Japan Visa Requirements for Indian Citizens

Indian citizens need a visa before travelling to Japan. Japan does not issue visas on arrival to Indian passport holders. Most tourists apply for a short-term stay visa, either a sticker visa through VFS Global in India or, where eligible, a single-entry tourist eVisa. This guide covers the two routes, fees, documents, timing and the mistakes that lead to refusals. For a wider look at the rules, see our Japan visa overview.

Sticker visa or eVisa?

• Sticker visa through VFS Global: the standard route for people living in India. You submit your papers at a VFS Japan Visa Application Centre, which processes applications for the Embassy of Japan. Centres operate in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Bengaluru.
• Tourist eVisa: a digital, single-entry visa for tourism. Business Today reports that Indian citizens living in countries such as the US, UK, Singapore, Australia or Saudi Arabia can apply directly through Japan’s official eVisa portal. The embassy says the eVisa system has operated in India since 1 April 2024, but eligibility is set by Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, so check the official eVisa page before you assume you qualify.

Stay and validity

A tourist visa generally allows a stay of up to 90 days. Business Today reports that a tourist visa is valid for three months from the date of issue and cannot be extended, so apply close enough to your travel date that you can use it. Your visa issuance notice or sticker, not the application receipt, is what you show at check-in and at immigration.

Fees

The Embassy of Japan in India lists the visa fee from 1 July 2026 as ₹500 for either a single or a multiple-entry visa, and says the transit visa has been abolished. VFS Global charges a separate service fee, reported by Business Today (24 October 2026) as about ₹800, which makes roughly ₹1,300 per applicant before optional extras such as courier return of your passport. Confirm the VFS amount when you apply, because it can change.

Documents you will usually need

• A passport valid for at least six months from the date of travel, with at least two blank pages.
• The signed application form, with any non-applicable fields marked N/A.
• One recent photograph, 45 mm by 45 mm, on a plain white background.
• Financial proof: recent bank statements stamped by the bank and income tax returns or salary slips.
• Proof of employment or business, such as an employer letter or GST certificate.
• A day-by-day itinerary with hotel names and addresses, confirmed flight bookings and a signed cover letter stating the purpose and dates of your trip.

How to apply

• Choose between the sticker visa and, if eligible, the eVisa.
• Prepare the documents from the latest checklist on the VFS Japan site for your city.
• Submit at your VFS Global centre and pay the fees, or file online for an eVisa. The embassy says no prior appointment is needed for VFS submission, and applications are accepted from three months before the travel date.
• Track the application with your reference number and collect the passport or arrange courier return.

How long it takes

The embassy gives no fixed timeframe and warns that processing times vary and cannot be expedited. Business Today reports a minimum of five to seven working days for a sticker visa once the file reaches the embassy, and four to seven business days for an eVisa. In peak seasons such as cherry-blossom time (March to May) and autumn foliage (October to November), it can take 10 to 15 working days. Apply four to six weeks before you fly.

Common reasons for refusal

• An itinerary that does not match your hotel and flight bookings.
• Bank statements that do not show enough funds for the stay, or that have unexplained deposits.
• Missing signatures, stamps or an old version of the form.
• Weak evidence of employment or other ties to India.

Last verified: 5 November 2026 against the sources linked below. Visa rules change often, so confirm the details on the official link before you book or apply.

Official sources

• Embassy of Japan in India: Visa information
• Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Visas
• VFS Global: Japan visa in India

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