New Electronic Indonesian Passport, no physical visa needed for travel to Japan?

[Jaime C]

My wife renewed her Indonesian passport a few months ago. She got the most expensive option, which is supposed to allow up to 15 days in Japan, without having to get a physical entry visa.

Seems you have to register your passport within 14 weeks of your trip. Has anyone with an Indonesian passport done this? I think this option is a fairly recent thing.

 

[Wisnu]

Hi Jamie, My passport is still the old one since I got it from Indonesian embassy. I do consider to get the e-passport. I think the cost for e-passport is very reasonable. less than Rp. 1M for 10 years validity.
Not my experience, just understanding of the procedure in , to get Japan visa free, we just need to register, either on-line or off-line, valid for 3 years since registration or passport expiry date, which ever earlier. I dont see the requirement to register within 14 weeks. https://www.id.emb-japan.go.jp/info22_17.html

 

[marcus]

Seems you have to register your passport within 14 weeks of your trip...

From the Japanese Embassy (see below) , I understood that you can register anytime but at least 5 working days before your trip to Japan .

I think this option is a fairly recent thing.

According to the Japanese Embassy : "Visa Free with E-Passport Registration for Indonesian Citizens : Visa-Free Policy ... which had been discontinued and its validity suspended since March 27, 2020 as a preventive measure against the spread of Covid-19, ... restart from 11 October 2022" .

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From https://www.id.emb-japan.go.jp/info22_17.html (Japan's Embassy in Indonesia)

Visa-Free with E-Passport Registration for Indonesian Citizens (translated by Google)

The Visa-Free Policy (validity period of 3 years) with the Pre-departure Registration System for Indonesian E-Passport holders ...

, the application procedure for Pre-departure Visa-Free Registration ... is as follows.

1. Subject of the Implementation of the Japan Visa-Free Entry Policy

Indonesian citizens who meet the following conditions can enter Japan with a Visa-Free Entry.
• Indonesian citizens who hold an Indonesian E-Passport that meets the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards (There is an IC logo on the passport cover)
• Indonesian citizens who hold the above E-passports who obtain proof of Visa-Free Registration from the Japanese Diplomatic Representative Office in Indonesia (Consulate General/Consular Office/Embassy of Japan through JVAC) before traveling to Japan.
• Purpose of entering Japan for a Temporary Visit (tourism, business, family/friends visit)
• Period of stay in Japan is 15 days or less.

2. Proof of Visa-Free Registration (Stickers)

For Indonesian citizens who have registered for an e-passport, proof of registration will be given by the Consulate General/Consular Office/Embassy of Japan, with the following provisions.
However, please note that the application for Visa-Free to the Japanese Embassy is made through the Japan Visa Application Center (JVAC).
• Purpose of trip: Temporary visit (tourism, business, family/friends visit)
• Period of stay: 15 days
• Validity: 3 years or until the passport expires (if the passport is less than 3 years old. Follow the shortest validity period.)
• Fee: Free (※There is an additional fee from JVAC)
• Registration Process: 5 working days

3. Procedures for Pre-Departure Visa-Free Registration

(1) The applicant or the applicant's representative brings the e-passport and application form (attached form: PDF or DOCX) to the Consulate General/Consulate Office of Japan in Indonesia or JVAC for registration.
(2) The Consulate General/Consulate Office/JVAC will receive the application files, carry out the registration process, attach the Visa-free sticker, and return it to the applicant.

(3) E-passport holders who have received a Visa-free sticker can travel to Japan for a maximum stay of 15 days, multiple times until the sticker expires, without having to re-register for each trip.
(4) Visa-free applicants whose applications are not granted must apply for a Visa as usual.

