Study Guide
How to Apply for a Student Visa in Japan: Requirements, Cost, Eligibility, & Process
The Student Visa in Japan is accepted as a form of long-term visa by Japanese educational institutions, including universities, schools, and vocational institutions.
Anyone who wants to enroll in a Japanese educational institution must have a student visa.
Japanese citizens are not required to have a visa according to government policy. The exemption, however, only covers transitory activities, such as going to conferences, traveling, or conducting business.
Even if you don’t need a visa and want to visit Japan for more than 90 days, you still need to apply for the right kind of visa for your trip.
See Also: Student Visa Attorney | Applying for a Student Visa in the U.S.
What are the Requirements to get a Student Visa in Japan in 2024?
You require a number of documents to support your application for a student visa in Japan. To submit an application for a student visa to Japan, you must have the following documents:
- Your current passport, copies of it, and the Student Visa Application Form. Additionally, you must submit two passport-size photos that:
- Size: 4 cm by 3 cm, taken within the last three months, with a white, plain, and shadow-free background.
- As you start, you must face forward and keep a neutral expression.
- You need to be able to see your face clearly.
- The picture must be of a high standard (focused, clear, and sharp)
- The Certificate of Eligibility and the Admission Letter from the Japanese Educational Institution, both of which include information about the course’s length and specifics (diploma, transcripts, etc.)
- You must provide proof that you have the money to spend the entire time in Japan. A student visa in Japan costs about 2 million yen for the entire duration of the visa.
You can prove that you have the necessary funds by:
- A bank statement or income
- Proof of Academic Excellence
- If someone is sponsoring you, you need to show proof that you’ve received financial aid as well as your sponsor’s bank records and proof of income.
if required;
- Guarantee Letters and Invitations from Your Institution of Higher Learning
- a motivational essay or cover letter you wrote outlining your motivation for the trip.
A few of these documents must also be given to your school so they can apply for the Certificate of Eligibility.
Take note of:
- The paperwork must be printed on A4 paper.
- It may be acceptable to send copies of the documents rather than the originals, depending on the Embassy or Consulate. You might not always receive your documents back.
- This is not a complete list of prerequisites. Depending on your unique situation, the Embassy or Consulate where you apply may need additional documentation.
Read More: How Long Does It Take to Get a Student Visa in the US, Canada, & UK?
How to Apply for a Student Visa in Japan in 2024?
There are two steps in the application process for a student visa to Japan:
- How to get your Certificate of Eligibility
- submitting an application for a student visa to Japan
1. How to get your Certificate of Eligibility
Every foreigner entering Japan on a long-term basis must present a Certificate of Eligibility, according to the Japanese Immigration Services.
However, since you must obtain a COE before visiting Japan, it is the responsibility of your school to handle your application.
You must provide them with the necessary paperwork.
The purpose of the Japan Certificate of Eligibility is to facilitate the actual visa application process.
It serves as evidence that you have the approval of the Japanese Immigration Services and meets the requirements for entry set by the Japanese government for international students.
The Certificate of Eligibility for Japan is a requirement, but it is not a visa; you must still apply for a Japan Student Visa from your home country.
The procedure for applying for a Japanese Certificate of Eligibility takes between one to three months.
2. Submitting the Japan Student Visa application
Your school is required to send you the Certificate of Eligibility after you’ve been granted it so you can use it to apply for a student visa to Japan at a Japanese Consulate or Embassy in your nation. Having to:
- Contact the Japanese embassy or consulate in your area. The list of Japan’s permanent missions, consulates, and embassies is provided below. If a particular embassy or consulate does not accept direct visa applications, you might need to submit your application through a reputable travel or visa agency.
- assemble the documents required for a student visa for Japan.
- Directly apply for a Japan Student Visa at an embassy, consulate, travel agency, or business that processes visas. If the consulate or embassy determines it’s necessary, you might also be asked to come back for an interview or to provide more documentation.
- acquire the visa. You need to come back to pick up your passport after your application for a student visa to Japan has been approved. You could enter Japan if your application was granted.
Check Also: Hire Your Student Visa Immigration Lawyer for your Travel
How Long Does it Take to Process a Student Visa in Japan in 2024?
The process of applying for a student visa can take 5 to 10 working days. However, the processing of an application and obtaining a Certificate of Eligibility could take up to three months.
What is the Duration of the Student Visa in Japan in 2024?
Japan issues student visas for the following time periods:
- Six months
- One year
- One year and three months
- Two years
- Two years and three months
The duration of your stay in Japan is stated on both your residence card and your landing permission.
Regardless of how long your initial visa was valid, you may still request a stay extension before it expires.
How Much is the Student Visa in Japan Fee?
