Japan visa walk-in rules in India: what changed in 2026
As of October 2026, you need a pre-booked VFS appointment for a Japan visa in Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Puducherry, Kolkata and Bhubaneswar. Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Goa and Delhi accept walk-ins.
2026 has been a back-and-forth year. South India moved to appointments on 2 March, Mumbai followed on 16 March, and then VFS reversed course in the west on 1 June. Kolkata and Bhubaneswar went the other way on 8 June. If you read a guide from earlier this year, check it against the table below. For the full requirements beyond walk-in rules, see our Japan business visa guide.
The short timeline
| Date | What changed |
|---|---|
| Before 2026 | Bengaluru runs appointment-only as a pilot. |
| 2 March 2026 | Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi and Puducherry stop walk-ins. |
| 16 March 2026 | Mumbai stops walk-ins. |
| 20 April 2026 | The Mumbai consulate stops taking applications directly; everything goes through VFS. |
| 1 June 2026 | Walk-ins return in the Mumbai jurisdiction (Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Goa). |
| 8 June 2026 | Kolkata and Bhubaneswar become appointment-only. |
| 1 July 2026 | New visa fees; the transit visa is abolished. |
Walk-in or appointment: city-wise status (October 2026)
You must apply at the VFS centre that covers the state you live in. You cannot pick a centre with easier slots in another jurisdiction.
| Consular jurisdiction | States covered | VFS centres | Status | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chennai | Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, Puducherry | Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Puducherry | Appointment only | 2 Mar 2026 |
| Bengaluru | Karnataka | Bengaluru | Appointment only (pilot) | Before 2026 |
| Kolkata | West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha | Kolkata, Bhubaneswar | Appointment only | 8 Jun 2026 |
| Mumbai | Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Daman, Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli | Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Goa | Walk-in | 1 Jun 2026 |
| New Delhi | North and North-East India | Delhi and other northern centres | Walk-in (“No prior appointment is needed”) | — |
Rules can change at short notice. Check the announcements on the VFS Global Japan page for your centre a week before you go.
Sources: VFS Global, Embassy of Japan, TravTalk, Travel And Tour World, VisaHQ.
If your centre needs an appointment
- Fill the visa application form and keep all documents ready first.
- Book a slot on the VFS Global Japan India site. Each applicant, including children, needs a separate slot.
- Carry the appointment confirmation letter with your file.
- Reach on time. A missed slot counts as a no-show, and reports say you must wait 24 hours before you can book again.
- Never pay an agent who promises a “guaranteed” slot. The embassy says you only pay the visa fee and the VFS service charge.
Skip the queue: Japan eVisa for tourists
If you are travelling only for tourism, the Japan eVisa lets you apply online with no VFS visit at all. It has been open to applicants in India since 1 April 2024.
Who can use it
- People residing in India (MOFA lists “all foreign nationals/people residing in… India”)
- Tourism only, single entry, stay of up to 90 days
- Arrival by air, or by scheduled ferry from Busan or Shanghai
- Not for business, study, family visits, work or multiple-entry visas: those still go through VFS
How it works
- Check on the JAPAN eVISA site that your trip qualifies.
- Create an account and fill the application online, with your photo and documents.
- Get the result by email.
- Pay the fee by card, if asked.
- Receive your “visa issuance notice” in your account.
The one rule people miss
At the airport you must open the visa issuance notice live on your phone, with internet. MOFA says a PDF, a screenshot or a printout will not be accepted. Buy a roaming pack or eSIM before you fly.
Sources: MOFA eVisa page, Embassy of Japan.
Documents checklist for a Japan tourist visa (self-funded)
Walk-in or appointment, the file is the same. Keep originals plus one set of photocopies.
- Passport valid for the whole trip, with at least two blank pages, plus old passports if any
- Visa application form, filled and signed
- One photo, 4.5 cm × 3.5 cm, white background, taken in the last 6 months
- Flight reservation (return ticket itinerary)
- Day-by-day itinerary (schedule of stay) with hotel details
- Bank statement for the last 6 months, signed and stamped by the bank
- Income Tax Returns (ITR acknowledgements)
- Cover letter explaining the trip and who pays for it
The exact list differs slightly by jurisdiction, and extra papers apply if a friend or relative in Japan invites you. Download your consulate’s checklist from the Embassy of Japan visa page before you print anything. Travelling for work? Read our Japan business visa guide.
Japan visa fees and processing time (from 1 July 2026)
Indian passport holders still pay just ₹ 500, for single or multiple entry, even after Japan raised fees for everyone else on 1 July 2026. The separate transit visa no longer exists; transit passengers who need a visa now apply for a short-term stay visa.
Visa fee and VFS service charge
| Applicant | Single entry | Multiple / double entry |
|---|---|---|
| Indian nationals | ₹ 500 | ₹ 500 |
| Other nationals applying in India | ₹ 8,650 | ₹ 17,350 |
These rates apply from 1 July 2026 to 31 March 2027. The VFS service charge is extra; check the current amount on the VFS site for your centre.
Processing time: generally at least 5 working days after VFS accepts your file. The consulates warn that times “can vary significantly” in busy months. Applications are accepted up to 3 months before your travel date.
Sources: Consulate-General of Japan, Mumbai; Consulate-General of Japan, Chennai; Business Today.
Tips to avoid delays
- Plan around the seasons. Cherry blossom (March–April) and autumn leaves (October–November) bring the longest queues. Apply 4–6 weeks ahead in those months.
- Don’t apply too early. VFS accepts files only within 3 months of your travel date.
- Book the whole family together. Each person needs their own slot at appointment-only centres, so book them in one sitting.
- Apply in your own jurisdiction. A file submitted at the wrong centre can be refused, even if that centre has walk-ins.
- Use the eVisa for pure tourism. No slot, no queue, no passport submission.
- Keep mobile data on at arrival if you hold an eVisa. No signal, no visa notice.
- Ignore slot touts. The only payments are the visa fee and the VFS service charge.
Need help with your Japan visa? Talk to BTW Visas
Our Pune, Mumbai and Thane offices are in the Mumbai jurisdiction, where Japan visa walk-ins are open again. We help you get the file right the first time, so your visit to VFS is a single trip.
- Document checklist for your exact case: tourist, business or family visit
- Review of bank statements, ITRs, itinerary and cover letter before submission
- Guidance on whether the Japan eVisa or a VFS application suits your trip
- Flights, hotel bookings and travel insurance under one roof
BTW Visas has 15+ years of experience and 4 lakh+ visas processed.
For the full requirements, see our Japan visa guide for Indians.
Email corporate@btwvisas.com or call 9403460643 | 9730490449 | 9172791061. You can also message us on WhatsApp from btwvisas.com.
About this article
Rules can change at short notice. Confirm current requirements on the VFS Global Japan page and with BTW Visas before booking travel. This guide was last updated on 5 October 2026.