4. Attention
(1) Indonesian citizens holding passports other than e-passports still need a VISA to enter Japan. The VISA-free only applies for visits of a maximum of 15 days, and if you plan to stay for more than 15 days, or intend to work in Japan, you must apply for a VISA by following the applicable regulations.
(2) If the E-passport holder, after receiving a visa-free sticker, replaces his/her passport or changes the name on his/her passport, he/she must re-register by following the applicable provisions.
(3) Please note the validity period of the visa-free registration, which is 3 (three) years or until the end of the passport validity period (if the passport validity period is less than 3 years). As in the following example:
A person with an e-passport registers for visa exemption on October 12, 2022.
a. If the person's e-passport is still valid, after October 12, 2025, he/she should re-register for visa exemption on October 13, 2025 or earlier.
b. If the person's e-passport has expired before October 12, 2025, he/she can apply for visa exemption registration by bringing his/her old e-passport and his/her new e-passport.
For e-passport owners who cannot include their old passport, they must attach a letter from an authorized institution explaining the reason when you apply for registration at the Japanese Consulate General/Japanese Consulate Office/JVAC.
(4) If after registering for visa exemption in Japan you make a new e-passport before the expiration of your old passport, please register for visa exemption as mentioned in example (b) above. Failure to re-register will result in you being unable to enter Japan.
(5) Indonesian citizens holding e-passports who enter Japan without prior VISA-free registration will be banned at Japanese airports. Therefore, this registration must be done before departure. In addition, there are times when airport immigration officers will ask questions related to the purpose of arrival in Japan, duration of stay, ask to show return tickets or tickets to other countries or other information required by airport immigration. From the results of the questions and answers by the immigration officers, it is possible that the person concerned will not be able to enter Japan.
(6) Like a visa to Japan, a Visa Waiver is a recommendation given to foreign citizens to be able to enter Japan and does not mean absolute permission or a guarantee to be able to enter Japan. The final decision to be able to enter Japan or not will be given by Japanese immigration upon landing in Japan.

 

[Jaime C]

Just an update on this.

My wife applied online over the weekend for her Japanese visa. It’s pretty easy. Just needed flight info, hotels, picture of passport.

When submitting the application, there wasn’t really a, “Ok application successfully submitted” screen, but just text in red that showed submitted.

She got her approval email today, which was pretty speedy.

 

[Jaime C]

My wife and daughter just got back from Tokyo. No problems with her online Japanese visa. Much quicker than entering Indinesia!

Had to do the online Indonesia form for re-entering at CGK, but relatively easy

 

[harryopal1]

On the other hand, I am travelling back to Australia this week. Just last week my wife decided she would come with me. She previously had an Australian sub class residential permanent but this has lapsed. Checked requirements for a tourist visa and, as she is Indonesian, it is like applying again for permanent residence. So much stuff required so wife decided she couldn't be bothered. Next time will have to apply well in advance to cover all the paper work.

 

[Shadrach]

On the other hand, I am travelling back to Australia this week. Just last week my wife decided she would come with me. She previously had an Australian sub class residential permanent but this has lapsed. Checked requirements for a tourist visa and, as she is Indonesian, it is like applying again for permanent residence. So much stuff required so wife decided she couldn't be bothered. Next time will have to apply well in advance to cover all the paper work.

So does that mean your Wife is not going? Don't they have a VOA visa like here? Nowadays many countries are really tightening up Immigration. Now due to the current administration, The US is almost impossible to get into if your not White! They let those White South African in No Problem! Sounds like Racism to Me! I think it's so Stupid to do this, because Most of the Migrants coming in, want to Work the Farms, Factories, Kitchens, Hotels, become Nannies for the Rich, Etc! What is being said on the Mainstream News is a lot of Prejudice, Racist, propaganda! They bring in nice Family values, Good Cooking methods,
It's going to come back and Bite all the Conservatives on the Butt, who need the Cheap Labor! Such a shame if you ask me! It sounds like Australia is hard on immigration now Also?

 

[Jaime C]

I recall the first time my wife and I entered Australia together. I on my US passport, she on an Australian visitors visa. At the airport in Sydney, I had gone first through the hand baggage screening, with most of the hand carry luggage, as she was pregnant.

As I clear the station, and start to walk a few steps away, I hear a commotion behind me. There are two security guys giving my wife a bit of a hard time. Asking her why she’s coming to Australia, etc. She just says she’s there with her husband, and they look around to find him. No questions for me at all.

She points to me, and they just stop questioning her and wave her through. This was 13 years ago, so across much of the world, your skin color definitely affects the treatment that you get when entering a country.

Even in other Asian countries, I often get instant and preferred service over her. I booked some nights at a $1000+ a night Tokyo hotel, with hotel points. We both have the top status at this hotel chain. Since I wasn’t traveling with them, because of my wheelchair, I had emailed the concierge to let them know about their early arrival. Was promised executive lounge access, an early check-in, etc.

My wife and daughter get to the hotel, but are refused lounge access, and just not treated as expected. I have to email the concierge again, to finally get anything done. And yes, my wife was on the reservation.