The
Government of the Republic of India (hereinafter
referred to as “GOI”), and the Government of Japan (hereinafter referred to as
“GOJ”)
Considering
the desire of both countries to strengthen their friendly relations;
Desirous of
facilitating the contacts between nationals of both countries;
Have mutually
confirmed their intentions to take or maintain the following measures to
simplify their respective visa procedures subject to the laws and regulations
of their respective countries.
1. Measures related to Business Visas in India and Temporary Visitor’s
Visas for Businessmen in Japan
(a) Each side may issue multiple entry visas valid for up
to 5 years to each other’s businessmen who travel to the other country on a
temporary visit for business purposes on receipt of a letter of request from a
duly recognized company or employer of each country or on a request from
recognized chambers of commerce and industry and business organizations of each
country, such as Confederation of
Indian Industries (CII), Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry
(FICCI), National Association of Software Services Companies (NASSCOM) and
Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry in India (ASSOCHAM) and government
recognized business and trade promotion councils in India and NIPPON KEIDANREN in Japan subject to the
following:
(i) The stay in India during each visit
should not exceed 180 consecutive days;
(ii) The stay in Japan during each visit
should not exceed 90 consecutive days.
(b) Each side may issue entry visas to each other’s
businessmen who are not covered under (a) above as
follows:
(i) The Indian side may issue multiple entry
business visas valid for up to 6 months with the period of stay up to 180
consecutive days to nationals of Japan who travel to India on a temporary visit
to establish industrial or business venture, to explore possibilities of
setting up industrial or business venture, for purchase or sale of industrial
or commercial products, or for purpose of trade and other short term business
related activities (not employment).
(ii) The Japanese side may issue single entry temporary
visitor’s visas valid for 3 months with the period of stay up to 90 consecutive
days to nationals of India who travel to Japan on a temporary visit for
business purposes such as trade, short-term business projects
and other short-term business related activities (not employment).
(c) The Japanese side may issue multiple entry
temporary visitor’s visas valid for up to 3 years with the period of stay up to
90 consecutive days on each visit to family members (spouse and children) of
the Indian businessmen mentioned in (a) above.
(d) Neither conversion of business visas to employment
visas in India nor change of immigration
status of persons who enter Japan with temporary
visitor’s visas, not due to special unavoidable reasons, may be permitted, unless
the applicant returns to his or her country of nationality and applies to the
Embassy or Consulate of the other country.
2. Measures related to Employment Visas in India and Entry Visas for Working
in Japan
Each side may
issue employment visas/entry visas for working as follows:
(a)(i) The Indian side may issue multiple-entry
employment visas to Japanese technicians or experts coming to India in pursuance of
bilateral arrangements between the GOI and the GOJ or in pursuance of arrangements between non-governmental organizations
including arrangements regarding cultural or academic exchanges that have
been approved by the GOI for duration stated in the arrangement or a period of 5 years,
whichever is less.
(ii)For those Japanese applicants who are not
covered under (a)(i) above but are highly skilled and qualified professionals
employed by a company, organization or industry in the IT software and IT
enabled sectors in India ,
the Indian side may grant multiple-entry employment visas valid for 3 years
initially. The applicant
must submit proof of his or her employment contract or engagement by the
company, organization or industry in India or of the undertaking in India . The applicant may be asked to submit proof
of registration of the company, organization or industry under domestic laws
and regulations. The Indian side may grant extensions of the period of stay for
2 more years on a year to year basis beyond the initial 3 years to those
Japanese applicants who entered India with visas mentioned
in this paragraph, in accordance with the procedures determined by the
GOI. In this connection,
the GOI will ensure that such procedures will be completed as expeditiously as
possible.
(iii) For those Japanese applicants who are highly skilled
and qualified professional coming to India for employment by a company,
organization or industry in India or engaged in an undertaking in India on
contract not covered in (a) (i) and (a)(ii) above, the Indian side may grant multiple-entry
employment visas valid for up to 3 years or the term of assignment whichever is
less. The Indian side may grant extensions of the period of stay for 2 more
years on a year to year basis beyond the initial 3 years to those Japanese
applicants who entered India with visas mentioned
in this paragraph subject to provision of necessary
documents.
