Japan visa for Sri Lankans: requirements and documents
Sri Lankan passport holders need a visa for a short-term stay in Japan (up to 90 days). Applications are made at the Japan Visa Application Centre in Colombo, run by VFS Global.
Last checked against official sources on 2026-10-14.
Can I use the JAPAN eVISA?
The JAPAN eVISA is not available to Sri Lankan nationals; apply for a regular visa.
Where to apply
- Japan Visa Application Centre, Colombo (VFS Global). The Embassy of Japan no longer accepts applications at its own counter, but it makes the decision.
- Fees are paid by bank draft to the visa centre; check the visa centre’s page for the current amounts.
Documents for tourism
- Passport and Visa Application Form with one photo (4.5 × 3.5 cm, white background, taken within 6 months, on photo paper)
- Schedule of Stay (day-by-day), hotel booking and round-trip flight reservation (you don’t need to buy the ticket)
- National Identity Card (NIC), birth certificate, and marriage certificate if married
- Official English translations by a sworn translator of documents in Sinhala or Tamil, including the NIC
- Recent bank statements (the visa centre checklist asks for 3 months)
- Originals plus A4 copies; no staples or tape
Documents for visiting relatives or friends
Your host in Japan prepares part of these documents.
- Your passport, application form, photo, NIC, birth certificate, employment proof and bank statements
- From Japan: Letter of Invitation, Schedule of Stay and List of Visa Applicants
- Letter of Guarantee, unless you pay for the trip yourself, with the guarantor’s income certificate and bank documents
- A non-Japanese host adds copies of their passport, residence card and residence certificate
Good to know
- Visas are generally single entry and valid for 3 months from issue.
The official forms
The Visa Application Form, Schedule of Stay, Letter of Invitation, Letter of Guarantee and List of Visa Applicants are the official forms of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. Download the blank forms
Official sources
Requirements, fees and processing times change. Always check the current checklist on the official pages below before you apply; the visa centre’s checklist is what your application is checked against.
Skip the typing
Scan your passport, add your trip, and download every official form filled in, for you or your family of up to 5.
Related guides
- Japan visa application forms (PDF)Download the official blank forms and see which ones you need.
- How to fill in the Japan visa application formEvery field of the official form explained, from passport details to the declarations.
- Japan schedule of stay: sample and how to fill it inWhat the embassy expects in your travel itinerary (滞在予定表), with a full sample.
- Letter of invitation and letter of guarantee for JapanWhat your host in Japan writes and signs, with example wording.