✈️ Travelling from Japan as an Indian Student
Living in Japan gives us many opportunities to travel abroad—for conferences, academic programs, university visits, internships, holidays, or simply to explore a new country.
But travelling on an Indian passport can require a little more planning. Many countries require a visa, and even a simple connecting flight can become confusing when the connection involves immigration, a transit visa, or a change of airport.
Many students also travel back to India during university holidays to spend time with family.
This guide is meant to answer some of the practical questions that come up when planning these trips:
Do I need a visa? Can I leave the airport during transit? What happens if I have to change airports? How much time should I leave between flights?
The information below is particularly aimed at Indian passport holders living in Japan.
Important: Visa, immigration, and airline rules can change. The information below is intended as a practical guide based on commonly used routes. Always confirm the current requirements before travelling.
📑 Table of Contents
- 🇮🇳 Japan → India
- 🇨🇳 China
- 🇭🇰 Hong Kong
- 🇹🇭 Thailand / Bangkok
- 🇺🇸 United States
- 🇪🇺 Europe / Schengen Area
- 🇦🇺 Australia
- 💴 Flight Costs
- 🎒 Before You Fly
- 🌏 The Golden Rule
🇮🇳 Japan → India
There are many flight options between Japan and India. Depending on the airline, season, destination, and how early you book, you may find tickets from around ¥40,000–¥90,000, although both cheaper and more expensive options are possible.
A direct flight to Delhi may cost around ¥65,000 under normal conditions. If you book relatively close to the travel date, such as around one month before departure, prices can reach around ¥80,000 or more.
Connecting flights are often cheaper, but the cheapest ticket is not necessarily the easiest one.
Before booking, check:
- Which airport you arrive at
- Which airport you depart from
- Whether you need a transit visa
- Whether you need to collect your baggage
- How long the connection is
- Whether you need to change airports
🇯🇵 Returning to Japan
If you are living in Japan with a valid Residence Card, you do not need to obtain a new Japanese visa every time you return from India.
For a temporary trip abroad, eligible residents can generally use the Special Re-entry Permit system and return within one year of departure, provided their period of stay does not expire before then.
Before leaving Japan:
- Carry your passport and Residence Card.
- Complete the applicable special re-entry procedure at the airport.
- Indicate that you intend to return to Japan.
- Make sure you return within the permitted period.
Do not confuse the original Japanese visa in your passport with your current residence status in Japan. For residents temporarily travelling abroad, the Residence Card and applicable re-entry procedure are important for returning to Japan.
🇨🇳 China
China is a common transit point between Japan and India, but Indian passport holders need to pay particular attention to the exact transit arrangement.
China has a 24-hour visa-free transit facility for eligible international transit passengers, but it generally requires passengers to remain within the designated transit area. If you need to leave the airport or pass through immigration, different entry requirements may apply.
China’s longer 240-hour visa-free transit scheme does not currently include India among its eligible nationalities.
Because of this, the airport and itinerary you choose can make a big difference.
🏙️ Shanghai
Shanghai has two major airports:
- Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA)
- Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)
This is very important when booking your flight.
✈️ Same airport
For example:
Tokyo → Pudong → Delhi
If both flights use Pudong and your itinerary qualifies for the applicable transit arrangement, you can generally remain within the airport’s transit process without entering China.
🚕 Changing airports
Now consider:
Tokyo → Hongqiao → Pudong → Delhi
This is completely different.
You have to leave one airport and travel to another. This means you need to pass through the relevant immigration/entry procedures.
For an Indian passport holder, do not assume that you can make this transfer without Chinese entry permission.
If your itinerary does not qualify for a transit exemption, you will need the appropriate Chinese visa or entry permission before travelling.
Do not book an airport-change connection assuming that because both airports are in Shanghai, it is treated as a normal transit.
If you do have to change airports:
- Check the visa requirement before booking.
- Check whether your specific itinerary qualifies for a transit exemption.
- Leave a large time buffer.
- Allow time for immigration.
- Allow time to collect baggage if necessary.
- Allow time for the journey between airports.
- Allow time for check-in for the next flight.
Practical rule:
Same Shanghai airport = much simpler.
Hongqiao → Pudong = treat it as an airport transfer requiring entry into China unless you have confirmed that your itinerary qualifies for an exemption.
🏙️ Beijing
Beijing is another common transit point.
You will frequently see Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) on flight itineraries.
A connection of around 1–1.5 hours may technically be possible depending on the itinerary, but it is risky.
If your Tokyo → Beijing flight is delayed by even 30–45 minutes, you may have very little time left for the next flight.
If possible, choose a longer connection rather than the shortest possible one.
Also check whether your specific itinerary qualifies for China’s transit arrangements before booking.
🛂 Chinese visa
If your itinerary requires you to enter China and you do not qualify for a transit exemption, arrange the appropriate Chinese visa before travelling.
The Chinese visa application process itself is not necessarily difficult, but the requirements can be very specific.
Follow the application instructions exactly.
If the application asks for a particular document, photograph, format, or piece of information, provide it exactly as requested.
Do not assume that a different format will be accepted simply because it worked for someone else.
🇭🇰 Hong Kong
Hong Kong is another popular transit point between Japan and India.
For Indian passport holders, direct airside transit without entering Hong Kong does not require Pre-arrival Registration (PAR).
✈️ Staying inside the airport
For example:
Tokyo → Hong Kong → Delhi
If you remain in the airport’s transit area and continue to your next flight, you generally do not need to obtain Hong Kong PAR simply for the transit.
This makes Hong Kong a relatively straightforward transit point when you have a normal connecting itinerary.
🌆 Leaving the airport
The situation is different if you have a long layover and want to leave the airport.
