Japan tourist visa for Indians: requirements, fees and process

Do Indian passport holders need a Japan visa?

Yes. Indian citizens need a Japan tourist visa before travelling to Japan for tourism, to visit family or friends, or for short business meetings. Indian nationals need a sticker visa for Japan, lodged at a VFS Global Japan Visa Application Centre. The visa fee for Indian nationals is a flat INR 500 whether the Embassy grants single or multiple entry, plus the VFS service charge of INR 800 per application. No biometrics are taken; the Embassy decides entries and validity and normally takes about 5 working days after the file reaches it.

The application is made through VFS Global Japan centres in India, where the documents are submitted in person or through an agent; no biometrics are taken. VFS Global Japan operates centres in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Pune, Ahmedabad and Kochi; each serves specific states, and the passport is submitted with the file and returned with the visa sticker.

Japan visa requirements from India: document checklist

Every Japan visa application from India needs the core set below; the second list is what Japan officers look at most closely. Vistolane checks each document against the Japan checklist before anything is submitted.

• Passport valid for at least six months beyond your return date, with two blank pages
• Two recent photographs to the destination's specification
• Completed application form (we fill it with you and check every field)
• Return flight reservation and accommodation for the whole stay
• Bank statements for the last three to six months showing regular income
• Employment letter with approved leave, or business registration if self-employed
• Income-tax returns for the last two to three years
• Travel insurance covering the whole stay (mandatory for Schengen, recommended elsewhere)

Specific to the Japan tourist visa:

• Visa application form, completed and signed
• Photo 45 x 45 mm on a white background, taken within six months
• Schedule of stay: a day-by-day itinerary with hotel names and addresses
• Flight itinerary
• Bank statements for the last six months and income-tax returns for three years
• Employment letter with approved leave, or business registration
• Cover letter explaining the purpose of the trip

Japan visa fees from India

Government fees are paid at the official rate and never marked up; the rupee figure follows the live exchange rate on the day you pay. Pay when you are ready: your account, details and document uploads are open before payment, and the review starts once the payment is in. Only the Vistolane fee is refundable; government fees never are. Fee re-verified against in.emb-japan.go.jp on 2026-11-04.

Japan visa processing time

in.emb-japan.go.jp publishes a processing time of 5–10 working days for the Japan tourist visa. Vistolane quotes 5–12 working days including its own safety buffer and guarantees the date the file is lodged. Appointment availability adds to this in peak season, so the appointment is the first thing we book.

Validity: Single-entry visas allow a stay of up to 90 days; multiple-entry visas valid for one to five years are issued to applicants with sufficient travel history or income.

How to apply for a Japan visa from India with Vistolane

1. Check eligibility. Two minutes online: passport, purpose, dates and funds. You see the Japan tourist visa route, the all-in cost and a guaranteed filing date.
2. Upload documents. Photograph or upload each item on the checklist in the portal. Automated checks flag expired passports, short statements and date mismatches; a specialist then reviews the file.
3. Forms and appointment. We complete the Japan application form with you, pay the government fee at the official rate and book the submission at the earliest available slot.
4. Lodge and track. The file is lodged by the guaranteed date. Every status change appears in your portal and by WhatsApp or e-mail; you can see exactly where the application is at any time.
5. Decision and travel. When the visa is issued we check the details against your passport and itinerary, and tell you what to carry at the border.

Why Japan visas get refused, and how we prevent it

Most Japan refusals for Indian applicants trace back to the file, not the applicant. The patterns below come from refusal letters handled on the platform.

• Schedule of stay that leaves days unaccounted for
• Photo in the wrong size (Japan uses 45 x 45 mm, not 35 x 45)
• Statements that do not show six months of history
• Applying at the wrong VFS centre for your state of residence

A refusal is not a ban. Vistolane reads the refusal letter, fixes the stated reason and re-files with a short cover note, usually within the same week.

Why apply for a Japan visa through Vistolane

• Fixed fee shown before you start; government fees at the official rate, never marked up
• Documents checked against the Japan checklist by software and by a specialist before submission
• Guaranteed filing date: lodged on time or the Vistolane fee is refunded
• Application tracking in one portal, with WhatsApp and e-mail updates at every step
• Licensed partners for work, study, family and settlement routes if your trip is more than a visit

Questions, answered