Consulate-General of Japan in Edinburgh

Edinburgh serves Scotland and these northern English council areas: County Durham, Cumberland, Darlington, Gateshead, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Newcastle upon Tyne, North Tyneside, Northumberland, Redcar and Cleveland, South Tyneside, Stockton-on-Tees, Sunderland, and Westmorland and Furness. London covers the rest of England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Visa applicants must be lawful UK residents and live within the district.

The post uses an online booking system for visa and consular visits; it is not a walk-in counter. The portal covers passports, visas, certificates and selected re-entry-permit extensions. Available categories and booking instructions are on the official page, including how to cancel or rearrange a slot. Do not assume that email or telephone can replace an online booking where the system requires one.

The Consular Section handles passports, certificates, family-register and nationality procedures, overseas voting, education and visas for Japan. The website distinguishes questions about Japan from UK immigration matters: a UK visa or permission to live in Britain is decided by UK authorities, not the Japanese consulate. Applicants for Japanese visas should check eligibility and documents for their specific category.

The address is 2 Melville Crescent, Edinburgh EH3 7HW. From Waverley, the official guide directs visitors towards the west end of Princes Street, along Queensferry Street and then Melville Street to Melville Crescent; tram access is also noted. Consular counter hours are 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. and 2:00–4:30 p.m. Bring photo ID; belongings may be scanned. The waiting area is small and there is no consulate parking. The official site names Katsutoshi Takeda as consul-general.

Services listed by the office

• Passports, certificates, family-register and nationality matters.
• Japanese visas, with in-person applications and online appointments.
• Residence registration, overseas voting and safety guidance.
• Education-related support and services for the Japanese community.
• Promotion of Japan-related events in Scotland and northern England.