japan tourist visa san francisco

Japanese Diplomatic mission in the United States. On this page you will find info on specific details such as consulate contact information, web presence, consular office hours and directions to the consulate. The consulate in San Francisco is not the only diplomatic representation of Japan in the United States. On this page you can also find all other Japanese consulates located in the United States.

Japanese consulates in the united states.

The Japanese Consulate in San Francisco is not the only Japanese consular office in the region. For your convenience we also listed below all other consulates of Japan located in the United States. A Japanese consulate can be found in the city of: Anchorage , Atlanta , Boston , Chicago , Dallas , Denver , Detroit , Fresno , Honolulu , Houston , Indianapolis , Kansas City , Las Vegas , Los Angeles , Miami , Minneapolis , Nashville , New Orleans , New York , Oklahoma City , Omaha , Philadelphia , Phoenix , Portland , San Diego , San Francisco , Seattle and St Louis

Keep in mind that a consulate can have more or less or different consular services.

Search your Hotel close to the Japanese Consulate in San Francisco

When you need to find a place to stay close to the Japanese consulate we provide a handy hotel search box for accommodation in a hotel or guesthouse in San Francisco, the United States.

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

The Consulate of Japan in San Francisco could have adjusted its services due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Contact the consulate before visiting.

Journey Pursuits

Getting a Japan Visa in San Francisco: Your Guide

As a travel enthusiast, you must have heard about Japan , a country famous for its unique culture, delicious food, and vibrant cities. Whether you are planning to visit Japan for tourism or business purposes, you need a Japan visa to enter the country legally. Obtaining a Japan visa in San Francisco can be a straightforward process if you understand the requirements and application process. This article will guide you through the steps you need to follow to obtain a Japan visa in San Francisco.

Types of Japan Visa Available in San Francisco

Before you start the application process, you need to know the type of Japan visa that suits your purpose of going to Japan. Japan offers several types of visas , including tourist visa, business visa, work visa, student visa, and spouse visa . A tourist visa is suitable for visitors who plan to stay in Japan for up to 90 days for tourism purposes. Business visa, on the other hand, is suitable for professionals who plan to attend conferences, meetings, or negotiations in Japan. Work visa is suitable for individuals who wish to work in Japan, whereas a student visa is for students who wish to study in Japan. Lastly, a spouse visa is for individuals who wish to join their spouses who are Japanese citizens or residents.

Requirements for Japan Visa in San Francisco

To obtain a Japan visa in San Francisco, you need to meet the following requirements:

A valid passport
A completed visa application form
A recent passport size photograph
A flight itinerary
Proof of financial capability such as bank statements, tax returns, or pay stubs
A letter of invitation from a sponsor (for business, work, or student visa)
Certificate of eligibility (for work or student visa)
Marriage certificate (for spouse visa)

It is essential to note that each visa type has specific requirements, and you need to ensure that you meet all of them before applying for a visa.

Application Process for Japan Visa in San Francisco

Once you have gathered all the necessary documents, you can proceed to the visa application process. Here are the steps you need to follow:

Schedule an appointment: You need to schedule an appointment with the Japanese consulate in San Francisco, either online or over the phone.

Visit the Consulate: On the day of your appointment, visit the consulate with all the required documents, including your passport.

Submit your application: Submit your visa application form and all supporting documents to the consulate. The consulate will require you to pay a non-refundable visa application fee.

Wait for processing: After submitting your application, you need to wait for the consulate to process your application. The processing time varies depending on the type of visa you are applying for.

Collect your visa: Once your visa is ready, you will receive a notification from the consulate. You can collect your visa in person or by mail.

Tips for a Successful Japan Visa Application in San Francisco

Here are some tips to help you increase your chances of a successful Japan visa application in San Francisco:

Apply early: Apply for your visa as early as possible, preferably 1-2 months before your planned date of travel.

Provide accurate information: Ensure that all the information you provide in your visa application is accurate and consistent with the supporting documents.

Be honest: Do not provide false information or hide any details that may affect your visa application.

Submit all required documents: Ensure that you submit all the required documents and meet all the visa requirements.

Dress appropriately: Dress appropriately when visiting the consulate for your appointment.

Remain patient and courteous: Remain patient and courteous throughout the visa application process, especially when dealing with consulate staff.

