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Japan · Business visa

Japan visa guide

Japan Business Visa

Japan's short term business visa lets Indians attend meetings, conferences and market research in Japan for up to 90 days; frequent travellers can seek multiple entry.

Business Visitor

₹4,999all-in · GST included

Visa refused? Our consultancy fee is refunded under the Refund Policy. Embassy and VFS fees are never ours to refund. How the refund works

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What’s included

  • Filing + business cover letter
  • Host invitation coordination
  • GST + ITR documentation review
  • Interview prep (US B1 / UK)

Your file is ready to submit within 3 working days of us receiving your complete documents.

Government and VFS fees are paid to them at cost.

What you pay, line by line
Our fee
₹4,999
All-in, GST included. Paid to us.
Embassy visa fee
Set by the embassy
Paid to the embassy at cost.
VFS / appointment charge
Varies by centre
Paid to VFS (or the appointment partner) at cost.

Nothing is added to our fee. The number on the page is the number.

Licence No. 849/DC/PTA/PLA/LC‑3/20245.0 · 113 Google reviewsPatiala office, Nabha Road

Processing
At least seven to ten working days after you apply
Support
Your own consultant

How do I get a Japan business visa from India?

Short-term business trips — meetings, negotiations, trade fairs — use Japan’s temporary visitor visa. Apply through VFS Global with your passport, a signed application form, one 45 × 35 mm photo and the short-term business checklist, including the invitation from the Japanese company. The fee is INR 500 plus INR 800 VFS charges; processing takes at least 5 working days.

At a glance

Visa
Temporary visitor visa (short-term business)
Official fee
INR 500 single or multiple entry + INR 800 VFS service charge vfsglobal.com
Typical processing
At least 5 working days after submission vfsglobal.com
Key documents
  • Passport
  • One signed visa application form
  • One photo, 45 × 35 mm, under 6 months old
  • Purpose checklist (tourism or short-term business) from VFS
vfsglobal.com

Official figures, last verified 24 Oct 2026. Government fees are paid to the government or its visa centre at cost and change without notice — the linked page is the authority.

Your journey with Lifeset

Japan business visa, from first message to passport back.

  1. 1Day 0Tell us your planWhatsApp or a call. A consultant asks the right questions and says plainly whether a Japan business visa is realistic for you.
  2. 2Same dayYour tailored checklistA document list for your case, not a generic one, including the invitation and company papers. You collect; we answer every "which one?" on WhatsApp.
  3. 3As documents arriveReview and refusal checkEvery paper is checked. Gaps in funds, ties or travel history are flagged and fixed before anything is submitted.
  4. 4Within 3 working daysFile ready, appointment bookedForms and cover letter done; your the visa centre appointment is booked, subject to the slots the centre has open.
  5. 5Appointment dayBiometrics and submissionYou attend the visa centre with a file assembled in the order the officer reads it.
  6. 6DecisionDecision receivedWe track the file to the decision. Approved: your passport comes back with the visa. Refused: our professional fee comes back under the Refund Policy and we plan the reapplication.

Side by side

Three ways to file your Japan business visa. Here is what each one includes.

  • Government licence you can verify

    Licence No. 849/DC/PTA/PLA/LC-3/2024, District Magistrate Patiala

    Yourself
    Agent
    Lifeset

  • One fixed, all-in fee quoted upfront

    GST included; embassy and centre fees at cost

    Yourself
    Agent
    Lifeset

  • Professional fee back if refused

    Under the published Refund Policy

    Yourself
    Agent
    Lifeset

  • Refusal-trigger check before filing

    Funds, ties and history checked against the refusal reasons we see most

    Yourself
    Agent
    Lifeset

  • Cover letter written for your case

    Not a template

    Yourself
    Agent
    Lifeset

  • Appointment or interview booked for you

    VFS, BLS or consulate, at your nearest centre

    Yourself
    Agent
    Lifeset

  • Named consultant on WhatsApp till decision

    The person who reads your file is the one who answers

    Yourself
    Agent
    Lifeset

  • GST invoice from a registered Pvt Ltd

    Pro Lifeset Overseas Pvt Ltd · GSTIN 03AAOCP3999C1Z5

    Yourself
    Agent
    Lifeset

“Varies” means it depends on the agent; ask for their licence number and refund terms in writing. The full, sourced comparison

