Japan visa for Indians: requirements, fees, how to apply

The rule for Indian passports

What the Japanese foreign ministry publishes for nationals of India.

Short-stay visa: Needed
Standard processing: 5 working days
Visa fee: 500 INR
eVISA where you live: Through an agency
Japanese missions: 5

Visa for a short stay: Required before travel
Visa on arrival: Not available
Standard processing: 5 working days after the application is received
Single-entry visa: Valid for 3 months, for one entry
Visa fee from 1 July 2026: 500 INR for Indian nationals (Embassy of Japan in India)
JAPAN eVISA: Through an accredited agency
List last revised: 1 September 2025

The official wording

MOFA
Visas are issued in the Japanese embassy or consulate. Visas cannot be obtained at the port of entry in Japan.
Visas and Landing Permission

MOFA
Based on the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, in principle a foreign national wishing to enter Japan is required to have a valid passport issued by the government of their own country with a visa issued by the head of the embassy or consulate-general of Japan.
Visas and Landing Permission

Other passports from Asia

Short-stay visa rules for passports from Asia (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, exemption list revised 1 September 2025)

Passport	Short-stay visa	Visa-free stay
China	Needed	No visa-free stay
Hong Kong	Not needed	90 days
India	Needed	No visa-free stay
South Korea	Not needed	90 days
Taiwan	Not needed	90 days
Thailand	Not needed	15 days

How to apply in India

The steps the foreign ministry sets out, with what the mission in India adds.

Step 1: Prepare the documents. If someone in Japan invites or guarantees you, they send their documents to you, not to the embassy.
Step 2: Apply at the Japanese embassy or consulate for the place you live, at an accredited agency, at a Japan Visa Application Centre or online, whichever that mission specifies.
Step 3: Wait for the examination. The standard time is 5 working days from the day after the application is received. It can take more than a month if the case is referred to Tokyo.
Step 4: Collect the result. The visa fee is paid only if a visa is issued.
Step 5: Enter Japan within 3 months. A single-entry visa is valid for three months and for one entry.

What the Embassy of Japan in India says

Embassy of Japan in India
Submit your application through VFS. … (No prior appointment is needed.)
Visa

Embassy of Japan in India
Applications can be accepted from 3 months prior to the travel date.
Visa

Embassy of Japan in India
Due to increase volume of applications, processing times of Japanese visa can vary significantly. … Visa process cannot be expedited or prioritized according to the schedule of applicants.
Visa

Embassy of Japan in India
*Transit visa is abolished.
Visa

Embassy of Japan in India
*VFS Service Fee will be also charged.
Visa

MOFA
Once all the documents are ready, you may apply for a visa at the consular section of the Diplomatic Mission of Japan with jurisdiction over your place of residence, at an accredited agency, the Japan Visa Application Centre, or online, by the method specified by the Diplomatic Mission of Japan where you will submit your application
VISA

If an application is refused, the same purpose cannot be applied for again within six months.

Documents for a tourist visa

From the foreign ministry's checklist for a single-entry short-term visa (April 2025).

Valid passport
Visa application form, 1 copy
Photo, 1 (the ministry's form marks the photo space as 45 mm × 35 mm)
Flight itinerary with the flight or ship number and the dates of arrival and departure
Proof you can pay for the trip: an income certificate or tax return from a public agency, or a bank statement or balance certificate
Itinerary in Japan

Documents must have been issued within the last three months. The mission can ask for more on a case-by-case basis.

Visa fee

Fees changed on 1 July 2026.

For applications accepted on or after 1 July 2026, the fee is about 15,000 yen for a single-entry visa and about 30,000 yen for a multiple-entry visa, converted and paid in the local currency. Depending on purpose and nationality, the fee can be waived or different. No fee is charged if the visa is not issued. An agency adds its own handling fee.