Conclusion: Your Next Steps for Obtaining a Japan Visa in San Francisco

Obtaining a Japan visa in San Francisco can be a stress-free experience if you understand the requirements and application process. Ensure that you identify the type of visa that suits your purpose, gather all the necessary documents, and follow the application process step by step. Remember to apply early, provide accurate information, and remain patient and courteous throughout the visa application process. Once you receive your Japan visa, you can embark on your trip to Japan, ready to explore the beautiful country and experience its unique culture.

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Consolato Generale d'Italia a San Francisco

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Instructions for visas.

IT CAN BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO FIND AN APPOINTMENT

As you have learned by clicking through the previous page, our jurisdiction covers over 40.000.000 people. This means we are often booked out for several months in advance. The online appointment-booking system, https://prenotami.esteri.it , holds all appointments offered by this Consulate.

You are required to submit the requirements, such as flight tickets, at your appointment. You do not need to have the requirements when you book the appointment. We strongly recommend you check for an available appointment before purchasing flight tickets.

If you are resident in this jurisdiction, you cannot apply at another Consulate.

GENERAL INFORMATION FOR ALL VISA APPLICANTS

PROCESSING TIME IS ABOUT 7-15 DAYS AFTER YOUR APPOINTMENT.

Passports must be valid for at least three months beyond the date of your intended return to the United States. Passports must contain at least two blank pages for the visa sticker. Passports must have been issued within the previous 10 years.

Travelers who visit Italy for business, tourism, or study for up to 90 days must fill out a “dichiarazione di presenza” (declaration of presence). This form will be given to travelers when they arrive in Italy.

All travelers who intend to stay for more than 90 days must apply for a “permesso di soggiorno” (residency permit) from the local Questura (police department) within 8 days of their arrival in Italy.

Passports and visas will be returned exclusively by mail. The applicant must bring a self addressed, prepaid or stamped envelope. The Visa Office will accept only USPS Express Mail prepaid envelopes from the U.S. Postal Service (no FedEx, no UPS). The Visa Office is not responsible for lost or stolen passports in transit.

For Schengen visas (visas of 90 days or less), please also see the general information for Schengen visas at the bottom of the webpage.

MAILING AND STREET ADDRESS:

2590 Webster Street San Francisco, CA 94115

Please mark all envelopes “ATTN: VISA OFFICE”

Schengen Tourist/Transit (including business and academic conferences)

Schengen Business

Subordinate Work

Religious Activity

Dependents of U.S. Military Serving Abroad (Mission Visa)

Civilian Employees Assigned to U.S. / NATO Bases (Mission Visa)

Family of EU/EEA citizens (including Italian citizens) resident in Italy

Family of non-EU/EEA citizens resident in Italy

Elective Residency

Independent Work

Digital nomad / Remote worker Visa

Schengen (Short stay) Visa Application Form (visas for trips of up to 90 days)

National (Long stay) Visa Application Form (visas for trips of more than 90 days)

Declaration for Mailing Passports (required for ALL visa applications)

Declaration of Hospitality (Original required. No photocopies, faxes, or scanned versions accepted.)

Affidavit of Financial Support (to be filled out by anyone who is financially supporting a traveller)

Parental Consent for a Minor Traveling Abroad

Invitation Letter for Business Visas

Letter from employer

The Consulate General of Italy does not work with any third parties to schedule appointments. The booking system is entirely FREE OF CHARGE. Users will never be asked to pay any fee in order to book an appointment at the Consulate General.

Your appointment date must be within SIX MONTHS of your departure date.

You must bring all required documents to your appointment (see “Instructions for Visas” above). You do not need the required documents to book an appointment.

Please CLICK HERE to book an appointment on the Prenot@Mi website.

VISA FEES – VALID FROM 01 JULY TO 30 SEPTEMBER

SCHENGEN VISA / SHORT STAY VISA (up to 90 days) ADULTS and MINORS 12 YEARS AND OLDER: $97.00 MINORS between 6 and 11 years old: $48.50 MINORS UNDER 6 years old: NO FEE Citizens of Ukraine, Macedonia, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Republic of Moldova pay only: $48.50

NATIONAL VISA / LONG STAY VISA (more than 90 days): $125.00 NATIONAL STUDY VISA (courses of study of more than 90 days): $53.90

VISA FEES – VALID FROM 01 APRIL TO 30 JUNE

SCHENGEN VISA / SHORT STAY VISA (up to 90 days) ADULTS and MINORS 12 YEARS AND OLDER: $86.90 [$97.80 beginning 11 June 2024] MINORS between 6 and 11 years old: $38.10 [$48.90 beginning 11 June 2024] MINORS UNDER 6 years old: NO FEE Citizens of Ukraine, Macedonia, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Republic of Moldova pay only: $38.10

NATIONAL VISA / LONG STAY VISA (more than 90 days): $126.00 NATIONAL STUDY VISA (courses of study of more than 90 days): $54.30

General Information for Schengen Visas

The Schengen Member States are:

Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.