The following fees apply to visas for Japan:
- Visa for a single entry: 3,000 Yen
- Visa with two or more entries: 6,000 Yen
- Visa de Transit: 700 Yen
The visa fee is only required, though, if your application is accepted.
Remember that the cost of the visa can vary depending on the nation you are visiting, the reason for your trip, and the local currency.
Also Read: How to Apply for a Student Visa in New Zealand: Requirements, Cost, Eligibility, & Process
How can you extend a Student Visa in Japan in 2024?
At the neighborhood immigration office, you can request a Japan Extension of Stay up to 90 days before your visa is due to expire. When you apply, you must have the following documents:
- Application for Japan Visa Extension
- Your passport passport-sized photos with the following information
- Approximately 4 cm by 3 cm, taken within the last three months.
- Background without any patterns or shadows, plain and light in color
- As you start, you must face forward and keep a neutral expression.
- You need to be able to see your face clearly.
- The picture must be of a high standard (focused, clear, and sharp)
- Your residence card, a duplicate of your school’s registration certificate, and a copy of the institution’s Results Certificate
- Evidence that you have the financial means to meet the stay’s associated requirements
- The application for a visa extension is processed within two weeks to a month.
How to Change a Student Visa in Japan to a Work Visa in Japan in 2024?
If you are an international student in Japan and find employment while you are there on a student visa or after you graduate, you must apply to change the category to a work visa.
You and your new employer can apply for a Japan Work Visa by bringing the following documentation to one of the regional immigration offices in Japan:
- Application for permission to modify residence status
- both a copy and your passport
- a resident ID
- Your curriculum vitae or resume (diploma)
- copies of the employment contract that details your employment and your employer’s records, such as proof of prior academic success and/or professional experience for your college
- Registration Prepare the most recent fiscal year’s financial statements in writing.
Can you Work With a Student Visa in Japan in 2024?
If you only have a student visa, you are unable to work in Japan.
To be able to work in Japan, you must obtain a Work Permit from the local immigration office.
Additionally, while on a student visa, you are only allowed to work a maximum of 28 hours per week, and some jobs are prohibited, such as those in bars, clubs, adult stores or hotels, massage parlors, etc.
You can ask to have your visa’s designation changed from student to working visa after you graduate so you can begin working.
However, you require an employment agreement in order to do so.
What to do Once You Enter With a Student Visa in Japan?
Once you receive a student visa for Japan, the immigration officers at the point of entry will issue you a Landing Permission.
In contrast to a single-entry visa, which will expire once you receive the Landing Permit, a multiple-entry visa has a longer validity period and is still valid after you receive the Landing Permit.
The Landing Permit, which grants you legal residency in Japan, takes the place of your visa.
In addition to the landing permit, you also need to obtain:
1. A Residence Card
When you fly into Narita, Haneda, Kansai, or Chubu Airports in Japan, you will receive a Japanese Residence Card.
If you arrive in Japan via any other port, you can get a residence card at a neighborhood municipal office.
Then, whether you received the Residence Card at entry or later, you must record your stay at one of the local municipal offices within 14 days of moving to Japan. Your address will be printed on the residence card.
2. A Re-Entry Permit
You can apply for a Japan Re-Entry Permit at the local Japanese immigration office if you want to be permitted to leave and enter Japan as often as you like for the duration of your visa.
Conclusion
Contrary to what many people believe, obtaining a student visa for Japan is not as challenging as one might imagine.
A long-term visa that lets you stay for as long as your academic program lasts is the Japan Student VISA.
In order to study in Japan, visitors must obtain a student visa, which can take up to 5 months to obtain.
Foreign students may be required to pay a fee to the Japanese Consulate, but US citizens are exempt from this requirement.
Frequently Asked Questions
You must alter your status of residence if you engage in activities that call for a different status. In the specific situations listed below, international students must change from their default residential status of “College Student” to another kind of status. Anyhow, the nearby immigration office will accept your request for permission to change your status of residence if you pay the required application fee. For details on the required documentation, visit the website of the Immigration Services Agency of Japan.
If you want to extend your scholarship while you are studying in Japan, speak with the institution or the scholarship provider.
A fresh scholarship application may be made. The scholarship deadline and eligibility period vary depending on the scholarship provider. Speak with your school as soon as you can.
Before graduating, more international students are now taking part in internship programs at businesses, etc. A student’s opportunity to receive on-the-job training at businesses, etc. for a predetermined, limited period of time is known as an internship.
Up until a law was repealed in December 1996, a guarantor was required in order to enter Japan and obtain a status of residency. As a result, you are no longer required to have a guarantor to enter Japan as an international student.
References
