Japan Visa Walk-In at VFS: Which Indian Centres Still Accept It

All Japan visa applications from India go through VFS Japan Visa Application Centres, which pass them to the Embassy in New Delhi or the Consulates-General in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Bengaluru. Whether you can simply turn up depends on which of those five missions covers your state. The details below are as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. For documents and visa types, see our Japan visa hub for Indian applicants.

Which Japan VFS centres take walk-ins right now?

VFS keeps the current split on its Japan appointment page, which lists the appointment-only centres and treats the rest as walk-in.

What changed at Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad and Goa?

Two things, six months apart. On 20 April 2026 the Consulate-General of Japan in Mumbai stopped accepting visa applications directly from applicants, so every file in its jurisdiction now goes through VFS. Then on 15 October 2026 VFS announced that, on the Consulate's instructions, all applications at Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad and Goa must be submitted by prior appointment from 19 October 2026, with no walk-ins (VFS notice).

VFS lists indicative processing of 10 processing days at Mumbai and 12 at Pune, Ahmedabad and Goa, although the Consulate's own page mentions a minimum of 5 working days. Book with that window in mind.

Can you walk in at Delhi if you live in Mumbai or Bengaluru?

No. Each Japanese mission in India decides applications only from residents of its own jurisdiction:

• Embassy, New Delhi: Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Assam and the other north-eastern states, Sikkim, Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep.
• Mumbai: Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu.
• Chennai: Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala and Puducherry.
• Kolkata: West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar and Odisha.
• Bengaluru: Karnataka.

If your passport was issued in another state, bring proof of where you live now. 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. Indians living abroad apply to the Japanese mission in their country of residence, not in India.

What do you pay at a walk-in centre?

Indian nationals pay a visa fee of INR 500 for a single or multiple visa under the fees applying from 1 July 2026, plus a VFS service charge of INR 800 per application. At New Delhi you can pay in INR by cash or card. The Gurugram, Chandigarh and Lucknow drop-off offices need separate demand drafts in favour of 'VFS Global Services Pvt. Ltd.' Courier return is optional at INR 550. VFS says the visa fee is refunded only if the visa is not approved; the service charge is non-refundable.

What should you carry when you walk in?

• Passport with more than two blank pages, plus any old passports.
• Copy of the bio-data page (first and last page).
• Completed and signed application form.
• One photo, 45mm x 35mm, white background, taken within 6 months.
• For a Delhi tourist file: flight schedule to and from Japan, itinerary with hotel and contact details, and your latest ITR (or 6 months of bank statements if no ITR).
• All photocopies on A4 paper, arranged in the order of the checklist.

Walking in does not mean a shorter list. A missing document means another trip, so print the checklist for your visa type first.

When can you submit, and how long does it take?

The Embassy accepts short-term applications from 3 months before your travel date; the Chennai and Kolkata VFS pages say not earlier than 89 days. Indicative processing is a minimum of 5 working days at the Embassy, 6 at Bengaluru (which covers Mysuru), 5 at Kolkata and 3 at Chennai. MOFA's standard examination period is five working days from the day after acceptance when there is no problem. A single-entry visa is basically valid for three months from issue.

Mistakes to avoid before you head to a centre

• Turning up at Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad or Goa without a booking on or after 19 October 2026.
• Walking into a centre outside your jurisdiction; the file will not be decided there.
• Using a 2 x 2 inch photo at a Delhi-jurisdiction centre, or a 45mm x 35mm photo where Mumbai and Chennai ask for 2 x 2 inch.
• Buying confirmed flights and hotels first. Chennai VFS strongly recommends a reservation instead, and Kolkata asks for a hotel booking that is not confirmed; a verifiable itinerary and reservation covers this.
• Reapplying straight after a refusal; MOFA does not accept a new application for the same purpose within six months unless circumstances change significantly.

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

Frequently asked questions

Does the Embassy of Japan in New Delhi accept visa applications at its own counter?

Only diplomatic and official visas and humanitarian cases. All other applicants in the Embassy's jurisdiction apply through VFS, where no prior appointment is needed at New Delhi and the other Delhi-jurisdiction centres.

Is there a helpline for Japan visa questions from Delhi-jurisdiction applicants?

Yes. The Embassy lists the Japan Visa Information Hotline on +91-11-7181-6614, which runs 24x7 in English only. Bengaluru's Consulate answers visa queries by phone only.

Can a relative or agent submit my Japan visa file at VFS?

The Kolkata checklist asks for an authorisation letter if an agent, relative or representative submits or collects the application. Check the checklist for your own centre, because requirements differ by jurisdiction.

Can Indians apply for a Japan eVISA without going to VFS?

No. Since 1 April 2024 Indians can receive a single-entry tourism eVISA, but the application is still submitted at a VFS Japan centre. The fully online JAPAN eVISA website is open only to residents of a short list of other countries.