After 10 years, I finally have the info here for you people! :) YASSSSSSSS!!
When I initially did my research on how to apply for a Japan visa here in Abu Dhabi, the only result I got was how to apply from Dubai (which is only applicable for Dubai residents btw) so I had to rely only on the details provided by the Embassy of Japan - Abu Dhabi for the visa application and a variety of travel blogs for the rest.
First off, download the visa application form here by clicking here. You can fill it up electronically so it looks neater, below is a guide on how to do it:
Then prepare the requirements as follows:
Tourist requirements (Non-UAE nationals)
1. Passport (more than 2 blank pages)
2. Copy of passport ( and residence visa page)
3. Visa application form (Don't leave anything blank, just put in not applicable where necessary).
4. Photo (1 recent clear photo, white background w/n 6 mos. and pasted on the form)
5. Copy of confirmation of flight booking and accommodations
- I made my bookings on booking.com to avail of the free cancellation and no prepayment offers to allow adjustment for last minute changes
6. Schedule of stay - I followed the samples from these blogs:
Although I had to do a lot of revisions a month before the trip because Jetstar Asia gave us a free option to reschedule our flight back on the 3rd day so yey!!
7. Documents to show financial capability (ex. Certificate of Employment and at least 3 months bank statement, signed and stamped by HR and bank)
** Some say that bank activity is enough to guarantee a visa approval but to be sure, always leave enough balance to show that you can sustain your stay throughout the duration of the trip. I personally recommend this if you already have concrete travel plans because if denied, you can only re-apply after 6 months.
8. Proof of current address (ex. utility bills) - I don't have any so I just printed off my credit card statement with my home address and they accepted it.
9. Letter of Guarantee (if a family member is a minor/ student, etc.)
Then once everything's prepared, you can submit all your requirements to the Japan Embassy, a 6 aed taxi ride from Al Wahda Mall. You don't have to set an appointment, you can walk in from 8:30-1:30PM from Sundays to Thursdays.
The lady who processed our application was really pleasant and after checking our papers for a few minutes with a couple of questions, she said we can get our visas on the 4th day (we applied on Thursday and she said the 4th day was Monday so even weekends were included in the count).
Best part, visa is free if your visit is less than 30 days! :)
That's it~ hope my guide helped you and enjoy your stay in Japan!
