Indian passport holders need a visa to visit Japan. A short-term tourist eVisa is available and is now the standard route for most Indian applicants — apply online, no biometrics for most cases, and processing typically takes about 5-7 working days. Total cost is roughly Rs 2,000-3,500 including service fees. Apply 4-6 weeks before travel to be comfortable.
Which Route Applies to You
- Japan eVisa (short-term tourist): The standard route for Indian nationals travelling for tourism. Fully online, no passport submission required, and an approved visa is issued digitally.
- Paper visa via VFS or accredited agent: Used for categories the eVisa does not cover, or where an applicant needs a sticker visa.
- Multiple-entry visa: Available for applicants with strong travel history. Useful if you plan to return.
Requirements and available routes change periodically. Always confirm the current process on the Embassy of Japan in India website before you begin, and check which jurisdiction your state falls under — Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Bengaluru each cover different regions.
Documents Required
Core documents
- Passport valid for the duration of stay, with at least 2 blank pages
- Completed visa application form
- Recent passport-size photograph on white background, as per specification
- Confirmed return flight booking
- Confirmed hotel bookings for the full stay
- Daily itinerary — Japan is stricter about this than most countries. See below.
Financial documents
- Bank statements for the last 6 months, bank-attested
- Income Tax Returns for the last 2-3 years
- Salary slips for the last 3 months (salaried applicants)
- Business registration and audited financials (self-employed)
Supporting documents
- Employment letter or NOC from employer
- For students: school or college bonafide certificate
- For minors: birth certificate and parental consent
- For sponsored applicants: sponsor letter, relationship proof and sponsor financials
The Daily Itinerary Requirement — Where Applications Slip
Japan asks for a day-by-day schedule, not a vague plan. The itinerary must state, for each day of your stay: the date, the cities or places you will visit, and the hotel you will stay at that night with its address and contact number.
Common problems:
- Itinerary dates that do not match flight dates
- Hotel bookings that do not cover every single night of the stay
- An itinerary that says Tokyo sightseeing for 5 days with no detail
- Hotel names in the itinerary that differ from the actual booking confirmations
StreetRomeo prepares the day-wise itinerary document in the format the consulate expects, with hotel confirmations cross-referenced to each night. This is administrative work rather than anything clever, but it is where self-prepared Japan applications most often get sent back for clarification.
Fees and Processing Time
- Visa fee: Japan visa fees for Indian nationals are modest — typically in the range of a few hundred to around Rs 1,900 depending on entry type. Verify the current fee at the time of applying.
- Service or agent charges: approximately Rs 1,000-1,700 if applying through VFS or an accredited agency
- Processing time: approximately 5-7 working days from a complete submission. Allow longer in March-April and October-November, which are peak Japan travel seasons.
- Recommended application window: 4-6 weeks before departure. Applications are generally not accepted more than 3 months in advance.
Japan Visa vs Schengen Visa — What Indians Should Expect
| Japan | Schengen | |
|---|---|---|
| Visa fee | Low | EUR 90 for adults |
| Biometrics appointment | Generally not required for eVisa | Required, and often the bottleneck |
| Processing time | About 5-7 working days | 15-45 days including appointment wait |
| Insurance mandatory | Not mandated, strongly advised | Mandatory, EUR 30,000 minimum |
| Itinerary detail expected | High — day by day | Moderate |
The practical takeaway: Japan is cheaper and faster than Schengen but wants more itinerary detail. Schengen is more expensive and slower, largely because of appointment availability.
Common Reasons Japan Visa Applications Get Delayed
- Itinerary dates not matching flight or hotel dates
- Hotel bookings missing for one or more nights of the stay
- Bank statements not bank-attested
- Insufficient balance relative to the stated trip cost — as a rough guide, show funds covering your full trip cost plus a reasonable buffer
- Photograph not meeting specification
- Applying too close to the travel date and having no slack for a query
After Approval
- The eVisa is issued digitally — carry a printout and keep a copy on your phone
- Short-term tourist visas typically permit stays of up to 90 days; check the validity printed on your approval
- At immigration in Japan you will be fingerprinted and photographed, and you will receive a temporary visitor stamp
- That stamp matters — it is what qualifies you to buy a JR Pass and claim tax-free shopping
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Indians need a visa for Japan?
Yes. Indian passport holders require a visa before travelling to Japan. There is no visa on arrival. A short-term tourist eVisa is available and is the standard route for most Indian tourist applicants.
How long does a Japan visa take from India?
Typically about 5-7 working days from a complete submission. Allow longer during cherry blossom season in March-April and autumn in October-November. Applying 4-6 weeks before departure gives comfortable margin.
How much does a Japan visa cost for Indians?
The visa fee itself is modest, generally under Rs 2,000 depending on entry type, plus roughly Rs 1,000-1,700 in service charges if applying through VFS or an agency. Confirm current fees at the time of applying, as they are revised periodically.
Is a Japan visa harder to get than a Schengen visa?
Not harder, but more detail-oriented. Japan expects a precise day-by-day itinerary with hotel confirmations matching each night. Schengen is more demanding on financial documentation and insurance. Approval rates for well-documented Indian applicants are high for both.
Can I apply for a Japan visa without booking flights?
You need a confirmed booking, though it does not have to be a paid ticket. Refundable or held bookings are acceptable. StreetRomeo provides confirmed flight and hotel documentation for visa purposes as part of Japan tour bookings, so clients are not paying in full before approval.
Japan visa file taiyaar karna hai? StreetRomeo se baat karo — day-wise itinerary aur hotel confirmations sab consulate format mein ready milega.