TOKYO: The total number of visas issued at all the Embassies and Consulates of Japan in 2020 was 1,118,025, a decrease of approximately 87% from 2019.  The foreign ministry said this decrease was due to the significant restraint of visa issuance in conjunction with the strengthened border control measures against the spread of COVID-19.

When ranked by nationalities and regions, the top three recipients of Japanese visas were China, Vietnam and Philippines which accounted for around 80 % of the total number of visas issued.

Among the overseas establishments of Japan that issued visas, Consulate-General of Japan in Shanghai, Embassy of Japan in China, Consulate-General of Japan in Guangzhou were top three missions issuing visas. Six missions out of the top 10 were those in China.

The ministry noted that number of visa issued differs from the number of foreign nationals entering Japan which is released by the Immigration Bureau of the Ministry of Justice as there are cases of using multiple visas and visa exemption.