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Japan visa for Saudi citizens: requirements, fees and how to apply

Yes. Saudi citizens need a visa to enter Japan, including for tourism. Saudi Arabia is not on the Japanese foreign ministry's list of 74 visa-exempt countries and regions, revised 1 September 2025, and Japan does not issue visas on arrival. Eligible applicants in Saudi Arabia can apply online with JAPAN eVISA.

Updated

5working days, standard processing
3months to enter on a single-entry visa

Visa required

The rule for Saudi passports

What the Japanese foreign ministry publishes for nationals of Saudi Arabia.

Short-stay visa
Needed
Standard processing
5 working days
eVISA where you live
Online
Japanese missions
2
Visa for a short stay
Required before travel
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
Apply online yourself
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

Other passports from Middle East

Short-stay visa rules for passports from Middle East (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, exemption list revised 1 September 2025)
PassportShort-stay visaVisa-free stay
BahrainNeededNo visa-free stay
IsraelNot needed90 days
KuwaitNeededNo visa-free stay
OmanNeededNo visa-free stay
Saudi ArabiaNeededNo visa-free stay
TürkiyeNot needed90 days

How to apply in Saudi Arabia

The steps the foreign ministry sets out, with what the mission in Saudi Arabia 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 Saudi Arabia says

Embassy of Japan in Saudi ArabiaAll nationals who reside in Saudi Arabia are able to apply for a tourist visa only (Single entry visa for a stay up to 90 days). … Applicants can submit the visa application through the JAPAN eVISA website (fill in the application form and upload supporting documents) to receive the electronic visa, “Visa Issuance Notice”. … For business purpose,visiting relatives or acquaintances,or attending conference, please apply at the consular of the embassy.VISA application
Embassy of Japan in Saudi Arabia<Notice for visitors to consular section (Appointment is required)> … To submit visa application, please book an appointment by phone or email.VISA application
Embassy of Japan in Saudi ArabiaThe standard processing period is five working days from the next day after the date of the application. But in some cases it may take longer.VISA application
Embassy of Japan in Saudi ArabiaFor JAPAN eVISA only, payment can be done either by online (Credit/Debit card) or in Cash at the Embassy. … The visa fee must be paid in cash in the case of visas that are submitted at the Consular Section of the Embassy, Personal checks and credit cards are not accepted.VISA application
Embassy of Japan in Saudi ArabiaApplication without original passport is not to be accepted.VISA application
Embassy of Japan in Saudi ArabiaWe do not accept the application from the same person for the same purpose of visit within six months from the date of the visa refusal.VISA application
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 applicationVISA

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.

What the Embassy of Japan in Saudi Arabia says

Embassy of Japan in Saudi ArabiaOrdinary passport holders of Other Nationalites … (Additional Documents) … ・copy of re-entry permit into KSA … ・copy of IqamaVISA application
Embassy of Japan in Saudi ArabiaPhoto has to be taken within the last 6 months, size of 45mm x 35mm, plain background.VISA application

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
Visa fees published by the Embassy of Japan in Saudi Arabia (checked 5 October 2026)
VisaWhoFee
Single entryNon-Indian nationals (cash at the Embassy)375 SAR Source
Single entryNon-Indian nationals (online, eVISA)15,000 JPY Source
Single entryIndian nationals (cash at the Embassy)20 SAR Source
Single entryIndian nationals (online, eVISA)832 JPY Source
Multiple entryNon-Indian nationals (cash at the Embassy)750 SAR Source
Multiple entryIndian nationals (cash at the Embassy)20 SAR Source
Embassy of Japan in Saudi ArabiaVisa fee will be gratis for Diplomatic and Official passport holder, and nationals from countries that have reciprocal agreements with Japan.VISA application

JAPAN eVISA in Saudi Arabia

People living in Saudi Arabia can apply online through the JAPAN eVISA website and receive an electronic visa. It covers one thing only: a single-entry short-term visa for tourism, up to 90 days.

MOFAAustralia, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Taiwan, United Kingdom, U.S.A. All foreign nationals/people residing in these countries/regions, except those who are exempt from short-term visa, can apply for an eVISA through the JAPAN eVISA website.The JAPAN eVISA system (electronic visa)
  • At check-in you show the visa issuance notice live on your phone. A PDF, a screenshot or a printout is not accepted.
  • Visiting relatives or friends, business and transit are not covered: those applications are made on paper.
Embassy of Japan in Saudi ArabiaAll nationals who reside in Saudi Arabia are able to apply for a tourist visa only (Single entry visa for a stay up to 90 days).VISA application
Embassy of Japan in Saudi ArabiaApplicants are required to log-in to the JAPAN eVISA website and display “Visa Issuance Notice” at the departure airport under the Internet environment. PDF data, screenshot or printout of the page will not be accepted.VISA application

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; Saudi citizens need a visa in any case.

Japanese embassy and consulates in Saudi Arabia

The missions the foreign ministry lists for Saudi Arabia. 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 Saudi citizens need a visa for Japan?

Yes. Saudi citizens need a visa to enter Japan, including for tourism. Saudi Arabia is not on the Japanese foreign ministry's list of 74 visa-exempt countries and regions, revised 1 September 2025, and Japan does not issue visas on arrival. Eligible applicants in Saudi Arabia can apply online with JAPAN eVISA.

Can Saudi citizens 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 Saudi citizens?

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 Saudi Arabia?

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. The Embassy of Japan in Saudi Arabia adds: “The standard processing period is five working days from the next day after the date of the application. But in some cases it may take longer.”

Can Saudi citizens apply for a Japan eVISA?

People living in Saudi Arabia can apply online through the JAPAN eVISA website and receive an electronic visa. It covers one thing only: a single-entry short-term visa for tourism, up to 90 days.

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Compiled by Japan Japan !! · Updated October 5, 2026