VISA Application
Entertainer Visa
This is the visa for foreigners who intend to engage in any of the following in Japan.
Theatrical performance, entertainment, singing, dancing or musical performance
Merchandise or business campaign
Production of broadcast (including cable broadcast) programs or movies
Shooting of commercial photographs
Sound or video recording into commercial records, videotapes or other recording media
* The validity period of the Visa can be 15 or 90 days, 6 months or a year.
The Entertainer Visa is classified into four categories: Categories 1 through 4. The applicable conditions for approval depend on the types of activity and facilities used for it. Thus, the Visa is not granted for some facilities, and the number of seats and the payment to the performer are restricted depending on the facility.
It is necessary that your entertainment activity and the facility used for it satisfy the applicable condition for approval. In addition, the validity period of the Visa is determined by the type of the facility and the intended length of your stay. The renewal of the Visa is not always approved.
The necessary documents differ depending on the actual contents of your activity. They include the applicant's profile, the schedule of stay, the contract document, a drawing and photographs (audience seats, the waiting rooms, the appearance, etc.) of the facility, the document announcing your performance, documents relating to the hiring company, a written pledge, the list of the company's employees and a petition.
Some applicants come to our office for consultation although they do not have enough time before the performance. Since time is usually limited before the performer's entering Japan and the performance, the necessary documents should be fully and well prepared for a smooth approval. In addition to the procedure required in Japan, you need to go through some procedure in the performer's country.
Companies which hire foreigners for the first time need special care since it takes more time in inspection for such companies. We support such companies so that they can obtain their performers' visas in as shortest time as possible.
It is illegal if you enter Japan with a short-term visa and engage in entertainment activity. In such a case, it may become impossible for you to obtain a Visa later. We hear that a musician group submitted false documents in applying for Entertainer Visas and it later became impossible for them to obtain them.
There are also some entertainment places for which it became impossible to obtain Entertainer Visas because their facilities had been changed.
We receive many requests for applying for Entertainer Visas and offer services to many such companies as their exclusive agent. We are the first agent to obtain an Entertainer Visa, which is thought to be the hardest to obtain.
We are happy to offer you our services.