Japan has tightened the requirements for the documents needed by Russian citizens to obtain visas. According to information on the website of the Japanese Embassy, citizens who are employed must present the original of the certificate from their place of work, which must contain the employee’s signature and the original stamp, reports The Moscow Times.
If the salary is not mentioned, an additional certificate will be required. “All applicants must present the original of a certificate from a branch of a bank in Russia regarding the available balance, with the original stamp and the signature of a bank employee,” the representatives of the Japanese diplomatic mission specified.
Also, the list of necessary documents for minors, students, pensioners, and their sponsors has been expanded.
The Japanese Visa Center in Moscow began to scrutinize documents more closely in the spring of this year. According to the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR), this has led to an extension of visa processing times. ATOR announced that currently, a full set of financial and personal documents may be requested from each family member, including proof of kinship.