Visa for Japan from Sri Lanka: price, documents and processing time 2026

Yes. As a Sri Lankan citizen you must obtain a tourist (short-stay) visa to enter Japan. It has to be arranged in advance: there is no visa on arrival for Sri Lankan tourists, and boarding requires a visa already placed in the passport.

• Government fee15,000-30,000 JPY
• Application centre feeVariable, set by the operator
• Agency or online serviceOptional, added on top
• ExtrasVariable

Prepare a Sri Lankan passport valid for at least 6 months, a fully completed visa application form, a recent passport photo, your return flight booking, proof of accommodation and a travel itinerary, plus evidence of funds (bank statements) and sometimes a guarantor letter. The fee amount and the exact document list are not fixed here: check the official source before submitting.

Apply through the Embassy of Japan in Sri Lanka, in Colombo. Japan frequently requires tourist visa applications to be submitted through a travel agency accredited by the embassy rather than over the counter: check the list of authorised agencies on the embassy's website. Assemble the file, submit it through the stated channel, and follow the instructions for collecting your passport.

Then the application goes to the post accredited for Sri Lanka, often in a neighbouring capital, or to a state acting on its behalf. Confirm which post is competent with the official source before travelling to a third country to apply, a rejected file at the wrong counter costs the trip and the fee.

The regime follows your nationality, not where you live. If you reside in Sri Lanka but travel on another country's passport, the rule on this page is not yours. Filing usually still happens from your country of residence, at the post competent for it, but the requirement itself comes from your passport.

Processing time depends on the embassy and the season; check the official website for the current estimate and apply several weeks before departure. A consistent itinerary, confirmed accommodation and clear financial evidence strengthen the file. Keep copies of everything and do not commit to non-refundable costs before the visa is granted.

Do not assume visa-free entry or a visa on arrival. Do not use the wrong submission channel: going directly to the embassy when an accredited agency is required wastes time. Avoid a vague itinerary or insufficient financial evidence, both frequent causes of refusal, and check the passport's remaining validity.