Data verified
Bangladesh passport holders: Single entry for Japan. No visa fee. Processing: 5-7 working days (VFS Global one-pager states ~5 working days; Embassy of Japan site states ~7 working days for complete applications; longer if incomplete or interview required). Indicative only — always verify with the official mission before applying.
Overview
Visa fee: FREE (gratis) for Bangladeshi nationals across all visa types (single/multiple-entry/transit) — reconfirmed current as of Aug 2026, unaffected by Japan's broader visa-fee-schedule increase (single-entry JPY 3,000→15,000; multiple-entry JPY 6,000→30,000) that took effect 1 July 2026 for travelers from 100+ fee-paying nationalities (~70 countries remain visa-exempt entirely; Bangladesh sits in a third category: visa required but fee waived, and that waiver is unaffected). Mandatory non-refundable VFS Global service charge applies: BDT 2,090 (short-term: Tourism/Business/Family Visit/Transit/Multiple-entry) or BDT 1,900 (long-term: Work/Study/COE-based/Dependent), paid in BDT cash only. Apply via VFS Global Dhaka — embassy stopped accepting direct visa applications as of 3 Nov 2024.
Visa types: Short-term Stay (Tourist/Business/Visiting Friends/Family, 15/30/90-day); General Visa (Student/Work/Cultural); Specified Skilled Worker; Highly Skilled Professional; Working Holiday (not for BD); Transit; Diplomatic/Official.
Fees & funds
Stay & validity
Validity: 3 months from issue (single entry). Multi-entry: 1-5 years. Max Stay: 15/30/90 days per entry.
Extension possibleConditional
Overstay penalty: JPY 100,000-3,000,000 fine + deportation + 5-10 year re-entry ban
How to apply
Requirements
Passport & photo
Required documents: Valid passport (full validity); Visa application form (from VFS Global Japan website); Recent photo (45x45mm, white background, last 6 months); Flight reservation; Detailed day-by-day itinerary; Hotel bookings for full stay; Bank statement (3-6 months, BDT 3-5 lakh+ recommended); Employment certificate + salary slips; For Visit: invitation letter + guarantor docs from Japan host; Apply at VFS Dhaka.
Visa types (5)
Visa fee: FREE (gratis) for Bangladeshi nationals. VFS Global service fee: BDT 1,900 (mandatory). Apply via VFS Dhaka: visa.vfsglobal.com/bgd/en/jpn
Japan Tanki Taizai (Short-Term Stay) for Business activities. Japan offers single-entry (JPY 3,000 / USD 19) or multi-entry (JPY 6,000 / USD 38). Recent reforms 2023 made multi-entry up to 5 years available for established business travelers.
Japan Student Visa requires COE (Certificate of Eligibility) from the Japanese institution — visa application happens after COE issued. Japanese universities (Tokyo, Kyoto, Waseda, Tsukuba) increasingly popular for STEM. MEXT (Monbukagakusho) scholarship is significant pathway.
Japan Work Visa — categories include Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, Skilled Labor, Specified Skilled Worker (SSW — 14 industries), Highly Skilled Professional (HSP, points-based), Intra-Company Transferee, Researcher, Medical Services, etc. SSW Type 1 is significant route for BD workers in caregiving, construction, agriculture, food services since 2019.
Japan Family Visa categories: Spouse or Child of Japanese National, Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident, Dependent (for spouses/children of work visa holders). Spouse of Japanese National leads to permanent residence in 3 years (much faster than work-route).
Common rejection reasons
Common BD rejections (high refusal rate ~50-70% for first-time BD applicants): (1) Detailed day-by-day itinerary required - vague itinerary = refusal; (2) Hotel bookings for FULL stay required; (3) Inadequate guarantor docs for Visit; (4) Weak ties to BD; (5) Insufficient funds (BDT 3-5L+ recommended); (6) First-time BD travelers face very high scrutiny; (7) Apply via VFS Dhaka - common documentation errors.
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