Citizens of the following nations do NOT need visas to visit the Schengen Area for tourism, study, official, or business stays of 90 days or less every six months:

Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada , Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, El Salvador, Georgia, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong SAR, Israel, Japan, Liechtenstein, Macao SAR, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico , Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Seychelles, Singapore, South Korea, St. Kittis-Nevis, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, United States of America , Uruguay, Vatican City, Venzuela.

Taiwanese citizens receive the same privileges ONLY if their passports include their Identity Card reference number.

Citizens of the following nations do NOT need visas when visiting the Schengen Area for a stay of up to 90 days every six months ONLY if they are travelling with a biometric passport:

Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia.

Citizens of other countries must have a visa to enter the Schengen Area, even if they are residents of the United States of America.

To determine whether Italy is the correct nation to receive your application, count up the days you will be spending in Italy and in other Schengen Area countries. If:

Italy is your only Schengen Area destination, OR You are visiting different countries in the Schengen Area, but Italy is the country in the Schengen Area where you will be spending most of the time (number of days), OR You are visiting different countries in the Schengen area, but you are spending an equal number of days in each country, and Italy is your first port of entry in the Schengen area, then you may apply for a Schengen visa through this Consulate.

If you are not sure you require a visa to visit Italy, please consult the official tool: https://vistoperitalia.esteri.it/home/en

Click here to return to the top of the page

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United States
San Francisco

Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco

This information is for:

U.S. passport holders living in San Francisco
Japanese passports traveling/working or living in San Francisco
Foreign passports currently residing in San Francisco

Consulate General Information

Fast facts:.

Distance: The distance between San Francisco and Tokyo is 8361.16 km (5195.39 miles). The average travel time is 17 hours 25 minutes.
Time difference: San Francisco is 16:00 hours behind Tokyo. When the time is 13:56 on July, Friday 19 in San Francisco, it is 05:56 on July, Saturday 20 in Tokyo

Map and Directions

Office Hours

Upcoming holidays:.

Pioneer Day: July 24, 2024 (Next 4 days, 10 hours)

Frequently asked questions, answered

1. where is the consulate general of japan located.

It is located at 275 Battery Street, Suite 2100 San Francisco, Ca 94111. Coordinates: (-122.4002704, 37.7938861).

2. How do I contact the Japan Consulate General in San Francisco?

3. is the consulate general open now.

Yes, it is open now and it will close in 3 hours 4 minutes. The current time in San Francisco is 13:56.

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This page was last updated on: Sat 20 July 2024 03:56 a.m.

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Visa Processing Time

The time required from visa application to visa issuance is 5 working days from the day following the date of receipt of the application, provided that there is no particular problem with the content of application. Meanwhile, it may take longer than usual if a large number of visa applications converge at a short-time period.

If there is any problem with the content of the application, the Embassy/Consulate General transmits the application to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tokyo for further examination. In such cases issuance of a visa may take more than a month. Visa applicants are reminded to apply early for their visa, well in advance of the anticipated travel date.

If the purpose of visit is to work or a long-term stay, it is recommended that the visa applicant obtains a Certificate of Eligibility from the regional Immigration bureau in Japan before making visa application. If a Certificate of Eligibility is not submitted when the visa application is made, issuance of the visa will take a long time (typically one to three months) regardless of whether or not there is a problem with the content of the application.

The Certificate of Eligibility can be applied in advance at the regional Immigration bureau in Japan via a proxy of the foreign national who wish to enter Japan and will be issued if the foreign national concerned conforms to the conditions set in the Article 7, Paragraph 1, Item 2 of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act of Japan.

Home Consulate Japanese Consulate General in San Francisco

Japanese Consulate General in San Francisco

Japanese Consulate General in San Francisco United States of America is a strong bond of communication between Japan Government and United States of America .

