Over 200,000 Pinoys got Japanese visas in 2015

Over 200,000 Filipinos were issued Japanese visas in 2015, making them the second nationality next to the Chinese to be issued the most  number of visas by the Japanese government during the previous year.
A Kyodo News report, citing Japan's Foreign Ministry, said 225,676 Filipinos received Japanese visas in 2015, or a 38-percent increase from 2014.
A record number of 3.78 million visas, meanwhile, were issued to Chinese nationals, or an 85-percent increase. The Kyodo News report said this accounted for some 80 percent of all visas issued by Japan last year, which came to a record 4.77 million, up 66 percent.
The Kyodo News report said this is due weaker yen and relaxed visa rules.
Coming in third was Indonesia, which got 162,273 visas, or up 15 percent, in 2015.
Aside from the substantial relaxation on requirements, the period of validity of the visa was also extended for up to five years.
For an illustrated guide on the steps to take in applying for a Japanese visa, click here. —KBK, GMA News

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