# Japan Tourist Visa Appointment from India: Booking Guide

> Which VFS Japan centres in India need a prior appointment, which accept walk-ins, how early to apply, what to carry, what you pay and how long each Japanese office takes.

_Published: 2026-10-31 · Reading time: 5 min · Words: 1071_

## TL;DR

Whether you need a Japan visa appointment depends on your state. Delhi-jurisdiction centres and Mysuru accept applications without one; Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad and Goa switch to appointment-only on 19 October 2026, and the Chennai, Kolkata and Bengaluru jurisdictions already require a booking.

## Key takeaways

- New Delhi and the other Delhi-jurisdiction centres need no prior appointment; neither does Mysuru.
- From 19 October 2026, Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad and Goa accept Japan visa applications by prior appointment only.
- Chennai, Hyderabad, Puducherry, Cochin, Kolkata, Bhubaneswar and Bengaluru require a prior appointment.
- The Embassy accepts short-term applications from 3 months before travel.
- Indians pay a visa fee of INR 500 plus a VFS service fee of INR 800.

**It depends on where you live. According to VFS Global and the Embassy of Japan, Delhi-jurisdiction centres take Japan tourist visa applications without a prior appointment, while Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad and Goa need one from 19 October 2026. Chennai, Hyderabad, Puducherry, Cochin, Kolkata, Bhubaneswar and Bengaluru also require a prior appointment.**

## Article

The rules below are as published on the official sources, checked on 2026-10-15: VFS Global's Japan pages for India, its walk-in notice dated 15 October 2026 and the visa pages of the Embassy and consulates. Every Japan visa from India is lodged at a VFS Japan Visa Application Centre and decided by the Japanese mission for your state; VFS plays no role in the decision. For visa types and documents in full, see our Japan visa guide for Indians.

### Do you need an appointment for a Japan tourist visa?
Deciding officeVFS centresPrior appointment?Embassy of Japan, New DelhiNew Delhi; drop-off offices in Gurugram, Chandigarh and LucknowNo, according to the Embassy and VFSConsulate-General, MumbaiMumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, GoaYes, from 19 October 2026; walk-ins no longer acceptedConsulate-General, ChennaiChennai, Hyderabad, Puducherry, CochinYesConsulate-General, KolkataKolkata, BhubaneswarYesConsulate-General, BengaluruBengaluru; MysuruYes at Bengaluru; no prior appointment at MysuruThe Mumbai change was announced by VFS on the instructions of the Consulate General of Japan in Mumbai. That consulate has also stopped accepting applications directly since 20 April 2026, so in its area VFS is the only door. Book on the VFS Japan appointment page.

### Which Japanese office covers your state?
- Embassy, New Delhi: Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Chandigarh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, the North-Eastern states including Assam and Sikkim, Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep.
- Mumbai: Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu.
- Chennai: Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala and Puducherry.
- Kolkata: West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar and Odisha.
- Bengaluru: Karnataka.
Each consulate decides applications only from current residents of its area. If your passport was issued in another state, you must show address proof. The Bengaluru checklist accepts a rental or lease agreement, sale deed, gas or electricity bill, or Aadhaar; Kolkata lists Aadhaar, voter card, driving licence or rent agreement.

### How early can you book a Japan visa appointment?
The Embassy of Japan accepts short-term applications from 3 months before the travel date. The Chennai and Kolkata VFS pages say not earlier than 89 days before travel. One VFS appointment page phrases the rule as at least 89 days before travel, which conflicts with the Embassy's wording, so plan around the Embassy's 3-month window and the 89-day limit where your centre states it.

Do not apply too early for another reason. An issued single-entry visa is basically valid for three months, so you must enter Japan within three months of issue or apply again.

### What should you carry on appointment day?
Arrange documents in the order of your jurisdiction's checklist, with all photocopies on A4 paper. Submitted documents are not returned, except the passport.

