Our Japan Visa Experience: A DIY Process for Just Rs 500
We walked into the Japan consulate in Mumbai with incomplete documents and walked out with a 5-year multi-entry visa for Rs 500 each. Here's the whole story.
This is from our experience back in September 2023. The process may have changed since then, so check with the consulate or VFS before you plan your visit. But the story is still worth telling because it says a lot about how Japan runs things.
Shruti and I had decided on a trip to Japan in October 2023. After looking up the requirements online, we gathered our documents and headed to the Consulate General of Japan in Mumbai on Peddar Road (Cumballa Hill). At the time, the consulate accepted walk-in applications directly, no VFS or BLS in the middle. Just you and the consulate.
We even found parking nearby, which if you know Mumbai, is basically a sign that things are going to go well.
At the Consulate
Since this was directly at the consulate and not an outsourced centre, the process was surprisingly orderly. We waited at the gate for a few minutes, security let people in slowly, and there were about 10 people ahead of us. Once inside, we got our token, and a staff member started reviewing forms before sending people to the visa counter.
His job was technically just to hand over tokens, but he went out of his way to help. He spotted minor issues in our documents, fixed the ordering, and neatly organised everything before we reached the counter. That kind of thing would never happen at a VFS centre where the person at the door barely looks up.
After about 15-20 minutes, our turn came. If you're applying as a couple or family, everyone can approach the counter together, which was a nice touch.
The Missing Marriage Certificate
The officer checked everything and told us two things were missing: our marriage certificate and a leave approval letter from our employers. At any other visa counter in the world, this is where they'd hand you back the stack and say "come back when you have everything." But this officer just said, "Email those to us later."
Then came the twist. We didn't actually have a marriage certificate. We'd never gotten around to it (long story involving court marriage plans that kept getting delayed). When we mentioned this, I expected the worst. Surely this was the end of the road.
Instead, the officer leaned in and started explaining, almost like a concerned parent, why having a marriage certificate was important. Not for the visa, but for life. "Beta, yeh zaroori hai, aaj nahi toh kal aapko chahiye hoga," he said. No scolding, no impatience. Just genuine concern, as though we were his own kids who'd forgotten a critical adult responsibility.
After that gentle life lesson, he asked if we had a wedding photograph. We said yes. He brightened up and said we could email that instead. That small gesture felt like a lifeline.
A visa officer taking the time to explain things like a parent, offering workarounds instead of sending us back? I've dealt with enough consulates and VFS centres to know how rare that is.
Rs 500 for a 5-Year Visa
When we asked about fees, he said Rs 1,000 for both of us. Rs 500 each. And then he told us not to pay now. "You pay when you collect your visa next week. If you don't get it, no fee." That level of trust was something else entirely.
The next day we emailed the wedding photo and leave approval. A week later, I went back to collect our visas. Both of us got 5-year multi-entry visas for Rs 500 each.
Why a Japan Visa Is Worth More Than You Think
Beyond Japan itself (which is obviously incredible), having a long-duration Japan visa opens doors. Several countries offer visa-free or simplified entry if you hold a valid Japan visa. VisaHacks.in has a good breakdown of the additional countries you get access to. It's one of those visas that keeps giving even when you're not going to Japan.
That Japan visa also came in handy when we were planning our SAS EuroBonus Million Points Challenge itinerary later, which involved routing through multiple Asian countries on a tight timeline. Having a multi-year Japan visa already sorted was one less thing to worry about.
A Note on the Current Process
We did this back in September 2023, and the process may have changed since then. Please check with the consulate or VFS for the latest requirements and fees before you plan your application.
If you want any assistance with a Japan visa or any other visa, we've partnered with Sprint Visa. You can reach out to them directly through this link and they'll help you through the process. Once your visa is processed through Sprint Visa, you'll also earn bonus Mag Miles on the Magnify app.
