Pakistani citizens need a temporary visitor visa for Japan, and as of October 2026 they cannot use Japan's eVISA from Pakistan. You submit a paper application through VFS Global and Gerry's in Islamabad, or in Karachi if you live in Sindh or Balochistan. Pakistani passport holders pay no visa fee, only a PKR 3,500 service charge, and processing takes at least 6 working days.
Which Japan visa do Pakistanis need?
Pakistan is not among the 74 countries and regions with a visa exemption arrangement with Japan, so you need a visa for any visit. For a short trip, Japan issues a temporary visitor visa, also called a short term stay visa. The visa centre in Pakistan handles three short stay categories:
| Category | Who it suits | Extra papers |
|---|---|---|
| Tourism (sightseeing) | Holidays you plan and pay for yourself | Itinerary, hotel bookings, flight booking |
| Visiting relatives, friends or acquaintances | Visiting someone who lives in Japan | Invitation letter or letter of guarantee, and your host's documents |
| Business | Meetings and other short business visits | A separate VFS checklist for business visits |
Is Japan's eVISA open to Pakistani residents?
No. As of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (MOFA) update dated 15 May 2026, the JAPAN eVISA is open to people living in a set list of countries and regions, and Pakistan is not one of them. It works by place of residence, so a Pakistani citizen who lives in a listed country may be able to use it there:
- Apply online directly: residents of Australia, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and the USA.
- Apply through an accredited agency: residents of Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Macau, Mongolia, South Korea, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates.
The eVISA is a single entry tourism visa for up to 90 days, for travel by air or certain ferries. If you live in Pakistan, you apply on paper.
How and where do you apply for a Japan visa from Pakistan?
The Embassy of Japan in Islamabad and the Consulate General in Karachi do not accept ordinary visa applications at their own desks. Since 2024, all ordinary applications go through VFS Global and Gerry's Visa, which run the Japan visa application centres.
- Islamabad centre: for applicants outside Sindh and Balochistan, including people living in Lahore. You can apply at most 90 days before your travel date.
- Karachi centre: only for residents of Sindh and Balochistan. You can apply at most 60 days before travel, and no appointment is needed.
From 24 June 2026, agents cannot submit Japan tourist visa applications at the Karachi centre, so you hand in your own file. On 20 August 2026, VFS also warned against third party agents claiming to represent VFS Global or Gerry's.
The steps are:
- Choose the right category and download its checklist from the VFS Global Japan Pakistan site.
- Fill in the visa application form, printed on one side of the paper, and sign it.
- Arrange your documents in the checklist order, with photocopies on A4 paper.
- Pay the service fee online when you book, if you use the Islamabad centre.
- Submit at the centre, then collect your passport when the decision comes back.
How much is the Japan visa fee in Pakistan, and how long does it take?
As of 15 October 2026, Pakistani passport holders are exempt from the Japan visa fee. VFS Global's Pakistan page says so, and the Consulate General of Japan in New York lists Pakistan among the nationalities exempt from visa fees (page dated 24 June 2026). This matters because MOFA set a new general fee from 1 July 2026 of about 15,000 yen for a single entry visa, which VFS shows as PKR 28,300 for nationalities that pay.
What you do pay is the visa centre's service charge of PKR 3,500 or USD 12.5 per application. It is not refundable.
The Embassy says the standard processing period is at least 6 working days from the day you apply at the centre, if nothing in your application needs checking. Files that need closer examination can take several months, and the Embassy never issues a visa on the day you apply.
Japan tourist visa requirements: document checklist
This follows the VFS Global checklist for tourism at the Islamabad centre, as of October 2026.
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Passport | Original, plus a copy of the personal details page |
| Application form and photo | One form, and one 4.5 cm x 4.5 cm photo with a white background |
| Flight itinerary | Issued by a travel agency or airline office |
| Itinerary in Japan | The places you plan to visit and where you will stay each day |
| Hotel booking | Dates must match your itinerary and flight booking |
| Job or study letter | Certificate of employment or organisation letter stating the purpose of your visit, with 3 months of salary slips if employed |
| Business papers | If self employed: chamber membership, NTN or SECP registration |
| Bank statement | A copy for the last 3 months, stamped and signed by the bank |
| CNIC | A copy on A4 paper |
| Student card | A copy, only if you are a registered college student |
| Family Registration Certificate | For families, issued within the last 3 months |
The Karachi checklist differs in places. It asks for all your old passports, original CNIC with a copy, an unpaid flight booking at least ten days after your application date, a day by day schedule of stay, and either bank statements for 6 months or tax returns for the last two years.