(iv) The Indian side may issue to family members (spouse
and children who are dependent on the applicant and forming part of the same
household) of the nationals of Japan mentioned in (i), (ii) and (iii) above,
multiple entry visas co-terminus with employment visas issued to the nationals
of Japan, upon presentation of proof of their relationship and a sponsoring
letter from their employer.
(b) (i) The Japanese side may issue single entry visas for
working valid for 3 months with the period of stay of 3 years or 1 year
depending on the intended length of their stay in Japan to nationals of India who have an
appropriate Certificate of Eligibility issued by the regional immigration
offices of Japan. After the arrival in Japan ,
nationals of India can obtain from the regional
immigration offices a multiple
re-entry permission valid for up to 3 years consistent with the period of stay
marked on the landing permission granted at the port of entry. The GOJ will
endeavour to deal with visa applications as expeditiously as possible from the date of application.
(ii) The Japanese side may issue to family
members (spouse and children), who are dependent on the nationals of India
mentioned in (b) (i) and forming part of the same household, single entry visas
valid for 3 months with the period of stay co-terminus with the visas of the
nationals of India depending on the intended length of their stay in Japan, on
presentation of an appropriate Certificate of Eligibility issued to each family
member by the regional immigration offices of Japan. After the arrival in Japan ,
family members can obtain from
the regional
immigration offices a multiple re-entry permission valid for up to 3 years consistent with the period
of stay marked on the landing permissions granted
at the port of entry.
(iii) The Japanese side may issue to family members (spouse
and children), who are not dependent on the nationals of India mentioned in (b)
(i) as well as family members (spouse and children) who are dependent on the national of India
but not forming part of the same household, multiple entry visas valid for up
to 3 years with the period of each of stay up to 90 days, on presentation of
proof of relationship with the national of India and proof of his or her
employment in Japan.
(iv) In case of parents of the nationals of
India mentioned in (b)(i)or parents of his or her spouse, the Japanese side may
issue single entry temporary visitor’s visas valid for 3 months with the period
of stay up to 90 consecutive days on presentation of proof of relationship,
travel bookings and documents to prove the capacity of the applicants or
nationals of India mentioned above to cover their travel expenditures.
(c)The nationals of Japan and their family members
mentioned in (a) above will complete formalities for residence permits by
applying to the Foreigners’ Regional Registration Office under the Ministry of
Home Affairs of India (hereinafter referred to as “FRRO”) within 14 days after
their arrival in accordance with the relevant regulations of India . The residence permits issued by the
GOI above need to be renewed on annual basis.
3. Measures related to Tourist Visas in India and Temporary Visitor’s
Visas for the Purpose of Sightseeing in Japan
Each side may
issue tourist visas/temporary visitors visas for the purpose of sightseeing as
follows:
(a)The Indian side may issue multiple entry
tourist visas valid for up to 5 years with the period of stay up to 90
consecutive days to the nationals of Japan .
An interval of at least 2 months between 2 visits to India is required on a
tourist visa. However, with a view to ensuring that genuine tourists are not
affected, nationals of Japan with tourist visas, after
initial entry into India ,
may visit another country largely on account of neighbourhood tourism and need
to re-enter India within 60 days,
before finally exiting. Such tourists may be permitted up to 3 re-entries (on
the basis of the needs) by the Indian Missions or Posts subject to their
submission of a detailed itinerary and supporting documentation such as ticket
bookings.
(b)
(i) The Japanese side may issue single entry
temporary visitor’s visas for the purpose of sightseeing valid for 3 months
with the period of stay up to 90 consecutive days ,on
presentation of travel bookings, to the nationals of India, as well as to
their families, who meet certain
criteria, such as members of companies listed on recognized stock exchange,
members of state and municipal enterprises, government officials and cultural
figures and other persons judged by the Chief of Mission to be reliable.
