Japan visa for Indians (2026): eVISA via VFS

Rules checked against official sources in October 2026. Rules change; we confirm them again when we plan your trip.

Indian passport holders need a visa for Japan. You apply at a Japan Visa Application Centre run by VFS Global, and tourist visas are now issued electronically as an eVISA. There is no visa-free option: India is not on Japan’s list of visa-exempt countries.

This guide covers how to apply, the fee, how long it takes, how long you can stay, and the one rule at the airport that catches people out. The summary is on our Japan visa guide.

Do Indians need a visa for Japan?

Yes. Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not list India among its visa-exempt countries, so every Indian passport holder in your group needs a visa before travel.

How to apply for a Japan tourist visa from India

1. 1Plan your dates. Applications are accepted from 3 months before travel.
2. 2Prepare the visa application form with a photo, your passport and the supporting documents.
3. 3Submit the application at a Japan Visa Application Centre run by VFS Global. No appointment is needed.
4. 4Pay the visa fee and the VFS service fee.
5. 5Once approved, you receive the eVISA visa issuance notice.

The eVISA rule at the airport

This is the part to read twice. At the airport you show the eVISA visa issuance notice on a phone with internet access. A PDF, a screenshot or a printout is not accepted.

In practice, the phone holding each notice needs working mobile data when you land in Japan. Sort out roaming or a local data plan before you fly, especially for parents who rarely use mobile data abroad.

Documents you need

• Passport
• Visa application form with photo
• Supporting documents

The official pages we checked do not set out the supporting documents in one fixed list, so we confirm the exact documents for each traveller when we plan your trip, rather than hand you a generic checklist.

Japan visa fee for Indians

The visa fee for Indian nationals is INR 500, from 1 July 2026. The VFS service fee is added on top.

The Embassy of Japan says you pay only the visa fee and the VFS service charge. It never asks for payment by phone or email. If someone calls asking for money to “clear” your visa, it is not the embassy.

How long does a Japan visa take?

Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs says about one week when all documents are complete. The Embassy in India adds that times can vary significantly and that applications cannot be expedited.

So apply as soon as you can within the 3-month window, and don’t book non-refundable extras until the visa comes through.

How long can you stay in Japan?

A single-entry short-term tourist visa allows a stay of up to 90 days. Our Japan trip is 7 nights and 8 days, and Japan in Autumn is 10 nights and 11 days, both well inside that.

Travelling with children or parents

Japan’s visa-exempt list does not include India, so every Indian passport holder in the family needs a visa, children and grandparents included. Before you reach immigration, check that each person’s eVISA notice opens on a phone with data.

For parents travelling with you, the phone rule is the main thing to plan for. If they don’t usually use data abroad, set up their roaming or local plan with them before the trip, and ask us if you are unsure how the notice should be shown.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Showing a screenshot or printout of the eVISA notice. It has to be shown on a phone with internet access.
• Landing without mobile data on the phone that holds the notice.
• Applying too early. Applications open 3 months before travel.
• Expecting to speed it up. The Embassy says processing cannot be expedited.
• Paying anyone who asks by phone or email. The embassy never does.

How AVR helps with a Japan visa

Our Japan trip includes visa assistance and the visa charges. Japan in Autumn includes visa documentation support, with the visa fee paid separately. In both cases the decision rests with the embassy; we help you get the application right. Contact us with your dates and we will start there.

Japan visa questions