Visiting family or friends: the invitation and guarantor letters
If someone living in Japan invites you, the VFS checklist for visiting relatives, friends or acquaintances adds:
- an invitation letter or letter of guarantee from your host, using MOFA's forms;
- your host's latest income or tax certificate and certificate of residence;
- a copy of your host's residence card and passport, if they are not Japanese;
- proof of your relationship, such as an FRC from NADRA, or for friends, photos or chats together;
- a bank book copy covering the last 3 months.
A guarantor is a person living in Japan who promises the embassy that you will stay in Japan legally, and who guarantees matters such as your expenses there, your return ticket and your compliance with Japanese law. MOFA says this is a moral responsibility rather than a legal one. A guarantor who fails to meet it loses credibility for future applications, and a false statement about the relationship or purpose of the visit can bring criminal liability. Our guide on how to write an invitation letter for a visit visa explains what a strong host letter covers.
How much bank balance do you need for a Japan visit visa?
Neither the Embassy nor VFS publishes a minimum balance. Your statement should clearly cover the trip your itinerary describes. If someone else pays for your trip, the Islamabad checklist asks you to submit documents proving your relationship to that person. Our guide to bank statements for a visit visa explains how to present salary, business income and family funding.
How long can you stay, and can you work?
A tourist visa is for a stay of up to 90 days. MOFA says a single entry visa is normally valid for 3 months from issue, so you must enter Japan within that time or apply again. A visa does not guarantee entry: the immigration officer at the airport still has to grant you permission to land.
A temporary visitor visa does not allow paid work in Japan. If you want to work there, you need a work visa, usually through a Certificate of Eligibility, and Via Nova does not arrange jobs, job offers or work visas.
Why are Japan visit visas refused from Pakistan?
Japan does not tell you why it refused you. MOFA explains that the application did not meet the issuance criteria and that reasons are kept private to protect the process. Based on the official checklists, the common problems are:
- dates that do not match across the flight booking, hotel bookings and itinerary;
- a bank statement that does not support the trip, or no proof of who is paying;
- no employment, business or study evidence to show why you will return;
- applying at the wrong centre for your province;
- errors or gaps in the form, which MOFA lists as a reason an application may not even be accepted.
After a refusal, Japan will not accept a new application for the same purpose within 6 months, unless your circumstances change a lot or there are humanitarian reasons. Read visit visa refusal reasons for Pakistani applicants before you prepare a second file.
Not sure where you stand?
Send a Via Nova counsellor a WhatsApp message at +92 316 4448062 with your travel plan, your job or business, your bank balance, your travel history and whether someone in Japan is inviting you. You will get an honest view of which category fits and what your file still needs. See our visit visa service for how we help, online or at our Lahore office. We are not visa officers, and only the Embassy of Japan decides.
Frequently asked questions
Is Japan visa free for Pakistani passport holders?
No. Pakistan is not on Japan's visa exemption list, so you need a visa before you travel. The visa itself has no fee for Pakistani passport holders as of October 2026. You only pay the visa centre's service charge of PKR 3,500 or USD 12.5 per application.
How much bank balance is required for a Japan visit visa from Pakistan?
No minimum is published. The Islamabad checklist asks for a bank statement for the last 3 months, stamped and signed by your bank, and the Karachi checklist asks for 6 months of statements or two years of tax returns. Your balance should clearly cover the flights, hotels and daily costs in your itinerary.
Can Pakistanis apply for the Japan eVISA?
Not from Pakistan. As of MOFA's 15 May 2026 update, Pakistan is not on the eVISA list. The eVISA depends on where you live, so a Pakistani citizen living in a listed country, such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia or the UK, may be able to use it there for a single entry tourist trip.
How long does a Japan visa take in Pakistan?
The Embassy of Japan says at least 6 working days from the day you submit at the visa centre, when your documents are in order. Files that need closer checks can take months. Apply no more than 90 days before travel in Islamabad or 60 days in Karachi.
Who can be a guarantor for a Japan visit visa?
A guarantor is a person living in Japan, often the relative or friend inviting you, who promises the embassy that you will stay legally and guarantees matters such as your expenses and return ticket. They complete MOFA's letter of guarantee and send their income and residence documents for your application.
Want this done for you?
Talk to a counsellor about your plans on WhatsApp, or visit our Lahore office in Lake City Meadows (Ex State Life), next to DHA Phase 5. We reply within one working day.
Sources
- General information for visa applicants, Embassy of Japan in Pakistan
- Application for Japanese visa, Consulate General of Japan in Karachi
- Japan visa information for Pakistan, VFS Global
- Japan visa types, fees and checklists, VFS Global Pakistan
- The JAPAN eVISA system, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
- Exemption of visa (short term stay), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
- Visa fees, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
- Visa frequently asked questions, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
- Short term stay application documents, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
- Visa fees and fee exempt countries, Consulate General of Japan in New York
Checked against these official sources on 15 October 2026. Rules change often, so confirm the latest position with a counsellor before you apply.