Indians planning to travel to Japan will no longer be able to submit visa applications without prior appointments in Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi and Puducherry from March 2, 2026. The change was announced by VFS Global on February 21, marking the end of the walk-in system in these four cities.
According to the Embassy of Japan in India, visa applications in India are processed through VFS centres, while diplomatic, official and special humanitarian cases are handled directly by the embassy. Applicants must now book an appointment slot before visiting the centres.
The embassy has advised travellers to pay only the prescribed visa fee and VFS service charge, cautioning against fraudulent calls or emails demanding extra payments for document verification or faster processing. Visa processing typically takes five working days, though timelines may vary depending on application volume.
For the period from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026, the visa fee remains INR 450 for single or multiple-entry visas and INR 50 for transit visas, excluding service charges.
Japan has also offered an online alternative through the Japan eVISA system, introduced in India in April 2024 for eligible short-term travel categories. Travellers are advised to plan in advance and secure appointment slots while preparing their trips.
