---
title: Japan visa for citizens of India
description: "Citizens of India need a visa for Japan and must apply in person at an embassy or visa centre. Stay up to 90 days. Fee: ₹500 + ₹800 service fee. Processing: 10–14 days. Documents checklist and application steps."
canonical: https://nowah.xyz/visa/japan/india
lastModified: 2026-07-06
---

# Japan visa for citizens of India

Citizens of India need a visa for Japan and must apply in person at an embassy or visa centre.

*Verified · last checked 2026-07-06. Policies change. Confirm with the embassy or official visa portal before you travel.*

Official application site: https://visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/jpn/

## Key facts

- **Entry route:** Embassy / VFS · Temporary Visitor (Tourism) — issued as eVISA via VFS
- **How to apply:** In-person at an embassy or visa center
- **Maximum stay:** Up to 90 days
- **Visa validity:** 90 days
- **Entries:** Single entry
- **Processing time:** 10–14 days
- **Government fee:** ₹500 + ₹800 service fee
- **Biometrics:** Not required
- **Appointment:** Not required
- **Interview:** Not required
- **Onward or return ticket:** Required
- **Proof of funds:** Latest Income Tax Return (ITR); if not available, bank statement of the last 6 months. No official minimum balance is published.

## How to apply

1. **Identify your consular district and VFS centre** — Japan has 5 jurisdictions in India (Embassy New Delhi; Consulates-General Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru). Apply at the VFS Japan Visa Application Centre serving your state of residence.
2. **Download and fill the visa application form** — Print, complete and sign the MOFA visa application form (PDF on the VFS Japan-India site under Tourism Visa → Download Form).
3. **Assemble the document set** — Passport (+old passports), A4 photocopies, photo, flight schedule, day-wise Japan itinerary with hotels, latest ITR (or 6-month bank statement). Documents other than the passport are not returned.
4. **Submit at the VFS centre (walk-in)** — No prior appointment is needed for submission (optional booking available). Apply within 90 days of travel, keeping a minimum 7–10 working-day gap before departure.
5. **Pay fees at the counter** — Visa fee ₹500 (Indian nationals, effective 1 July 2026) + ₹800 VFS service charge per application; optional courier return ₹550. Payment modes vary by centre.
6. **Track your application** — Track online with the reference number on your VFS receipt; you are emailed when the decision returns to the centre. The Embassy cannot expedite.
7. **Collect your passport and receive the eVISA** — Since 1 April 2024 the visa is issued electronically (a "visa issuance notice") instead of a passport sticker. Collect in person (receipt + government ID) or by courier.
8. **Show the visa issuance notice at the airport** — Display the notice LIVE on a phone with an internet connection at check-in and on arrival — PDFs, photos, screenshots and printouts are NOT accepted.

## Documents checklist

- **Valid passport** (Identity): With more than two blank pages; submit old passports too, if any.
- **Photocopy of passport bio-data page** (Identity): First and last page; all photocopies must be on A4 size only.
- **Visa application form** (Identity): Completely filled and signed — official MOFA form, downloadable from the VFS Japan-India site.
- **One photograph (taken within last 6 months)** (Identity): White background, printed on good-quality photo paper. 45×45mm per the MOFA form is the safe spec (VFS India also lists 45×35mm).
- **Flight schedule to and from Japan** (Travel): Onward/return booking itinerary — a confirmed ticket is not explicitly demanded.
- **Day-wise itinerary in Japan** (Travel): Including hotel information and contact information while in Japan.
- **Latest Income Tax Return (ITR)** (Financial, if you pay for the trip yourself): Primary financial proof for self-funded applicants.
- **Bank statement — last 6 months** (Financial, optional, if you pay for the trip yourself): Required only if the latest ITR is not available.
- **Covering letter** (Supporting, optional): Only if any special explanation is needed — Nowah can draft this for you.
- **Consent letter from parents/spouse** (Supporting, optional, if travelling as a dependant): Only if the applicant is a student or dependent.
- **Parents'/spouse's latest ITR or 6-month bank statement** (Financial, optional, if someone else sponsors the trip): Only for students/dependents (sponsor financials).
- **Proof of relationship** (Supporting, optional, if travelling as a dependant): Passport copy, marriage or birth certificate — links you to your sponsor / accompanying dependents.
- **Birth certificate** (Identity, if under 18): For applicants under 18 travelling with a parent or guardian.

## Proof of funds

- **Minimum balance:** No official minimum balance published by the Embassy of Japan or VFS Global
- Latest Income Tax Return (ITR)
- Bank statement of last 6 months (if ITR unavailable)
- Parents'/spouse's ITR or bank statement (students/dependents)

Your own ITR is the primary proof on the tourism-without-guarantor route, with a 6-month bank statement as fallback. Students/dependents add a consent letter plus the sponsor's financials. The Embassy may request more documents or an interview.

