Japan Airport Transit Rules for Indian Passport Holders

The answers below are as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026, by the Embassy of Japan, Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and VFS Global. Tourist, business and long-stay visas are covered on our Japan visa page for Indians.

Is there still a Japan transit visa for Indians?

Not as a separate fee category. The Embassy of Japan's visa fee table applying from 1 July 2026 states that the transit visa is abolished. Before that date, Indian nationals paid INR 50 for it (Mumbai Consulate table for 1 April to 30 June 2026, and the VFS Bengaluru, Chennai and Kolkata pages).

There is a loose end you should know about. As of 15 October 2026, the VFS Delhi page still listed a 'Transit' visa type with its own checklist, and the Mumbai, Kolkata and Bengaluru VFS lists also carried a Transit Visa entry. Until the two sources line up, check the current position with the Japan Visa Information Hotline (+91-11-7181-6614, 24x7, English only) or your consulate before you book a connection through Japan.

Can you get a visa on arrival for a layover in Japan?

No. MOFA says visas are issued only at Japanese embassies and consulates abroad and cannot be obtained on arrival in Japan. India is not among the 74 countries and regions with which Japan has visa-exemption arrangements (MOFA list dated 1 September 2025).

That means you cannot pass immigration at a Japanese airport on an Indian passport without a visa issued before you fly. The official pages we checked do not set out a rule for connections where you stay inside the airport and never pass immigration. For that situation, confirm with your airline and the hotline before you buy the ticket.

What visa do you need to leave the airport on a long layover?

A visa obtained in India through a VFS Japan Visa Application Centre. With the transit category gone, the fee for Indian nationals is the same for single and multiple visas:

VFS says the visa fee is refunded only if the visa is not approved; the INR 800 service fee is non-refundable and is charged even to fee-exempt applicants.

If the stopover is a short holiday, the tourism eVISA may suit you. Since 1 April 2024 Indian nationals can receive a single-entry tourism visa for stays of up to 90 days as an eVISA. You still submit the application at a VFS centre, and at the airport you must show the 'visa issuance notice' on a mobile device with internet; a PDF, screenshot, photo or printout is not accepted.

What did the transit checklist ask for?

For reference, the VFS Delhi transit checklist that remained online asked for the common documents plus two items:

All photocopies go on A4 paper only, and the documents you submit are not returned, apart from the passport.

Where do you apply, and how long does it take?

Each Japanese office decides applications only from residents of its jurisdiction, all through VFS:

The Embassy accepts applications from 3 months before travel; the Chennai and Kolkata VFS pages say not earlier than 89 days. From 19 October 2026, VFS Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad and Goa accept Japan applications only by prior appointment. A single-entry visa is basically valid for three months, so you must enter Japan within that window.

Checks before you route a trip through Japan

• Decide whether you will leave the airport. If yes, apply for a visa in India before you fly.
• If you plan to stay airside, get written confirmation from your airline and check with the hotline.
• Carry your onward ticket and the visa for your final destination, as the old transit checklist required.
• Leave margin for a refusal: MOFA does not accept a new application for the same purpose within six months, except in limited humanitarian cases.

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Frequently asked questions

Do I need travel insurance to transit through Japan?

Travel insurance 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.

I live abroad on an Indian passport. Can I apply in India for a Japan visa?

No. MOFA says Indians living outside India apply to the Japanese embassy or consulate for their country of residence, not to a mission in India.

Can I apply for a Japan visa if my passport was issued in another state?

Yes, but each consulate decides only for residents of its jurisdiction, so applicants whose passport was issued elsewhere must show address proof, such as a rental agreement, utility bill or Aadhaar.

Does Japan give reasons when it refuses a visa?

No. MOFA does not give the specific reason for a refusal, and a new application for the same purpose is not accepted within six months unless circumstances have changed significantly and travel is needed on humanitarian grounds.