How to apply for a UK visa in Japan

Where can I get information?

The UK Border Agency and the British Embassy Tokyo work in partnership with a commercial organisation, VFS Global .

You can find out whether you need a visa and how to apply through VFS Global website.  VFS Global also provides information through an e-mail and telephone enquiry service, the number is 03- 5623-3669 and is provided free of charge. All the information provided is supplied and approved by the UK Border Agency.

Do I have to pay?

No, all information is provided free of charge in Japan.

Where can I get advice?

VFS Global and its staff cannot give you advice on how to complete your application, or what type of visa you should apply for.   If you need help with your application or advice about the UK's immigration rules and requirements, you should seek advice from a qualified immigration adviser. In the UK these are immigration advisers regulated by the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner  or legally qualified professionals regulated by designated professional bodies.  Their websites are:

• Law Society of England and Wales
• Law Society of Scotland
• Law Society of Northern Ireland
• Institute of Legal Executives

How do I submit my application?

VFS Global manages Visa Application Centres in Tokyo and Osaka, where you should submit your application and your biometric fingerscans. 

Who decides whether I will get a visa?

UK Border Agency staff will process and decide your visa application. VFS Global and its staff play no part in the outcome of your visa application. They cannot influence it in any way.  If any member of staff employed by VFS Global say they can influence your application, you should tell the British Embassy immediately.

Service standards - complaints and compliments

The UK Border Agency aims to offer a fair and professional service to all our customers.  We welcome feedback it helps us to see where we need to improve

• If you have any comments, or are concerned about the standard of service you received, please let us know. We investigate all complaints fully and will send you a reply within 20 working days
  

• If you wish to complain about the service you received from the UK Border Agency at this Embassy, please address your complaint to the Entry Clearance Manager at British Embassy Tokyo, 1 Ichiban-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8381.
  

• If you wish to complain about the service you received from VFS Global, you may submit it direct to their website, in person, or to the Entry Clearance Manager above.

The Visa Application Centres are located at the following addresses:

Tokyo
Edificio Toko Building, 4th Floor
2-3-14 Higashi Shimbashi
Minato-ku
Tokyo

Osaka
Miki Building, 6th Floor, C Block
2-4-1 Minamisenba, Chuoh-ku
Osaka

For contact details, opening hours and a map to the centres click here.

The current Visa Fees are available on the VFS Global's website and are displayed prominently in the VACs.

The VAC may offer additional services at extra cost, which may make it more convenient for you to apply, it is for you to decide whether to make use of these additional services. They are not compulsory and will not affect the consideration of your application.

The staff at the VAC are required to perform checks to ensure that your application is completed.

• Your application will only be accepted at the Visa Application Centre if you can:
• present a signed, dated Visa Application Form (VAF);
• provide the required photographs;  
• provide passports (or other travel documents where specified by UKvisas): 
    - for all persons included in the VAF;
    - which correspond to data in the VAF (name, passport number, expiry date); 
    - which have not expired;
    - which have at least one page free in the visa pages for the insertion of a vignette,
• pay the published visa fee; and,
• have your biometrics data recorded.  
  

The staff at the VAC may highlight common mistakes or missing information out to you, and allow you to amend the application(s) if you wish, but they are instructed to accept your application(s ) if you wish to proceed.