## Where to apply

- **Japan Visa Application Centre — New Delhi (VFS Global)** — Shivaji Stadium Metro Station, Concourse Level, Baba Kharak Singh Marg, Connaught Place, New Delhi 110001 (https://visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/jpn/attend-centre/NewDelhi)
- **Japan Visa Application Centre — Mumbai (VFS Global)** — Urmi Axis Building, 3rd Floor, Behind Famous Studio, Opp. E Moses Road, Mahalaxmi (West), Mumbai 400011 (https://visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/jpn/attend-centre/mumbai)
- **Japan Visa Application Centre — Chennai (VFS Global)** — Ramee Mall, 2nd Floor, No. 365, Anna Salai, Teynampet, Chennai 600018 (https://visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/jpn/attend-centre/Chennai)
- **Japan Visa Application Centre — Bengaluru (VFS Global)** — Bengaluru (https://visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/jpn/attend-centre)
- **Japan Visa Application Centre — Kolkata (VFS Global)** — Kolkata (https://visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/jpn/attend-centre)
- **Japan Visa Application Centre — Hyderabad (VFS Global)** — Hyderabad (https://visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/jpn/attend-centre)
- **Japan Visa Application Centre — Cochin (VFS Global)** — Cochin (https://visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/jpn/attend-centre)
- **Japan Visa Application Centre — Puducherry (VFS Global)** — Puducherry (https://visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/jpn/attend-centre)
- **Japan Visa Application Centre — Bhubaneswar (VFS Global)** — Bhubaneswar (https://visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/jpn/attend-centre)
- **Japan Visa Application Centre — Ahmedabad (VFS Global)** — Ahmedabad (https://visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/jpn/attend-centre)
- **Japan Visa Application Centre — Pune (VFS Global)** — Pune (https://visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/jpn/attend-centre)
- **Japan Visa Application Centre — Gurugram (VFS Global)** — Gurugram (https://visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/jpn/attend-centre)
- **Japan Visa Application Centre — Chandigarh (VFS Global)** — Chandigarh (https://visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/jpn/attend-centre)
- **Japan Visa Application Centre — Goa (VFS Global)** — Goa (https://visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/jpn/attend-centre)
- **Japan Visa Application Centre — Lucknow (VFS Global)** — Lucknow (https://visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/jpn/attend-centre)

## Good to know

- There is no visa on arrival in Japan for Indian nationals, and direct online application on evisa.mofa.go.jp is NOT available to residents of India — submission is in person at a VFS centre even though the visa is issued electronically.
- The eVISA "visa issuance notice" must be displayed live on a phone with an internet connection at the airport — PDFs, photos, screenshots and printouts are explicitly not accepted.
- The stay granted for a Temporary Visitor visa is at the Embassy's discretion (commonly 15, 30 or 90 days) — check the stay period on your issuance notice.
- Keep a minimum 7–10 working-day gap between submission and travel; processing can stretch with volume and cannot be expedited or prioritized.
- Documents other than the passport are not returned, and the Embassy may summon you for an interview or request additional documents.
- Only the visa fee and VFS service charge are payable — the Embassy never demands extra payments by phone/email; beware of look-alike "eVisa" websites.

## Common refusal reasons

- **Incomplete or incorrectly filled application / missing checklist documents** — Follow the official VFS "Tourism without guarantor" checklist exactly; all photocopies on A4; sign the form; re-check every field before submission.
- **Weak financial evidence** — Submit your latest ITR; if unavailable, a 6-month bank statement with a consistent balance covering flights, hotels and daily expenses.
- **Vague or inconsistent travel plan** — Provide a day-wise Japan itinerary with hotel bookings and in-Japan contact details that matches your flight schedule.
- **Discrepancies between the form and supporting documents** — Ensure names, dates, employer and travel dates match across the form, passport, ITR and bookings; add a covering letter for anything needing explanation.
- **Applying too close to departure** — Apply up to 90 days before travel and keep at least a 7–10 working-day gap before departure.
- **Previous overstay or immigration violations in Japan** — Declare travel history truthfully; attach an explanatory covering letter for any adverse history rather than concealing it.

## FAQs

### Do citizens of India need a visa for Japan?

Citizens of India need a visa for Japan and must apply in person at an embassy or visa centre. Visa type: Temporary Visitor (Tourism) — issued as eVISA via VFS.

### How long can citizens of India stay in Japan?

Up to 90 days.

### How much does the Japan visa cost for citizens of India?

Government fee: ₹500 + ₹800 service fee.

### How long does Japan visa processing take?

Typically 10–14 days.

### What documents do citizens of India need for Japan?

Valid passport; Photocopy of passport bio-data page; Visa application form; One photograph (taken within last 6 months); Flight schedule to and from Japan; Day-wise itinerary in Japan; and 7 more depending on your situation.

### Where do I apply?

On the official site: https://visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/jpn/

## Sources

- [The JAPAN eVISA system — MOFA (direct filing limited to 9 countries, May 2026)](https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/visaonline.html)
- [Visa — Embassy of Japan in India (fees effective 1 July 2026, VFS submission)](https://www.in.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/Visa.html)
- [The JAPAN eVISA system — Embassy of Japan in India (eVISA via VFS since 1 Apr 2024)](https://www.in.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_ja/11_000001_01148.html)
- [Apply for a visa — VFS Global Japan VAC, India](https://visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/jpn/apply-visa)
- VFS Japan VAC — Tourism without Guarantor checklist (official PDF) (assets.ctfassets.net, third-party site)
- [Attend a centre — VFS Global Japan, India](https://visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/jpn/attend-centre)
- [visa.vfsglobal.com](https://visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/jpn/)

## More

- [Japan visa for every passport](/visa/japan)
- [Every destination for India passport holders](/visa/passport/india)