• Disclaimer
• Services
• Visas
• Filming of documentaries in India
• Necessary documents
• Indians / Persons of Indian Origin / Passport Services
• Consular Service
• Fee
• Postal Charges
• Telex charges
• Special charges
• Consular Jurisdiction of Embassy of India, Tokyo
• Consular Jurisdiction of Consulate General of India, Osaka
• Working Hours
• Holidays
• Access
• Processing Time:
• Forms
• Personal Interviews
• Inquiries
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Visa
• Tourist Visa
• RAP / PAP
• Business Visa
• Student / Research Visa
• Passport
• Miscellaneous
• IMPORTANT NOTICES
• Important Notices for holders of Indian Jumbo Passports
• Important Notices for ALL INDIAN PASSPORT APPLICANTS
• Annex 1: List of consular services; fee payable, Forms; check list of documents to be submitted etc

Disclaimer

General

• Only the most frequently needed information is included in these pages.
• Links to external websites given herein are for the sake of convenience and believed to be of authentic sources. However, this Embassy takes no responsibility for their contents;
• Rates of fee may change any time. Fees are payable only in cash in Japanese Yen;
• Acceptance of application and the prescribed fee for a service is for processing the application and does not amount to any commitment to provide the service requested for. The fee received/collected is non-refundable as it is are towards processing of the application and not necessarily for providing the service;
• Consular Officer may demand additional requirements than those listed herein;
• Those applying by post should invariably give their e-mail IDs to facilitate intimation of any discrepancy in the application to the applicant;
• For seeking information on consular/passport matters which are not covered hereunder, members of public should send e-mail inquiries to cpv@indembjp.org;
• Information on visa related matters is available at www.indianvisaatjapan.co.jp maintained by Japan Overseas Corporation (JOC). Telephonic inquiries on visa related matters may be made at JOC�fs number 03 5978 3910.

Services

The Consular Wing of Embassy of India, Tokyo renders consular/passport services related to general welfare of Indian nationals living in Japan and provides visas to Japanese nationals and foreigners living in Japan with valid landing permit in Japan.

Consular/Passport/Visa services provided by Embassy of India, Tokyo are detailed in at the List of Services Sheet in the Services.xls Excel document. The sheet also indicates rates of fee applicable in respect of each service, forms to be filled. List of documents to be submitted etc. for each service. In order to quickly know how to apply, identify the correct row relating to the service required in the sheet and then read various columns of the row and interpret the entries therein as per the explanation given in the column legend sheet.

Visas

A. Indian Visa Application Centre, Tokyo

With effect from 15^th November, 2007, Embassy of India, Tokyo has authorized Japan Overseas Corporation - (JOC) to handle Visa applications from Japanese nationals and nationals of all other countries.

However, applications for diplomatic and Official visas and visas to UN passport holders would continue to be received in the Consular Wing of the Embassy. Such applications should be accompanied by note verbale from the concerned embassy/UN organization in Japan.

The JOC operates the Indian Visa Application Center (IVAC) to perform a number of routine administrative tasks on behalf of the Indian Embassy but has no involvement in decision-making process with regard to issuing of visas. JOC has developed website www.indianvisaatjapan.co.jp which provides detailed information on visa related matters.

Telephonic enquiries can be made to JOC at telephone number 03 5978 3910 while documents can be faxed at number 03 5978 3948

The Indian Visa Application centre has following working hours :-

Location of Indian Visa Application Centre is indicated below

B. General

While applying for visas, kindly use the correct form. The form for a national of Bangladesh is at VisaFormBD.pdf, of Pakistan is at VisaFormPak.pdf and for others including Japanese is at VisaForm.pdf. Passport should be valid for a minimum of six months beyond the date of intended entry into India. Non-Japanese foreigner applicants should bring, if they have, their alien registration card along with a copy. Visa, once granted, is valid from the date of issuance, and not from the date of entry into India. Visa is generally not given beyond the period for which passport is valid. For example, if a passport is valid until April 30,2003 and an applicant is applying for 5 years visa on December 31,1999, the applicant will not be issued a 5 years visa as the passport expires before the 5 year visa. If visa is for more than 180 days, registration by the traveller is compulsory within 14 days of first arrival in India with the nearest police station. The Ministry of Home Affairs of Government of India website at http://immigrationindia.nic.in gives other useful details including on Indian visa system / temporary landing permits / visa on arrival visa extension / registration / addresses of FRROs (Foreigners ERegional Registration Offices) etc may be seen at. All visa services offered by this Embassy are listed at Services.xls under entries v in the column S.

