Japan lifts visa requirement for ASEAN countries

[Mguy]

Japan lifts visa requirement for ASEAN countries | Asia-Pasific | World Bulletin

World Bulletin/News Desk
Japan has lefted visa requirements for a number of ASEAN countries including Thailand and Malaysia to help spur the nation's tourism industry and to develop relationships with Southeast Asian countries.
According to Foreign Ministry’s pronouncement, visa exemption will be effective for Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Viet Nam after July, 1. Ministry underlined the decision is adopted to celebrate “40th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation.” Visa exemption is valid for short time visit no longer than 15 days. Japan cautioned those travelers who want to stay longer must still need a visa.
The territorial dispute between Tokyo and Beijing lowered the Chinese travelers. Japan’s move to nationalize disputed islands at the East China Sea drew a harsh critic from Chinese’s officials and triggered a boycott from Chinese’s consumers and tourists. With no end in sight to the dispute, the Japanese government turned its eye to lucrative Southeast Asian market. Tokyo wants to attract 1 million Southeast Asian tourists this year, and 2 million in 2016. The number was 780,000 last year.
On the political side, the Japanese governments want to have a closer relationship with ASEAN countries. Nationalist leader Shinzo Abe who visited Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia after becoming prime minister is expected to tour Malaysia and the Philippines. During his visit, Japanese Prime Minister will try to develop relations with Southeast Asian countries to obstruct Beijing’s regional ambition, reports say. Malaysia and the Philippines have a territorial dispute with Beijing likewise Japan. Japanese PM Abe is due to host a special meeting of ASEAN leaders in Tokyo in December.

Byahe na!

Di pala kasama Pinas. . .

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/business/...sa-visit-japan

Favoritism!!

[CVT]

http://www.rappler.com/nation/32282-...asean-citizens

MANILA, Philippines - Starting July 1, Filipinos can apply for multiple-entry visas for short-term trips to Japan, part of the East Asian country's relaxed visa rules for select Southeast Asian countries.

"The Government of Japan has decided to begin issuance from July 1, of multiple entry visas for short-term stay to nationals of the Republic of the Philippines (ordinary passport holders) who reside in their home country," the Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said in a news release Tuesday, June 25.

Japan has yet to release details on how to apply for the multiple entry visas, but the MOFA release said applicants will have to meet "certain conditions."

They will also be required to have machine-readable passports that meet the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), or an ordinary IC passport.

The multiple-entry visas will allow Filipinos to stay in Japan for a period of 15 days, and the visas will be valid for up to 3 years.

"The further development of Japan-Philippines exchange is expected as a result of the issuance of multiple entry visas, including increase in the number of tourists from the Philippines who visit Japan and the enhancement of the ease of business transactions between the two countries," the MOFA said.

Citizens of Vietnam will also be granted the privilege, while Indonesians, who are already eligible for multiple-entry visas for short-term stays, will have their lengths of stay extended from 15 days to up to 30 days.

Lifted for Thais, Malaysians


Visa requirements for citizens of Thailand and Malaysia, meanwhile, have been lifted for short-term stays.

For Malaysia, citizens must have an ordinary IC passport to use this privilege; those who do not have an IC passport will still be encouraged to apply for a visa.

In the case of Thailand, there will be no visa requirements for Thai citizens who will visit Japan for 15 days or less; for trips longer than 15 days, visas will still be required.

Prior to this, only citizens of Brunei and Singapore were allowed to enter Japan without a visa.

These relaxed visa requirements are part of Japan's measures to increase tourism traffic, and are part of the commemoration of the 40th year of Japan's engagement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Said the MOFA: "Through the years, ASEAN and Japan have forged close cooperation towards peace, stability, development and prosperity in Asia. They have established close business partnership with total bilateral trade amounting to 248 billion US dollars in 2011. ASEAN Member States are major foreign direct investment destinations for Japanese enterprises."

"For 2013, Japan and ASEAN Member States plan to carry out exchange projects in a wide range of fields, including political dialogue, economy, culture, youth, and tourism," the MOFA added.

Japan is targeting 10 million tourists this 2013. The Japan Times reported that visitors from the Philippines rose 28.2% in the period of January to April this year, compared to the same period last year. - KD Suarez/Rappler.com

Parang hindi ganyan ang una kong nabasa (see article).. Final ba iyan?

