Japan visa for Nepali citizens: requirements, fees and how to apply
Yes. Nepali citizens need a visa to enter Japan, including for tourism. Nepal 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. Applications in Nepal go through VFS Global Services Nepal Private Ltd. An appointment is required.
Visa required
The rule for Nepali passports
What the Japanese foreign ministry publishes for nationals of Nepal.
- Short-stay visa
- Needed
- Standard processing
- 5 working days
- 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
- About 15,000 yen single entry, about 30,000 yen multiple entry, paid in local currency
- JAPAN eVISA
- Not offered for residents of Nepal
- List last revised
- 1 September 2025
The official wording
Other passports from Asia
| Passport | Short-stay visa | Visa-free stay |
|---|---|---|
| China | Needed | No visa-free stay |
| Hong Kong | Not needed | 90 days |
| Nepal | Needed | No visa-free stay |
| South Korea | Not needed | 90 days |
| Taiwan | Not needed | 90 days |
| Thailand | Not needed | 15 days |
How to apply in Nepal
The steps the foreign ministry sets out, with what the mission in Nepal 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 Nepal says
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.
JAPAN eVISA in Nepal
The foreign ministry's eVISA list (as of 15 May 2026) does not include Nepal. 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.
Japan's pre-entry tuberculosis screening applies to nationals of Nepal who come as mid- to long-term residents or under the digital nomad status. It does not apply to short stays as a Temporary Visitor.
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; Nepali citizens need a visa in any case.
Nepal and Japan in numbers
Japan issued 86,727 visas to Nepali nationals in 2025, 1% of all visas issued and number 7 by nationality.
Japanese embassy for Nepal
The missions the foreign ministry lists for Nepal. 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 Nepali citizens need a visa for Japan?
Yes. Nepali citizens need a visa to enter Japan, including for tourism. Nepal 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. Applications in Nepal go through VFS Global Services Nepal Private Ltd. An appointment is required.
Can Nepali 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 Nepali 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 Nepal?
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 Nepal adds: “It typically takes 6 working days from the time of application at VFS Global to the issuance of a visa. … In cases where a more detailed examination is required, it may take 1 to 2 months to complete the review.”
Can Nepali citizens apply for a Japan eVISA?
The foreign ministry's eVISA list (as of 15 May 2026) does not include Nepal. Apply on paper at the embassy or consulate, or through the channel it names.
Related items
Sources for this page
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan Exemption of Visa (Short-Term Stay)checked October 5, 2026
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan Visas and Landing Permissionchecked October 5, 2026
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan VISAchecked October 5, 2026
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan Visa Processing Timechecked October 5, 2026
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan Validity of a Visachecked October 5, 2026
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan Visa Feeschecked October 5, 2026
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan Frequently Asked Questionschecked October 5, 2026
- Embassy of Japan in Nepal Visa Informationchecked October 5, 2026
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan Short-term stay: other nationalitieschecked October 5, 2026
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan Checklist for Single-Entry Short-Term Stay Visa (PDF)checked October 5, 2026
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan Visa Application Form to Enter Japan (PDF)checked October 5, 2026
- Embassy of Japan in Nepal Visa informationchecked October 5, 2026
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan The JAPAN eVISA system (electronic visa)checked October 5, 2026
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan Japan's Pre-Entry Tuberculosis Screeningchecked October 5, 2026
- Immigration Services Agency 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)checked October 5, 2026
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan 外国人の上陸手続 (Japanese)checked October 5, 2026
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan 令和8年入管法等改正法について (Japanese)checked October 5, 2026
- 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)checked October 5, 2026
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan Statistics for the number of visas issued in 2025 (PDF)checked October 5, 2026
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan Number of Japanese Visas Issued in 2025checked October 5, 2026
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan Websites of Japanese Embassies, Consulates and Permanent Missionschecked October 5, 2026
Compiled by Japan Japan !! · Updated October 5, 2026