Official notice about Japanese visas and film festival

Please take time to read the following notice about visas from the Japanese Embassy.

“Recently, false news has been circulating regarding the Japanese Visa for Filipinos. The news mentioned that Japan has lifted its visa for the Philippines. The Embassy of Japan in the Philippines would like to clarify to the public that Japan has not lifted the visa requirements for the Philippines, contrary to recent reports. Japan will continue to accept and deliver visa applications for Japan through accredited agencies. Japan, however, has opened multiple-entry visas to Filipinos.”

Filipinos who wish to go to Japan will still be required to apply for a visa. However, as explained in the Japanese Embassy website, “in celebration of the 40th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation, the Government of Japan has decided, from July 1, to begin issuance 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.”

What this means is that from July 1, those “who have fulfilled certain conditions and those who have ordinary Machine-Readable passport (MRP) meeting International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards or those with ordinary IC passport,” can be allowed for short stay (15 days) in Japan and can be given a multiple entry visa which will have a validity of up to three years.

A multiple entry visa means that one can use for multiple times the same approved visa (issued from July 1, 2013) to enter and stay for a 15-day short stay PER visit  in Japan, for a period up to three years.

To repeat, Filipinos still need a visa to visit to Japan. If a 15-day multiple entry visa is granted from July 1 this year, the same visa can be used to enter Japan up to 3 years.

The issuance of the multiple entry visa is expected to lead to “the further development of Japan-Philippines exchange (through) increases in the number of tourist from the Philippines who visit Japan and the enhancement of the ease of business transactions between the two countries.”

For details about visa application, please refer to http://www.ph.emb-japan.go.jp/visiting/ and for information about the issuance of the multiple-entry visa, please go to http://www.ph.emb-japan.go.jp/visiting/new visa/multientryvisa.html.

Shifting to another topic, there have been several inquiries about the schedule of the Japanese Eiga Sai (Film Festival) for Cebu for this year.

According to a Japan Foundation communication, the much awaited Japanese Film Festival is scheduled within August 7 to11 at the Cinema 4 of Ayala Center.

The Film Festival is part of the celebration of the Philippines-Japan Friendship Month in July and the 40th Year of ASEAN - Japan Friendship and Cooperation anchored on the theme “ASEAN-Japan Partnership: Thoughts Connected-Future Connected.”

In Manila, “a series of culturally-inspiring and artistically-stimulating month-long activities have been lined up by The Japan Foundation, Manila in cooperation with the Embassy of Japan, the UP Film Institute, and other partners. Screening venues for the films that will be shown with English subtitles are at the Shang Cineplex Cinema 2 (July4 to 14), Abreeza, Ayala and FDCP Cinematheque, Davao City (July 19 to 28), Ayala Center Cinema 4, Cebu City (August 7 to 11) and at the UP Film Institute, Quezon City (August 19 to 25). For detailed screening schedules and inquiries, please access the Japan Foundation, Manila website: www.jfmo.org.ph or call the JFM telephone numbers (+632) 811-6155 to 58.”

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