Letter of Guarantee for a Japan Visa: How to Fill It Out, With a Sample
In short
- The Letter of Guarantee is filled in by the person in Japan, not by the applicant.
- It has three parts: the visa applicant, the guarantor, and a company contact (only when a company invites).
- The guarantor promises three things: the cost of the stay, the return trip, and that the applicant follows Japanese law.
- Below: every field with a sample answer, the mistakes embassies point out, and an Excel worksheet you can download.
Free Excel worksheet · no sign-up
Letter of Guarantee (Mimoto Hoshosho)
Sheets: Guide, Fill in, Example · 12 KB · .xlsx (Excel, Google Sheets, Numbers)
Download the Excel fileContents
- What the Letter of Guarantee is
- Who fills in the Letter of Guarantee
- Filling in the Letter of Guarantee, field by field
- Mistakes that get the Letter of Guarantee sent back
- Where to get the official form
- Letter of Guarantee: questions people ask
- Summary: the Letter of Guarantee in one look
- Preview of the Excel file
What the Letter of Guarantee is
The Letter of Guarantee is a one-page form from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (MOFA). In Japanese it is called Mimoto Hoshosho (身元保証書). A person who lives in Japan fills it in to support someone who is applying for a short-term visa, for example to visit family.
The Letter of Guarantee has no blank for reasons. The guarantor only commits to the three lines printed in the middle of the form:
- Expenses for the applicant's stay in Japan
- Return travel expenses
- Compliance with Japanese laws and regulations
The reason for the visit goes on a different form, the [Letter of Invitation](/letter-of-invitation-japan-visa/). The day-by-day plan goes on the [Travel Itinerary](/japan-visa-itinerary/). Embassies often ask for all three together.
Who fills in the Letter of Guarantee
The guarantor fills in the Letter of Guarantee, not the visa applicant. The guarantor is the person in Japan who will pay if the applicant cannot. It can be a Japanese national or a foreign resident of Japan, and it can also be a company.
The guarantor and the person who invites do not have to be the same person. The Embassy of Japan in the Philippines says that when they are different, the applicant should submit proof of the relationship with the guarantor and an explanation of why that person is the guarantor.
Filling in the Letter of Guarantee, field by field
The table follows the official form from top to bottom. The sample answers are made up: a guarantor in Tokyo inviting his wife's sister from the Philippines.
| Field on the form | What to write | Sample answer |
|---|---|---|
| Date (Year / Month / Day) | The day you fill it in | 2026/11/20 |
| To: (Ambassador/Consul-General) of Japan in | The city of the embassy or consulate that handles the application | Manila |
| Full name (in Latin alphabet) | The applicant's name exactly as in the passport | SANTOS MARIA CRUZ |
| Male / Female | Tick one | Female |
| Number of additional applicants | Only when one guarantor supports several people | (blank) |
| Date of birth / Age | Year / Month / Day | 1988/04/15, 38 |
| Nationality | As in the passport | Philippines |
| Occupation | The applicant's current job | Staff nurse |
| Guarantor: Full name | Your name. A company writes the company name and your title | TANAKA HIROSHI |
| Guarantor: Date of birth / Age | Year / Month / Day | 1982/09/02, 44 |
| Guarantor: Address | Postal code and address in Japan | 〒160-0000 1-2-3 Example-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo |
| Telephone / FAX | A number the embassy can call. FAX only if you have one | 090-0000-0000 |
| Occupation / Name of organization | Your job and employer | Office worker, Example Trading Co., Ltd. |
| Relationship with the visa applicant(s) | The exact relationship | The applicant is my wife's older sister |
The bottom section, "Fill in the following contact information when the company/organization is extending the invitation", is only for companies. A private guarantor leaves it empty.
When one guarantor supports several applicants
When several applicants have the same guarantor, the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines asks you to write the representative applicant's name, then "Others names, see attached list", and to prepare a List of Visa Applicants. Put the number of the other applicants in "Number of additional applicants".
The relationship line
"Relationship with the visa applicant(s)" is the line most people write in one word. "Relative" or "friend" says very little. Write who the applicant is to you, as you would explain it to a stranger: "the applicant is my wife's older sister", "the applicant is my former colleague at a hospital in Cebu, we worked together from 2015 to 2019".
Mistakes that get the Letter of Guarantee sent back
- The name does not match the passport. A missing middle name or a different spelling is the most common slip. Copy it from the passport page.
- Several applicants, no list. See the section above.
- The wrong income proof. The Embassy of Japan in the Philippines asks the guarantor for the latest income or tax certificate that shows total income. It says a withholding slip (Gensen-choshuhyo) and a final tax return (Kakutei-shinkokusho) are not acceptable.
- An old date. The same embassy accepts documents issued within 3 months of the application.