Filming of documentaries in India

Foreign film makers/producers with interest of shooting documentaries are required to apply for permission of filming documentaries in India to the Second Secretary (Information), Embassy of India, Tokyo (email: indembjp@gol.com) submitting all necessary documents. Documents scrutiny takes about a month in general and upto 6 months if shooting is proposed in a restricted area. Thus application should be made with sufficient time.

Once the applicant receives approval from the Second Secretary (Information), Journalist visa should be applied for at the Indian Visa Application Centre.

After filming of documentary is complete, the video clip along with English script should be submitted to the Information Section at least 2 weeks before it is proposed to be aired, for pre-view and approval.

Necessary documents

While applying for permission for shooting of documentaries in India, please submit original set of the following dully-filled documents along with 9 sets of copies:

• Letter addressed to the Embassy of India, Tokyo describing the objective and content of the filming on letter head.
• Following three documents using the prescribed form available at the Form column of List of Services Sheet of the Excel document Services.xls
  • Application Form for Filming Documentaries in India
  • Undertaking
  • Application for License of Filming Operation at Protected Monuments (prescribed form) in case protected monuments will be covered.
• Request for Special Permit for Protected Area (prescribed from) if filming is undertaken in protected/restricted area. The form at RAP/PAP.pdf has to be filled individually by each member of the shooting crew.
• Company profile (on company's letter head)
• Commission letter from (In case, the production company is commissioned by a planning company)
• Synopsis/Script of the documentary
• Bio-data of crew members giving
  • Name
  • Date of Birth
  • Nationality
  • Occupation
  • Organization
  • Passport Details including
    • Number
    • Issued place
    • Issued date
    • Validity (up to date)
• Filming itinerary and location
• Equipment List with value of equipment

(Note: In case any changes in itinerary or equipment occur, letter of explanation and 9 copies of revised documents should be submitted).

Indians / Persons of Indian Origin / Passport Services

All Indians as well as Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) may like to visit the website of Ministry of Overseas Indians at http://www.moia.gov.in/ for keeping themselves abreast of the latest news. All Indians in Japan are encouraged to register themselves with the Embassy using the form Regn.pdf and sending it to the Embassy (by fax at 3234.4688/ by mail at ps@indembjp.org). For passport rules & forms, please visit www.passport.nic.in. All the forms from this site are acceptable in the Embassy of India, Tokyo. All passport services offered by this Embassy are listed at Services.xls under entries p in the column S.

Consular Service

This Embassy attests all documents issued by Indian authorities provided they carry attestation from Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India (For requirement from MEA please contact, missioncons@nic.in, socons@mea.gov.in). In respect of educational certificates, MEA requires the certificates to be first attested by Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) (URL: http://www.education.nic.in/htmlweb/services.htm ). In respect of documents originating from Japan, Embassy requires them to be first attested by Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan before Embassy can attest them. All consular services offered by this Embassy are listed at Services.xls under entries c in the column S.

Fee

It may be noted that the total fee chargeable would be as listed at the Fee column of List of Services Sheet of the Excel document Services.xls plus postal charges / telex charges / special charges, if any. The fee is to be paid in cash.

Postal Charges

Applicants sending their applications by post need to add JPY1000 per application and those applying at the Embassy but seeking delivery by post should add JPY600; this is over and above the fee for the particular service listed at the Fee column of List of Services Sheet of the Excel document Services.xls. The cash may be sent by cash registered mail (GENKIN KAKITOME). The applicants should also send a strong self addressed (but without stamps) envelope which would be used by the Embassy for returning the documents after due processing. It may be noted that the applicants send / seek delivery by post at their own risk; the Embassy though uses registered post for dispatch of processed applications, is not responsible for any loss of documents.

Telex charges

The telex charges collected from foreigners for processing their visa applications depend upon nationality and place of their present stay and is chargeable as per the following table:

Special charges

There may be some other charges, for example, US citizens seeking Indian visa need to pay in addition an application fee which depends on the type of the visa and is generally Yen 2750.