Japan Business Visa — overview

Start here

The Japan business visa is the short term business visa for business affairs, market research, conferences, and cultural or sport exchange. It allows a short business visit of up to 90 days, but no paid work in Japan, which needs a Certificate of Eligibility route instead.

Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi applicants lodge at VFS Global for the Embassy of Japan in New Delhi. The file has three parts: yours (travel order, certificate of employment), the inviter's (invitation, itinerary) and the payer's (guarantor's letter, company registration). The visa fee for Indians is INR 500 plus an INR 800 VFS charge.

Do Indians need a visa for a business trip to Japan, and which one?

Yes. Business travellers from India apply for the short term business visa, which the Embassy of Japan's checklist describes as covering business affairs, market research, conferences, and cultural or sport exchange. It allows a short business visit of up to 90 days during the visa's validity, for activities such as a conference, a negotiation or an exploratory business visit.

It is not a work visa. Paid work, or any stay longer than 90 days as an engineer, researcher or student, needs a Certificate of Eligibility obtained by a person or organisation in Japan, and a different visa. Even the multiple-entry business visa rules out revenue-generating business operations and activities that earn remuneration in Japan.

For people who travel often, Japan offers multiple-entry business visas to Indian nationals. Under the procedure the Japanese missions publish, these allow stays of 15, 30 or 90 days with visa validity of 1, 3, 5 or 10 years.

Japan business visa: the essentials

VisaBusiness affairs, market research, conferences
Short term business visa
Stay
Up to 90 days
Decided byFor Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi
Embassy of Japan, New Delhi
FeePlus INR 800 VFS service charge
INR 500
Frequent travellersValidity of 1, 3, 5 or 10 years
Multiple-entry business visas
Paid workNeeds a Certificate of Eligibility route
Not allowed

VFS Global Japan India and Embassy of Japan New Delhi checklists, checked 14 Oct 2026

Where do applicants from Punjab apply?

Through VFS Global, which is the Embassy's official partner in India and Bhutan. Business files from Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi go to the Embassy of Japan in New Delhi, so you can lodge at the Chandigarh drop-off office in Elante Offices or at the New Delhi centre at Shivaji Stadium Metro Station; Gurugram and Lucknow also serve the embassy. VFS listed its Jalandhar centre as temporarily closed on 14 October 2026.

Companies sending staff should note how the centres work. VFS keeps separate, shorter submission hours for representatives, so an authorised staff member or travel desk can lodge files for several employees. Chandigarh accepts the visa fee, service charge and any courier charge only as separate demand drafts in favour of "VFS Global Services Pvt. Ltd."; New Delhi takes cash or card. Every photocopy goes on A4 paper.

When several colleagues travel together, the Japanese host prepares one list of applicants for the whole group, which goes in with the applications. See our Japan appointment availability page for VFS dates.

Which documents depend on your situation?

The New Delhi business checklist splits the file into three parts, prepared by three different people. That split is the most useful thing to understand before you start.

  • You, the traveller

    What the New Delhi checklist asks for
    Passport with more than two blank pages and old passports; copy of the bio-data pages; signed application form; one photo; a travel order from your employer; a certificate of employment; your flight or cruise schedule; your latest ITR, which is optional for a single entry but needed if you request multiple entry

  • The inviter in Japan

    What the New Delhi checklist asks for
    An invitation letter, an itinerary in Japan with hotel and contact details, and a list of applicants if more than one person travels

  • Whoever pays for the trip

    What the New Delhi checklist asks for
    A guarantor's letter and a certified copy of the company's incorporation register, or an overview of the company or organisation

Who pays decides the third column. If your Indian employer funds the trip, the travel order and employment certificate carry that weight; if the Japanese company pays, it signs the guarantor's letter and supplies its registration. Students or dependants travelling with you need consent from a parent or spouse and that person's latest ITR or 6 months of bank statements, and any accompanying family need proof of relationship.