Weather & Time Fri, Jul 19, 13:56 31째 C, Clear sky, clouds 6 %, wind 1.79 m/s, 1015 hpa

Head of Mission : Tomochika Uyama, Consul General

Consulate Appointment or Contact Japanese Consulate General in San Francisco : Visit only by Appointment

For consular service, you must book an appointment, You are advised to book on normal working hours via making a phone call . Also for more details please check in first instance the consulate website for enquiries contact form . http://www.sf.us.emb-japan.go.jp . .

Japan Consulates in United States of America may prioritize Appointment for Japan citizens or have dedicated support.

If unfortunately unable to get contact here, one should try to the Embassy of Japan in Washington D.C. , Japanese Honorary Consulate General in Oklahoma City , Japanese Consulate General in Atlanta , Japanese Consulate General in Denver , Japanese Consulate General in Honolulu , Japanese Honorary Consulate General in Las Vegas , Japanese Honorary Consulate in Minneapolis , Japanese Consulate General in Nashville , Japanese Consulate General in New York , Japanese Consulate General in Seattle , Japanese Honorary Consulate General in St. Louis , Japanese Consulate in Anchorage , Japanese Consulate General in Boston , Japanese Consulate General in Chicago , Japanese Honorary Consulate General in Dallas , Japanese Consulate General in Detroit , Japanese Consulate General in Houston , Japanese Honorary Consulate in Indianapolis , Japanese Honorary Consulate in Kansas City , Japanese Consulate General in Los Angeles , Japanese Consulate General in Miami , Japanese Honorary Consulate General in New Orleans , Japanese Honorary Consulate General in Omaha , Japanese Honorary Consulate General in Philadelphia , Japanese Honorary Consulate General in Phoenix , Japanese Consulate in Portland , For your convenience here listed all other representatives of Japan located in United States of America.

Visa and Passports If you would like to come to Tureky, there's a lot of information about types of Visas. The tools help you to plan your journey to Tureky. Have look for more information about specific visa types .

The nationals of the countries that require a visa to enter Japan must apply for any visa from the following types:

Japan Tourist Visa
Japan Business Visa

Here are some articles that may help you. check them out!

List of Eligible Countries for the Japan E-Visa

Travel Insurance for Tureky Travel insurance is essential and recommended, for any kind of emergency, skip the expensive and challenging deal, Get a quote .

* Please help us to update with correct information for Japanese Consulate General in San Francisco , if you find this information is not correct.

Embassy of Japan in Washington D.C. United States of America

Embassy of Japan in Washington D.C., United States of America 2520 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington D.C. 20008, USA

202.328.2187

[email protected]

http://www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/english/html/index.htm

Japanese Honorary Consulate General in Oklahoma City United States of America

Japanese Honorary Consulate General in Oklahoma City, United States 10th Floor - Two Leadership Square 211 North Robinson Avenue Oklahoma City, OK 73102 United States

(+1) 405-552-2232

[email protected] [email protected]

Japanese Consulate General in Atlanta United States of America

Japanese Consulate General in Atlanta, United States Phipps Tower, Suite 850 3438 Peachtree Road Atlanta, GA 30326 United States

(+1) (404) 240 4300

(+1) (404) 240 4311

http://www.atlanta.us.emb-japan.go.jp

Japanese Consulate General in Denver United States of America

Japanese Consulate General in Denver, United States 1225 17th Street, Suite 3000 Denver, CO 80202 United States

(+1) (303) 534-1151

(+1) (303) 534-3393

http://www.denver.us.emb-japan.go.jp

Japanese Consulate General in Honolulu United States of America

Japanese Consulate General in Honolulu, United States 1742 Nuuanu Avenue Honolulu, HI 96817-3201 United States

(+1) (808) 543-3111

(+1) (808) 543-3170

http://www.honolulu.us.emb-japan.go.jp

Japanese Honorary Consulate General in Las Vegas United States of America

Japanese Honorary Consulate General in Las Vegas, United States 6725 N. Via Austi Parkway, Suite 230 Las Vegas, NV 89119 United States

(+1) 702-280-4858

(+1) 702-455-8234

Japanese Honorary Consulate in Minneapolis United States of America

Japanese Honorary Consulate in Minneapolis, United States 17325 6th Ave N Plymouth, MN 55447-3570 United States

(+1) (612) 581-9167

Japanese Consulate General in Nashville United States of America

Japanese Consulate General in Nashville, United States 1801 West End Avenue, Suite 900 Nashville, TN 37203 United States

