Japan Tourist Visa for Indians

The application fee that is required to be paid by Indian nationals in order to avail a Japan tourist visa is Rs.450 for both single and multiple entries for the period between 1 April 2025, and March 31, 2026. However, if you apply through travel agencies, a service charge would also need to be paid. In case you apply through VFS Global, a service charge of Rs.800 which is inclusive of Goods and Services Tax (GST) (9% - SGST and 9% - CGST).

Note: Cox and Kings Global services no longer handles Japan visa processing. All the applications are now managed through VFS Global or the Japanese Embassy/ Consulate.  

About VFS Global 

VFS Global is an authorised service partner of the Embassy of Japan that manages Visa Application Centres. Applicants submit their visa application and other required documents at these centres, along with access to services that make the process quicker and more convenient. 

Japan Tourist Visa Requirements

To Apply for a Japan Tourist Visa, an applicant needs to submit the following documents if it is a self-arranged visit:
General Documents (Required for Everyone): 

1. A valid Indian Passport: An applicant should have a valid Indian passport with at least two blank pages, valid for at least six months beyond the intended period of stay in Japan. 
2. Visa application form: An applicant should submit the duly filled, signed, and dated visa application form. You will need to include a copy of your visa for any third country if you are traveling there after Japan.

1. Photographs: One recent photo with a white background and matte finish.  

1. For Bengaluru applicants: Size must be 45mm x 35mm with 80% face coverage. 

1. Other regions: Standard size is often 2x2 inches or 45mm x 35mm. 
2. Original Cover Letter: It needs to be signed by the applicant, and it should include travel dates, details of all accompanying persons, and a clear “expenses clause” detailing who is paying for the trip. 
3. Return or onwards Journey Tickets: A return ticket is needed to be presented which acts as a proof that an applicant will leave Japan within a given date. A confirmed ticket is not mandatory at the application stage, but a verified flight itinerary is required. 
4. Itinerary: A copy of your day-to-day schedule in Japan. If travelling with others, provide copies of their passport, tickets, and visa.
5. Flight Itinerary: You also need to show your return travel ticket and proof of hotel bookings or accommodation for the entire duration of your stay.

Category-Specific Requirements

 These are some listed categories to ensure carrying of additional documents you must submit: 

Note: While the basic documents are the same for everyone, you must provide additional “Proof of Occupation” based on your current professional status to strengthen your application. 

Financial Proof

1. Bank Statements: Latest 3 to 6 months of statements, stamped and signed by the bank. 

1. Income Tax Returns (ITR): ITR-V Acknowledgement for the last 2 years will be needed. Some consulates like Kolkata or Chennai may still request 3 years. 

1. Special Cases: If you are divorced, a divorce decree is required. 

Important Note on Consulates

Different Japanese Consulates in India (Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi, etc.) have slightly different document preferences. Always verify the latest requirements on the official VFS Global website or the specific Consulate’s website for your region before visiting the centre. 

Photo Requirements for Japan Tourist Visa

The photo that is affixed on the visa application form must fulfil the points mentioned below:

1. The size of the photograph must be 45mm x 45mm (2 inches x 2 inches) with white background.
2. The photo should be in colour. Black and white photographs are not accepted.
3. The photograph should be easily identifiable.
4. The photo must be clicked within six months before filing the application.
5. The photo should be clear and the applicant must not be wearing any headgear except for religious purposes, provided the face is fully visible from chin to forehead.

1. Do not wear eyeglasses 
2. You should have a neutral facial expression 
3. The photograph should be of high quality, non under or over exposure, no editing, no blurriness, and no glare

How to Apply for Japan Tourist Visa

In order to apply for a Japan tourist visa, the applicant is required to visit the Japan Embassy or the Consulate-Generals. After visiting the Embassy or the Consulate-General, he/she is required to follow the steps mentioned below:

Check Your Eligibility 

An applicant should be an Indian citizen who holds a valid Indian passport in order to apply for a Japanese visa. As of 1 April 2024, Indian residents are also eligible for the Japan eVisa system for single entry tourism stay of up to 90 days, provided they travel by air.

