Japan Visa from India (2026), Tourist Visa Guide

Japan is the cheapest major-destination visa an Indian passport can get, and it survived Japan's worldwide fee revision of 1 July 2026: Indian nationals still pay a flat ₹500 for both single and multi-entry tourist visas, while most other nationalities now pay ₹8,650 or more. VFS adds ₹800 service charges. Tourist visas are now issued as eVisas: no sticker in your passport, you display the live visa notice on your phone at airline check-in (screenshots and printouts are refused). Japan remains one of the most paperwork-heavy applications: a meticulously detailed day-by-day itinerary that proves you know exactly where you'll be each night. Processing: minimum 5 working days from embassy submission.

Japan visa types & fees (updated 1 July 2026)

• Single-entry tourist visa, ₹500 consulate fee + ₹800 VFS = ₹1,300. Stay up to 90 days. Issued as an eVisa (no passport sticker).
• Multiple-entry tourist visa, same ₹500 consulate fee + ₹800 VFS = ₹1,300 (Indians pay the same as single entry). Tourist multiple-entry for Indians is issued with 5-year validity, 90 days max per visit (business and cultural categories can get 1 to 10 years).
• Transit visa: abolished from 1 July 2026, Japan no longer issues transit visas at all.
• Other nationalities now pay ₹8,650 single / ₹17,350 multiple after the July 2026 revision, which makes the Indian ₹500 rate genuinely exceptional.

Living in the UK? Visa-required nationals legally resident in the UK (including Indians) can apply for the Japan eVisa fully online at evisa.mofa.go.jp: tourism only, single entry, about 2 weeks processing, roughly £4 government fee for Indian passports, no embassy visit.

Multi-entry eligibility

Multi-entry visas require one of: (a) prior Japan visit(s) in the last 3 years, (b) prior travel to Japan plus any G7 country (US/UK/Canada/Germany/France/Italy) in the last 3 years, or (c) sufficient financial capacity (high net-worth or executive salary). First-time tourists with no Japan history typically receive a single-entry visa.

Documents

• Valid passport (plus all previous passports if available)
• Completed and signed visa application form
• Passport photograph, 45×35mm, white background, taken within last 6 months, 70 to 80% face visibility, on good quality paper
• Detailed day-by-day itinerary, this is what Japan actually cares about
• Flight itinerary (inbound and outbound)
• Hotel bookings for every single night of the trip
• Last 3 to 6 months bank statements
• ITR last 2 to 3 years, Form 16
• Employment letter + leave approval
• Cover letter explaining purpose

Why the itinerary matters so much for Japan

Unlike other consulates, Japan evaluates the plausibility of your trip plan in fine detail. A generic 'Tokyo for 5 days, Kyoto for 3 days' is not enough. The itinerary should specify which temples, restaurants, museums, and train routes you'll use each day. This isn't bureaucratic overkill, it's how Japan assesses whether you're a genuine tourist.

Processing time

Japan consular processing is a minimum of 5 working days from embassy submission. Group submissions and peak season can extend this. Optional courier delivery: ₹550 in NCR cities. Centres available in Delhi, Gurugram, Chandigarh and Lucknow, jurisdiction varies by state.

Frequently asked questions