Consular Jurisdiction of Embassy of India, Tokyo

This comprises of: Hokkaido, Tohoku(Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Akita, Yamagata, Fukushima), Kanto(Ibaraki, Saitama, Chiba, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Yamanashi, Tochigi), Shinetsu(Nagano, Niigata), Hokuriku(Toyama, Ishikawa, Fukui), Tokai(Gifu, Shizuoka, Aichi) and Okinawa

Consular Jurisdiction of Consulate General of India, Osaka

This comprises of: Kinki (Shiga, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, Nara, Wakayama), Chugoku(Tottori, Shimane, Okayama, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi), Shikoku(Tokushima, Kagawa, Ehime, Kochi), Kyushu(Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Oita, Miyazaki, Kagoshima) and Tokai(Mie)

Contact details of the Consulate are: Consulate General of India, Semba IS Building ( 10th Floor), 9-26, Kyutaro Kyutaromachi, 1 chome, Chuo-ku, Osaka-541-0056, Tel: 06-6261-7299/9299, Fax: 06-6261-7799 Email: cgindia@gol.com

Working Hours

Barring holidays and weekends (Saturdays and Sundays), applications are received at the Consular Wing of the Embassy from 9 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Processed documents are ready for collection from 5:00 p.m.to 5:30 p.m on the pick-up date printed in the receipt issued at the time of applying (if the printed pick-up date falls on a holiday, then the delivery is on a subsequent working day). The processed documents may be collected on the due date as explained above or, if so desired by the applicant, one or two days after the due date, but always on a working day during the delivery time of 5:00 p.m.-5:30 p.m.

Holidays

List of holidays to be observed by the Indian Embassy and the Indian Visa Application Centre during 2008

Access

Address: Embassy of India, Consular Wing, Kojimachi MT Bldg. 1F, 5-7-2 Kojimachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102-0083. Tel: (03)3262-2391. Fax: (03)3234-4866. Telex: 232-4886 INDEMB JP. Email: cpv@indembjp.org Subway: Yurakucho Line/Koji Machi Station(Exit 2), JR Line/Yotsuya Station(Akasaka Exit), Namboku Line/Nagata cho Station(Exit 9a), Marunouchi Line/Akasaka Mitsuke Station(D Kioicho Exit), Hanzomon Line/Hanzomon Station(Exit 7)

Processing Time:

• Time required to process various applications depends upon the type of service sought, nationality and place of stay of the applicant;
• The indicative processing times for various services, in terms of number of working days, are shown under T(Time) column of the List of Services Sheet Excel document Services.xls. It should be noted that the processing times shown in the sheet are only indicative, not binding. Sometimes, due to unavoidable/unforeseen circumstances, it may not be possible to provide the services within the indicated timeframe;
• Processing time is reckoned from the date on which all prescribed documents and the prescribed fee are received in the Embassy or IVAC provided these are received in the forenoon. If the documents and fee are received in the afternoon, the processing time is reckoned from the forenoon of the next working day. To illustrate - visa applications of Japanese nationals from areas falling in the jurisdiction of Embassy of India, Tokyo received at IVAC between 9.00 A.M. and 12.00 A.M. are normally processed the same day and their passports returned at IVAC on the same evening and but if such applications are received at IVAC in the afternoon or on a Saturday, processing time is longer and passports are returned at IVAC on the evening of the next working day.
• In respect of services for which indicative processing time is more than 30 working days, the Embassy would inform the applicant in case the processing finishes before due date.
• Applicants should avoid calling the Embassy to check the status of their applications before the due date.

Forms

All the forms referred to in this page (in the table at the Form column of List of Services Sheet of the Excel document Services.xls) are pdf versions which require acrobat reader available at http://www.adobe.com/prodindex/acrobat/readstep.html

Personal Interviews

Personal interviews with the applicants, though not insisted in all cases, may be demanded by the Consular Officer.

Inquiries

Answers to frequently asked questions are given below. If they don�ft answer your queries, then kindly send your query by email at cpv@indembjp.org. Those seeking status of their pending applications should do so only after the due date mentioned on the receipt. While doing so, the applicants should invariably mention such details as the receipt number, date, name and the service sought. One clear working-day must be allowed for preparation and issue of the replies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Please note that the answers given below are typical for the most common applicants and that there could be exceptions case to case.

