Japan Visit Visa from Pakistan

Yes, for short-term visits. The embassy's requirements cover tourism, visits to relatives, conferences and business trips, and Pakistani applicants in each group need a visa issued before they travel. Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) also runs JAPAN eVISA for residents of certain countries and regions. The Islamabad embassy's current instructions send ordinary applicants in Pakistan to VFS / Gerry's. So unless MOFA's JAPAN eVISA page lists Pakistan as an eligible country of residence when you apply, plan on the paper route described here.

The embassy's notes say residents of Sindh and Balochistan must apply for a Japanese visa at the Consulate-General of Japan in Karachi, and not through the Islamabad embassy. Everyone else in Pakistan falls under the Embassy of Japan in Islamabad (Diplomatic Enclave I). In both cases, ordinary passport holders lodge through the VFS Global / Gerry's channel. Check the VFS Japan-in-Pakistan page for the centre that matches your city.

VFS Global / Gerry's Visa contact (published by the embassy): Tel +92-51-8439346 · Email INFO.JAPANPAK@VFSGLOBAL.COM · Web visa.vfsglobal.com/pak/en/jpn/

The embassy asks applicants not to request special direct submission at its counter. It says such requests will not be accepted, to keep things fair, and can slow down processing for everyone.

The embassy publishes this standard: when there is no problem with the application, processing takes six working days from the day you apply at VFS Global / Gerry's until the visa is issued, at the earliest. The embassy adds that:

1. incomplete documents take longer
2. some applications need thorough examination and may take several months
3. it never issues a visa on the day you apply

So six working days is the minimum, not an average. Apply well ahead of your travel dates, especially for cherry-blossom season or autumn trips when demand rises.

The embassy's requirements page groups documents into those from Japan (from your sponsor or inviter) and those from Pakistan (from you). Which items apply depends on your purpose: business, visiting relatives, conference or tourism. VFS / Gerry's gives the current checklist for your category.

1. Application form: one per applicant, fully filled in (no blank fields), printed on one side of the paper and signed by the applicant in person.
2. Photograph: one recent photo, 45 mm × 45 mm, on a light (preferably white) background, front-facing and bare-headed, with no retouching.
3. Passport: your valid original passport, plus any expired passports.
4. CNIC: original with a photocopy.
5. Bank documents: an attested bank statement for the last six months, with a letter from the bank manager.
6. Family Registration Certificate: the original NADRA FRC. For children under 18, Form B with an English translation attested by Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. If your sponsor in Japan is a relative, the FRC must prove the relationship.
7. Proof of occupation: original evidence of your current job or business.
8. Flight booking: a confirmed return reservation for every sector, issued by a travel agent. The embassy says do not buy the ticket before the visa is issued.
9. NOC: government employees need an official No Objection / ex-Pakistan leave certificate.
10. Itinerary: your schedule in Japan.

From Japan, if someone is inviting or guaranteeing you: a letter of guarantee, a letter explaining the reason for the invitation (with the list of applicants), and a schedule of the visit, each in Japanese or English. The embassy also lists sponsor records, such as a residence certificate (Jyuminhyo), a family register (Koseki Tohon) for Japanese relatives, and income and tax certificates. Business visits need company registration and tax papers from the Japanese company.

Some parts of the older requirements page still describe applying at the embassy counter. The 2024 notice replaces those submission instructions. The document list is still the embassy's reference.

The embassy's visa notices do not print a fee amount for Pakistani applicants. Check the visa fee and the VFS / Gerry's service charge on the VFS Japan-in-Pakistan page, or with VFS directly, before your appointment.

The embassy says clearly that reasons for refusal are never given. It also says you can apply again six months after the refusal, with a completely new set of documents. Use those six months to fix whatever may have been weak, such as unclear funds, a vague itinerary or a missing sponsor document, before you apply again.

Because six working days is the minimum, and the embassy warns that some cases take months, plan in stages:

1. Japan-side documents first. If a relative or company is inviting you, ask for the guarantee letter, invitation reason letter, schedule and certificates straight away. They have to be posted or couriered from Japan.
2. Pakistan-side documents next. The NADRA FRC, the attested bank statement with the manager's letter, and your employer letter or NOC can each take days.
3. Book your VFS / Gerry's submission once everything is ready. An incomplete file only adds time.
4. Leave a buffer of several weeks between lodging and your flight, and keep your flight as a reservation until the visa is issued.

1. Fill in every field on the form. Write "N/A" rather than leaving a gap, and sign it yourself.
2. Make sure the bank statement is attested and comes with the manager's letter. A plain printout is not enough.
3. Keep flight bookings as reservations, not paid tickets.
4. If a relative in Japan is sponsoring you, ask them to send the Japan-side documents early. Certificates such as the Jyuminhyo must be recent originals.
5. Do not pay anyone who claims they can get your file accepted directly at the embassy.