(+1) (615) 340-4300

(+1) (615) 340-4311

http://www.nashville.us.emb-japan.go.jp

Japanese Consulate General in New York United States of America

Japanese Consulate General in New York, United States 299 Park Avenue New York, NY 10171 United States

(+1) (212) 371-8222 (+1) (212) 888-0889

(+1) (212) 755-2851

http://www.ny.us.emb-japan.go.jp

Japanese Consulate General in Seattle United States of America

Japanese Consulate General in Seattle, United States 601 Union Street, Suite 500 Seattle, WA 98101 United States

(+1) (206) 682 9107

(+1) (206) 624 9097

http://www.seattle.us.emb-japan.go.jp

Japanese Honorary Consulate General in St. Louis United States of America

Japanese Honorary Consulate General in St. Louis, United States 333 W. Jackson Road St. Louis, MO 63119 United States

(+1) 314-968-8932

Japanese Consulate in Anchorage United States of America

Japanese Consulate in Anchorage, United States 3601 C Street, Suite 1300 Anchorage, AK 99503 United States

(+1) (907) 562-8424

(+1) (907) 562-8434

http://www.anchorage.us.emb-japan.go.jp

Japanese Consulate General in Boston United States of America

Japanese Consulate General in Boston, United States Federal Reserve Plaza, 22nd Floor 600 Atlantic Avenue Boston, MA 02210 United States

(+1) (617) 542-1329

http://www.boston.us.emb-japan.go.jp

Japanese Consulate General in Chicago United States of America

Japanese Consulate General in Chicago, United States Olympia Centre 737, North Michigan Avenue, Suite 1100 Chicago, IL 60611 United States

(+1) (312) 280-0400

(+1) (312) 280-9568

http://www.chicago.us.emb-japan.go.jp

Japanese Honorary Consulate General in Dallas United States of America

Japanese Honorary Consulate General in Dallas, United States 5819 Edinburgh Street Dallas, TX 75252-5014 United States

(+1) (972) 713-8683

(+1) (972) 381-9788

Japanese Consulate General in Detroit United States of America

Japanese Consulate General in Detroit, United States 400 Renaissance Center, Suite 1600 Detroit, MI 48243 United States

(+1) (313) 567-0120

(+1) (313) 567-0274

http://www.detroit.us.emb-japan.go.jp

Japanese Consulate General in Houston United States of America

Japanese Consulate General in Houston, United States 2 Houston Center Building 909 Fannin Street, Suite 3000 Houston, TX 77010 United States

(+1) (713) 652-2977

(+1) (713) 651-7822

http://www.houston.us.emb-japan.go.jp

Japanese Honorary Consulate in Indianapolis United States of America

Japanese Honorary Consulate in Indianapolis, United States c/o Barnes & Thornburg 11 South Meridian Street Indianapolis, IN 46204 United States

(+1) (317) 231-7794

Japanese Honorary Consulate in Kansas City United States of America

Japanese Honorary Consulate in Kansas City, United States 5504 NW 82nd Terrace Kansas City, MO 64151 United States

(+1) (816) 587-0073

Japanese Consulate General in Los Angeles United States of America

Japanese Consulate General in Los Angeles, United States 350 South Grand Avenue, Suite 1700 Los Angeles, CA 90071 United States

(+1) (213) 617-6700

(+1) (213) 617-6725

http://www.la.us.emb-japan.go.jp

Japanese Consulate General in Miami United States of America

Japanese Consulate General in Miami, United States Brickell Bay View Centre, Suite 3200 80 S.W.8th Street Miami, FL 33130 United States

(+1) (305) 530-9090

(+1) (305) 530-0950

http://www.miami.us.emb-japan.go.jp

Japanese Honorary Consulate General in New Orleans United States of America

Japanese Honorary Consulate General in New Orleans, United States 201 St. Charles Avenue, Suite 3600 New Orleans, LA 70170 United States

(+1) 504.636.3901

Japanese Honorary Consulate General in Omaha United States of America

Japanese Honorary Consulate General in Omaha, United States 1134 Willow Wood Circle Omaha, NE 68152 United States

(+1) (402) 393-3089

Japanese Honorary Consulate General in Philadelphia United States of America

Japanese Honorary Consulate General in Philadelphia, United States c/o Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP 1701 Market Street Philadelphia, PA 19103 United States

(+1) 215-963-5565

Japanese Honorary Consulate General in Phoenix United States of America

Japanese Honorary Consulate General in Phoenix, United States 4635 S. Lakeshore Drive, Suite 101 Tempe, AZ 85282 United States

(+1) (480) 241-8245

Japanese Consulate in Portland United States of America

Japanese Consulate in Portland, OR, United States Consular office of Japan 1300 SW Fifth Ave., Suite 2700 Portland, OR 97201 United States

(+1) (503) 221-1811

(+1) (503) 224-8936

http://www.portland.us.emb-japan.go.jp

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USA ESTA | UNITED STATES

COVID infos As of May 12, 2023, it is no longer necessary to be vaccinated against COVID 19 to travel to the USA.

