Visa fee: still ₹500 for Indians
On 1 July 2026 Japan raised its visa fees about five times for most nationalities, the first change since 1978. Indian citizens were exempted under the bilateral arrangement between India and Japan, and continue to pay ₹500 for a single-entry or multiple-entry short-stay visa. The same rate applies to the eVisa.
On top of the visa fee, VFS Global charges a separate service fee for handling the application.
Separately, Japan’s departure tax rose to ¥3,000 per person from July 2026. It is included in your airfare, so there is nothing extra to pay at the airport.
Sticker visa or eVisa?
Sticker visa
The long-standing route. You submit your application at a Japan Visa Application Centre run by VFS Global, and the visa is stamped in your passport. Processing usually takes about a week, longer in busy periods.
eVisa
Available to Indian citizens since April 2024 for single-entry tourist visits of up to 90 days. You still apply through VFS Global, but the visa is issued electronically: you show a “visa issuance notice” on your phone at the airport instead of carrying a sticker in your passport. You must travel on the same passport you applied with, and the eVisa can’t be used for business, study or multiple entries.
For a standard family holiday, either works. We’ll tell you which suits your trip.
Documents checklist
- Passport valid for at least six months beyond your travel dates, with two or more blank pages.
- Visa application form, completed and signed.
- Photographs: recent passport-size photos (45 × 45 mm) on a plain white background.
- Bank statements for the last six months showing enough funds for the trip.
- Income tax returns, usually for the last two to three years.
- Employment or business proof: a leave letter or NOC from your employer, or business registration and GST documents if self-employed.
- Flight bookings and a day-wise itinerary with hotel confirmations. If you book with us, we prepare these.
Exact requirements differ by applicant, for example for students, retirees or children travelling with one parent. We send you a list for your family before you apply.
When to apply
You can apply up to three months before your travel date. We recommend applying about eight weeks ahead. That leaves comfortable time for processing and for any extra documents the embassy asks for, especially for cherry blossom season and the New Year period, when application volumes are higher.
How Bluedust helps
- We check your documents before submission, so applications aren’t returned for small mistakes.
- We prepare the itinerary and hotel confirmations the embassy expects to see.
- We coordinate the visa with your flights and trip, so dates line up.
- Our visa service is available on its own, even if you book your trip elsewhere.
Visa fees, processing times and rules are set by the Government of Japan and VFS Global and can change without notice. This page reflects the position in October 2026. Always confirm current requirements with the Embassy of Japan in India or VFS Global before applying.
Questions people ask
Do Indian citizens need a visa for Japan?
Yes. There is no visa on arrival or visa-free entry for Indian passport holders, so you must apply before you travel.
Can we get a multiple-entry visa?
It is usually granted to people who have visited Japan before or meet other conditions set by the embassy. First-time travellers normally start with a single-entry visa.
Do we prepare the itinerary for the application ourselves?
Not if you book with us. We prepare the day-wise itinerary and hotel confirmations that go into your application.
Does every family member apply separately?
Yes. Each traveller, including children, needs their own application, though the process is the same for everyone.
Can you guarantee the visa?
No one can. The decision rests with the Embassy and Consulates of Japan. We make sure your application is complete and well prepared.