# Japan Visa FAQs for Indians: 25 Questions Answered > Short, sourced answers to the 25 questions Indians ask most about the Japan visa: fees, eVISA, jurisdiction, documents, processing times, refusals and multiple-entry visas. _Published: 2026-10-23 · Reading time: 6 min · Words: 1443_ ## TL;DR Indians need a Japan visa before travel and apply through VFS Japan Visa Application Centres. The visa fee is INR 500 for a single or multiple visa plus an INR 800 VFS service charge, and processing starts from a minimum of 3 to 6 working days depending on the consulate. ## Key takeaways - No visa-free entry or visa on arrival: India is not on Japan's visa-exemption list (MOFA, 1 September 2025). - Visa fee for Indian nationals: INR 500, single or multiple, from 1 July 2026; VFS adds INR 800 per application. - Indicative processing: minimum 3 working days (Chennai) to 12 processing days (Pune, Ahmedabad, Goa). - After a refusal, a new application for the same purpose is not accepted within six months. - Japan issued 265,882 visas to Indian nationals in 2025, the 4th-highest nationality (MOFA). **According to the Embassy of Japan in New Delhi, Indians must get a Japan visa before travel through a VFS Global centre; there is no visa on arrival. The visa fee is INR 500 for a single or multiple visa from 1 July 2026, plus INR 800 for VFS, and New Delhi processing takes a minimum of 5 working days.** ## Article The 25 answers below come from the Embassy of Japan in India, the Consulates-General in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Bengaluru, VFS Global and Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), as published on the official sources, checked on 2026-10-15. Answers are grouped by stage so you can jump to yours. For the full walkthrough, open our Japan visa page for Indians. ### Can Indians enter Japan without a visa? #### 1. Do Indian passport holders need a visa for Japan? Yes. India is not among the 74 countries and regions with which Japan has visa-exemption arrangements (MOFA list dated 1 September 2025). Every Indian ordinary-passport holder needs a visa issued before travel. #### 2. Can I get a visa on arrival in Japan? No. MOFA says visas are issued only at Japanese embassies and consulates abroad and cannot be obtained on arrival in Japan. #### 3. Is there a Japan eVISA for Indians? Partly. Since 1 April 2024, Indians can receive a single-entry tourism visa for stays of up to 90 days as an eVISA, but you still submit the application at a VFS centre. 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. #### 4. Do I need a transit visa to change planes in Japan? The Embassy's fee notice says the transit visa is abolished from 1 July 2026; it previously cost INR 50. VFS Delhi still shows a transit checklist, so confirm with the Japan Visa Information Hotline (+91-11-7181-6614, 24x7, English only) before you fly. #### 5. I am an Indian living in Dubai. Can I apply in India? 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. ### Where and when should you apply? #### 6. Where do I submit my application? At a VFS Japan Visa Application Centre. The Embassy itself accepts only diplomatic and official visas and humanitarian cases, and the Mumbai Consulate stopped taking applications directly on 20 April 2026. #### 7. Which Japanese office decides my visa? The office covering the state you live in. Each consulate decides only for residents of its jurisdiction: OfficeMain states coveredIndicative processingEmbassy of Japan, New DelhiDelhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, J&K, the North-EastMinimum 5 working daysConsulate-General, MumbaiMaharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, ChhattisgarhMumbai 10, Pune 12, Ahmedabad 12, Goa 12 processing daysConsulate-General, ChennaiTamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, PuducherryMinimum 3 working daysConsulate-General, KolkataWest Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, OdishaMinimum 5 working daysConsulate-General, BengaluruKarnatakaMinimum 6 working days #### 8. Do I need an appointment? It depends on the centre. New Delhi and the other Delhi-jurisdiction centres need no prior appointment. From 19 October 2026, Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad and Goa accept applications only by prior appointment. Chennai, Hyderabad, Puducherry, Cochin, Kolkata, Bhubaneswar and Bengaluru also require one; Mysuru does not. #### 9. How early can I apply? The Embassy accepts applications from 3 months before the travel date. The Chennai and Kolkata VFS pages say not earlier than 89 days before travel. #### 10. My passport was issued in another state. Is that a problem? You must prove you live in the jurisdiction. Bengaluru accepts a rental or lease agreement, sale deed, gas or electricity bill, or Aadhaar; Kolkata accepts Aadhaar, a voter card, a driving licence or a rent agreement. ### How much does a Japan visa cost? #### 11. What is the visa fee for Indians? INR 500 for a single or multiple visa, under the fee table that applies from 1 July 2026. Other nationals pay INR 8,650 single and INR 17,350 multiple. #### 12. What does VFS charge? INR 800 per application, inclusive of all taxes. It is non-refundable and is charged even to applicants exempted from visa fees. #### 13. Is the visa fee refunded if I am refused? VFS says the visa fee is refunded only if the visa is not approved. The INR 800 service charge is not refunded. #### 14. Can VFS courier my passport back? Yes, for INR 550 per application, inclusive of taxes. Applicants using the Delhi Blue Dart collection centres pay a courier demand draft of INR 1050. ### What documents and photo do you need? #### 15. What goes in every file? A passport with more than two blank pages plus any old passports, a copy of the bio-data page, a completed and signed application form and one recent photograph. Copies must be on A4, in checklist order, and documents other than the passport are not