Oh well doon sa nabasa ko walang visa for Malaysia and Thailand, - pero,- ganoon pa rin sa Pinoy...

Akala namin,- one less step with our travelers to Japan,- hindi pala....

19.8K:sailor:

[Retz]

problema, mahal pa rin ang plane ticket.

[Mguy]

problema, mahal pa rin ang plane ticket.

Di lang plane ticket, pati hotel, accommodation, food etc. Almost everything.

[_Cathy_]

problema, mahal pa rin ang plane ticket.

I've always wanted to go to Japan, but even without the visa requirement, it's still a very expensive country to visit.

[NightRock]

sobrang mahal ng life style dyan unless may kilala ka matutuluyan... uhmm time to contact those old japayuki girls

Sorry, Pinoys still need a visa to visit Japan | ABS-CBN News

eto yata ang tunay

[roninblade]

source: rappler

MANILA, Philippines - Starting July 1, Filipinos can apply for multiple-entry visas for short-term trips to Japan, part of the East Asian country's relaxed visa rules for select Southeast Asian countries.

"The Government of Japan has decided to begin issuance from July 1, of multiple entry visas for short-term stay to nationals of the Republic of the Philippines (ordinary passport holders) who reside in their home country," the Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said in a news release Tuesday, June 25.

Japan has yet to release details on how to apply for the multiple entry visas, but the MOFA release said applicants will have to meet "certain conditions."

They will also be required to have machine-readable passports that meet the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), or an ordinary IC passport.

Lifted for Thais, Malaysians

Visa requirements for citizens of Thailand and Malaysia, meanwhile, have been lifted for short-term stays.

For Malaysia, citizens must have an ordinary IC passport to use this privilege; those who do not have an IC passport will still be encouraged to apply for a visa.

In the case of Thailand, there will be no visa requirements for Thai citizens who will visit Japan for 15 days or less; for trips longer than 15 days, visas will still be required.

Prior to this, only citizens of Brunei and Singapore were allowed to enter Japan without a visa.

These relaxed visa requirements are part of Japan's measures to increase tourism traffic, and are part of the commemoration of the 40th year of Japan's engagement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Said the MOFA: "Through the years, ASEAN and Japan have forged close cooperation towards peace, stability, development and prosperity in Asia. They have established close business partnership with total bilateral trade amounting to 248 billion US dollars in 2011. ASEAN Member States are major foreign direct investment destinations for Japanese enterprises."

"For 2013, Japan and ASEAN Member States plan to carry out exchange projects in a wide range of fields, including political dialogue, economy, culture, youth, and tourism," the MOFA added.

Japan is targeting 10 million tourists this 2013. The Japan Times reported that visitors from the Philippines rose 28.2% in the period of January to April this year, compared to the same period last year.
The multiple-entry visas will allow Filipinos to stay in Japan for a period of 15 days, and the visas will be valid for up to 3 years.

"The further development of Japan-Philippines exchange is expected as a result of the issuance of multiple entry visas, including increase in the number of tourists from the Philippines who visit Japan and the enhancement of the ease of business transactions between the two countries," the MOFA said.

Citizens of Vietnam will also be granted the privilege, while Indonesians, who are already eligible for multiple-entry visas for short-term stays, will have their lengths of stay extended from 15 days to up to 30 days.

[fourtheboys96]

Kailangan pa din talaga ng visa. Ang difference lang, mag-iisue na sila ng multiple entry visa for short term visits (15 days of less). Dati kasi pag tourist ka (90 days stay), kahit 3 days ka lang dun tapos babalik ka uli after one month, apply ka uli nhg panibagong visa.

In terms of costs, kung madiskarte ka, hindi naman ganun kamahal sa Japan.

sa kombini tulad ng 7-11, Family Mart, AM/PM, etc makaka-kain ka din naman ng kanin na mura hehehe.

meron din naman budget hostel mga JPY4,000 per night.

ang Disneyland sa Tokyo (actually sa Uruyasu ata yun) at Universal Studios sa Osaka, JPY6,000 ang entrance. Halos parehas lang sa HK disneyland.

[111prez]

Mag Tenya Tempura everyday sa Tokyo.

Mura na, masarap pa

[1D4LV]

isa pang problema..... ang mahal ng costs sa Japan.

have lived in Tokyo for 3 months..... cost ng isang bic mac dun, parang 400 pesos isa.
kaya lived by instant noodles and donations ng mga ka officemates ko.... hehehehehe.