MOFA
For visa applications accepted at overseas diplomatic missions on or after that date, the fee, converted into Japanese yen, will be approximately 15,000 yen for a single-entry visa and approximately 30,000 yen for a multiple-entry visa.
Visa Fees

MOFA
Depending on the purpose of your visit and your nationality, fees may not be required or the amount may differ.
Visa Fees

Visa fees published by the Embassy of Japan in India (checked 5 October 2026)

Visa	Who	Fee	From
Single entry	Indian nationals	500 INR Source	1 July 2026
Single entry	Other nationals	8,650 INR Source	1 July 2026
Multiple entry	Indian nationals	500 INR Source	1 July 2026
Multiple entry	Other nationals	17,350 INR Source	1 July 2026

Japan visa fees by countryWhat each embassy charges

JAPAN eVISA in India

In India the JAPAN eVISA is applied for through an accredited agency, not directly on the website. It covers a single-entry short-term visa for tourism, up to 90 days.

MOFA
All foreign nationals/people residing in Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Macau, Mongolia, the Republic of Korea (except jurisdiction over the Consulate General of Japan in Jeju), Singapore and United Arab Emirates, except those who are exempt from short-term visa
The JAPAN eVISA system (electronic visa)

At check-in you show the visa issuance notice live on your phone. A PDF, a screenshot or a printout is not accepted.
Visiting relatives or friends, business and transit are not covered: those applications are made on paper.

Embassy of Japan in India
eVISA starts in India from 1 April 2024.
Visa

JAPAN eVISA: who can apply onlineBy country of residence

Working, studying or staying longer

The short-term visa covers short stays only.

Paid work is outside a short stay. To work for pay, or to stay more than 90 days, you need a visa. The foreign ministry says to obtain a Certificate of Eligibility from the Immigration Services Agency first, in principle.

At the airport in Japan

The same steps apply to every foreign visitor.

On arrival you complete the Disembarkation Card for Foreigner (online through Visit Japan Web, or on paper), give your fingerprints and a facial photograph, and an immigration officer decides whether you can land.

JESTA, Japan's travel authorisation

JESTA is the electronic travel authorisation Japan is creating for visa-exempt visitors, starting no later than 31 March 2029. The law bars entry to foreign nationals who have neither a JESTA authorisation nor a visa; Indians need a visa in any case.

JESTA: what is decided so farDates, who it covers, what is not yet set

India and Japan in numbers

315,062 visitors from India came to Japan in 2025, 17th among the markets JNTO counts separately. That was up 35.2% on 2024.

Japan issued 265,882 visas to Indian nationals in 2025, 3% of all visas issued and number 4 by nationality.

Japanese embassy and consulates in India

The missions the foreign ministry lists for India. The rules on this page can change, so confirm with the mission before you book.

This page is compiled from the official pages below and was last checked on 5 October 2026. It is not legal advice. The embassy or consulate has the final word on your case.

Frequently asked questions

Do Indians need a visa for Japan?

Yes. Indians need a visa to enter Japan, including for tourism. India is not on the Japanese foreign ministry's list of 74 visa-exempt countries and regions, revised 1 September 2025, and Japan does not issue visas on arrival. Applications in India go through VFS. No appointment is needed. The visa fee for Indian nationals is 500 INR (Embassy of Japan in India).

Can Indians get a visa on arrival in Japan?

No. The foreign ministry states that visas cannot be obtained at the port of entry in Japan. Apply before you travel.

How much is a Japan visa for Indians?

500 INR for Indian nationals, according to the Embassy of Japan in India. This fee applies from 1 July 2026. An agency, where one is used, charges its own handling fee.

How long does a Japan visa take in India?

The foreign ministry's standard is 5 working days from the day after the application is received. It can take more than a month if the case is referred to Tokyo. The Embassy of Japan in India adds: “Due to increase volume of applications, processing times of Japanese visa can vary significantly. … Visa process cannot be expedited or prioritized according to the schedule of applicants.”

Can Indians apply for a Japan eVISA?