Indian passport holders who want to enter Hong Kong generally need to complete the free Pre-arrival Registration (PAR) before travelling, unless they qualify for an exemption.
Eligible Indian nationals can visit Hong Kong visa-free for up to 14 days under the PAR system.
So:
Staying airside → No PAR required
Leaving the airport → Complete PAR before travelling
If you have separate tickets, also check whether you need to collect your baggage and check in again.
🇹🇭 Thailand / Bangkok
Bangkok is another very common connecting point between Japan and India.
The most important thing to remember is that Bangkok has two major international airports:
- Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK)
- Don Mueang International Airport (DMK)
Always check the airport code when booking.
✈️ Same airport
For example:
Tokyo → BKK → Delhi
If both flights use the same airport, the connection is much easier.
If you have a long layover and want to leave the airport, Indian ordinary passport holders currently benefit from Thailand’s 30-day visa exemption for tourism.
Therefore, for an eligible short tourist visit, you currently do not need to obtain a Thai tourist visa in advance.
🚕 Changing airports
Now consider:
Tokyo → BKK → DMK → Delhi
You need to leave one airport and travel across Bangkok to the other.
The journey can take around one hour or more, depending heavily on traffic.
Because you have to leave the airport, you need to satisfy Thailand’s entry requirements.
For Indian ordinary passport holders, the current 30-day visa exemption for tourism means that an eligible traveller does not currently need to obtain a Thai tourist visa in advance.
However, you still need enough time for:
- Immigration
- Baggage collection
- Travelling between airports
- Traffic
- Check-in for the next flight
Not recommended if you have a lot of luggage or a short connection.
🌆 Leaving the airport during a long layover
If both flights use the same airport and you have a long layover, you can currently enter Thailand for tourism under the applicable 30-day visa-exemption arrangement for Indian passport holders.
This can make Bangkok a convenient place for a longer layover if you have enough time.
🇺🇸 United States
🛂 B1/B2 visa
For tourism and many conference-related trips, Indian passport holders generally need a B1/B2 visa.
A typical application involves:
- Completing the DS-160.
- Paying the visa application fee.
- Scheduling the required appointment.
- Attending the interview.
- Waiting for processing and passport return.
If your documents are complete and an appointment is available, the process can move relatively quickly.
However, appointment availability and processing times vary, so do not assume that the visa will always be issued within one week.
🎓 Conference travel
If you are travelling to the United States for a conference, keep the following documents ready:
- Conference invitation
- Registration confirmation
- University information
- Travel plan
- Accommodation details
These documents help explain the purpose of your visit.
🇪🇺 Europe / Schengen Area
🛂 Schengen visa
For short visits to the Schengen Area, Indian passport holders generally need a Schengen visa.
You normally apply through the country responsible for your application based on your itinerary.
Processing can take some time, especially during busy travel periods.
Apply well before your planned departure.
🎓 Academic travel
For conferences, academic programs, or university visits, you may need:
- Invitation letter
- Conference registration
- Letter from your university
- Accommodation details
- Flight itinerary
- Financial documents
- Travel insurance
For university-related programs, the host professor or university may need to provide an invitation letter.
If you are participating in an academic program, ask for this document early rather than waiting until the visa application deadline.
🇦🇺 Australia
🛂 Visa
For Indian passport holders, a visa is required to visit Australia.
The appropriate visa depends on the purpose of your trip, such as tourism, business, or attending an academic event.
Apply through the official Australian immigration system and prepare documents explaining your purpose of travel.
🎓 Conference travel
If you are attending a conference or academic event, keep your:
- Conference invitation
- Registration confirmation
- University documents
- Accommodation information
- Travel plans
ready for the application.
Apply early because processing times can vary.
💴 Flight Costs
As a general reference, flights between Japan and India can range from approximately ¥40,000 to ¥90,000, depending on the airline, destination, season, and booking date.
A direct flight to Delhi may be around ¥65,000 under normal conditions.
If you book only around one month before travelling, you may see prices around ¥80,000 or more.
Connecting flights are often cheaper.
However, when comparing flights, don’t look only at the ticket price.
A cheaper flight may involve:
- A very long layover
- An airport change
- A transit visa
- Baggage re-check
- Multiple immigration procedures
- A risky connection
Sometimes paying a little more for a simpler route is worth it.
🎒 Before You Fly
Before leaving Japan, check all of the following.
🇯🇵 Japan
☐ Passport is valid
☐ Residence Card is valid
☐ Special re-entry procedure completed
☐ Return date is within the permitted period
✈️ Flight
☐ Airport code checked
☐ Connection time checked
☐ Airport change checked
☐ Baggage allowance checked
☐ Baggage transfer checked
☐ Separate-ticket connection identified
🛂 Visa
☐ Destination visa checked
☐ Transit visa checked
☐ Airport-change visa requirement checked
☐ Invitation letter obtained if needed
☐ Visa application completed early
🌏 The Golden Rule
When searching for an international flight, don’t just ask:
“Is there a cheap flight?”
Ask:
“What exactly happens between these two flights?”
For example:
Tokyo → Shanghai → Delhi
→ Which Shanghai airport?
Tokyo → Hong Kong → Delhi
→ Am I staying airside or entering Hong Kong?
Tokyo → Bangkok → Delhi
→ Is it BKK → BKK or BKK → DMK?
These small details can completely change what you need to do.
A little preparation before booking can save you from a lot of trouble at the airport.
Check the route. Check the airport. Check the visa. Then book.
Safe travels! 🇮🇳 🇯🇵 🌏
This article is intended as a practical guide for Indian students living in Japan. Visa, transit, immigration, and airline requirements can change. Always confirm the current requirements with the relevant embassy, immigration authority, airport, or airline before travelling.
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