If one of your goals is to study in Japan long term, then you’ll want to know all you can about applying for a student visa for Japan. This article will go through everything from when you actually need to start your application, to the Japan student visa requirements and what you need to organize before you arrive. You can never be too prepared, so read on to make sure you get it right.
Do I need a student visa to study in Japan?
If you’re wondering whether or not you need a student visa for Japan, the answer will depend on how long you want to study and a few other factors like your nationality, and the type of school you plan to attend.
For students who want to study in Japan for a shorter time, you may not need a student visa. Depending on your country, you might be able to study with a short-term stay tourist visa for up to 90 days at a language school or other short-term program like a Study Trip.
Students who plan to stay for 3 months or longer to attend a university, Japanese language school, or vocational school will need a student visa for Japan. Be sure to reach out to us, or check with your local Japanese embassy or consulate for more information.
The importance of planning in advance
The process of going to Japan to study takes longer than you might think, so it’s best you give yourself plenty of time to complete your school and visa applications.
Normally, we begin accepting language school applications around 6 months before the start of term. For example, students applying for the July term will typically begin their school application process in December of the previous year, or January of the same year. However, students can save their spot up to one year in advance by paying the application fee, which we recommend to avoid disappointment.
It’s also important to note that schools will submit your visa application to Japanese immigration, however, they must do so on specific dates each year. This makes it even more important to plan in advance and to use a service like Go! Go! Nihon. We will ensure you have the right documentation submitted on time so you don’t miss out on getting your student visa for Japan.
For more guidance and insight into how you should plan your studies in Japan, read our articles:
* Study in Japan for 6 months: planning and timeline
* Live in Japan long term: a five-year visa plan for Japan
* How Japanese language school terms work
The process of getting a student visa for Japan
Choose your school
Have a look at our school options on our website. Or if you’re unsure what school to choose, get in touch and one of our team will help you!
Note that due to some Japanese immigration requirements, we’re unable to assist applicants from certain countries.
Apply through Go! Go! Nihon
Once you choose and apply for the school of your choice through Go! Go! Nihon, your school will submit your visa application after you pay the application fee.
You will be required to submit several documents for your application. Don’t worry, Go! Go! Nihon will help you with all your Japan student visa requirements if you apply through us. Some of these documents include:
- Proof of 150-hours of Japanese language study (for language school)
- Passport-style profile picture
- Copy of your passport ID page
- Copy of your high school diploma (or proof that you have completed 12 years of education)
- Recent bank statement with at least 1,000,000 yen equivalent
- You, or your sponsor’s, recent tax return
More documents may be required depending on your personal situation and the language school, university, or vocational school you apply to. Your Go! Go! Nihon coordinator will help you with these documents, including checking for errors, translating them, and sending them to your school of choice.
It’s important to note that schools need to submit student visa applications to Japanese immigration on specific dates. If students don’t provide them with the required documents in time, the school won’t be able to apply for those visas. This is why it’s better to submit documents as soon as possible. If you are using Go! Go! Nihon, your student coordinator will let you know exactly when is the best time to submit your documents.
Note: it’s possible to apply for a Japanese language school if you did not complete high school, but have done GED, or General Education Development, instead. If you have not completed the requisite 12 years of education, or you do not have university entrance level education, then unfortunately your language school options will be limited.
Get your student visa
After your application has been submitted, you need to wait to receive your Certificate of Eligibility (COE), which you take to your local Japanese embassy. They will need this document to issue you with your student visa. You will receive this around one month before you’re due to arrive in Japan to start school.
To convert your COE to a student visa, you need:
- The original COE
- A good quality and recent portrait photo
- Your passport
- Visa application form
- School guarantor information – our team will share this with you if you apply through Go! Go! Nihon
It’s rare, but sometimes COEs get denied. Japanese immigration have their own reasons for denying applications and don’t always share them. But here are some reasons why a COE could get denied:
- The documents submitted were falsified; if forged documents are provided, the documents are not from an official source, or the information provided is revealed to be inaccurate;
- Being convicted of a criminal offense (in Japan or overseas);
- Having been deported from Japan in the past;
- Failure to provide the requested additional documents in time;
- Having been denied a Japanese long-term visa in the past.
Book accommodation
Once you receive your student visa for Japan, you can start booking flights, as well as accommodation. Contact your Go! Go! Nihon team member for help with finding a place to live – we partner with several accommodation partners across Japan that offer several types of accommodation options.
You must confirm your accommodation before arriving in Japan as you will need the address for the official forms you fill out when you arrive.
If you haven’t finalized your accommodation yet, Go! Go! Nihon has an option in collaboration with our partner BeGood Japan.
A note about entry date and visa length
The duration of your visa is based on when you enter Japan and not when your language course starts. Therefore, we advise students to plan their arrival in Japan accordingly so they do not miss the end of their course, nor overstay their visa.
For example, if you have an 18-month student visa for Japan and your course begins in January, aim to arrive just before your course begins, rather than months beforehand. Please contact us if you’re unsure about when you should time your arrival.
FAQ
Go! Go! Nihon is here to help you with any questions you might have about the process of getting a student visa for Japan.
Please check our FAQ on the application timeline, or if you don’t find your answer, contact us directly.