(ii) The Japanese side may issue single entry
temporary visitor’s visas for the purpose of sightseeing valid for 3 months
with the period of stay up to 90 consecutive days to those
other than (i) above on presentation of travel bookings as well as documents to
prove the applicant's capacity to cover their travel expenditures.
(iii) If the nationals of India participate in
package tours organized by tour operators registered with the GOI and
designated by the Japanese side, single entry temporary visitor’s visas for the
purpose of sightseeing valid for 3 months with the period of stay up to 90
consecutive days may be granted on presentation of
necessary documents by the tour operator.
4. Measures related to Student Visas in India and Entry Visas for Students
in Japan
Each side may
issue student visas/entry visas for students as follows:
(a) The Indian side may issue student visas to Japanese
applicants valid for up to 5 years, or duration of the course, whichever is
shorter on presentation of a letter of confirmed admission from a recognized
educational institution, proof of finances to cover travelling expenses and
other expenditure in India .
A maximum of 3 re-entries per academic year may be allowed. In emergency
situation additional entries may be granted. The Japanese applicant should be
required to register himself or herself with the concerned FRRO for a residence
permit within 14 days of his or her arrival.
There will be
no restriction with reference to the number of courses a Japanese student can
attend in one institution or multiple institutions, provided the institutions
are recognized. In case a
Japanese student wishes to change a course midway and join another course, the
period of validity of the residence permit will be adjusted to the duration of
the latter course.
(b) The Japanese side may issue single entry
visas valid for 3 months, with the period of stay up to 2years and 3 months to
Indian students to receive education at Japanese colleges ,high schools or
equivalent educational institutions or to take courses such as Japanese language at other equivalent
educational schools. Indian
students can obtain from the regional immigration offices a multiple re-entry permission valid
for up to 2 years and 3 months consistent with the period of stay marked on the
landing permission granted at the
port of entry. The GOJ will endeavour to deal with applications for extension
of the period of stay from such students of India beyond the permitted period
of stay, as the case may be, for studying in Japan as expeditiously as
possible from the date of application.
(c) In the case of applicants covered under the Cultural
Exchange Programme or the Education Exchange Programme or other mutually
approved Programme between the two sides, each side may issue relevant visas on
presentation of a letter of authorization from the concerned Government body in
each other’s country.
5. Short-Term Visas (India )/Temporary
Visitor’s Visas (Japan )
Each side may
issue relevant entry visas to the nationals of one country travelling to the
other country for conferences, seminars and other short-term academic exchanges
in accordance with applicable procedures as set forth in laws and regulations
of each side.
6(a) Each side will, within a reasonable period
that does not exceed 5 working days after an application requesting entry visas
is considered complete under its domestic laws and regulations, inform the
applicant of the decision concerning the application. At the request of the
applicant, each side will endeavour to provide, without undue delay,
information concerning the status of the application.
(b)The period referred to in paragraph (a)
can be extended if additional consideration on the documents provided by the
applicant is necessary.
7. Each side reserves the right, for reasons of security,
public order or public health, to suspend temporarily, either in whole or in
part, the implementation of the foregoing measures upon notification given to
the other side through diplomatic channels.
8. The foregoing measures will be implemented from a date
to be mutually decided by both sides through diplomatic channels. These
measures are subject to all other conditions for grant of visas as per the
extant instructions issued by both Governments being applicable. Such extant
instructions are issued subject to the applicable laws and regulations of each
country.
9. Both sides may, as necessary, hold consultations
through diplomatic channels to deal with any issues that may arise relating to
the foregoing measures.
10. Each side, when it terminates the foregoing measures,
either in whole or in part, will give 1 month’s notice to the other side in
writing through diplomatic channels.
11. Both sides will continue consultations to explore
measures to further simplify visa procedures.
Signed at Tokyo , Japan ,
on October 25, 2010 in two originals.
*****
HS/SH/LV
(Release ID :66564
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