Gather All the Documents Required 

You must gather all the necessary paperwork relevant to your intended purpose of trip before applying for a visa. Depending on the type of visa and your purpose for travel, other documents could be needed. Also have your day-to-day itinerary and proof of funds, as these are critical for the new electronic processing.

Book Your Visa Appointment 

You cannot for visa directly through the Japanese embassy. The embassy only issues official and diplomatic visas. This means you should apply for visa by visiting visa application centre like VFS. 

If you are applying through VFS global, you need to book for your visa submission. The visa appointment can be booked on the VFS website. 

You will be informed of the precise time and date for application submission. You will get an email confirming your appointment, which you should print off and bring with you to your visa appointment. 

Ensure that you follow the steps mentioned the website of VFS to start your application process. You will get a proper guidance on how to submit your documents. 

Pay the Visa Fee 

Once you have the required documents and booked the visa appointment, you need to make the payment of the visa fee. Payment can be made in cash or via UPI/Card at the VFS centre at the time of submission. Once the payment is done, your visa application will be finalized. Make sure to take the print out of the visa fee payment receipt for future reference. 

Submit Your Application 

To submit your application, you must visit the visa application center on the given date with all the required documents. You need to carry your printed appointment confirmation letter issues by VFS and visa fee payment receipt. Even for the eVisa, Indian applicants need to be physically present at the VFS centre to submit their documents.

Collect Your Passport with Visa Stamp 

Once the visa application submission is done, it will take around five to seven working days for processing. Finally, according to the method you used, you can either pick up your passport at the Consulate or VFS, or you will get it mailed to you.

Once the steps mentioned above are successfully completed, the visa application will be processed by the authorities. On issuance of eVisa, you will get a “Visa Issuance Notice” via email which you must display on your mobile device upon arrival in Japan; printed copies or screenshots are not accepted.

Japan Tourist Visa Application Form

The visa application form that applicants need to fill up and submit to the authorities can be downloaded from the official website of the Embassy of Japan in India. The detailed process that needs to be followed to download the application form from the website is mentioned below:

1. Visit www.in.emb-japan.go.jp
2. Next, click on the 'Visa' tab.
3. Following that click on the link that read 'Japanese Visa'.
4. In doing so, you are redirected to a new page.
5. There, you need to click on 'Visa Application Form' to download the form.

Arrival Procedure in Japan for Tourist Visa Holders

Once you arrive at the immigration check points, the officers will go through all your documents for verification and validate your visa.  To speed up this process, it is highly recommended to sue the “Visit Japan Web” service to pre-register your immigration and customs information online and obtain a QR code before you land. Apart from this, they will also check your passport and question you about the reason and duration of your stay in Japan. Given below are the documents which you need to show at the check points: 

1. Japan visa 
2. Passport 
3. Itinerary 
4. Return Flight Ticket 
5. Proof of financial stability 

Once you get approval at the checkpoints, you can proceed to the next checkpoints.

Validity of the Japan Visa 

The Japanese tourist visa for Indians is mainly valid for three months from date of issuance which allow the applicant to stay up to 90 days. However, most single-entry tourist visas are granted for a stay of 15 or 30 days depending on the itinerary provided. A multiple-entry visa is valid for one, three, or five years while a single-entry visa is only eligible for three months. Indian nationals with sufficient financial capacity or a history of travel to G7 countries may be eligible for a 5-year multiple-entry visa. A multiple-entry visa is valid for five years while a single-entry visa is only eligible for three months. 

Japan Tourist Visa Processing Time

As per the Japan Embassy, the time taken for processing a Japan tourist visa application is one day, which is excluding the date of submission of the application form to the authorities. 

In case, the visa application is submitted to travel agencies like VFS Global, the time taken to process the application varies between three to seven days. 

List of Japanese Embassies and Consulates in India

Here are the Embassy and Consulate-General of Japan offices through which Indian nationals can apply for the Japan Tourist visa. The list contains the addresses, jurisdiction, contact numbers, email IDs and timings.

Note: Do check the official holiday list of the respective Embassy or Consulate before planning to visit as they remain closed on both Indian and Japanese public holidays.