late registered birth cert, so i submitted baptismal cert and Form 137
- I also submitted my round trip tickets and hotel booking confirmation (not required but attached to reinforce fin capacity and intent to return)

I was tbh expecting to just get SE, but fortunately was granted an ME hehe. I think it helped that i indicated in my cover letter that I want to be able to travel again in Japan in the near future without having to reapply for each visit (as I saw some people recommend in this subreddit).

Processing was super quick too: VFS Appointment on 11 Aug, VFS confirmation received on 17 Aug, and passport picked up on 18 Aug morning, so total processing of only 4 BD.

My brother applied for his visa separately under a Business/Conference Application and he also got his visa within just 4 BD. We applied a month in advance cuz our trip to Japan is scheduled for 2nd week of Sept, and we were thinking processing might take about 2 weeks, but Japan visa processing recently seems to be quite fast.

For application prep, like a lot of people say, there’s really no sure way of getting approved. But I think key is really to explain your circumstances well to the Embassy in your cover letter, and support them as much as you can with documents. Things to always keep in mind is to show financial capacity, strong ties to PH, and intent to return.

Reading a lot of the comments and recos here really helped, so thank you !! ☺️

Spreading japan visa approval dust to everyone! ✨✨✨

Hi. It's my first time applying for SE Japan Visa. I'm traveling with my aunts and cousin, all of whom have US Passports.

• I already have a birth certificate and Contract Certificate.
• Itinerary to follow (still creating), but does it need to be true (like dito talaga kami pupunta or kahit a rough draft)?
• Bank Cert (ADB: 3xx,xxx)
• No ITR since I'm an Independent Contractor. Haven't found time to fix this. Would a cover letter suffice?

I know it's up to the consul whether I'd pass, but what do you guys think of my chances securing a visa?