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

Yes. Lao citizens need a visa to enter Japan, including for tourism. Laos 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. The visa fee for Lao citizens is 2,174,000 LAK (Embassy of Japan in the Lao PDR).

Updated

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

Visa required

The rule for Lao passports

What the Japanese foreign ministry publishes for nationals of Laos.

Short-stay visa
Needed
Standard processing
5 working days
Visa fee
2,174,000 LAK
Japanese missions
1
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
2,174,000 LAK for Lao citizens (Embassy of Japan in the Lao PDR)
JAPAN eVISA
Not offered for residents of Laos
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 Asia

Short-stay visa rules for passports from Asia (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, exemption list revised 1 September 2025)
PassportShort-stay visaVisa-free stay
ChinaNeededNo visa-free stay
Hong KongNot needed90 days
LaosNeededNo visa-free stay
South KoreaNot needed90 days
TaiwanNot needed90 days
ThailandNot needed15 days

How to apply in Laos

The steps the foreign ministry sets out, with what the mission in Laos 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 the Lao PDR says

Embassy of Japan in the Lao PDRThe period required from visa application to the issuance of the visa is 5 working days as long as there is no particular problem with the content of the application. … If there is some problem with the content of the application, The Embassy makes an inquiry to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tokyo. In such case more than two weeks will be required.Requirement for tourist visa as temporary visitor (Who work or long term stay in LAOS)
Embassy of Japan in the Lao PDRStrongly recommend not to purchase the air ticket or accommodation payment before obtaining a visa to Japan (except for a transit visa). We are not responsible for the air fare and other costs incurred in case of visa refusal.Requirement for tourist visa as temporary visitor (Who work or long term stay in LAOS)
Embassy of Japan in the Lao PDRIf visa is not granted, please be informed that Embassy cannot disclose the reasons to the applicant or persons concerned and will not be able to reapply within 6 months of the date of refusal.Requirement for tourist visa as temporary visitor (Who work or long term stay in LAOS)
Embassy of Japan in the Lao PDRAll documents must be issued within three monthsRequirement for tourist visa as temporary visitor (Who work or long term stay in LAOS)
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 the Lao PDR says

Embassy of Japan in the Lao PDRTravel itinerary in Japan … Hotel booking or reservation letter (reservation without payment is acceptable) … Flight itinerary booking schedule (reservation without payment is acceptable) … Last update and 3 months backward Local Saving Bank book or Bank statement ( Original )Requirement for tourist visa as temporary visitor (Who work or long term stay in LAOS)
Embassy of Japan in the Lao PDR1 Photo (taken within the previous 6 months, 45mm x 35mm type)Requirement for tourist visa as temporary visitor (Who work or long term stay in LAOS)

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 the Lao PDR (checked 5 October 2026)
VisaWhoFee
Single entry—2,174,000 LAK Source
Multiple entry—4,348,000 LAK Source

JAPAN eVISA in Laos

The foreign ministry's eVISA list (as of 15 May 2026) does not include Laos. 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; Lao citizens need a visa in any case.

Japanese embassy for Laos

The missions the foreign ministry lists for Laos. 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 Lao citizens need a visa for Japan?

Yes. Lao citizens need a visa to enter Japan, including for tourism. Laos 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. The visa fee for Lao citizens is 2,174,000 LAK (Embassy of Japan in the Lao PDR).

Can Lao 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 Lao citizens?

2,174,000 LAK for Lao citizens, according to the Embassy of Japan in the Lao PDR. An agency, where one is used, charges its own handling fee.

How long does a Japan visa take in Laos?

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 the Lao PDR adds: “The period required from visa application to the issuance of the visa is 5 working days as long as there is no particular problem with the content of the application. … If there is some problem with the content of the application, The Embassy makes an inquiry to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tokyo. In such case more than two weeks will be required.”

Can Lao citizens apply for a Japan eVISA?

The foreign ministry's eVISA list (as of 15 May 2026) does not include Laos. Apply on paper at the embassy or consulate, or through the channel it names.

Related items

Sources for this page

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