Japan loosens tourism visa rules for PHL, Indonesia, Vietnam

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan has approved “substantial relaxations of visa requirements” for tourism visas issued to nationals of the Philippines, Indonesia, and Vietnam, the Japanese Embassy in Manila said Tuesday.

The policy move is just an “initial step” of the ministry's “endeavor to realize the exemption of visa requirements,” the embassy also said.
 
Tourist visa requirements were relaxed to help achieve Japan's goal of attracting 20 million foreign visitors.
 
“For national of the Philippines  multiple-entry visa requirements will be substantially relaxed, and requirements for single-entry tourism visas will be relaxed to a quasi-exemption-equivalent level when applied via specified travel agencies,” the embassy said in its statement.
 
However, other details, including “the beginning date of application” are still being worked out. — ELR, GMA News

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