People visit shops to purchase food and supplies to celebrate the new year in Tokyo's Ueno shopping district on December 30, 2021. Kazuhiro Nogi, AFP/File

JAPAN-NEW YEAR

Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/174235243359320211231-tokyo-ueno-shoppers-afp.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">People visit shops to purchase food and supplies to celebrate the new year in Tokyo&#x27;s Ueno shopping district on December 30, 2021. <em>Kazuhiro Nogi, AFP/File</em></span></span></span>MANILA (UPDATE) — The Japanese Embassy in the Philippines announced the opening of a new visa center amid the surge in visa applications after the COVID-19 pandemic.</div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/world/2024/5/3/to-fend-off-tourists-a-town-in-japan-is-building-a-big-screen-blocking-the-view-of-mount-fuji-1037">To fend off tourists, a town in Japan is building a big screen blocking the view of Mount Fuji</a></div><p>The embassy said the new processing center will be operated by VFS Service Philippines Private, Inc. and is set to open on April 7.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/17/japan-cult-widow-speaks-30-years-after-subway-attack-1612">Japan cult widow speaks 30 years after subway attack</a></div><p>&quot;This is to further enhance the efficiency and maintain the quality of the visa examination process, as well as to continue strengthening our robust people-to-people exchanges,&quot; the embassy noted.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/2/24/marcos-jr-to-japanese-defense-chief-ph-japan-can-find-much-common-ground-to-build-further-1835">Marcos Jr. tells Japanese defense chief: PH, Japan can ‘find much common ground to build further’</a></div><p>The Japanese Embassy said the previous accredited agencies may continue to submit directly to the Embassy the visa application documents they have received prior to the opening of the visa center, or until April 6.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/2024/4/1/japan-is-top-leisure-destination-for-filipino-travelers-survey-1639">Japan is the top leisure destination for Filipino travelers, according to a survey</a></div><p>According to VFS Global, starting April 7, individuals and representatives including travel agents/tour operators can submit short and long stay visa applications for Japan at the <a href="https://visa.vfsglobal.com/phl/en/jpn/attend-centre">VFS Visa Application Centers</a> located in 5 cities across the Philippines:</p><p>• Parañaque</p><p>• Makati</p><p>• Quezon City</p><p>• Cebu</p><p>• Davao</p><p>The Embassy said that reservations for visa applications can be made through the <a href="https://visa.vfsglobal.com/phl/en/jpn/book-an-appointment">VFS site</a> beginning March 19, but VFS will accept application documents only by April 7.</p><p>VFS said Japan visa processing questions may be sent to <a data-fr-linked="true" href="mailto:info.japanphp@vfshelpline.com,">info.japanphp@vfshelpline.com,</a> while their call center will be available effective March 24.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/S6k6rvr4Afg?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>The embassy said the new processing center will be operated by VFS Service Philippines Private, Inc. and is set to open on April 7.</p>

The embassy said the new processing center will be operated by VFS Service Philippines Private, Inc. and is set to open on April 7.

Japan to open new visa center in April amid surge in applications | ABS-CBN

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Japan to open new visa center in April amid surge in applications

Japan to open new visa center in April amid surge in applications

Jauhn Etienne Villaruel,

ABS-CBN News

Published Mar 19, 2025 11:21 AM PHT

|

Updated Mar 19, 2025 12:14 PM PHT

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Japan

Tokyo

Japan Embassy

Embassy of Japan

visa

visa processing

visa center

tourism

tour

travel

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