returned. #### 16. Which income documents are asked for? It varies by office. Delhi asks for the latest Income Tax Return or a 6-month bank statement. Mumbai asks for the latest ITR and 3 months of bank statements. Chennai asks for 3 years of ITRs and a 3-month statement. Bengaluru asks employees for 2 years of ITR acknowledgements and the latest 3 pay slips. #### 17. Should I buy confirmed flight tickets before applying? Not in every jurisdiction. Chennai highly recommends not buying a confirmed ticket or hotel before the visa is granted, and Kolkata wants a hotel booking only. Mumbai's November 2025 checklists ask for confirmed bookings, so check your office's list. A verifiable flight reservation suits the offices that accept reservations. #### 18. What photo size does Japan want? Delhi, Bengaluru and Kolkata state 45mm x 35mm; Mumbai and Chennai state 2 x 2 inches. The photo must be in colour on a plain white background, not more than 6 months old, with 70%–80% face visibility. #### 19. Is travel insurance mandatory? No. It is not on the VFS or Embassy checklists, but MOFA highly recommends international travel medical insurance for a trip to Japan. ### What happens after you submit? #### 20. How long does processing take? MOFA's standard examination period is five working days from the day after acceptance when there is no problem. Extra documents, an interview or inquiries can stretch it to a couple of weeks or several months. #### 21. How long is a single-entry visa valid? Basically three months. You must enter Japan within three months of issue or apply again. #### 22. If I am refused, when can I reapply? Not within six months for the same purpose, unless circumstances have changed significantly and travel is needed on humanitarian grounds. MOFA does not give the specific reason for a refusal. #### 23. Can I get a multiple-entry visa? Yes, if you fit a category. The Delhi centre lists MULTIPLE 1 to 7, covering for example Indians with Japan travel records, Japan and G7 travel records or sufficient financial capacity. The Embassy may still issue a single-entry visa after assessment. #### 24. How many Indians get Japanese visas? MOFA counted 265,882 visas issued to Indian nationals in calendar year 2025, the 4th-highest nationality and about 3% of the 7,862,060 visas Japan issued. Japan publishes no refusal rate for Indian applicants. #### 25. Is it different for students and workers? Yes. You first need a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) obtained in Japan, usually by your school or employer; the standard processing period is 1 to 3 months and the COE carries no fee. The visa then costs the same INR 500 plus INR 800 at VFS. For tourist files, Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, day-by-day itineraries and cover letters, from INR 1,000 for a flight reservation to INR 3,000 for the full set. WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or reach us here. ### Frequently asked questions #### Can an agent or relative submit my Japan visa application? The Kolkata checklist asks for an authorisation letter if an agent, relative or representative submits or collects the application. Other offices publish their own rules, so check your jurisdiction's VFS page. The decision is always made by the Embassy or Consulate, not by VFS. #### Is there a special Japan tourist visa for Indian students? Yes. The Delhi centre lists a Tourist Visa for Indian University Students and Alumni, and the Mumbai and Kolkata centres list a single-entry short-stay tourism visa for Indian students. The INR 500 fee and INR 800 VFS charge still apply. #### Must my family apply together for a Japan visa? The Bengaluru tourist checklist says family or friends travelling together must apply together. If a dependant travels with you, add proof of relationship such as a marriage or birth certificate, as the Delhi checklist asks. #### Does a Certificate of Eligibility guarantee a Japan visa? No. MOFA states that a COE does not guarantee the visa will be issued. It does make the visa stage faster; applying for a long-term visa without a COE needs many documents and can take several months. ## FAQ ### Can an agent or relative submit my Japan visa application? The Kolkata checklist asks for an authorisation letter if an agent, relative or representative submits or collects the application. Other offices publish their own rules, so check your jurisdiction's VFS page. The decision is always made by the Embassy or Consulate, not by VFS. ### Is there a special Japan tourist visa for Indian students? Yes. The Delhi centre lists a Tourist Visa for Indian University Students and Alumni, and the Mumbai and Kolkata centres list a single-entry short-stay tourism visa for Indian students. The INR 500 fee and INR 800 VFS charge still apply. ### Must my family apply together for a Japan visa? The Bengaluru tourist checklist says family or friends travelling together must apply together. If a dependant travels with you, add proof of relationship such as a marriage or birth certificate, as the Delhi checklist asks. ### Does a Certificate of Eligibility guarantee a Japan visa? No. MOFA states that a COE does not guarantee the visa will be issued. It does make the visa stage faster; applying for a long-term visa without a COE needs many documents and can take several months. ## Sources 1. [Embassy of Japan in India - Visa (fees from 1 July 2026, eVISA, submission through VFS)](https://www.in.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/Visa.html) — Embassy of Japan in India 2. [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 3. [VFS Global — Apply for Visa to Japan in Delhi](https://www.vfsglobal.com/one-pager/japan/india/delhi/index.html) — VFS Global 4. [Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan - Statistics for the number of visas issued in 2025](https://www.mofa.go.jp/files/101048483.pdf) — Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan