Just received my passport today with a 10-year multiple-entry visa. and wanted to share my recent Japan Multiple-Entry Visa application experience. My friend and I applied together at the VFS Parqal branch and opted for the Premium Lounge service. Hope this detailed breakdown helps those who are planning to apply soon!

My Applicant Profile 👤

To give you context on my application, here's a little about my background:

• Profession: I work as a Consultant in a managerial role that's related to my CPA license. I've been with my company for over seven years.
• Financials & Digital Bank: I used Tonik Digital Bank as my primary proof of funds. My certificate showed a 6-digit savings balance (₱XXX,XXX) and another 6-digit placement in time deposits (₱XXX,XXX).
• Explaining my ADB: My Average Daily Balance (ADB) was presented on a per-month basis and varied significantly (from ₱XX,XXX some months to ₱XXX,XXX in others). This is because I actively transfer money from my savings into time deposits or other high-interest accounts once it's above a certain amount.
• The Cover Letter: I know it's often considered optional, but I chose to write a comprehensive cover letter to proactively address potential questions. In it, I included:
  • My reason for requesting a multiple-entry visa (stating my desire to experience Japan's culture across different seasons and visit various regions).
  • A summary of my travel history and more details about my career.
  • Most importantly, I explicitly stated that my digital bank only provides digital copies of bank certificates, to explain why I was submitting a printed copy instead of a document with a traditional wet signature.

About the Booking Process 💻

We booked our appointments online back on August 23, 2025, for an October 3 slot. A key thing we noticed was that at the time of booking, there were no standard slots available for our target dates. The only option was to book a Premium Lounge slot, which we paid for directly on the website.

Application Timeline & VFS Experience 🗓️

• October 3, 2025 (Friday AM): Appointment Day at VFS Parqal.
  • Our schedule was 7:30 AM, but we arrived at 7:10 AM. Thanks to the Premium Lounge service, we were allowed to enter early and were assisted immediately. The entire process, from filling out the LBC form to the document check, took less than 45 minutes.
• October 3, 2025 (Friday PM): Received email/SMS: "Process application has been dispatched to the Embassy of Japan..."
• October 10, 2025 (Friday PM): Received email/SMS: "Processed application is ready for collection..."
• October 13, 2025 (Monday PM): Received email/SMS: "Processed application has been dispatched via courier."
• October 14, 2025 (Tuesday PM): Passport with visa received via LBC (Metro Manila address).

Documents Submitted 📁

Here is the complete list of documents I prepared. All forms were typewritten.

• VFS Documents:
  • Appointment Letter (from the booking email)
• Embassy Forms:
  • Checklist for Multiple-Entry Visa - https://www.vfsglobal.com/one-pager/japan/philippines/english/pdf/Business-Conf-Cultural-Exchange-Checklist-April-2025.pdf
  • Visa Application Form (signed, with a 4.5 x 3.5 cm photo attached) - https://www.ph.emb-japan.go.jp/files/100475189.pdf
  • Request Form for Multiple-Entry Visa - https://www.ph.emb-japan.go.jp/files/100401465.pdf
  • Itinerary in Japan (5-day schedule) - https://www.ph.emb-japan.go.jp/files/100365634.pdf
• Supporting Documents:
  • Passport (self-signed)
  • Colored Photocopy of Passport Bio Page
  • Original PSA Certificate of Live Birth (issued within the last six months)
  • Colored Photocopy of my PRC ID (CPA)
  • Certificate of Employment (with wet signature)
  • Printed Copy of BIR Form 2316 for 2024 (signed by me and my employer)
  • Printed Copy of Bank Certificate from Tonik Digital Bank (requested one with ADB via call through their customer service)
  • Printed Copies of my Time Deposit Certificates (downloaded from the Tonik app)
  • (And of course, the Cover Letter I mentioned above)

Costs Incurred 💸

• VFS Standard Service Charge: ₱520.00
• Premium Lounge Fee (Paid online during booking): ₱2,200.00
• Total Cost: ₱2,720.00

The entire process was smooth, and I highly recommend writing a cover letter if you have anything in your application that might need a bit of extra explanation, like using a digital bank in my case. I have watched lots of videos on Tiktok, read a lot of blogs online and posts on Reddit, and asked my friends who applied previously just to be ready. I am highly anxious during the waiting time because I already failed a visa application in the US before. Also, there was a very minor wear and tear mark on the cover page of my passport, which added to my overthinking. Good luck to everyone with your applications!