# Japan Visa from India 2026: Complete Step-by-Step Guide

> Seven steps to a Japan visa from India in 2026: picking the right consulate, centre-wise documents, the INR 500 fee, processing times and this year's rule changes.

_Published: 2026-10-17 · Reading time: 6 min · Words: 1287_

## TL;DR

Indians cannot get a Japanese visa on arrival or travel visa-free; every application goes through a VFS Japan centre linked to the Embassy in New Delhi or one of four consulates. The visa fee for Indian nationals is INR 500 plus an INR 800 VFS charge, and indicative processing starts at a minimum of 3 to 6 working days depending on the centre.

## Key takeaways

- India is not on Japan's visa-exemption list and there is no visa on arrival; apply before travel.
- Indian nationals pay INR 500 for a single or multiple visa from 1 July 2026, plus an INR 800 VFS service charge.
- Five Japanese missions split India by state; you must apply in the jurisdiction where you live.
- Single-entry tourism eVISAs are issued to Indians, but the application is still lodged at VFS.
- From 19 October 2026, Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad and Goa centres accept applications by prior appointment only.

**According to the Embassy of Japan in India, Indian citizens apply through a VFS Japan Visa Application Centre for their state, which forwards the file to the Embassy in New Delhi or the consulate. Indian nationals pay a visa fee of INR 500 plus an INR 800 VFS charge, and the Embassy takes a minimum of 5 working days.**

## Article

This walkthrough uses the rules as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. Visa categories, multiple-entry options and long-stay routes are summarised on our Japan visa page for Indian citizens.

### Do Indians need a visa for Japan, or is there an eVISA?
Yes, you need a visa. Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) says visas are issued only at Japanese embassies and consulates abroad and cannot be obtained on arrival. India is not among the 74 countries and regions with which Japan has visa-exemption arrangements (MOFA list dated 1 September 2025).

Japan does issue eVISAs to Indians, with limits. Since 1 April 2024, Indian nationals and foreign residents of India can receive a single-entry tourism visa (stay up to 90 days) as an eVISA. You still submit the application at a VFS Japan centre. At the airport you must show the 'visa issuance notice' on a mobile device with internet access; a PDF, screenshot, photo or printout is not accepted. A fully online application on the JAPAN eVISA website is open only to residents of nine listed countries and regions, and India is not one of them.

### Which Japanese office handles your state?
Each mission decides applications only from residents of its jurisdiction. If your passport was issued in another state, add address proof.

MissionStates and UTs coveredVFS centresAppointmentEmbassy of Japan, New DelhiDelhi, Haryana, Punjab, Chandigarh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, the north-eastern states, Sikkim, Andaman & Nicobar, LakshadweepNew Delhi; drop-off at Gurugram, Chandigarh, Lucknow; Blue Dart collection pointsNot neededConsulate-General, MumbaiMaharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & DiuMumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, GoaRequired from 19 October 2026Consulate-General, ChennaiTamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, PuducherryChennai, Hyderabad, Puducherry, CochinRequiredConsulate-General, KolkataWest Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, OdishaKolkata, BhubaneswarRequiredConsulate-General, BengaluruKarnatakaBengaluru; MysuruBengaluru required; Mysuru not neededIndians living abroad apply to the Japanese embassy or consulate for their country of residence, not to a mission in India.

### How do you apply for a Japan visa, step by step?
- Choose the category. Most holidaymakers use 'Tourism (without guarantor)'. Other categories include visiting relatives or friends, short-term business, medical stay and seven MULTIPLE categories for frequent or well-documented travellers.
- Confirm your jurisdiction. Use the table above. Residents of Karnataka, for example, cannot file in Delhi.
- Download your centre's checklist. Arrange documents in checklist order, with all photocopies on A4 paper.
- Book or walk in. Delhi-jurisdiction centres and Mysuru take walk-ins; the others need a prior appointment.
- Submit within the window. The Embassy accepts short-term applications from 3 months before travel; the Chennai and Kolkata VFS pages say not earlier than 89 days. Pay INR 500 plus the INR 800 VFS charge.
- Wait for the decision. The Embassy may ask for an interview or more documents.
- Collect and travel. MOFA says a single-entry visa is basically valid for three months from issue, so enter Japan within that period.

### What goes into a tourist visa file?
Every applicant needs a passport with more than two blank pages (plus old passports), a copy of the first and last pages, a signed application form and one photograph taken within 6 months. The Delhi tourism checklist adds a flight or cruise schedule, an itinerary in Japan with hotel and contact details, and your latest Income Tax Return (or a 6-month bank statement if no ITR is available).

Consulates differ on two points that trip up applicants: how much income proof they want, and whether bookings must be confirmed.

JurisdictionIncome proofFlight and hotelDelhi (Embassy)Latest ITR, or 6-month bank statementFlight/cruise schedule and itinerary with hotel detailsMumbai (CL-01)Latest ITR and 3-month personal bank statementConfirmed hotel and flight bookingChennaiLast 3 years ITR and latest 3-month bank statementReservation accepted; buying confirmed tickets before the visa is not recommendedKolkata3 years ITR and 6-month bank statementHotel reservation, booking only, not confirmedBengaluru3-month salary statement, 2 years ITR acknowledgements, 3 pay slipsAccommodation blocked in your name; flight scheduleEmployees in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Bengaluru jurisdictions should also attach an NOC or leave approval from the employer. Mumbai additionally asks for your travel history in the last 2 years to Australia, Canada, Europe, the USA and Japan. Travel insurance is not on the checklists, but MOFA highly recommends international travel medical insurance. Our reservation and itinerary bundle covers the booking documents most centres ask for.

