PHOTO GUIDE
Applying for a Slovakia short-stay visa from Japan
The Schengen visa (Type C) application steps for residents of Japan visiting Slovakia, centred on direct reception at the Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Tokyo. The photograph requirement is a full-face colour photo conforming to ICAO standards; millimetre dimensions are not published, so confirming with the consular section comes first.
Checked: 2026-08-15
Application key points
- Who this is for: residents of Japan who need a Schengen visa (Type C) for a short stay in Slovakia (up to 90 days in any 180-day period). Long-stay national visas (Type D) are out of scope.
- Where to apply: the Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Tokyo receives applications directly. Japan is not on Slovakia's list of external visa-centre countries, so the embassy is the only route from Japan.
- Appointment: a consular-section appointment is required (book via cons.tokyo@mzv.sk). Document details are referred to the competent mission.
- Photo: a full-face colour photograph conforming to ICAO standards (per the shared mzv.sk text). Millimetre dimensions are not published (3×3.5 cm applies to Type D national visas only).
- Timing: applications cannot be lodged more than 6 months before the start of the intended visit (common rule).
Where to apply and booking
Slovakia short-stay Schengen visa applications from Japan are received by the consular section of the Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Tokyo. Slovakia's list of countries with external visa centres (VFS Global / BLS International) does not include Japan, so there is no visa-centre route from Japan.
A consular-section appointment is required. Contact the embassy at cons.tokyo@mzv.sk to book, and confirm the document details for your case — the shared MFA text refers specific requirements to the competent mission.
If Slovakia is the main destination (the country of longest stay or the main purpose of the trip) on a multi-country Schengen itinerary, you apply for the Slovak visa.
Preparing the photograph (dimensions not officially published)
The Slovak MFA's Schengen visa page (the Tokyo embassy's page serves the same central text) requires "a full-face colour photo, conform to ICAO standards" among the supporting documents. Millimetre dimensions are not published.
The "3×3.5 cm" figure on the national-visa (Type D) page is specific to long-stay national visas and does not apply to Schengen short-stay visas. Before preparing a photo for a Type C application, confirm the size with the consular section of the embassy in Tokyo.
The ICAO photograph guidelines (35-40mm width, face 70-80% of the photo, plain light background) serve as the reference quality standard. At lodgement, fingerprints and a digital facial image are captured as biometrics (with exemptions).
Common mistakes and cautions
Slovakia-specific risks: applying the long-stay "3×3.5 cm" figure to a short-stay visa, or preparing a photo on generic assumptions before confirming the size with the consular section.
Under the common rules, lodging by post or through a representative with a written authorisation is allowed in principle, but whether the Tokyo embassy accepts these is something to confirm with the consular section (cons.tokyo@mzv.sk).
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Where to apply for a Slovakia short-stay Schengen visa from Japan
Authoritative sources: the Slovak MFA (mzv.sk) Schengen visa page (the Tokyo embassy's tokio-en page carries the same text: full-face colour photo conforming to ICAO standards, no published dimension, no lodgement more than 6 months before travel), the embassy's homepage (consular section by appointment, cons.tokyo@mzv.sk), and the visa-centres list (Japan not included). Re-check these official pages before you submit.
shoumei.org helps users prepare photo files based on publicly available requirements. It does not submit visa applications, and it is not an official government service, Schengen authority, embassy, consulate, VFS Global, TLScontact, or BLS International service. Please verify the latest requirements with the official embassy, consulate, or visa application center before submitting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What photo size is required for the Slovakia visa?
No dimension is officially published. mzv.sk (the Tokyo embassy's page carries the same text) specifies only "a full-face colour photo, conform to ICAO standards". Note that 3×3.5 cm applies to national long-stay visas (Type D); for Type C, we recommend confirming with the consular section.
Where and how do I book?
At the consular section of the Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Tokyo. An appointment is required — book via cons.tokyo@mzv.sk. There is no Slovak visa centre in Japan.
When can I apply?
Under the common rules, applications cannot be lodged more than 6 months before the start of the intended visit. Once your travel is fixed, contact the consular section early.
Can a representative submit my application?
Lodging through a representative with a written authorisation, or by post, is allowed under the common rules, but confirm with the Tokyo consular section (cons.tokyo@mzv.sk) whether they accept these.
Official and submission sources
- 駐日スロバキア大使館 — Schengen Visa Checked: 2026-08-15
- 駐日スロバキア大使館 Checked: 2026-08-15
- スロバキア外務・欧州問題省（mzv.sk）— Visa centres Checked: 2026-08-15
- スロバキア外務・欧州問題省（mzv.sk）— National visa Checked: 2026-08-15