Japan Visa for Indian Citizens
Indian citizens need a visa for every trip to Japan — tourism included. Here's how long a visa lets you stay, and how to apply in five steps.
Visa required
No visa-free entry and no visa on arrival. Apply before you travel, through VFS Global in India.
- How long
- Up to 90 days per trip
- Visa fee
- ₹500 visa fee + ₹800 VFS charge
- Processing
- At least 7–10 working days
Last checked 25 September 2026 against the Embassy of Japan in India, VFS Global India and Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
How long can you stay?
| Visa | Stay per visit | Use it within |
|---|---|---|
| Single entry — tourism, visits, business | Up to 90 days — 15, 30 or 90 days depending on your plan | 3 months from issue |
| Multiple entry — for those who qualify | Up to 90 days per visit (business type: 15, 30 or 90 days) | 5 years (business type: 1–10 years) |
| Work, study, family | More than 90 days — needs a Certificate of Eligibility first | — |
Choose your visa
Short visits use a Temporary Visitor (short-term stay) visa. Which documents you need depends on why you're going and who pays:
Tourism
A holiday you pay for yourself
See documents →
Visiting relatives or friends
Someone in Japan invites you — they or you pay
See documents →
Short-term business
Meetings, negotiations, market research, conferences, cultural or sport exchange
See documents →
Multiple entry
For frequent business travellers and others who qualify
Who qualifies →
Indian students have had relaxed tourist-visa requirements since January 2017 — ask VFS for the student checklist.
Prepare the documents
These are the official VFS checklists. Photocopies on A4 paper only. The embassy may ask for an interview or more papers; documents are not returned (except your passport).
You prepare
- Passport with more than two blank pages — plus any old passports
- Copy of the passport's bio pages (first and last page)
- Visa application form, completed and signed
- One photo taken in the last 6 months — the size depends on your district (see below)
- Flight or cruise schedule to and from Japan
- Itinerary in Japan — hotels and contact details
- Latest Income Tax ReturnIf you don't have one: bank statements for the last 6 months.
- Cover letter — only if something needs explaining
Students and dependants add
- Consent letter from parents or spouse
- Their latest Income Tax Return (or 6 months of bank statements)
- Proof of relationship, if a dependant travels with you
You prepare
- Passport, copy of its bio pages, application form and photo
- Flight schedule to and from Japan
- Latest Income Tax ReturnIf you don't have one: bank statements for the last 6 months.
- Cover letter — only if something needs explaining
Your host in Japan prepares
- Invitation letter
- Proof of relationshipRelatives: birth or marriage certificate, or koseki. Friends: photos, emails, chats.
- Itinerary in Japan
- List of applicants — if several apply together
Whoever pays in Japan prepares
- Letter of guarantee
- Proof of income — at least one of:Last year's income/tax certificate (not a withholding slip), a stamped final tax return, or a bank balance certificate.
- Juminhyo (certificate of residence) showing the family
- If the guarantor is a foreign national: passport copy and residence card (both sides)
You prepare
- Passport, copy of its bio pages, application form and photo
- Travel order from your employer
- Certificate of employment
- Flight schedule to and from Japan
- Latest Income Tax Return — needed if you ask for multiple entry
The inviting company prepares
- Invitation letter
- Itinerary in Japan
- List of applicants — if several apply together
The company paying prepares
- Letter of guarantee
- Company registration certificate or company overview
Photo — the size depends on your district
| District | Size | Also required |
|---|---|---|
| New Delhi | 45 × 35 mm | Colour, white background, face 70–80% of the photo |
| Mumbai | 2 × 2 in | Colour, white background |
| Kolkata | 45 × 35 mm (2 × 1.4 in) | No glasses, hair tied back, not used on a previous visa, glossy finish |
| Chennai | 2 × 2 in / 45 × 45 mm | Face 34–36 mm from hair to chin |
| Bengaluru | 35 × 45 mm | Colour, white background |
All districts: taken within the last 6 months, printed on good-quality paper.
Submit and pay
Go to the VFS Global centre for the Japanese office that covers the state you live in — no prior appointment is needed (embassy). Applications are accepted from 3 months before your travel date. Residents of Bhutan also apply through VFS India.
| Japanese office | States covered |
|---|---|
| Embassy, New Delhi | Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, the North-East states, Andaman & Nicobar, Lakshadweep |
| Consulate-General, Mumbai | Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Daman, Diu, Dadra & Nagar Haveli |
| Consulate-General, Kolkata | West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha |
| Consulate-General, Chennai | Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, Puducherry |
| Consulate-General, Bengaluru | Karnataka |
Fees
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Visa fee — single or multiple | ₹500 | Indian nationals, from 1 Jul 2026. Refunded if the visa is refused. |
| VFS service charge | ₹800 | Per application, incl. GST. Not refundable. |
| Courier return (optional) | ₹550 | New Delhi rate; other centres set their own. |
New Delhi takes cash or card in INR; the Gurugram, Chandigarh and Lucknow drop-off offices take separate demand drafts in favour of “VFS Global Services Pvt. Ltd.”
