Hello, I am visiting Japan in November as a tourist and am interested in the eVISA. However, I am concerned about the eVISA as I will be utilizing the JR Pass and have been told that I need a ‘Temporary Visitor Stamp’ in my passport to be issued the JR Pass (eVISA will not provide stamp in passport). I have contacted JR and my local consolate and no one can give me a definite answer. Has anyone had success with the eVISA and JR Pass? Also, if you get an eVISA, do you still get a visitor stamp upon arrival to the country? Thank you so much!
5 comments
There are two things that can go into your passport: the visa itself, and the landing permission as a temporary visitor.
You need the latter for JR Pass.
This is just my guess, but even with e-visa you probably still need to go through standard immigration lane which will put the landing permission in your passport. The only case where you won’t get that is if you go through e-gate at the immigration, which I don’t believe e-visa holder can.
You might also try asking your local consulate again whether you will get “landing permission 上陸許可” stamp in your passport.
You will likely get the stamp. The visa give you the authorization to get in Japan but is not exact on the dates, you get the stamp with specific number of days allowed when you enter. Even with a real visa I got stamps when getting in Japan an renewing my working holiday visa. I do not see why they would not put a stamp in your passport.
I think you might be referring to actually activating your pass. They just want to check you have a stamp on your passport showing you are a visitor. Not a long term resident who is using it for cheap tickets.
https://www.jrailpass.com/faq/japan-rail-pass-exchange-offices
Wait, how are you traveling to Japan as a tourist?
You still need to go through customs and could find agent that is willing to stamp your passport. This might cause some waiting that beats having a eVisa.
The real question is “do you need the JR Pass”? As some people get the JR Pass then underutilized and not save the money as planned. There is other modes of transport that might have a better savings.
You will get a sticker with a barcode entering Japan.