Start studying in Japan: Everything you need to know about student visa applications
Japan Student Visa Application Guide
Education in Japan is an attractive option for students from all over the world, and obtaining a student visa is essential to begin your academic journey. Here we will explain the detailed visa application process, required documents, costs, and living arrangements that international students who wish to study in Japan should know.
1. Types of Japanese Student Visas
To study in Japan, you will mainly need to apply for the following visas：
- Student visa: A visa for studying at a university, vocational school or Japanese language school. Usually valid for 3 months to 4 years and 3 months depending on the length of the course.
- Training visa: A visa for the purpose of technical training at a Japanese company or institution.
- Specified Skills Visa: A visa for working in a specific industry. This is especially important for students who want to find employment in Japan after studying abroad.
2. Documents required for student visa application
To ensure a smooth visa application process, please prepare the following documents：
- Valid Passport: Your passport must be valid for the duration of your studies.
- Visa application form: Can be obtained from a Japanese embassy or consulate.
- A recent passport size photograph: taken within the last three months.
- Certificate of Eligibility (COE): Issued by the Japanese Immigration Bureau, this certifies the legality of your study abroad. Your school will usually assist you with this process.
- Letter of Acceptance: An official letter from the school you plan to attend.
- Proof of Financial Aspects: Bank statements, scholarship certificates, or financial support documents from sponsors to show you have sufficient funds to cover your tuition and living expenses.
Note: Attaching a personal resume and motivation letter will help you make a good impression on the screening process.
3. How to apply for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE)
The COE is a very important document issued by the Japanese Immigration Bureau and must be obtained before applying for a visa. Generally, your school will support you in this application and it will take about 2-3 months to issue.
Application Steps：
- Receive acceptance from the school.
- This is a made-to-order assembly kit.
- After obtaining the COE, you can apply for a visa.
4. Visa Application Steps
After receiving your COE, follow these steps to apply for a visa：
- Submit your visa application and required documents：
- Prepare your COE, passport, photo, and economic certificate and submit them to the Japanese embassy or consulate.
- Visa Processing Time：
- It usually takes 3-7 days to process your visa.
5. Visa expiry and extension
A Japanese student visa is usually valid for one year, but can be extended up to four years and three months depending on the length of your course. If you need a visa extension, you must apply before it expires.
6. Preparation for studying abroad
Once you have obtained your visa, please make the following preparations：
- Finding a place to live: Consider an apartment or shared house.
- Opening a bank account: Find out how to open an account at a Japanese financial institution.
- Medical Insurance: Medical insurance for international students is mandatory.
Cultural Adaptation: Research Japanese culture and lifestyle in advance and prepare so that you can start your life as an international student smoothly.
7. Career path after studying abroad
For students who wish to find employment in Japan after completing their studies, the following points are important：
- Obtaining a work visa: Gain an understanding of the visa procedures required to work in Japan after graduation.
- Networking: Attend alumni and professional events to expand your network.
Studying abroad in Japan is a wonderful opportunity to grow academically and through cultural experiences. We hope this guide will help you understand the process of obtaining a student visa and make the process go smoothly.
