February 2016

Since 15 February, the Government of Japan has further relaxed the requirement for multiple entry visas for short-term stay for ordinary Indian passport holders, based on the agreement made during the Summit Meeting between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in December 2015.

The highlights of these measures are as follows;

1.Scope of eligibility: expanded to include people with travel records to Japan for short-term visit in the last 3 years and with travel records as temporary visitor to other G7 countries (no need to show the ability to pay all travel expenses during his/her stay in Japan).

2.Duration of stay under all short-term multiple-entry visa (including for tourism, business, or visiting relatives/acquaintances): expanded from 15 days to 30 days

3.Validity period of visa: extended from maximum 3 years to 5 years

4.Validity period of visa, for business purpose, cultural or intellectual figures: extended from maximum 5 years to 10 years

★Please also see “Important points of Eased Measures”

It is expected that the relaxation would contribute to further expansion of exchanges between Japan and India, especially in terms of the number of Indian tourists to Japan, and improving the convenience of business travelers.

◯ Past press releases of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan:

- Start of Issuance of Multiple Entry Visas for Short-term Stay for Nationals of India (3 July 2014)

- Substantial Relaxation of Visa Requirements for Nationals of India (12 December 2015)

- Relaxation of Multiple Entry Visas for Short-term Stay (Business Purposes, and for Cultural or Intellectual Figures) for Nationals of Viet Nam and India (2 February, 2016)

◯ For further details of the procedures, please visit the following website;

- For short-term multiple-entry visa for up to 30 days

- For short-term multiple-entry visa for business purpose, cultural or intellectual figures

◯ Memorandum on simplifying visa procedures between the Government of Japan and the Government of the Republic of India

◯ Inquiry and apply for visa