Japan visa for Colombians: requirements, fees and how to apply
Colombia is not on the Japanese foreign ministry's list of 74 visa-exempt countries and regions, revised 1 September 2025. The ministry's note says nationals of Colombia are advised to obtain a visa in advance; otherwise they are strictly examined and may be refused entry.
The rule for Colombian passports
What the Japanese foreign ministry publishes for nationals of Colombia.
- Short-stay visa
- Advised
- Standard processing
- 5 working days
- Japanese missions
- 1
- Visa for a short stay
- Not exempt; advised in advance
- Visa on arrival
- Not available
- Standard processing
- 5 working days after the application is received
- Single-entry visa
- Valid for 3 months, for one entry
- Visa fee from 1 July 2026
- About 15,000 yen single entry, about 30,000 yen multiple entry, paid in local currency
- JAPAN eVISA
- Not offered for residents of Colombia
- List last revised
- 1 September 2025
The official wording
MOFAVisas are issued in the Japanese embassy or consulate. Visas cannot be obtained at the port of entry in Japan.
Visas and Landing Permission
MOFABased on the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, in principle a foreign national wishing to enter Japan is required to have a valid passport issued by the government of their own country with a visa issued by the head of the embassy or consulate-general of Japan.
Visas and Landing Permission
MOFA: note 10 to the listNationals of Colombia (since February 1, 2004) are advised to obtain a visa in advance, otherwise will be strictly examined and may be refused entry to Japan.
Exemption of Visa (Short-Term Stay)
Other passports from Latin America and the Caribbean
How to apply in Colombia
The steps the foreign ministry sets out, with what the mission in Colombia adds.
- Step 1
- Prepare the documents. If someone in Japan invites or guarantees you, they send their documents to you, not to the embassy.
- Step 2
- Apply at the Japanese embassy or consulate for the place you live, at an accredited agency, at a Japan Visa Application Centre or online, whichever that mission specifies.
- Step 3
- Wait for the examination. The standard time is 5 working days from the day after the application is received. It can take more than a month if the case is referred to Tokyo.
- Step 4
- Collect the result. The visa fee is paid only if a visa is issued.
- Step 5
- Enter Japan within 3 months. A single-entry visa is valid for three months and for one entry.
What the Embassy of Japan in Colombia says
- Applications are submitted at the mission's consular section. An appointment is required. Source
- Applications in Colombia can also be submitted through travel agencies. An appointment is required. Source
MOFAOnce all the documents are ready, you may apply for a visa at the consular section of the Diplomatic Mission of Japan with jurisdiction over your place of residence, at an accredited agency, the Japan Visa Application Centre, or online, by the method specified by the Diplomatic Mission of Japan where you will submit your application
VISA
If an application is refused, the same purpose cannot be applied for again within six months.
Documents for a tourist visa
From the foreign ministry's checklist for a single-entry short-term visa (April 2025).
- Valid passport
- Visa application form, 1 copy
- Photo, 1 (the ministry's form marks the photo space as 45 mm × 35 mm)
- Flight itinerary with the flight or ship number and the dates of arrival and departure
- Proof you can pay for the trip: an income certificate or tax return from a public agency, or a bank statement or balance certificate
- Itinerary in Japan
Documents must have been issued within the last three months. The mission can ask for more on a case-by-case basis.
- Checklist for a single-entry short-term visa (PDF)Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
- Short-term stay: Short-term stay: other nationalitiesMinistry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
- Visa application form (PDF)Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
- Tourist visa documents: the full checklistDocuments, form and photo
Visa fee
Fees changed on 1 July 2026.
For applications accepted on or after 1 July 2026, the fee is about 15,000 yen for a single-entry visa and about 30,000 yen for a multiple-entry visa, converted and paid in the local currency. Depending on purpose and nationality, the fee can be waived or different. No fee is charged if the visa is not issued. An agency adds its own handling fee.
MOFAFor visa applications accepted at overseas diplomatic missions on or after that date, the fee, converted into Japanese yen, will be approximately 15,000 yen for a single-entry visa and approximately 30,000 yen for a multiple-entry visa.
Visa Fees
MOFADepending on the purpose of your visit and your nationality, fees may not be required or the amount may differ.
Visa Fees
JAPAN eVISA in Colombia
The foreign ministry's eVISA list (as of 15 May 2026) does not include Colombia. Apply on paper at the embassy or consulate, or through the channel it names.
Working, studying or staying longer
The short-term visa covers short stays only.
Paid work is outside a short stay. To work for pay, or to stay more than 90 days, you need a visa. The foreign ministry says to obtain a Certificate of Eligibility from the Immigration Services Agency first, in principle.
At the airport in Japan
The same steps apply to every foreign visitor.
On arrival you complete the Disembarkation Card for Foreigner (online through Visit Japan Web, or on paper), give your fingerprints and a facial photograph, and an immigration officer decides whether you can land.
JESTA, Japan's travel authorisation
JESTA is the electronic travel authorisation Japan is creating for visa-exempt visitors, starting no later than 31 March 2029. The law bars entry to foreign nationals who have neither a JESTA authorisation nor a visa; Colombians need a visa in any case.
Japanese embassy for Colombia
The missions the foreign ministry lists for Colombia. The rules on this page can change, so confirm with the mission before you book.
This page is compiled from the official pages below and was last checked on 5 October 2026. It is not legal advice. The embassy or consulate has the final word on your case.
Frequently asked questions
Do Colombians need a visa for Japan?
Colombia is not on the Japanese foreign ministry's list of 74 visa-exempt countries and regions, revised 1 September 2025. The ministry's note says nationals of Colombia are advised to obtain a visa in advance; otherwise they are strictly examined and may be refused entry.
Can Colombians get a visa on arrival in Japan?
No. The foreign ministry states that visas cannot be obtained at the port of entry in Japan. Apply before you travel.
How much is a Japan visa for Colombians?
From 1 July 2026 the fee is about 15,000 yen for a single-entry visa and about 30,000 yen for a multiple-entry visa, paid in local currency. It can differ by nationality and purpose.
How long does a Japan visa take in Colombia?
The foreign ministry's standard is 5 working days from the day after the application is received. It can take more than a month if the case is referred to Tokyo.
Can Colombians apply for a Japan eVISA?
The foreign ministry's eVISA list (as of 15 May 2026) does not include Colombia. Apply on paper at the embassy or consulate, or through the channel it names.
Read more
Sources for this page
Show all 18
- Exemption of Visa (Short-Term Stay)Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
- Visas and Landing PermissionMinistry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
- VISAMinistry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
- Visa Processing TimeMinistry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
- Validity of a VisaMinistry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
- Visa FeesMinistry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
- Frequently Asked QuestionsMinistry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
- Preguntas frecuentes sobre visas y temas relacionadosEmbassy of Japan in Colombia
- Embajada del Japón en ColombiaEmbassy of Japan in Colombia
- Short-term stay: other nationalitiesMinistry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
- Checklist for Single-Entry Short-Term Stay Visa (PDF)Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
- Visa Application Form to Enter Japan (PDF)Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
- The JAPAN eVISA system (electronic visa)Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
- 入国審査時には「外国人入国記録」をご提出ください (Japanese)Immigration Services Agency of Japan
- 外国人の上陸手続 (Japanese)Immigration Services Agency of Japan
- 令和8年入管法等改正法について (Japanese)Immigration Services Agency of Japan
- 改正法の概要:JESTA(電子渡航認証制度)の創設 (Japanese, PDF)Immigration Services Agency of Japan
- Websites of Japanese Embassies, Consulates and Permanent MissionsMinistry of Foreign Affairs of Japan