Indian business owners often ask what counts as "certificate of employment". For a proprietor or director, it is reasonable to show the firm's registration, GST certificate and your role in it, and the Bengaluru consulate's business list asks for an incorporation or GST certificate and two years of company IT returns. Keep the New Delhi list as your base.

How much is the Japan business visa fee for Indians?

The visa fee for Indian nationals is INR 500, the same for single and multiple entry under the New Delhi fee table effective 1 July 2026. VFS adds an INR 800 service charge per application, and courier return is optional at INR 550. Only the visa fee is refundable, and only if the Embassy does not approve the visa. Our filing fee is shown at the top of this page.

How long does it take, and when should you apply?

VFS asks business applicants, like everyone else, to allow a minimum of seven to ten working days between applying and the planned travel date, and says the Embassy can lengthen or shorten processing because of the volume of applications. Applications are normally accepted within 90 days before the intended date of entry.

For business trips, the practical constraint is the paperwork from Japan. The invitation letter, itinerary and guarantor's letter have to be prepared and sent by your host, so ask for them as soon as the meeting dates are fixed. The Embassy may also ask for an interview or more documents.

Why do Japan business visas get refused for Indian applicants?

The checklist does not give refusal reasons; it notes that the list is a guide and that the Embassy can ask for an interview or extra documents. Business files from India most often fall short on these points.

A visit that looks like paid work

Short-term business covers meetings, market research, conferences and negotiations. Installing systems, working on a client's site for pay, or any revenue-earning activity in Japan points to a work visa through a Certificate of Eligibility. Describe the business purpose precisely.

The Japanese side of the file is missing

Without the invitation letter, the itinerary and, where the host pays, the guarantor's letter with company registration, the Embassy cannot see who is receiving you and why. These come from Japan, so chase them early.

Employer papers that do not match

The travel order and certificate of employment should agree with the invitation on dates, purpose and who pays. A mismatch of even a few days invites questions.

Asking for multiple entry without the proof

The multiple-entry business visa has set eligibility categories. If you cannot show that you fit one, the checklist notes that the Embassy may issue a single-entry visa after assessing the application. Add your latest ITR and the category evidence when you ask for multiple entry.

The wrong jurisdiction

A Punjab-based employee files through a centre serving the New Delhi embassy, even if the company's head office is in Bengaluru or Mumbai. Check the VFS jurisdiction list before you book.

Our business visitor visa guide explains the line between business visits and work across countries.

Tips for a stronger file

  • Travel order on letterhead. Your designation, the purpose of the visit, the dates, the Japanese company's name, and who pays.
  • Invitation that names names. The Japanese company's address, the contact person, the meetings or event, and the dates, matching your travel order.
  • Company overview ready. If the Japanese host pays, its incorporation register or company overview must come with the guarantor's letter.
  • ITR for multiple entry. Optional for a single trip, but submit it whenever you ask for multiple entry.
  • One group, one list. For delegations, the host's list of applicants should show every traveller exactly as in their passports.
  • Old passports. Earlier Japanese and other visas used properly support both your purpose and a later multiple-entry request.

Can you get a multiple-entry business visa for Japan?

Yes, if you fit one of the categories. The New Delhi embassy's "Multiple 5" checklist covers regular employees of a public (government) enterprise, employees of companies listed on a stock exchange in Japan or elsewhere, regular employees of Japanese-affiliated companies that are members of the Japan Chamber of Commerce, staff of joint ventures, subsidiaries or branches of listed companies, and employees of firms with constant business with a listed Japanese company. It also covers regular employees with business travel to Japan and visits to G7 countries in the last three years, or more than three business trips to Japan in that period. A separate "Multiple 6" list covers cultural and intellectual figures.

