Your complete guide to a Japan visa for Indians

Japan has been growing as a holiday destination with great food, fabulous architecture and wonderful landscapes. Here is a quick guide to getting a visa to Japan for Indian passport holders.

Do Indians need a visa for Japan?

Yes. Indian citizens need a visa to visit Japan. VFS Global is the authorized visa service for getting a Japanese visa in India. Since Japan does not offer any Visa-on-Arrival for Indian passport holders, it is recommended to apply well before your planned departure dates.¹

Types of Japanese visas

Japan offers a range of visa categories, including temporary visitor visas for tourism, visiting friends and family, business tours, research, and conferences. Additionally, long-term visas let Indians stay in the country for over 90 days for studying in the country and to work.²

Japan tourist visa for Indians

Japan offers multiple tourist visas to Indian citizens. These visas are valid for a maximum of 90 days. The different types of Japanese tourist visas include:

• Temporary Visitor Visa: without guarantor for sightseeing and tourism only.
• Temporary Visitor Visa with guarantor: for sightseeing and visiting friends or family.
• Business affairs, market research, or conference visa: for short business trips and conferences.
• Multiple Entry Business visa: for multiple business visits to Japan on a single visa document.
• Transit visa: for Indian passport holders transiting Japan en route to other countries
• Multiple entry visa up to 30 days: for travelers with consistent travel to Japan as a temporary visitor in the last three years

In addition, other short-term visas include a medical visa that enables Indian citizens to travel to Japan for medical treatments.³

Japan work visa for Indians

In addition to short-term visas, Japan has various long-term visas allowing Indian citizens to stay in Japan for more than 90 days for different purposes, like studying or employment. However, these long-term visas require the applicants to obtain a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) from the Japanese Embassy or Consulate General in India.⁴

How much does a Japan visa cost?

The Japanese visa fees for Indian nationals vary from one category to the other. On top of the visa fees, applicants must pay a service charge of INR 650 per application to VFS Global. The visa fee is refunded if the Embassy of Japan does not approve the visa.⁵

Visa fees and currency conversion verified on 11 June 2023.

There is a courier fee of INR 550 only for those opting to receive their passports by courier.

Japan visa requirements for Indian citizens

Indian nationals looking to visit Japan must meet the following requirements for a visa:⁶

• Machine Readable Passport or e-passport in compliance with ICAO standards, with more than two blank pages.
• Meet all the eligibility requirements for the chosen visa category.
• A cover letter explaining your trip to Japan.
• Have enough funds in your bank account to pay for your stay in Japan.
• Latest income tax or bank statements.
• Have confirmed return tickets to India - or onward from Japan - after the trip.
• Completed application form, with affixed photographs, and all the supporting documents.⁷

The consulate can ask for additional documents, depending on the visa category:

• Short-term business or employment visa: Certificate of employment or proof of business.
• Visiting relatives: Letters of invitation and proof of relationship, like marriage certificate, birth certificate, or other evidence proving the relationship.
• Tourism: Travel itinerary and hotel bookings.
• With Guarantor: Income details and evidence of citizenship in Japan or valid visa to stay in the country.

How to apply for a Japan visa

Indian nationals must apply for their Japanese visa through VFS Global, the authorized consular service provider for Japanese visas. The Japanese Embassy or Consulate in India will not be accepting visa applications.⁸

Here are the steps to apply for a Japan visa short-term tourist visa:

1. Access the official VFS Global website.
2. Identify the correct visa category and gather your documents.
3. Download the visa application form, print and complete it.
4. Book an appointment with VFS Global.
5. Pay the visa application fee at the time of your appointment.
6. Visit the Visa application center and submit the documents.
7. Track your application by entering the Reference Number present on the receipt issued by the Visa Application Centre.

Upon receiving the visa decision, you must come to the Visa Application Centre to collect your passport, documents, and, hopefully, the visa. Alternatively, you can pay the additional fees for couriering them to your preferred address.

How many days does it take to get a Japan visa from India?

The processing times depend on the workload at the Japanese embassy or consulate and the types of visas you apply for. Generally, it takes between 4 to 10 business days to get a Japanese visa.

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