- An incomplete residence certificate. If the embassy asks for the guarantor's Jumin-hyo, the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines says it must list all household members, with the Individual Number and the Juminhyo code left out.
Where to get the official form
MOFA publishes the Letter of Guarantee as a PDF you can fill in on screen: Letter of Guarantee (mofa.go.jp). Many embassies link the same file. Print it on A4; the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines asks for A4 documents.
Letter of Guarantee: questions people ask
Does the guarantor need to be Japanese?
No. The form asks for the guarantor's address in Japan and does not ask for nationality. Foreign residents of Japan act as guarantors too. What embassies look at is whether the guarantor can actually cover the stay, which is why they ask for income or tax certificates.
Can the visa applicant fill in the Letter of Guarantee?
The applicant can help with the spelling of their own name and passport details, but the guarantor section is the guarantor's to fill in. In practice the guarantor fills it in and mails or scans it to the applicant, together with the guarantor's other documents.
Is a copy accepted, or does it have to be the original?
It depends on the embassy. The Embassy of Japan in the Philippines accepts a photocopy of documents prepared in Japan, but may ask for the original if it needs to inspect it.
Is the Letter of Guarantee the same as the Letter of Invitation?
No. The Letter of Guarantee covers money and conduct. The [Letter of Invitation](/letter-of-invitation-japan-visa/) explains why the applicant is coming. If the same person does both, the Letter of Invitation lets you write "Same as guarantor" instead of repeating your details.
Preview of the Excel file
This is the file itself, read back from the .xlsx. It opens on the completed example; the tabs switch sheets.
Sheet: Guide
| A | |
|---|---|
| 1 | Letter of Guarantee for a Japan Visa: worksheet and example |
| 2 | From Japan Forms (https://forms.syojin.com/letter-of-guarantee-japan-visa/). Run by SYOJIN LLC, Tokyo. |
| 3 | |
| 4 | Sheets in this file |
| 5 | "Guide": this sheet. |
| 6 | "Fill in": the same fields as the official form, with what to write. Type your answers in the last column. |
| 7 | "Example": a completed example with made-up names. |
| 8 | |
| 9 | How to use it |
| 10 | 1. The guarantor (the person in Japan) fills in this sheet first. Use the "Fill in" sheet and type each answer in the last column. |
| 11 | 2. Write the applicant's name in the Latin alphabet exactly as it appears in the passport. |
| 12 | 3. Copy the answers onto the official form. The MOFA PDF can be filled in on screen and printed. |
| 13 | 4. Date the form close to the application date. The Embassy of Japan in the Philippines accepts documents issued within 3 months of the application. |
| 14 | 5. Send the form to the applicant, together with the other documents the embassy asks the guarantor for (for example an income or tax certificate and a residence certificate). |
| 15 | |
| 16 | Common mistakes |
| 17 | The applicant's name does not match the passport (missing middle name, different spelling). |
| 18 | More than one applicant, but no list attached. Write the representative's name, then "Others names, see attached list", and attach a List of Visa Applicants. |
| 19 | "Relationship with the visa applicant" left vague. Say exactly how you are related (for example "the applicant is my wife's younger sister"). |
| 20 | A company is the guarantor but only a personal name is written. When a company or organization extends the invitation, write the organization's name and your title, and fill in the contact person section. |
| 21 | The guarantor's income proof is a withholding slip (Gensen-choshuhyo) or a tax return. The Embassy of Japan in the Philippines does not accept these; it asks for an income or tax certificate that shows total income. |
| 22 | |
| 23 | About this form |
| 24 | The Letter of Guarantee (Mimoto Hoshosho, 身元保証書) is the form a person in Japan fills in to say they will cover the visa applicant's stay, the return trip, and make sure the applicant follows Japanese law. This file lists every field on the official MOFA form, what goes in it, and a completed example, so the guarantor can draft the answers before copying them onto the form. |
| 25 | |
| 26 | The official form |
| 27 | Letter of Guarantee, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (PDF): https://www.mofa.go.jp/files/000262545.pdf |
| 28 | |
| 29 | Before you use this file |
| 30 | This is a drafting aid, not an official document. Submit the form your embassy or consulate asks for. |
| 31 | Requirements differ by country and change without notice. Check the website of the Japanese embassy or consulate that handles your application before you submit. |
| 32 | You may edit, print and share this file. Please do not sell it. |
| 33 | |
| 34 | Sources |
