Japan Visa for Sri Lankan Citizens
Sri Lankan 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 Colombo, by appointment.
- How long
- Up to 90 days per trip
- Visa fee
- LKR 30,000 (single entry)
- Processing
- About 5 working days
Last checked 25 September 2026 against the Embassy of Japan in Sri Lanka and VFS Global Sri Lanka.
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 Colombo checklist for tourism (June 2026); visiting relatives or friends and business trips have their own lists on the VFS site. Bring the originals with a set of A4 copies. Your national ID card, birth certificate and (if married) marriage certificate are needed for every trip, and documents in Sinhala or Tamil need an official English translation by a sworn translator. Children under 16 need consent letters from both parents.
You prepare
- Visa application form — one per applicant, in capital letters, names as in the passport
- Colour photo, 45 × 35 mm, white background, taken within 6 months
- Valid passport with at least two blank pagesPlus 2 copies of the bio pages and a copy of any alteration page; names must match your NIC.
- List of applicants and schedule of stay — in the embassy’s format
- Hotel reservation — or your sponsor’s residence certificate if you stay with them
- Round-trip flight reservation — paid tickets are discouraged
- Proof of employmentEmployed: employer’s letter with your start date and approved leave. Self-employed: business registration, Form 48 or 20, company bank statement for 3 months. Students: school or university letter confirming your leave.
- National ID card, birth certificate, marriage certificate (if married) — and an affidavit if your name is spelled differently anywhere
- Financial records for the last 3 monthsSalary slips, and bank statements plus balance confirmation letters for your current and savings accounts (fixed deposits too). If someone sponsors the trip: their authorising letter and 3 months of their bank statements.
Submit and pay
All visa applications go to the Japan Visa Application Centre (VFS Global) in Colombo — book an appointment online first. The embassy itself only handles diplomatic and official visas and urgent humanitarian cases. Apply well ahead, but within 3 months of your trip (a single-entry visa is valid for 3 months).
Fees
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Single entry | LKR 30,000 | 1 Jul 2026 – 31 Mar 2027; cash; refunded if the visa is refused |
| Multiple entry | LKR 60,000 | 1 Jul 2026 – 31 Mar 2027; cash; refunded if the visa is refused |
| Intake centres: service + courier charge | LKR 7,700 | LKR 5,500 service + LKR 2,200 courier; not refundable |
Pay the visa fee in cash; other VFS charges in cash or by card. At intake centres, bring two separate bank demand drafts in favour of “VFS Lanka (Pvt) Limited”, payable at Colombo — one for the visa fee, one for the service and courier charge.
Wait for the decision
- Usually 5 working days, not counting the day you apply (VFS); longer when a case needs further scrutiny.
- If the embassy asks for more documents, you have 3 months to send them, or the application is closed. An interview may be requested.
- Forged documents or false information make you permanently ineligible for a Japanese visa (embassy).
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 — collect it when you pick up your passport. VFS charges are not refunded.
- 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 Sri Lankan 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 Sri Lankan citizens need a visa for Japan?
Yes, for every visit — tourism included. Sri Lanka 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?
LKR 30,000 for a single entry and LKR 60,000 for multiple entry (1 July 2026 – 31 March 2027), paid in cash at VFS and refunded if the visa is refused, plus the non-refundable VFS charges.
How long does processing take?
Usually 5 working days after the day you apply; longer if further checks are needed. Apply well ahead, within 3 months of travel.
Can I apply online?
Not yet — Japan's eVISA isn't available to residents of Sri Lanka. 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 Sri Lanka — Visa & Consular (applications through the Japan Visa Application Centre)
- VFS Global Sri Lanka — Japan visa fees (1 Jul 2026 – 31 Mar 2027) and processing time
- Japan Visa Application Centre, Colombo — tourism checklist (effective 24 Jun 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 Sri Lankan nationals (PDF)
Nearby countries
Not sure which visa or documents fit your trip?
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