Japan had decided to expand the list of Filipinos who may qualify for a multiple entry visa. The new program starts Wednesday, August 1.

This is a welcome development to the Filipinos who found Japan to be the best alternative foreign tourist destination because of Japan’s unparalleled courtesy, helpfulness, and compassion to their tourists regardless of race.

The Embassy of Japan in Manila in their press statement released said, “The relaxation of visa requirements for short-term stay for Filipino nationals was decided to promote people-to-people exchanges between Japan and the Republic of the Philippines.”

Japan Embassy said, “The applicants eligible for multiple entry visas for short-term stay include those traveling for business purposes and cultural and intellectual interaction, and the validity of the visas will also be extended from five years to a maximum of ten years.

“The above-mentioned relaxation of visa requirements is expected to contribute to the improvement of convenience for tourists and increase in repeat visitors as well as further advancement of people-to-people exchanges between Japan and the Republic of the Philippines,” the embassy said.

Furthermore, the decision was based on Tokyo’s “Tourism Vision Realization Program 2018” and the relaxation of multi-visa for Filipino tourists also coincides with the 62nd-year celebration of Tokyo and Manila’s normalization of diplomatic relations.

For more details, visit http://www.ph.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/00_000035.html