ItemOfficial detailPassportValid, with more than two blank pages, plus old passports and a copy of the first and last pagesApplication formCompletely filled and signedPhotoTaken within 6 months, white background; 45mm x 35mm at Delhi, Bengaluru and Kolkata, 2 x 2 inch at Mumbai and ChennaiTravel planFlight or cruise schedule and day-by-day itinerary with hotel detailsFinances (Delhi)Latest Income Tax Return, or bank statement for the last 6 monthsEmploymentNOC or leave sanction letter (Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Bengaluru checklists)Booking proof differs by office. Mumbai's November 2025 checklist asks for confirmed hotel and flight bookings, while Chennai highly recommends not buying a confirmed flight ticket and hotel before the visa is granted and accepts a reservation. Kolkata wants a complete hotel reservation as a booking only, not confirmed.

### What do you pay at the VFS centre?
ChargeAmountVisa fee, Indian nationals (single or multiple entry)INR 500VFS service feeINR 800 per application, inclusive of taxes, non-refundableOptional courier returnINR 550 per applicationCourier DD at Delhi's Blue Dart collection centresINR 1050New Delhi takes cash and cards in rupees. The Gurugram, Chandigarh and Lucknow drop-off offices need separate demand drafts in favour of VFS Global Services Pvt. Ltd.

### How long does each office take after submission?
OfficeIndicative processingEmbassy, New DelhiMinimum 5 working daysMumbaiMumbai 10, Pune 12, Ahmedabad 12, Goa 12 processing daysChennaiMinimum 3 working daysKolkataMinimum 5 working daysBengaluruMinimum 6 working daysJapan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs says the standard examination takes five working days when there is no problem, and a couple of weeks to several months if extra documents, an interview or inquiries are needed.

### Booking mistakes to avoid
- Turning up at Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad or Goa without a booking on or after 19 October 2026.
- Applying at a centre outside your jurisdiction without address proof.
- Using a 2 x 2 inch photo at a Delhi-jurisdiction centre, or the reverse at Mumbai or Chennai.
- Buying a non-refundable ticket before the decision where your checklist accepts a reservation.
- Applying so early that the three-month validity of a single-entry visa runs out before you fly.
If you need a flight reservation, hotel booking, itinerary or cover letter for the file, Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares them. Packages range from INR 1,000 for a flight reservation to INR 3,000 for all four. WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or visit our contact page.

### Frequently asked questions

#### Is there a helpline for Japan visa questions in India?
The Embassy of Japan lists a Japan Visa Information Hotline on +91-11-7181-6614, open 24x7 in English only. The Bengaluru consulate answers visa queries by phone only.

#### Can a relative or agent submit my Japan visa application?
The Kolkata checklist allows an agent, relative or representative to submit or collect if you give an authorisation letter. Check your own jurisdiction's checklist, and note that family or friends travelling together must apply together in Bengaluru.

#### Will I get a Japan eVISA after my VFS appointment?
Since 1 April 2024, single-entry tourism visas of up to 90 days can be issued as an eVISA, but the application is still lodged at VFS. 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.

#### How soon can I reapply after a Japan visa refusal?
A new application for the same purpose is not accepted within six months of a refusal, unless circumstances have changed significantly and travel is needed on humanitarian grounds. MOFA does not give the specific reason for a refusal.

## FAQ

### Is there a helpline for Japan visa questions in India?

The Embassy of Japan lists a Japan Visa Information Hotline on +91-11-7181-6614, open 24x7 in English only. The Bengaluru consulate answers visa queries by phone only.

### Can a relative or agent submit my Japan visa application?

The Kolkata checklist allows an agent, relative or representative to submit or collect if you give an authorisation letter. Check your own jurisdiction's checklist, and note that family or friends travelling together must apply together in Bengaluru.

### Will I get a Japan eVISA after my VFS appointment?

Since 1 April 2024, single-entry tourism visas of up to 90 days can be issued as an eVISA, but the application is still lodged at VFS. 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.

### How soon can I reapply after a Japan visa refusal?

A new application for the same purpose is not accepted within six months of a refusal, unless circumstances have changed significantly and travel is needed on humanitarian grounds. MOFA does not give the specific reason for a refusal.

## Sources

1. [VFS Global Japan India - Book an appointment](https://visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/jpn/schedule-an-appointment) — VFS Global
2. [VFS Global Japan India - Prior appointment for Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad and Goa from 19 Oct 2026](https://visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/jpn/news/walk-in-submissions) — VFS Global
3. [Embassy of Japan in India - Visa](https://www.in.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/Visa.html) — Embassy of Japan in India
4. [Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan - Visa FAQ](https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/faq.html) — Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan