Japan
Last update 17 May 2023Diplomatic missions
Risk index
Level 2: Increased attention (please be informed in detail about the current situation in the country)
2
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Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria
Address: Yoyogi 5-36-3, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 151-0053
Telephone: +81 3 3465 1021 (the telephone is answered 24 hours)
Fax: +81 3 3465 1031
Out-of-hours hotlines: +81 80 4685 5558 /mobile number/; + 81 3 3465 1021
Consular Office Hours: 09:30 - 12:30 / 14:00 - 17:00
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site: www.mfa.bg/embassies/japan
Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Bulgaria in Fukuoka
Honorary Consul Mr. Hiroshi Munemasa
Sanix Corporation, 2-1-23 Hakataeki Higashi, Hakata-ku
Fukuoka City, 812-0013, Japan
Tel: +81 92 436 8842
e-mail: [email protected]
Jurisdiction: Kagawa, Tokushima, Kochi, Ehime, Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Oita, Miyazaki, Kagoshima and Okinawa
Embassy of Japan in Sofia
Address: 14 Lyulyakova Gradina Str., Sofia
Telephone: +359 2 971 34 37
Fax: +359 2 971 10 95
Opening hours of visa service: 09.00 - 11.00
e-mail: [email protected]
General information
general information
Local currency
Japanese yen (JPY)
Crime and security
Japan has one of the lowest levels of crime in the world
Legislation specifics
Foreigners staying in Japan have the right to carry out only such type of activity, which is indicated in their status of staying. Carrying out any other activity which is not regulated by this status is considered violation of law and can lead to detention, deportation and other sanctions.
Customs requirements
Japan has and strictly applied laws, which prohibit possession of firearms and all kinds of blank weapons, including gas alarm pistols, swords, long knives, etc.
At entering Japan, you are allowed to bring duty free no more than 3 bottles of alcohol, 400 pieces of cigarettes, 100 cigars, 500 g other tobacco, 2 ounces of perfume, items at market value of no more than 200 000 yens.
More detailed information about the customs and quarantine requirements can be obtained HERE.
It is prohibited to bring in Japan certain type of medicinal products, even if they are intended for personal use under medical indications. It is advisable before each visit to consult the Japanese Embassy in advance with respect to the permitted and prohibited medicinal products.
Information related to the regulations about brining cat, dogs and other pets in the country, including requirements for immunisations and quarantine, can be obtained on the internet address of Animal Quarantine Services HERE.
Healthcare
There is no danger of infectious diseases. Bulgarian citizens staying in Japan with a visa, different from the visa of official passport holders, are required to register in the National Health Insurance System of Japan, which guarantees their use of medical services.
It is advisable for Bulgarian citizens traveling for Japan to stay temporarily there to find out possibilities and get medical insurance before leaving for Japan.
Medical aid in Japan is at a high present-day level and is widely accessible, although very expensive. In many cases, in the Japanese medical establishments there is no system and attitude to serve people not speaking Japanese.
Foreigners who do not possess a card of the National Health Insurance in Japan shall pay for their medical services in cash.
Climate
In Japan, earthquakes, typhoons and other natural disasters are not infrequent. The system of early warning in case of natural disasters in the country functions very well, while the local authorities have a very high level of preparedness to help the victims in a natural disaster.
Warnings for such natural disasters are published first on the internet page of the Japanese Meteorological Agency.
The onset of typhoons is possible in the period June – December, but they reach the territory of Japan most often in the months of August, September and October.
The Japanese Meteorological Agency provides information and forecasts about approaching typhoons in English. With a forecast of typhoon, one should be very cautious when traveling in country and mountain regions, and also near water basins, because the heavy rains increase the risk of landslides, raising the water level and floods.
Travel papers and visas
Entry in the country is granted with a valid international passport.
Bulgarian citizens holding valid ordinary type of passports wishing to visit Japan and stay for a period not exceeding 90 consecutive days, can enter the territory of the country without the requirement to have a visa.
The exemption from visa requirements shall not be applied for Bulgarian citizens wishing to enter Japan with the intention to look for a job or exercise profession or another occupation (this includes even public, entertainment and sports events for payment). In the cases, where visas are required and issued, the Japanese diplomatic and consular authorities do not collect any fees.
Each Japanese visa gives a particular status of the foreigner staying in Japan, the so-called “status of residence”. There are 27 different types of residence statuses. After coming in the country, it is not possible to change the residence status in Japan.
It is advisable for each applicant for a Japanese visa to specify in advance with his/her hosts and with the Japanese Embassy issuing the visa his/her rights and obligations, which arise from holding the particular type of visa.
If the Bulgarian citizens staying in Japan for a longer term wish to leave temporarily the country, they should obtain from the Japanese immigration services a permission for re-entry, the so-called “re-entry permit”. It entitles the holder to enter Japan without the obligation to obtain another visa.
All foreigners in Japan, except those with a status of temporary stay and the employees of the diplomatic and consular missions, are required to register in the local municipalities and to obtain a certificate of registration for a foreigner, the so-called “alien registration certificate”, not later than 90 days from their entry in Japan.
Competitive service
What can the consular employees do for you?:
- issue a travel document for you, if you don’t possess such document;
- inform your family in case of an accident, serious illness or death and provide the possible co-operation;
- inform your family in case of an arrest, assist them in visiting you in prison, guarantee the same treatment to you as the treatment to the citizens of the receiving country.
- provide assistance in case of emergencies, such as natural calamities and civil protests;
- give you the latest information for your journey;
- certify and verify a signature;
- draw up civil status certificates (certificate of birth, certificate of contracted civil marriage and certificate of death);
- forward civil status certificates already drafted by the local authorities to the municipality at your permanent address in Bulgaria.
Certifications and legalisations:
If a pubic document issued by a foreign country is to be acknowledged in Bulgaria and vice versa, a Bulgarian pubic document to be acknowledged in another state – the document should be translated and accompanied with “Apostille” in accordance with the Convention Abolishing the Requirement for Legalisation of Foreign Public Documents, drafted in the Hague on 5 October 1961, under which Bulgaria and Japan are parties. The translation should be done by a sworn translator and his/her signature should be verified.