Applicants who wish to apply for a visa or residence permit at the Embassy in Tokyo may fill in the application form and pay the application fee on the secure Application Portal before submitting their supporting documents at the Embassy. It will still be possible to hand in paper applications. However, applicants who apply online will be given priority.
No Internet access?
Japan is filled with internet cafes. You can register your application using any computer with internet access.
It is also possible for a sponsor or contact in Norway to log on and complete the online process for the applicant. Anyone can do it!
How to apply - First time users
The first time you use the Application Portal, you must register as a user with a username and a password. Usernames and passwords should not contain any special characters such as @, %, &, etc. The password must contain at least 8 characters, at least one number and at least one CAPITAL letter. When you have registered yourself as a user on the Portal, you can fill in the application form (click on the appropriate application form) and pay the application fee.
 Fill in the form like this if applying to Embassy in Tokyo. 写真: Application Portal |
After selecting your type of application you will be asked where to apply to. Most applicants in Japan will need to apply to the Norwegian Embassy in Japan before entering Norway. It is therefore important that you choose "Outside Norway" and "Japan" if you want to apply to the Embassy. |
How to apply - Existing users (who have previously used the Application Portal)
Applicants who have used the Application Portal before can simply log on, use the last application as a template and only change details such as travel dates, etc., pay the fee and book an appointment to hand in the supporting documents.
Booking and delivery of supporting documents
A number of documents are required in order to process an application for visa or residence permit. Applicants must book an appointment at the Embassy by e-mail (consular.tokyo@mfa.no), and bring the complete supporting documents on their date of appointment.
In addition to the supporting documents the applicant must also sign the cover letter (which can be printed out after an online application has been made or anytime after that from 'Previous individual applications' on the Portal) and submit at the Embassy along with his / her supporting documents.
The application form itself should not be submitted, as this is transferred electronically from the Application Portal to the Embassy.
Processing time
The processing time of a visa depends on each individual case. However, applicants should always apply several weeks before the intended journey.
If the case is considered uncomplicated, it can be handled by the Embassy in Tokyo, in which case the processing time for a Schengen visa (tourist, business, training) is 8 to 15 days (may be extended) counting from the day the Embassy receives all the requested documents:
Visa cases that are considered somewhat complicated, as well as all applications for residence permits will be handled by the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI). For current processing times at the Directorate of Immigration, please click here.
Application fee
The application fee must be paid electronically (by credit / debit card) on the secure Application Portal after filling in the application form online. The application will not be sent to the Embassy before the payment has been successfully processed (usuallly within a few seconds). Applicants (/ sponsors, etc.) may pay by Visa or MasterCard.
In order to avoid misuse of the Portal, all applicants who are exempt from paying must ‘pay’ the visa fee initially. However, the amount is only reserved on their bank account, not actually taken.
When the applicant appears at the Foreign Service Mission and submits documentation proving that he / she is exempted from paying the visa fee, the Foreign Service Mission can quickly release the money (refunded electronically).
Nevertheless, if the applicant has not appeared at the Foreign Service Mission within 14 days after paying the fee online, the money is transferred to the payment provider (DIBS) and later to the Foreign Service Mission’s bank account and a refund will thus take 2-3 weeks.
The most common application fees are as follows:
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Schengen Visa - EUR 60 (EUR35 for children aged 6-12). Fee for paper applicants is JPY6800 and must be paid in cash upon delivery of application.
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Residence Permits for work or study - NOK1100. Fee for paper applicants is JPY15000 and must be paid in cash upon delivery of application
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Residence Permit for Family Immigration (first time applicants) - NOK3000. Fee for paper applicants is JPY41000 and must be paid in cash upon delivery of application.
Notification of decision
When a decision has been made in a case, the Embassy will be notified and the Embassy will notify the applicant.
Approved applications
Approved visa applicants will have a visa sticker attached to their passport at the Embassy. It is up the applicant if he/she would like to leave the passport at the Embassy while the case is being handled and have it returned by post, or to come back when the visa sticker is ready to be issued.
Approved applicants for a residence permit will receive a letter of confirmation. The applicant must then bring this letter, along with their passport, to a local police station, where the residence permit will be issued, within 7 days of entering Norway.
Denied applications
Applicants that have been denied may re-apply or lodge an Appeal.
Click here to access the Application Portal