Visa to travel to San Francisco or to make a stopover in the USA

Travelers to San Francisco must be in possession of a validated U.S. administrative travel authorization. There are several types of travel authorization for the USA.

Do I need a visa for San Francisco?

San Francisco is a city located on the west coast of the United States. All foreign travelers wishing to enter the United States through San Francisco must obtain prior travel authorization. Depending on the purpose of your stay in San Francisco, you may or may not need to apply for a visa before traveling.

For a stay of less than 90 days : It is not necessary to obtain a visa for San Francisco, you can simply apply for a travel authorization by clicking on the online form .

What is a tourist visa for San Francisco?

It is possible to travel to San Francisco with a tourist visa. The San Francisco tourist visa allows a foreign traveler to stay in San Francisco for tourism or business purposes.

Do I need a visa to stop over in San Francisco?

To make a stopover in San Francisco you have two possibilities. There are two ways to obtain a transit visa in San Francisco :

It is possible to apply for a Transit C visa to make a stopover in San Francisco
Another simpler and faster solution is to apply for ESTA. An ESTA transit authorization allows you to make a stopover in the United States without a visa.

How much does a visa to San Francisco cost?

The price of the visa for San Francisco depends on the visa requested by the traveler. For a US visa application the cost is $160 US . If the traveler chooses to apply for ESTA he/she will only pay the ESTA fee of $21 US.

How to get a visa for San Francisco?

The traveler can apply for a visa for San Francisco via the Internet. You must follow the online visa application process. Then you must make an appointment for the visa at the American embassy or consulate of your place of residence.

The other option is to apply for an ESTA for San Francisco. The procedure is completely online. The time to obtain an ESTA is very fast. The ESTA authorization can be obtained in a few minutes and in a maximum of 72 hours .

Do I need an ESTA visa for San Francisco?

A foreign traveler can apply for an ESTA visa for San Francisco . Obtaining an ESTA will be faster than applying for a transit or tourist visa to San Francisco . The ESTA authorization for San Francisco is valid for 2 years for stays of up to 90 days.

What is the visa to San Francisco from UK?

There are many different USA visas . Several US visas offered by the US State Department are available for San Francisco. From UK, several travel visas for San Francisco are available. The possible visas to go to San Francisco from UK are mainly :

The business visa for San Francisco
Tourist visa for San Francisco
Student visa in San Francisco
The work visa in San Francisco

Image of the visa for San Francisco

Here is an image of a B2 San Francisco visa. This is a visa that allows you to enter the United States through San Francisco for tourist or business reasons.

usa-esta.net is an information website about ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) available in several languages and independent from any administration. Our private information portal on the Internet has the sole purpose of informing Internet users and does not offer any additional services.

Our website contains various hyperlinks to third-party websites. We have no connection to or control over these sites, and are not responsible for their privacy policies or their business or marketing practices. For more information, please see our privacy policy.

How To Apply For China's Tourist Visa: Easy Step-By-Step Guide

I had never been as frustrated with travel planning as when I was applying for my 10-year tourist visa to China this year.

I didn’t blame the fact that China required a visa, I blamed the confusing process of how to apply. The lack of a step-by-step guide for people in the USA mixed with the confusing lawyer-like language used in the China Embassy’s official documents = pure confusion on what to do.

After scouring the web to piece together the full process, I finally set out to apply for the 10-year tourist visa. In less than a week of applying online , I picked up my visa and was good to travel for the next 10 years!

Looking back on it, I’m glad I got it over with early on in my travel planning process. I would’ve hated to have to deal with all of this 1-2 weeks before my trip!

For reference, I applied for the 10-year tourist visa in April, but my trip wasn’t until November.

Once you figure out HOW to apply and actually submit your application, it’s really not too bad. Especially since I’ve created this easy-to-understand guide to walk you through all the steps you need to apply for your very own China tourist visa.

