Finally secured my 5-Year Japan Visa so here is my full timeline and document list

Hey everyone, just wanted to share a data point for the community. I successfully secured my 5-year multiple entry visa for Japan yesterday!

Here is the breakdown of my application:

Profile: Indie Game Dev, applied via VFS Mumbai.

Documents submitted:

  • Income Tax Returns for the last 3 years.
  • Bank statements for the last 6 months, specifically highlighting regular income sources.
  • A detailed cover letter explaining my intent to attend gaming conventions like TGS over the next few years.
  • Flight itinerary (dummy booking, not fully paid).

Timeline:

  • Day 0: Submitted documents at VFS.
  • Day 2: Application processed at the Consulate.
  • Day 4: Passport received with the stamp.

Critical Tip: If you use VFS, I highly recommend the premium courier or just doing self-pickup. My tracking status didn’t update until the passport was literally at my door. Check the logs effectively or you will stress out like I did!

Hope this helps anyone looking to level up their travel plans. Happy to answer questions!

Congrats on the clean compile! Logic check: did you need to show an official invitation letter from the conventions? I want to apply but I am worried my freelance income might look like a bug in the system to them.