Does Japan Offer Visa on Arrival to Indians?

If you land in Tokyo or Osaka without a visa, there is no counter that can issue one. This Q&A covers the questions that usually follow: whether the eVISA counts as an on-arrival option, where to apply in India, what it costs, and what happens on a layover. Facts are as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. For the full Japan visa process, see our Japan visa guide for Indian travellers.

Can Indians get a Japanese visa at the airport?

No. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan's visa page states that visas cannot be obtained on arrival in Japan. They are issued only at Japanese embassies and consulates abroad.

Visa-free entry is not an option either. Japan has visa-exemption arrangements with 74 countries and regions, and India is not among them (MOFA list dated 1 September 2025). Every Indian passport holder needs a visa issued before travel, whether a sticker in the passport or an eVISA.

Is the Japan eVISA a kind of visa on arrival?

No, though it is often mistaken for one. Since 1 April 2024, Indian nationals and foreign residents of India can receive a single-entry tourism visa, for a stay of up to 90 days, as an eVISA. The differences from a true on-arrival visa matter:

• You still submit the application at a VFS Japan Visa Application Centre in India.
• The decision is made before you fly.
• At the airport you must show the 'visa issuance notice' on a mobile device with an internet connection. A PDF, screenshot, photo or printout is not accepted.

A fully online JAPAN eVISA application is open only to residents of Australia, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Taiwan, the UK and the USA. An Indian citizen living in one of those countries applies through the system for their country of residence. Indians living elsewhere abroad apply to the Japanese embassy or consulate for their country of residence, not to a mission in India.

Where in India do you apply instead?

VFS Global runs the Japan Visa Application Centres and passes applications to the Embassy or the Consulate General for your state. VFS states it plays no role in the decision. The missions publish these indicative processing times:

Appointment rules differ by centre. VFS says that from 19 October 2026 all applications at Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad and Goa need a prior appointment, with no walk-ins. Chennai, Hyderabad, Puducherry, Cochin, Kolkata, Bhubaneswar and Bengaluru also require appointments, while the Embassy and VFS say New Delhi and the other Delhi-jurisdiction centres need no prior appointment.

How much does the visa cost if you cannot get it on arrival?

Very little. Under the fee table in force from 1 July 2026, Indian nationals pay INR 500 for a single or multiple-entry visa. The VFS service fee of INR 800 per application is charged on top, is non-refundable, and applies even to applicants exempt from the visa fee. Courier return is optional at INR 550.

Other nationals applying in India pay much more: INR 8,650 single and INR 17,350 multiple or double. The low rate is specific to Indian passport holders.

Do you need a visa just to change planes in Japan?

Check before you rely on a layover. The Embassy's fee notice lists the transit visa as abolished from 1 July 2026 (it previously cost Indians INR 50), but VFS Delhi still shows a Transit visa type and checklist. Because the two sources differ, confirm your exact connection with the Japan Visa Information Hotline (+91-11-7181-6614, English) or your VFS centre before booking a ticket through Japan.

How far ahead should you apply?

The Embassy accepts short-term applications from 3 months before the travel date; the Chennai and Kolkata VFS pages say not earlier than 89 days. A single-entry visa is basically valid for three months from issue, so you must enter Japan within that time or apply again.

MOFA's standard examination period is five working days from the day after acceptance when there is no problem. It can stretch from a couple of weeks to several months if extra documents, an interview or inquiries are needed.

What if your application is refused?

Plan carefully, because a refusal has a long tail. MOFA does not give the specific reason for a refusal, and a new application for the same purpose is not accepted within six months, except where circumstances have changed significantly and travel is needed on humanitarian grounds. With no visa on arrival to fall back on, a refusal close to your travel date usually means rebooking the trip.

Keep your bookings flexible until the visa is issued. A verifiable flight reservation and a hotel booking you can cancel are generally safer than non-refundable purchases. Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, itineraries and cover letters for visa files, from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (all four). WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or reach us through our contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Can Indians get a multiple-entry visa for Japan?

Yes. The Embassy in New Delhi lists several multiple-entry categories for Indian nationals, for example for those with travel records to Japan in the last three years, travel to Japan and G7 countries, or sufficient financial capacity. The fee for Indian nationals is the same INR 500 as a single-entry visa.

Is travel insurance required for a Japan tourist visa?

It is not listed as a required document on the VFS or Embassy checklists. MOFA says it is highly recommended to buy international travel medical insurance for a trip to Japan.

How many Japanese visas were issued to Indians in 2025?

MOFA data show 265,882 Japanese visas issued to Indian nationals across all visa types and all Japanese missions worldwide in calendar year 2025, the 4th-highest nationality. Japan publishes no refusal rate for Indian applicants.

What photo size does a Japan visa application need?

The Delhi, Bengaluru and Kolkata pages ask for 45mm x 35mm, while the Mumbai and Chennai pages state 2 x 2 inch. The photo should be in colour on a plain white background and not more than 6 months old.