| 35 | Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Letter of Guarantee form (mofa.go.jp/files/000262545.pdf). |
| 36 | Embassy of Japan in the Philippines, Important Note on the Document Submission (2025-04-07): items 1, 6 and 8. |
| 37 | |
| 38 | Last checked |
| 39 | 2026-11-12 |
Sheet: Fill in
| A | B | C | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Letter of Guarantee (Mimoto Hoshosho) - worksheet | |||
| 2 | ||||
| 3 | Date written | |||
| 4 | To: (Ambassador/Consul-General) of Japan in | |||
| 5 | ||||
| 6 | Part of the form | Field | What to write | Your answer |
| 7 | Visa Applicant | Full name (in Latin alphabet) | As in the passport. Surname, given name and middle name in the same order as the passport. | |
| 8 | Visa Applicant | Male / Female | Tick one. | |
| 9 | Visa Applicant | Number of additional applicants (if applicable) | Only when one guarantor covers several applicants. Attach a list of all applicants. | |
| 10 | Visa Applicant | Date of birth / Age | Year / Month / Day, and age on the date written. | |
| 11 | Visa Applicant | Nationality | As in the passport. | |
| 12 | Visa Applicant | Occupation | Current job, school or "Housewife", "Retired" and so on. | |
| 13 | Guarantee | 1. Expenses for the stay 2. Return travel 3. Compliance with Japanese laws | Printed on the form. Nothing to fill in, but read it: this is what the guarantor promises. | (printed) |
| 14 | Guarantor | Full name | The person in Japan. If a company is the guarantor, the company name and your title. | |
| 15 | Guarantor | Date of birth / Age | Year / Month / Day. | |
| 16 | Guarantor | Address | Postal code and full address in Japan, the same as on the residence certificate. | |
| 17 | Guarantor | Telephone / FAX number | A number the embassy can reach. FAX only if you have one. | |
| 18 | Guarantor | Occupation / Name of organization | Job title and employer. | |
| 19 | Guarantor | Relationship with the visa applicant(s) | Exact relationship, not just "friend" or "relative". | |
| 20 | Company contact | Full name / Telephone / FAX / Department | Only when a company or organization is extending the invitation. | |
| 21 | ||||
| 22 | ||||
Sheet: Example
| A | B | C | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Letter of Guarantee (Mimoto Hoshosho) - completed example | |||
| 2 | ||||
| 3 | Date written | 2026/11/20 | ||
| 4 | To: (Ambassador/Consul-General) of Japan in | Manila | ||
| 5 | ||||
| 6 | Part of the form | Field | What to write | Your answer |
| 7 | Visa Applicant | Full name (in Latin alphabet) | As in the passport. | SANTOS MARIA CRUZ |
| 8 | Visa Applicant | Male / Female | Tick one. | Female |
| 9 | Visa Applicant | Number of additional applicants (if applicable) | Only when one guarantor covers several applicants. | 1 (list of visa applicants attached) |
| 10 | Visa Applicant | Date of birth / Age | Year / Month / Day, and age. | 1988/04/15 (Age 38) |
| 11 | Visa Applicant | Nationality | As in the passport. | Philippines |
| 12 | Visa Applicant | Occupation | Current job. | Staff nurse, a hospital in Quezon City |
| 13 | Guarantee | 1. Expenses 2. Return travel 3. Compliance with laws | Printed on the form. | (printed) |
| 14 | Guarantor | Full name | The person in Japan. | TANAKA HIROSHI |
| 15 | Guarantor | Date of birth / Age | Year / Month / Day. | 1982/09/02 (Age 44) |
| 16 | Guarantor | Address | Postal code and full address in Japan. | 〒160-0000 1-2-3 Example-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo |
| 17 | Guarantor | Telephone / FAX number | A number the embassy can reach. | 090-0000-0000 / FAX: none |
| 18 | Guarantor | Occupation / Name of organization | Job title and employer. | Office worker, Example Trading Co., Ltd. |
| 19 | Guarantor | Relationship with the visa applicant(s) | Exact relationship. | The applicant is my wife's older sister (my sister-in-law) |
| 20 | Company contact | Full name / Telephone / FAX / Department | Only for a company. | N/A (personal guarantor) |
Free Excel worksheet · no sign-up
Letter of Guarantee (Mimoto Hoshosho)
Sheets: Guide, Fill in, Example · 12 KB · .xlsx (Excel, Google Sheets, Numbers)
Download the Excel fileSummary: the Letter of Guarantee in one look
The Letter of Guarantee is the guarantor's form. The guarantor copies the applicant's details from the passport, fills in their own details in Japan, and states the relationship clearly. The three promises are printed on the form, and the supporting documents depend on the embassy.
To draft it before writing on the official form, download the Excel worksheet below. It has the same fields, what to write in each, and the completed sample from this page. Then fill in the [Letter of Invitation](/letter-of-invitation-japan-visa/) and the [Travel Itinerary](/japan-visa-itinerary/), which usually go in the same envelope.
Free Excel worksheet · no sign-up
Letter of Guarantee (Mimoto Hoshosho)
Sheets: Guide, Fill in, Example · 12 KB · .xlsx (Excel, Google Sheets, Numbers)
Download the Excel file