NOTE: This guide is for US citizens applying for the tourist visa (L) within the USA. I don’t have experience with any other countries/nationalities, thanks!

Before Applying For The China Tourist Visa: Things You Need To Know

The first and most important thing I need to mention: there is no way of applying for a China visa completely online . You will need to physically provide your passport to a visa office at some point. There’s no way around this, and that’s because they need to stick your new China visa onto one of the pages in your passport.
You must start by completing a visa application form to apply for a China visa. This can be done online or on paper.
You’ll then need to submit your visa application form + supporting documents to a China Visa Application Service Center (this is a physical place). These are going to be at a Chinese embassy or consulate somewhere in the USA. There are multiple locations.
You can’t just choose any location you feel like. You have to go to the one that services your state/area. More on this later.
a recently-taken color photo behind a white wall (can be uploaded digitally if filling out the application online, or a physical photo if applying on paper application)
a valid passport
printed out visa application + confirmation letter
other supporting documents (more on this later)
You’ll need to visit the visa office twice: first to submit your application, then again in 3-4 days to pick up your passport (with your brand new China visa inside).
You can apply in person for yourself, have someone else turn in the forms for you / pick up your visa for you, or pay a travel agency to do it all for you.
That’s the general overview of the process. Let’s dive into the details a bit more.

Step 1: Find a consulate location that services your area.

The first thing you’ll want to do is locate which Consulate General location you’ll have to go to in order to apply for (and pick up) your visa. You can use this link to see all the current locations.

You CANNOT pick one randomly, you can only go to the one that services your area.

So how do you know which consulate you have to go to? Locate where you live on this list or this list . Your state/region will be listed under one of the consulates. That’s the one you’ll need to go to.

For example, I live in Northern California, so I had to go to the Consulate General in San Francisco . If you live in Utah, your assigned location is the Embassy in Washington DC.

Also, note that the area formerly serviced by the Houston consulate is temporarily being serviced by the Embassy in the United States (DC location) as the one in Houston closed down.

Step 2: Fill out the COVA application

Start your online application . Go to the China Online Visa Application (COVA) and fill out the application using your information.

You’ll be asked all kinds of questions: personal information, the type of visa you’re applying for, how long you want it for, names of family members (parents), work history, emergency contact info, where you’re going to be traveling to in China and on what dates, where you’ve traveled to in the last 12 months, etc.

I would allot 30 minutes of your time to fill out the whole application. It felt like forever when I was applying, but I think it took me about 30 minutes. You can always save your progress if you need to look up information and revisit the application process at a later time.

Just be sure to note your application ID so you can pull it up later.

I’ll give you some pointers on how I filled out my application because some questions were quite confusing.

One of the first things you need to do is upload your passport photo. I took a selfie against a wall and used Lightroom to turn my gray background white. The system accepted the photo. (Background must be white!)
For Given name(s), it should include your first name followed by any middle name(s). It needs to match the name on the passport.
For National ID number, I applied with N/A
For Type of Visa, I selected (L) Tourism. Here are the rest of the visa types for reference.
For Visa Duration, I entered 120 months with a maximum stay of 60 days. I also chose “multiple” for the number of entries.
For Itinerary information, I ballparked my travel dates from city to city (Hong Kong – Xi’An – Chengdu – Chongqing) as I had not yet booked my flights, but I gave the best estimate I could based on where we were in the trip planning process.
Since they are no longer requiring flight confirmations and hotel confirmations, the trip itinerary section doesn’t need to be very detailed. Addresses of hotels didn’t seem to even be required fields (I filled out half of them for the ones we had already booked).
For Work Experience info, I did the best I could but it’s okay not to be exact. For example, I included my previous employer’s general phone number instead of my supervisor’s number. You can also provide a quick description of your job duties (my example: “blogger/travel writer”). No need to go into detail.

Normally visa applications take 3-4 days to process, but you can specify in this application to expedite it (2-3 days).

I chose not to expedite my application. I applied on a Monday and received a pick-up date of Thursday .

How quickly do you need the visa?

If you live in the area and can get to the visa office pretty easily, no need to expedite.
If you’re traveling from out-of-state to apply, you’ll probably want to expedite to save on an extra night’s worth of hotel costs.
If your trip’s departure is like next week, you’ll probably want to expedite to be on the safe side!