### How much does it cost and how long does it take?
From 1 July 2026, the Embassy of Japan charges Indian nationals INR 500 for a single or multiple visa. VFS adds a service charge of INR 800 per application, inclusive of taxes and non-refundable. Optional courier return costs INR 550.

Indicative processing after submission, as published by the Embassy and VFS:

- Embassy of Japan, New Delhi: minimum 5 working days
- Mumbai: 10 processing days; Pune, Ahmedabad and Goa: 12 processing days
- Chennai: minimum 3 working days
- Kolkata: minimum 5 working days
- Bengaluru: minimum 6 working days
MOFA adds that extra documents, an interview or inquiries can stretch this to a couple of weeks or several months.

### What changed for Japan visas in 2026?
- 20 April 2026: the Consulate-General of Japan in Mumbai stopped accepting applications directly; everything in its jurisdiction now goes through VFS Global.
- 1 July 2026: a new fee table took effect. Indians still pay INR 500, but the transit visa (previously INR 50) was abolished. Other nationals now pay INR 8,650 single and INR 17,350 multiple or double (Embassy of Japan notice).
- 19 October 2026: VFS Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad and Goa accept applications by prior appointment only, on the Consulate's instructions.

### What if you are refused, or travel to Japan often?
MOFA does not give the specific reason for a refusal. A new application for the same purpose is not accepted within six months of the refusal, unless circumstances have changed significantly and travel is needed on humanitarian grounds.

Frequent travellers can apply for a multiple-entry visa at the same INR 500 fee. The Delhi categories include MULTIPLE 1 (two or more Japan trips in the last three years), MULTIPLE 3 (Japan and G7 travel records) and MULTIPLE 4 (sufficient financial capacity, with your latest ITR). The Embassy may still issue a single-entry visa after assessment.

Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, day-by-day itineraries and cover letters for Japan visa files. Packages range from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter). Contact us on WhatsApp at +91 95230 91018 or via the contact page.

### Frequently asked questions

#### Can Indians get a Japan visa on arrival?
No. MOFA says Japanese visas are issued only at embassies and consulates abroad and cannot be obtained on arrival. Indian passport holders must get a visa sticker or eVISA through a VFS Japan centre before travelling.

#### Can I show a printout of my Japan eVISA at the airport?
No. The visa issuance notice must be shown on a mobile device with an internet connection. MOFA states that a PDF, screenshot, photo or printout is not accepted.

#### Is travel insurance mandatory for a Japan tourist visa from India?
It is not listed as a required document on the VFS or Embassy checklists. MOFA highly recommends buying international travel medical insurance, and the Embassy and Mumbai Consulate advise preparing it.

#### Do I still need a Japan transit visa?
The Embassy of Japan's fee notice says the transit visa was abolished from 1 July 2026. VFS Delhi still shows a Transit visa type and checklist, so confirm with your centre before you travel.

## Steps

1. **Choose the visa category** — Pick the category that matches your trip, such as Tourism (without guarantor), visiting relatives or friends, short-term business or a MULTIPLE category.
2. **Confirm your jurisdiction** — Find the Japanese mission that covers the state where you live: the Embassy in New Delhi or the Consulates-General in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata or Bengaluru.
3. **Prepare documents in checklist order** — Download your centre's checklist, arrange documents in that order and make all photocopies on A4 paper. Add address proof if your passport was issued in another state.
4. **Book an appointment or walk in** — Delhi-jurisdiction centres and Mysuru take walk-ins. Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad and Goa need a prior appointment from 19 October 2026, as do the Chennai, Kolkata and Bengaluru jurisdiction centres.
5. **Submit and pay** — Submit from 3 months before travel (Chennai and Kolkata pages say not earlier than 89 days). Pay the INR 500 visa fee and the INR 800 VFS service charge.
6. **Wait for the decision** — Indicative times start at a minimum of 3 to 6 working days, or 10 to 12 processing days in the Mumbai jurisdiction. Extra documents or an interview can add weeks.
7. **Collect the visa and travel** — Collect your passport or eVISA notice and enter Japan within three months of issue for a single-entry visa.

## FAQ

### Can Indians get a Japan visa on arrival?

No. MOFA says Japanese visas are issued only at embassies and consulates abroad and cannot be obtained on arrival. Indian passport holders must get a visa sticker or eVISA through a VFS Japan centre before travelling.

### Can I show a printout of my Japan eVISA at the airport?

No. The visa issuance notice must be shown on a mobile device with an internet connection. MOFA states that a PDF, screenshot, photo or printout is not accepted.

### Is travel insurance mandatory for a Japan tourist visa from India?

It is not listed as a required document on the VFS or Embassy checklists. MOFA highly recommends buying international travel medical insurance, and the Embassy and Mumbai Consulate advise preparing it.

### Do I still need a Japan transit visa?

The Embassy of Japan's fee notice says the transit visa was abolished from 1 July 2026. VFS Delhi still shows a Transit visa type and checklist, so confirm with your centre before you travel.

## Sources

1. [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. [Visa FAQ (processing, refusals, six-month reapplication rule, validity)](https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/faq.html) — Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
3. [Apply for Visa to Japan in Delhi](https://www.vfsglobal.com/one-pager/japan/india/delhi/index.html) — VFS Global
4. [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