Visa

• As the service requested by me takes too much time, can I have my passport back while the Embassy processes my application?
  Ans: Yes. Contact Indian Visa Application Centre with an application stating precise reason for seeking the passport back while your application is under processing. You will need to furnish a copy of the relevant pages of your passport (including the pages where Japanese visa appears). You would need to resubmit your passport to IVAC 2 days before pick up time.
• Who has to register with FRO / FRRO (Foreigners Registration Office / Foreigners ERegional Registration Office)?
  Ans: Persons of Indian origin holding multiple entry X-visas, visiting India to meet relatives or for social purposes, are required to register with the FRO/FRRO within 14 days of first arrival only if they intend to stay continuously for more than six months. This registration is required during the first visit after the visa is issued. Subsequent travels using the same visa do not require registration. Children below the age of 16 years are exempt from this requirement. All other visitors to India, of foreign as well as Indian origin, holding any other category of visa valid for more than six months should register with the FRO/FRRO within 14 days of arrival in India.
• Can Japanese nationals apply for Indian visa only in Japan and not in other Indian Embassies/Consulate in other countries?
  Ans: No. They can apply at any Indian Embassy or Consulate, though time required and fee charged would be higher.
• Can I take my personal pet such as dog, cat and bird to India?
  Ans: Please check up position with the quarantine officers at the entry as well as the entry airports.
• Do I have to carry health certificate certifying that I am free from AIDS, etc. when I go to India?
  Ans: No, you need not.
• What kind of currency should I carry when I go to India?
  Ans: All hard currencies like US$, Pound Sterling, French Frank, Japanese Yen are exchangeable in India.
• Is urgent issue of visa possible?
  Ans: Yes, but is decided based on the merits of the case.

Tourist Visa

• I am an ordinary foreign citizen. Do I need a visa to go to India?
  Ans: Yes. All foreign nationals barring those from Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives need visa to visit India.
• What kind of visa do I need to go to India for sightseeing?
  Ans: Tourist visa.
• What are the requirements for applying for tourist visa?
  Ans: Please refer to Services.xls and search for the tvj standing for tourist visa Japanese & tvf standing for tourist visa foreigners (non-Japanese) and then read under the column Checklist.
• Can I extend tourist visa while staying in India?
  Ans: Exceptions apart, no. For details, please visit visa extension.
• What will happen if I have to stay longer due to illness or some other unavoidable reason?
  Ans: Please report your problem to the nearest Foreigners Registration Office.List of Foreigners Regional Registration Offices may be seen at addresses of FRROs.

RAP / PAP

• Can I go anywhere in India if I have a valid tourist visa? Ans: No. Even with a valid Indian visa, you will not be allowed to enter areas such as Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, part of Sikkim, part of Himachal Pradesh, part of Uttar Pradesh (now Uttaranchal), part of Jammu & Kashmir, part of Rajasthan, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
• What will I do to enter these areas? Ans: In addition to the Indian visa, you need Restricted/Protected Area Permit (RAP/PAP) to enter these areas.
• Can I enter all these areas with the RAP/PAP? Ans: With RAP/PAP, you can enter only some parts of Manipur, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Nagaland, and Sikkim. (Please note that only tourist group of 4 and above can enter Manipur, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, and Nagaland. Individual tourist, i.e. one member tourist, can enter Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Sikkim.)
• What is the permissible period of stay in these areas where tourists are allowed to enter with Permit? Ans: Manipur : 10 days; Mizoram : 10 days; Arunachal Pradesh : 10 days; Nagaland : 10 days; Andaman & Nicobar Islands : 30 days; and Siikkim : 15 days. Please note here that the period of stay covers date of entry into the area and date of exit from the area.
• Do I have to pay fee for special Permit? Ans: No. It is free.
• Do I need to fill any special form for RAP/PAP? Ans: Yes. Form is available at Forms. RAP/PAP.pdf
• Can I take my video camera or big camera to India for my personal use? What will I tell to the customs at the airport? Ans: Yes, you can. Declare your video camera at the customs counter in the airport, that it is for your personal use and that you are going to bring it back when you return from India.
• Can I change my tourist visa to student visa, business visa or any other visa after I reach India? Ans: No.
• What will be the validity of my tourist visa and how many entries can I make with my Indian tourist visa? Ans: Six month multiple entries.
• Is the validity of the Indian visa starting from the date of issue or from the date of entry into India? Ans: From the date of issue.
• Can I do some other thing such as joining Yoga class, do petty business, attending short courses, etc. after entering India with tourist visa? Ans: No. For such cases, apply for appropriate visa.

