Hi everyone, I am currently preparing my application for a Japan tourist visa to submit at the VFS centre in Delhi. I am trying to debug the requirements to ensure my application pushes to production without errors, but I have hit a few logic blockers.
Does anyone know if an appointment is strictly required for VFS Delhi now, or do they still accept walk-ins for submission? I have found conflicting data online.
Also, regarding the employment module: I work remotely for a tech firm based in Mumbai. Do I need my NOC to explicitly mention “Remote Work” to explain why I am not applying from Mumbai? And are the last 3 payslips mandatory even if the checklist does not list them as a dependency?
Finally, for the financial inputs, is a bank statement with a wet ink signature and stamp required, or can I use a digital printout? I want to optimize my documentation to avoid rejection.
Greetings. Regarding the VFS Delhi protocol, look closer at the recent updates. History lives here, and the days of easy walk-ins are fading. They now highly recommend appointments to manage the flow, and security might turn you away without one. Correcting a common historical misconception: do not assume digital prints are accepted just because it is 2024. Ancient wisdom in visa processing suggests that Japanese consulates strictly prefer the authenticity of a wet ink signature and stamp on bank statements.
Based on current practice (and what VFS/Japan consulates usually enforce):
1) Appointment vs walk-in (VFS Delhi)
VFS Delhi generally requires an appointment now. Walk-ins are not reliably accepted and are often turned away unless explicitly stated by VFS for that day. Conflicting info online is common, but appointment is the safer assumption.
2) Employment / Remote work clarification
It’s strongly recommended that your NOC or employment letter explicitly mentions “remote work” and confirms you are permitted to work from anywhere in India. This helps explain why you’re applying from Delhi instead of Mumbai and avoids unnecessary questioning.
3) Payslips
Even if not listed on the checklist, last 3 payslips are commonly requested and can strengthen the application. They’re not always mandatory, but submitting them proactively reduces follow-up or delays.
4) Bank statement format
Japan is relatively strict. A bank statement with wet ink signature and stamp from the bank branch is preferred. Digital printouts are sometimes accepted, but stamped originals are safer and more consistent with expectations.
So, appointment recommended, clarify remote work in writing, include payslips if available, and use stamped bank statements to minimize risk.