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New Religious Activities Visa

As YWAM Japan is a registered Religious Corporation, we can assist foreign YWAMers who do not already have residency in Japan in receiving a Religious Activities Visa. Please note that we can only offer this to those who will be, or are already, connected with an existing YWAM location or ministry that is part of YWAM Japan's Religious Corporation.

If you do not yet have residency permission to live in Japan, part of your process to join as YWAM Sendai staff is to receive a visa from Japanese Immigration. This page details this process. Please follow this process carefully.

Please stay in touch with your us throughout the process so we know how you are doing, and ask any questions anytime.

We look forward to your arrival and serving alongside you in reaching the Japanese!

The Process​

  • Inform us that you have reached at least the Minimum Support Level of financial support and would like to begin this process.
  • We will send you a Visa Information form.
  • You send us all required documents via both email and physical mail (detailed below).
  • We then apply for a CoE from Japanese Immigration once your documents have been received (can take 6 to 12 weeks).
  • The CoE will be sent to you once we receive it.
  • You then go to your local Japanese Embassy or Consulate and submit a Visa Application form, CoE, and your passport in order to apply for your visa.
  • Usually within a few days, you can return to the Embassy or Consulate to pick up your passport with your visa! This likely must be done in person, but sometimes they give you the option to receive it via mail. You can check this with them.
  • You can now book your flight to Japan! (Note: please don’t purchase your airline ticket until your visa is issued in case of unexpected delays).
  • Note: You must enter Japan within 3 months of receiving your CoE.

Required Documentation​

Please find below a list of what is needed from you in order to begin the process of applying for your Certificate of Eligibility.

  • Copy of your passport photo page (the copy must be clear and all information legible)
  • A 4cm x 3cm portrait photograph (should be clear, with a plain background, and recently taken. Applicant in photo should be facing forward, without sunglasses, hats, etc.)
  • Two original, signed letters on church stationary, not copies, from your sending church: Letter of Dispatch and Letter of Release

Please send all printed documents to the given mailing address, and email scanned copies to people@ywamsendai.org

Note:

  • If any of these documents are in another language other than English or Japanese, please also provide English or Japanese translations.
  • We have provided template documents for the church letters and you can ask your church to copy and paste the text of the correct wording into each letter and fill in the necessary information, such as your name, your church name, and your pastor’s signature, into the relevant blank spaces. We standardised the wording to simplify the process because each of the letters must contain certain information and specific wording.
  • The second church letter states that your sending church or organisation provides financial support of you during your time in Japan. This assurance is very important for Japanese Immigration, who would be concerned that immigrants become stranded or destitute while in Japan. It isn’t that your church must technically promise to support your every need, because your missionary support will most likely come from many supporters. But in the spirit of the law, if one organisation will officially vouch for you, Japanese Immigration will be more comfortable to grant the visa. YWAM Japan must also vouch for you in this way. This letter is not a legally binding document requiring your church to meet your every need. You can give this letter to the church or organisation leader to help explain this. If they are extremely uncomfortable with this, please let us know and we can try an alternate wording.