This isn’t your typical “how-to” guide with a checklist of things you need before applying for a Japan visa. It’s more of a story— Shruti Patil & my personal experience of how the entire process played out. If you’re looking for the visa requirements, trust me, a quick search will help, or maybe I’ll write a separate post about it later.
Now, back to the story.
I’ve always been a fan of DIY—whether it’s small projects or larger tasks. The lessons it teaches are worth every moment of effort, like in this case.
The Plan: Japan in October
My wife and I decided on a trip to Japan in October last year, and guess what? I didn’t book my flight tickets this time! There’s a funny story about Bulgaria for another day. 😄
After checking the visa process details online, we gathered all the necessary documents and headed to the Mumbai consulate. A walk-in process—how cool is that? The consulate is on Peddar Road, one of the elite areas in Mumbai, and somehow, that Japan vibe kicked in early. Oh, and we even found parking nearby, which in Mumbai, is no less than a miracle!
At the Consulate: Unexpected Helpfulness
Since this was directly at the consulate and not an outsourced VFS or BLS center, the process was systematic. We waited at the gate for a few minutes, and security allowed people in slowly. There were just about 10 people ahead of us. Once inside, we got our token, and a staff member started checking forms before sending us to the visa counter. His job was just to hand over tokens, but he went out of his way to help newbies like us by fixing some minor issues and neatly organising our documents.
After waiting for 15-20 minutes, our turn came. If you’re applying together, all members can approach the counter as a group, which was nice. Now, here’s where the fun really starts.
The officer checked everything and told us two key pieces were missing: our marriage certificate and a leave approval letter from our employers. Normally, in any other visa process, you’d be asked to come back another day, but here? Nope. The person at the counter was so helpful. He simply said, “Email those to us later.” I couldn’t believe it!
The No-Marriage-Certificate Dilemma
Now comes the twist—we didn’t have a marriage certificate. Yeah, we never got around to it, and there’s a whole backstory about our court marriage plans… but I’ll save that for another day. 😅 When we mentioned this to the officer, I braced myself for the worst, expecting to be told we’d have to come back with the proper paperwork. But, what happened next was totally unexpected.
Instead of dismissing us or getting annoyed, the officer leaned in slightly and, with the warmth and understanding you’d expect from a concerned parent, started explaining why having a marriage certificate was important. He didn’t rush or sound irritated; he was genuinely concerned for us, as though he was making sure we understood the gravity of the missing document. It wasn’t about just fulfilling a visa requirement—it was like he wanted us to realize the lifeimportance of that certificate.
“Beta, yeh zaroori hai, aaj nahi toh kal aapko chahiye hoga,” he said in the kindest way, almost as if we were his own kids who had forgotten a critical part of growing up. There was no scolding, no ‘go home and fix this.’ Instead, it felt like he was guiding us, explaining with patience how we were going to need this document in the future for other things too. I couldn’t help but nod along, completely agreeing with him, even though it was technically not relevant to the task at hand.
But then, sensing that this wasn’t something we could provide on the spot, he smoothly shifted gears and asked, “Do you have a wedding photograph?” We said yes, and he instantly lightened up, suggesting we send it over email instead. That small gesture felt like a lifeline.
I was taken aback. A visa officer taking this much effort, explaining things in such a friendly, almost parental way, and then offering a workaround instead of sending us back? Unbelievable. It was as though he genuinely wanted to help us succeed in getting this visa, rather than just doing his job.
A Shockingly Cheap Japan Visa
When we asked about the fees, he said ₹1,000 for two. What amazed us more was that he told us not to pay now. He said, “You pay the fees when you collect your visa next week. If you don’t get it, no fee!” That level of trust and hospitality? Mind-blowing.
A 5-Year Multi-Entry Visa for Just INR 500
The next day, we sent over the wedding photo and leave acceptance. As promised, I returned a week later to collect our visas. Both of us got 5-year multi-entry visas for just ₹500 each! The best part? Having a long-duration visa helps when applying for other country visas, and with a Japan visa you get access to 6-7 additional countries visa-free.
Hospitality at Its Finest
Japan’s reputation for hospitality and kindness shone through in this experience. Even though the visa processing team was Indian, they embodied the essence of Japan’s values. It was such a warm, welcoming start to our journey.
This was our DIY Japan visa story. A simple process, unexpectedly kind officers, and a visa fee that still amazes me. It’s experiences like this that make travel not just about the destination, but the journey too.