Wait for the decision
- Allow at least 7–10 working days between applying and travelling (VFS New Delhi). The Mumbai consulate indicates about 10 working days for Mumbai and 12 for Pune, Ahmedabad and Goa.
- Processing times can vary significantly, and the embassy cannot expedite or prioritise an application to fit your travel date. It also takes no enquiries about status, documents or refusal reasons.
- Track your application on the VFS website with your reference number.
Receive your visa
Visa sticker in your passport
Collect your passport at VFS, or have it couriered back. A single-entry visa must be used within 3 months of issue.
eVISA — single-entry tourism
Since 1 April 2024 a single-entry tourist visa can be issued electronically. You still apply at VFS — only the visa itself is digital.
eVISA holders: show it live on your phone
A visa doesn't guarantee entry — the immigration officer at the airport makes the final decision.
If your visa is refused
- The ₹500 visa fee is refunded; the VFS service charge is not.
- The embassy does not tell you why — Japan does not give reasons for visa refusals.
- You can't reapply for the same purpose within 6 months. The exception: your circumstances have changed significantly and the trip is needed for humanitarian reasons — ask the embassy first.
Beware of visa scams
Next time: a multiple-entry visa
For tourism and visits, Indian nationals can get a multiple-entry visa valid for 5 years, up to 90 days per visit — same ₹500 fee. You qualify with an ICAO-standard passport and one of these:
- Two or more trips to Japan as a visitor in the last 3 years
- A trip to Japan in the last 3 years, plus the means to pay for your travel
- Trips to Japan and to another G7 country in the last 3 years
- Sufficient financial capacity — and the spouse or children of such a person
Business travellers and cultural or intellectual figures have a separate multiple-entry visa: 15, 30 or 90 days per visit, valid 1, 3, 5 or 10 years. The embassy may still issue a single-entry visa after its review. Embassy guidelines (PDF)
Staying longer than 90 days
Work, study and family stays need a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) first. Your employer, school or family in Japan applies for it; you then take it to the embassy for the visa.
Engineer / Humanities / International Services
Office and IT jobs — the most common work visa
See details →
Specified Skilled Worker (Type 1 & 2)
Skills test plus a Japanese-language test
See details →
Student
Language schools, vocational schools and universities
See details →
J-Find (Future Creation)
Graduates of top-ranked universities looking for work in Japan
See details →
Frequently asked questions
Do Indian citizens need a visa for Japan?
Yes, for every visit — tourism included. India is not on Japan's visa-exemption list, and Japan has no visa on arrival.
How long can I stay in Japan on a tourist visa?
Up to 90 days per visit on a single-entry visa — the officer grants 15, 30 or 90 days depending on your plan. Use the visa within 3 months of issue.
How much does a Japan visa cost?
₹500 for a single- or multiple-entry visa (Indian nationals, from 1 July 2026), plus the ₹800 VFS service charge. The visa fee is refunded if the visa is refused; the VFS charge is not.
How long does processing take?
Allow at least 7–10 working days (about 10–12 in the Mumbai district). There is no express service, so apply early — applications open 3 months before travel.
Can I apply online?
Not fully. You still submit the application at VFS; for single-entry tourism the visa can then be issued electronically, and you show it live on your phone at the airport.
Can I reapply if my visa is refused?
Not for the same purpose within 6 months, unless your circumstances have changed significantly and the trip is needed for humanitarian reasons. The embassy won't tell you the reason for a refusal.
Do I need three years of Income Tax Returns?
No. The VFS checklists ask for your latest Income Tax Return — or, if you don't have one, bank statements for the last 6 months.
Sources
- Embassy of Japan in India — Visa (fees from 1 Jul 2026, submission, fraud warning)
- VFS Global India — Japan visa: checklists, fees, photo specifications and processing times
- Embassy of Japan in India — multiple-entry visas for Indian nationals (PDF)
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan — Visa fees (from 1 Jul 2026)
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan — Visa processing time
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan — Validity of a visa
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan — Visa FAQ (refusals, re-applications)
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan — JAPAN eVISA (eligible residences, 15 May 2026)
Nearby countries
Not sure which visa or documents fit your trip?
Ask us which visa fits your plan — free consultation by email.
Email us