Japan ease visa rules for Indian and Vietnamese citizens

There is now a relaxation in the visa rules for Indians and Vietnamese who want to travel to Japan on business or to study. People from these countries will now be granted multiple entry visas that will be valid for a period not less than 10 years. This important information was revealed by the country’s Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida on Tuesday.

FOR INDIA AND VIETNAM:

It has been further informed that the above mentioned countries’ benefits will be extended to its citizens from the 15^th of February this year. This was brought before the world by Japanese Kyodo news agency. Officials have revealed that, this move was initiated by the government in order to improve its tourism industry along with enhancing people to people exchange between the countries in question.

TO MOTIVATE JAPANESE TOURISM:

They hope that the relaxation will motivate people to make frequent visits to Japan and also add to the business opportunities within the Japanese economy.  This is not the only change that has taken place with relation to the relaxation of visa rules for India and Vietnam. Citizens of these two countries will be restricted to business or study on the first visit only. From the second trip onwards, applicants can make use of the same visa for tourism or to visit family and friends in Japan.

THE OFFICIAL DIALOGUE:

The Prime Minister of Japan has been in talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi  and Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of Vietnam, since December on this issue. As a response PM Modi announced a ‘visa on arrival’ facility for the Japanese. This relaxation is to be implemented from the 1^st of March this year.