Should you apply for a 3-month visa or a 10-year visa? The visa process is the same regardless if you apply for 3 months or 10 years. Moreover, it’s currently the same price!

My entire family and I went for the 10-year option as we knew we’d be visiting China a lot once my parents retired!

Step 3: Print out/gather all your documents.

Once you finish filling out the application, you’ll get a confirmation letter that looks like it’s got QR codes on it. You’ll have to print this out along with a few other things to bring to the visa office.

Here’s the full list that was required of me when I was applying (April 2024). Be sure to check for the latest requirements !!!

Confirmation letter – you need to print and sign this
Completed visa application – you need to print and sign this (on the last page)
Your physical passport
Photocopy of your passport’s bio page (the page that shows the photo and the document number)
Proof of residence documentation (a photocopy of your ID, bank statement, utility bill, etc.)
I did single-sided printing and printed pages in color just in case.
When you print the visa application, make sure to include the confirmation page as the first page.
I did not bring a physical copy of my photo since I had uploaded it along with my online application. This was not asked for at the visa center either.

Step 4: Show up at the visa center.

At the time of writing, you can’t make appointments online. They are taking walk-ins only.

When you are looking for the address of where to go, look for the consulate’s Visa Application Office , not the general Embassy address.

For example, I GPS’ed to the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in San Francisco . Once I got to the door (on Laguna St.), I saw a sign letting visa application visitors know that the Visa Application Office was on the street perpendicular to where I was (Geary Blvd.).

Depending on the time you visit, be prepared to wait.

I showed up at 9:15am on a Monday (15 minutes before they opened) and there were at least 70 people in line in front of me. Despite the crazy-sounding line, it didn’t take as long as I had anticipated! I was out of there by 10:55am.

PRO TIP: For the SF location, show up near closing time as opposed to first thing in the morning. I asked the security guard when the best time to visit was for the shortest lines, and he told me “at the end of the day, right before we close”.

This may vary by location, so take that tip with a grain of salt! But when I went to pick up my visa 3 days later, I showed up at 1:50pm (the visa office closed at 2:30pm) — and he was right — no lines! There must have been 10 people in the entire office compared to my initial visit where there were 100+ people waiting at the same time.

Once you’re there, hand all of your documents to the visa processer. He/she will look your application over (rather quickly) and make sure you have all the necessary docs. They will then take all of your documents (including your passport) for processing/approval.

If all looks good, you’ll get a slip of paper (pick-up slip) telling you exactly what date to come back to pick up your passport. You can come anytime on that date. Again, no appointment is needed.

My experience: For proof of residence, I had actually just brought my physical driver’s license instead of making a photocopy of it. The lady told me I had to go to make a photocopy of it, then go back to her window once I was done with that.

Luckily, the office had a set of photocopiers (costs $0.25 per page) as well as passport photobooths (for people who forget to bring photos for their applications). Bring quarters or some dollar bills in case you need to use the copy machine.

Step 5: Pick up your passport.

After a few days, it’s time to go back to pick up your passport. When you go to pick up your passport, you will pay for the visa at this time.

There’s a separate line that moves much faster for passport pick-ups. For my pick-up, I was in and out of the visa office in under 10 minutes.

Since a lot of people applying for China visas are from out of state, they often worry about how long it takes to pick up their passports.

Again, in general, your passport will be ready in 2-4 days, depending on if you choose expedited service.

Also, you don’t even need to be the one showing up at the visa office! Per the Los Angeles consulate site , “visa applications may be submitted in person by the applicant or someone else with the passport and all supporting documents”.

Once you flip through your passport booklet, you’ll find a brand-new visa glued to one of your passport pages. Viola ! You are ready to go to China!

Lastly, stay updated with the latest info!

The latest info/updates will always be on the China Visa Applications website . I know, it’s hard to read because of how outdated and simple the site looks, but there’s always useful info on there.

Like when I was applying, I was able to see that they had recently reduced the visa fee to $140, regardless of how long the visa’s duration is. And that at the end of 2023, they had actually simplified the visa application to not require flight confirmations, proof of hotel reservation, or invitation letters.

Meanwhile, all the other outdated websites and blog posts out there mentioned needing an invitation letter.

To be clear, as of April 2024 (when I wrote this), invitation letters are NOT required.

Always refer to the China Visa Applications website for the latest info!

Hope this step-by-step guide to applying for the China tourist visa was helpful. You can message me if you have any additional questions about applying for a tourist visa as a US citizen.