Business Visa

• What are the requirements for getting Indian business visa? Ans: Please refer to Services.xls and search for the bvj standing for business visa Japanese & bvf standing for business visa foreigners (non-Japanese) and then read under the column Checklist.
• What are the usual validities of business visa one can get?: Ans: One year multiple entries.
• Can I stay continuously for one year in India with 1 year Business visa? Ans: No. You are allowed to stay only upto 180 days at a stretch.
• Can I work in India if I enter India with business visa? Ans: No.
• Can I convert my Indian business visa into Employment visa, student visa or any other visa after entering India? Ans: No.
• Can I extend my business visa if it expires while I am in India? Ans: No.

Student / Research Visa

• What are the requirements for getting student or Research visa? Ans: Please refer to Services.xls and search for the svj standing for student visa Japanese & svf standing for student visa foreigners (non-Japanese). Similarly, for research visas, search for the rvj standing for research visa Japanese & rvf standing for research visa foreigners (non-Japanese).
• Is there any difference between Student Visa and Research Visa? Ans: Yes. For student visa, you may directly approach IVAC. For a Research Visa, you should first go to the Education Wing in the Indian Embassy and seek clearance from them (writing to First Secretary Education at indembjp@gol.com). With the clearance from the Education wing, you can approach IVAP for grant of appropriate visa.
• Can I change my college, institution or university on my own after reaching India with Student visa or Research visa? Ans: Exceptions apart, no.
• Can I extend my visa in India and join another course after completing the course for which I have initially obtained student/research visa? Ans: You may clarify this from the educational authorities concerned and the nearest Foreigners Registration Office in India.

Passport

• If I don�ft get passport service (like renewal / extension of validity etc), what else can I get? Ans: An Identity Certificate can be issued which is valid for a specific period and establishes the Indian nationality of the applicant.

Miscellaneous

• Can I send someone else to apply and pick up my VISA / Passport / Documents? Ans: Yes. However, the one picking up the document on your behalf should carry the receipt issued at the time of depositing application plus a written authorization from you ie the applicant.
• What do I do if I have lost my receipt? Ans: You will have to appear in person in front of the consular officer, declare in writing you have lost your receipt, produce some identity (like a driver�fs licence). If the Consular officer is satisfied, your documents would be given to you.
• Can I get service before the normal time? Ans: We don�ft guarantee but if your requirement (to be projected in writing) so merits, we will try to expedite the process.

IMPORTANT NOTICES

Important Notices for holders of Indian Jumbo Passports

Holders of Indian Jumbo passports bearing the numbers Z-014311 to Z-014511 issued by the Embassy of India, Tokyo during the period 31 Aug 2006 to 13 Sept 2007 are hereby informed that passports bearing these numbers are being recalled. All concerned are requested to contact the Consular Wing of this Mission immediately with their passports to obtain fresh passports which will be issued free of charge.

Important Notices for ALL INDIAN PASSPORT APPLICANTS

All applicants for Indian passports may kindly note that with effect from 27 Aug 2007, all passport applications received in this Embassy will be processed for issuance of Machine Readable Passports (MRPs).

As MRPs issued from Japan will be processed centrally in New Delhi, there will be a time lag of 15 days between submission of applications complete in all respects along with payment of fees and delivery of the new passport. MRPs substantially add to the security of the document and contribute to the ease of travel, and we do sincerely hope to receive the understanding of our fellow citizens for the unavoidable delay.

It will be our continuous endeavor to improve on consular services. We look forward to your kind cooperation.

Annex 1: List of consular services; fee payable, Forms; check list of documents to be submitted etc.

Detailed list of services along with form, fees, documents to be submitted is listed at Services.xls

Updated on 12 Mar 08