Japan Visa for Nepali Citizens
Nepali citizens need a visa for every trip to Japan — tourism included. Here's how long a visa lets you stay, and how to apply in five steps.
Visa required
No visa-free entry and no visa on arrival. Apply before you travel, at the Japan Visa Application Centre (VFS Global) in Kathmandu.
- How long
- Up to 90 days per trip
- Visa fee
- NPR 13,890 (single entry)
- Processing
- About 6 working days
Last checked 25 September 2026 against the Embassy of Japan in Nepal and VFS Global Nepal.
How long can you stay?
| Visa | Stay per visit | Use it within |
|---|---|---|
| Single entry — tourism, visits, business | Up to 90 days — 15, 30 or 90 days depending on your plan | 3 months from issue |
| Multiple entry — for those who qualify | Depends on the type — up to 90 days | Valid 1–5 years |
| Work, study, family | More than 90 days — needs a Certificate of Eligibility first | — |
Choose your visa
Short visits use a Temporary Visitor (short-term stay) visa. Which documents you need depends on why you're going and who pays:
Tourism
A holiday you pay for yourself
See documents →
Visiting relatives or friends
Someone in Japan invites you — they or you pay
See documents →
Short-term business
Meetings, negotiations, market research, conferences, cultural or sport exchange
See documents →
Multiple entry
For frequent business travellers and others who qualify
Who qualifies →
Prepare the documents
This is the official Kathmandu checklist for tourism (2026); visiting relatives with a guarantor and business trips have their own lists on the VFS site. Every item is mandatory. Documents issued in Nepal must be originals (with an English translation if in Nepali), copies on A4, no staples. A relationship certificate must be issued within 90 days of applying.
You prepare
- Visa application form — printed on both sides of one sheet; the phone number must be yours
- Valid passport with at least one blank page, plus 3 copies of the bio page
- Photo, 45 × 35 mm, full face on a white background, taken within 6 months
- Flight (or cruise) reservation slip with the dates to and from Japan, from the airline or a travel agency
- Proof of funds: an income or tax certificate issued by a public agency, and a deposit balance certificate (originals)
- Itinerary in Japan — travel plan, hotel bookings, leaflets
Submit and pay
Apply at the Japan Visa Application Centre (VFS Global) in Kathmandu. Your travel date should be at least 10 days after your appointment, and not more than 3 months away (the visa is valid for 3 months). Documents sent by fax or email are not accepted.
Fees
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Single entry | NPR 13,890 | VFS table from 30 Jun 2026; refunded if the visa is refused |
| Multiple entry | NPR 27,780 | VFS table from 30 Jun 2026; refunded if the visa is refused |
| VFS service charge | NPR 2,430 | Per application, incl. taxes; not refundable |
All charges are paid in cash, in Nepalese rupees, at the centre in Kathmandu.
Wait for the decision
- Usually 6 working days, including the day you apply; a case that needs careful examination can take about two months (embassy).
- If you need your passport while you wait (to travel elsewhere, for example), the embassy can return it temporarily on written request — the result isn’t released until you hand it back.
- Questions: Japan visa hotline 1-800-001-0169 (in Nepal, 24/7, English only).
Receive your visa
Visa sticker in your passport
A single-entry visa must be used within 3 months of issue and is used up once you enter Japan.
A visa doesn't guarantee entry — the immigration officer at the airport makes the final decision.
If your visa is refused
- The visa fee is refunded if the visa isn’t approved; the service charge is not.
- The embassy does not tell you why — Japan does not give reasons for visa refusals.
- You can't reapply for the same purpose within 6 months. The exception: your circumstances have changed significantly and the trip is needed for humanitarian reasons — ask the embassy first.
Beware of visa scams
Next time: a multiple-entry visa
A multiple-entry visa lets you visit Japan any number of times while it's valid (1, 3 or 5 years). It is issued mainly to business travellers and to cultural or intellectual figures who meet the criteria.
The rules for Nepali nationals: MOFA outline (PDF).
Staying longer than 90 days
Work, study and family stays need a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) first. Your employer, school or family in Japan applies for it; you then take it to the embassy for the visa.
Work visas
Engineer / Humanities, Highly Skilled Professional and more
See details →
Specified Skilled Worker (Type 1 & 2)
Skills test plus a Japanese-language test
See details →
Student
Language schools, vocational schools and universities
See details →
Spouse / Child of Japanese National
Marriage to a Japanese national
See details →
Frequently asked questions
Do Nepali citizens need a visa for Japan?
Yes, for every visit — tourism included. Nepal is not on Japan's visa-exemption list, and Japan has no visa on arrival.
How long can I stay in Japan on a tourist visa?
Up to 90 days per visit on a single-entry visa — the officer grants 15, 30 or 90 days depending on your plan. Use the visa within 3 months of issue.
How much does a Japan visa cost?
NPR 13,890 for a single entry and NPR 27,780 for multiple entry, plus the NPR 2,430 VFS service charge per application — all in cash, in Nepalese rupees. The visa fee is refunded if the visa isn’t approved.
How long does processing take?
Usually 6 working days including the day you apply, but up to about two months if careful examination is needed. Apply as soon as your trip is fixed — within 3 months of travel.
Can I apply online?
Not yet — Japan's eVISA isn't available to residents of Nepal. Apply at the embassy or consulate.
Can I reapply if my visa is refused?
Not for the same purpose within 6 months, unless your circumstances have changed significantly and the trip is needed for humanitarian reasons. The embassy won't tell you the reason for a refusal.
Sources
- Embassy of Japan in Nepal — Visa information
- VFS Global Nepal — Japan visa fees, service charges and processing time
- Japan Visa Application Centre, Kathmandu — tourism checklist (2026, PDF)
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan — Visa fees (from 1 Jul 2026)
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan — Visa processing time
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan — Validity of a visa
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan — Visa FAQ (refusals, re-applications)
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan — multiple-entry visa outline for Nepali nationals (PDF)
Nearby countries
Not sure which visa or documents fit your trip?
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