These visas give stays of 15, 30 or 90 days, with validity of 1, 3, 5 or 10 years. The first visit has to be for business; from the second visit, the published procedure allows the visa to be used for tourism or for visiting relatives and acquaintances too.

Can you bring your family or add a holiday?

Family members need their own applications. Spouses and children travelling with you add proof of relationship, and if they are dependants, the consent and income papers the checklist lists. If the trip is mainly a holiday, apply under the tourist category instead; each visa is issued for the purpose you declare. The Japan tourist visa guide covers holiday travel, and the Japan country page lists every route.

Official sources

Documents you need

12 items

  • Passport

    Valid passport with more than two blank pages, plus old passports.

  • Bio-data page copies

    First and last page of the current passport, photocopied on A4.

  • Visa application form

    Completely filled in and signed by you, with only small corrections.

  • Photograph

    One photo, 45 mm by 35 mm, taken within 6 months, white background.

  • Travel order from your employer

    Stating your role, the purpose, the dates and who pays.

  • Certificate of employment

    Confirming your current employment with the Indian company.

  • Flight or cruise schedule

    Showing your travel to and from Japan.

  • Invitation letter from Japan

    From the inviting company or organisation, with an itinerary in Japan and hotel and contact details.

  • List of applicants

    From the inviter, when more than one person travels.

  • Guarantor's letter and company documents

    From whoever pays: the guarantor's letter and a certified incorporation register or company overview.

  • Latest ITR

    Optional for single entry; submit it when asking for multiple entry.

  • Demand drafts at Chandigarh

    Separate drafts in favour of VFS Global Services Pvt. Ltd. for the fee, service charge and any courier.

How the process works

6 steps

Typical processing: At least seven to ten working days after you apply, as VFS advises for the New Delhi embassy, and longer when demand is high

  1. Step 1

    Confirm it is a business visit

    Meetings, market research, conferences or negotiations qualify. Paid work needs a Certificate of Eligibility route.

  2. Step 2

    Request the papers from Japan

    Invitation letter, itinerary, list of applicants and, if the host pays, guarantor's letter with company documents.

  3. Step 3

    Prepare your own documents

    Travel order, certificate of employment, flight schedule, form, photo and passport copies on A4.

  4. Step 4

    Book VFS and arrange payment

    Chandigarh, New Delhi, Gurugram or Lucknow; demand drafts at Chandigarh, cash or card in New Delhi.

  5. Step 5

    Submit the file

    In person or through an authorised representative during VFS submission hours.

  6. Step 6

    Await the Embassy's decision

    At least seven to ten working days; answer any request for an interview or documents.

Costs & fees

Transparent

Item

Amount

Visa fee, Indian nationals (single or multiple entry)

New Delhi fee table effective 1 July 2026. Refunded only if the visa is not approved.

INR 500 (checked 14 Oct 2026)

VFS service charge

Per application, taxes included, not refundable.

INR 800 (checked 14 Oct 2026)

Courier return (optional)

Per application, taxes included, not refundable.

INR 550 (checked 14 Oct 2026)

Government and third-party fees change often — we confirm the exact current amounts for your case before you pay anything.

Official sourcesLast verified

Frequently asked questions

12 answers

  • Under the New Delhi checklist, you provide your passport and old passports, bio-data copies, the signed form, a photo, a travel order from your employer, a certificate of employment and your flight schedule. The inviter in Japan provides an invitation letter, an itinerary and a list of applicants if several travel. Whoever pays adds a guarantor's letter and the company's incorporation register or overview.

  • Yes. The New Delhi short term business checklist lists an invitation letter from the inviter in Japan, together with an itinerary in Japan showing hotel and contact details. If the Japanese company pays for the trip, it also signs a guarantor's letter and supplies a certified copy of its incorporation register or an overview of the company.

