Visa rules going to be simplified for Indians from January 1st.

For those who love to travel and explore new countries, here is an advanced New Year’s gift.  Visa regulations will be reduced from the 1^st of January.

Japan’s visa regulations will be relaxed next year onwards and will be issued multiple entries for short term stay. This move is expected to benefit tourists, business persons and repeat visitors.

The embassy said that the relaxed visa regime will not only have the simplification of visa application documents but also an expansion of the scope of eligible applicants.

Under the simplification of visa application documents, the applicant’s employment certificate and explanation letter stating the reason will be exempted in cases of applying for multiple-entry-visa.

“In principle, applicants will be able to apply for multiple-entry-visa with only three documents –passport visa application form (with photo) and papers to prove the financial capability (for tourism purpose)/documents to prove the applicants affiliation to certain enterprises (for business purpose),” said the Japanese foreign ministry release, which was issued by the embassy here.

The changes were aimed to increase the number of applicants.

Multiple entry visas will have a minimum 90 days and a maximum of 5 years validity will be issued to applicants who have travel records to Japan twice or more in the last one year, it said, adding in this case, the eligible applicants may submit only their passports and visa application form.

 “The relaxations are expected to help further development of people-to-people exchanges between Japan and India by enhancing convenience for Indian tourists and business persons as well as repeat visitors,” the release said.

In February, Japan had introduced the simplification of visa application procedure for a single entry visa for Indian students to promote visit of Indian youths to Japan.

Under this relaxation, Indian students, graduate students and alumni of universities in India may submit a certificate of student status or graduation instead of the document to prove financial capability in the application for the single entry visa for a short-term stay.