The Japanese Consulate network has tightened front-end controls in India: from 2 March 2026, walk-in visa submissions will be phased out at VFS Global centres in Chennai, Cochin, Hyderabad and Puducherry. Applicants across all categories—tourist, business, student and dependent—must book a time-slot online before visiting the centre.(financialexpress.com)
VFS Global says the change is designed to “even-out daily intake,” reducing the midday crowds that often forced three-hour waits and strained security screening. It follows a 28 % jump in Indian outbound traffic to Japan last year, fuelled by new Chennai–Tokyo non-stops and MICE incentives linked to Osaka-Kansai Expo preparations.(financialexpress.com)
Nothing else in the application process changes: fees remain ¥3,000 for single-entry and ¥6,000 for multiple-entry visas, while processing continues to average 5–10 working days. However, the consulate quietly reminds travellers that Japan is reviewing a steep increase in its permanent-residence fee—from ¥10,000 to as high as ¥300,000—and may tighten naturalisation criteria later this year. Mobility teams with Japan-based assignees should budget accordingly.
![Japan Makes Prior Appointment Mandatory for Visa Submissions in Four Indian Cities From 2 March]()
For Indian corporates, the immediate action point is to integrate the VFS appointment scheduler into travel approval workflows. Frequent-flyer executives who previously sent staff to queue at dawn will need to adjust: missed slots will require a fresh booking, potentially delaying departures.
Travellers and corporate mobility managers looking for an easier way to coordinate these new appointment requirements can leverage VisaHQ’s India platform (https://www.visahq.com/india/). The service aggregates up-to-date slot availability, provides document checklists and offers doorstep courier options—streamlining the entire Japan visa process and reducing the administrative burden on HR teams.
The change also nudges the process toward full digitisation, a long-stated priority for Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. While online filing is still not permitted, industry watchers expect an e-visa pilot for Indian short-term business visitors by 2027.
VFS Global says the change is designed to “even-out daily intake,” reducing the midday crowds that often forced three-hour waits and strained security screening. It follows a 28 % jump in Indian outbound traffic to Japan last year, fuelled by new Chennai–Tokyo non-stops and MICE incentives linked to Osaka-Kansai Expo preparations.(financialexpress.com)
Nothing else in the application process changes: fees remain ¥3,000 for single-entry and ¥6,000 for multiple-entry visas, while processing continues to average 5–10 working days. However, the consulate quietly reminds travellers that Japan is reviewing a steep increase in its permanent-residence fee—from ¥10,000 to as high as ¥300,000—and may tighten naturalisation criteria later this year. Mobility teams with Japan-based assignees should budget accordingly.
For Indian corporates, the immediate action point is to integrate the VFS appointment scheduler into travel approval workflows. Frequent-flyer executives who previously sent staff to queue at dawn will need to adjust: missed slots will require a fresh booking, potentially delaying departures.
Travellers and corporate mobility managers looking for an easier way to coordinate these new appointment requirements can leverage VisaHQ’s India platform (https://www.visahq.com/india/). The service aggregates up-to-date slot availability, provides document checklists and offers doorstep courier options—streamlining the entire Japan visa process and reducing the administrative burden on HR teams.
The change also nudges the process toward full digitisation, a long-stated priority for Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. While online filing is still not permitted, industry watchers expect an e-visa pilot for Indian short-term business visitors by 2027.
