Japan Visa News for Indians: 2026 Rule Changes

This roundup draws on notices from the Embassy of Japan in India, the Consulate-General of Japan in Mumbai, VFS Global, the Immigration Services Agency of Japan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. For the full application process and checklists, see our Japan visa guide for Indian passport holders.

What changed in Japan visa rules for Indians in 2026?

Four dated changes affect Indian applicants this year. The table lists them in date order with the office that announced each one.

None of these changes the basic entry rule. MOFA says visas cannot be obtained on arrival in Japan, and India is not among the 74 countries and regions on Japan's visa-exemption list dated 1 September 2025. Every Indian passport holder still needs a visa before flying.

Did the Japan visa fee go up for Indians on 1 July 2026?

No. The Embassy of Japan's visa page sets the fee for Indian nationals at INR 500 for a single or a multiple visa from 1 July 2026. The Consulate-General in Mumbai lists the same INR 500 for 1 July 2026 to 31 March 2027.

The increase applies to other nationals applying in India. They now pay INR 8,650 for a single-entry visa and INR 17,350 for a multiple or double visa, against INR 1750 and INR 3450 before. If a travelling family member holds a non-Indian passport, budget for the higher figure.

Two charges sit on top of the visa fee:

• VFS service fee: INR 800 per application, inclusive of all taxes, non-refundable, and charged even to applicants exempted from the visa fee.
• Optional courier return: INR 550 per application, inclusive of taxes.

The same INR 500 applies to long-term visas with a Certificate of Eligibility (COE), including student and work visas. Japan's fee depends on nationality and type of entry, not on the purpose of the trip.

Is there still a Japan transit visa for Indians?

The Embassy's fee notice says the transit visa is abolished from 1 July 2026. Before that date, the Mumbai Consulate's table for 1 April to 30 June 2026 and the VFS pages for Bengaluru, Chennai and Kolkata listed it at INR 50 for Indian nationals.

One inconsistency remains. On 15 October 2026 the VFS Delhi page still showed a Transit visa type and checklist. If your route includes a stop in Japan, confirm the correct visa category with VFS or the Japan Visa Information Hotline (+91-11-7181-6614, 24x7, English only) before you book.

Why can't you walk in at VFS Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad or Goa any more?

Two changes hit the Mumbai jurisdiction, which covers Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu.

First, from 20 April 2026 the Consulate-General of Japan in Mumbai stopped accepting visa applications directly from applicants. Every application in its area now goes through VFS Global at Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad or Goa.

Second, VFS announced on 15 October 2026 that from 19 October 2026 all Japan visa applications at those four centres must be submitted by prior appointment. Walk-in submissions are no longer accepted.

Other jurisdictions follow their own rules:

• Delhi jurisdiction: the Embassy and VFS say no prior appointment is needed at New Delhi and the other Delhi-jurisdiction centres.
• Chennai jurisdiction: VFS requires an appointment at Chennai, Hyderabad, Puducherry and Cochin.
• Kolkata jurisdiction: appointments are required at Kolkata and Bhubaneswar.
• Bengaluru jurisdiction: appointment required at Bengaluru; VFS lists Mysuru as a centre where no prior appointment is needed.

Processing at the Mumbai-jurisdiction centres is indicative: VFS lists 10 processing days at Mumbai and 12 at Pune, Ahmedabad and Goa. The Embassy in New Delhi gives a minimum of 5 working days.

What changed for Indian engineers and IT professionals?

From 15 April 2026, the Immigration Services Agency of Japan added two requirements for the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services status when the hiring company is a Category 3 or 4 employer:

1. A declaration about the employer's representative.
2. For work that mainly uses language skills, such as translation or hotel front-desk work, proof of CEFR B2-level ability in the working language. JLPT N2 or above counts for Japanese.

The core criteria are unchanged: a related degree, a related course at a Japanese vocational school, or 10 years' practical experience, and pay at least equal to what a Japanese national would receive for the same work. The employer still applies for the COE in Japan, with a standard processing period of 1 to 3 months and no fee.

The Agency also revised its permanent residence guidelines on 24 February 2026. Until 31 March 2027, a 3-year period of stay is treated as the longest period for the applicant's status, which matters for Indians already working in Japan.

How many Japanese visas did Indians receive in 2025?

MOFA's figures, released on 23 June 2026, show 265,882 Japanese visas issued to Indian nationals in calendar year 2025, across all visa types and all Japanese missions worldwide. That made India the 4th-highest nationality, with about 3% of the 7,862,060 visas Japan issued.

MOFA publishes the number of visas issued but no refusal rate for Indian applicants, so this number shows volume, not your odds. After a refusal, MOFA does not give the specific reason, 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.

What should you do differently before applying now?

• Book an appointment if you live in the Mumbai jurisdiction; do not plan on a walk-in from 19 October 2026.
• Apply in your own jurisdiction. Each consulate decides only applications from its residents, and applicants whose passport was issued elsewhere must show address proof.
• Time your submission. The Embassy accepts applications from 3 months before travel; the Chennai and Kolkata VFS pages say not earlier than 89 days.
• Check the travel-booking wording for your city. Mumbai checklists (November 2025) ask for confirmed hotel and flight bookings, while Chennai and Kolkata accept reservations, and Chennai's checklist advises against buying a confirmed ticket before the visa is granted.
• Keep the eVISA rules in mind. Since 1 April 2024 Indians can receive a single-entry tourism eVISA, but the application is still lodged at VFS and the visa issuance notice must be shown on a phone with internet at the airport.

Where a reservation is accepted, a verifiable flight reservation avoids paying for a ticket before the decision.

If you want help with the paperwork, Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, day-by-day itineraries and cover letters for visa files. Packages run from INR 1,000 for a flight reservation to INR 3,000 for a reservation, hotel booking, itinerary and cover letter together. WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or reach us through the contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Can Indians apply for a Japan eVISA fully online in 2026?

No. Since 1 April 2024 Indian nationals can receive a single-entry tourism eVISA for stays of up to 90 days, but the application is still submitted at a VFS Japan Visa Application Centre. Fully online applications on the JAPAN eVISA website are open only to residents of Australia, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Taiwan, the UK and the USA.

Do Indian students and workers pay a higher Japan visa fee than tourists?

No. The Embassy of Japan charges Indian nationals INR 500 for a long-term visa with a Certificate of Eligibility, the same as a tourist visa, plus the INR 800 VFS service charge. The Certificate of Eligibility itself carries no fee.

How soon can I reapply after a Japan visa refusal?

MOFA does not accept a new application for the same purpose within six months of a refusal. The exception is where circumstances have changed significantly and travel is needed on humanitarian grounds. MOFA does not state the specific reason for a refusal.

How long is a single-entry Japan visa valid after it is issued?

MOFA says a single-entry visa is basically valid for three months. You must enter Japan within three months of issue, or apply again.