  • No. The short term business visa covers business affairs, market research, conferences and similar visits. Paid work in Japan, or a longer stay as an engineer or researcher, needs a Certificate of Eligibility obtained by a person or organisation in Japan and a different visa. Even multiple-entry business visas exclude revenue-generating operations and activities that earn remuneration.

  • For a single entry, the New Delhi checklist marks the latest income tax return as optional, but it asks for it when you request a multiple-entry visa. Students or dependants travelling with you need a parent's or spouse's latest ITR or 6 months of bank statements, with their consent.

  • Yes, if you fit a set category: for example, regular employees of government enterprises, of companies listed on a stock exchange, of Japanese-affiliated companies in the Japan Chamber of Commerce, or employees with repeated business trips to Japan, or trips to Japan and G7 countries, in the last three years. Validity can be 1, 3, 5 or 10 years.

  • Up to 90 days per visit on the short term business visa. Multiple-entry business visas for Indian nationals allow stays of 15, 30 or 90 days on each visit, within a validity of 1, 3, 5 or 10 years, as decided by the Embassy.

  • Yes. VFS Global's Chandigarh drop-off office serves the Embassy of Japan in New Delhi. Pay the visa fee, the INR 800 service charge and any courier return by separate demand drafts in favour of VFS Global Services Pvt. Ltd. VFS also keeps separate submission hours for representatives, which helps companies lodging several files.

  • VFS asks applicants to keep a minimum gap of seven to ten working days between applying and travel, and says processing can vary at the Embassy's discretion because of high demand. You can usually apply within 90 days of entry, and the Embassy may request an interview or more documents.

  • INR 500 for a single or multiple-entry visa under the New Delhi fee table effective 1 July 2026, plus an INR 800 VFS service charge per application. Courier return is optional at INR 550. Only the visa fee is refunded, and only if the Embassy does not approve the visa.

  • After the first trip, yes. The published procedure for the multiple-entry business visa says the first visit must be for business, but from the second visit it can also be used for tourism or for visiting relatives and acquaintances. It still does not allow revenue-generating work.

  • Where you live. VFS asks you to select the consular district you live in, and Punjab falls under the Embassy of Japan in New Delhi. The Bengaluru consulate takes only Karnataka residents and asks out-of-state passport holders to prove residence there, so file through Chandigarh, New Delhi, Gurugram or Lucknow.

  • It is the document in which whoever pays for the trip, usually the Japanese host company, undertakes to cover the expenses. The New Delhi business checklist pairs it with a certified copy of the company's incorporation register or an overview of the company or organisation.

Going it alone vs filing with us

Why it matters

On your own

  • Guessing the document list — one missing or wrongly formatted paper triggers a refusal.
  • Generic cover letters copied from the internet that officers recognise and flag.
  • No read on peak rejection windows or what this visa post is strict about.
  • Government and VFS fees are non-refundable — money lost if you are refused.
  • A refusal stamp follows you and weakens every future visa application.

With Lifeset Overseas

  • An honest case assessment before you spend a rupee on government fees.
  • A file built to the embassy's exact checklist and in the exact order.
  • Weak finances, ties or purpose identified and fixed before submission.
  • Previously refused? We can rescue and rebuild the file.
  • Every case handled by one consultant, end to end.

A refusal isn't the end

Refused before?

A refusal is not a permanent bar — but it only improves if the actual reason is found and answered, and nobody can tell you a second application will succeed. If a Japan visa has been refused, we:

  • Read the actual refusal letter and pinpoint the real gaps.
  • Advise whether to pull the officer's notes (CAIPS / GCMS) for the true reason.
  • Identify which part was weak — funds, employment, purpose or ties.
  • Tell you honestly whether to reapply now or strengthen the file first.

Visa refused? Our consultancy fee is refunded under the Refund Policy. Embassy and VFS fees are never ours to refund. Read the refund policy

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