Japan Student Visa

According to a survey conducted by the Global Partnership for Education, Japan's Education System is ranked among the top 10 countries. With 100% enrollment in primary education and zero illiteracy, Japan' developed, and technology-driven educational infrastructure makes Japan one of the primary destinations for foreign students to pursue further studies in Japan. Japan maintains a very high education standard, with the maximum number of Nobel Prize Winners among the Asian countries.

Choosing a Course

There is a wide range of courses available to students in Japan. Japan's universities offer an extensive variety of courses in numerous academic subjects. The most popular of them all are as follows:

• Engineering
• Business
• Data Science
• Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Education & Training
• Architecture

Types of Student Visas and Their Validity

Three distinct categories of student visas are available in Japan. To study in Japan, students must apply for any of the following visas.

• Short-term visa: Foreign nationals who intend to study at a Japanese language school can apply for this form of visa. The duration of this visa is 3 months (90 days). Under this form of visa, one cannot engage in any kind of paid work, neither full-time nor part-time. This short-term visa is eligible for those foreign countries that have signed a visa exemption agreement with Japan. Foreign nationals with temporary Japanese visas can also apply for this visa to study in Japan. However, the Japanese language school will not provide any supporting documents for visa applicants to the Japanese Embassy or Consulate.
• Working Holiday Visa: This is one of the popular forms of visa for foreign nationals willing to study in Japan during their visit to Japan. This visa is valid for one year. Before applying for this visa, one has to make sure that their country of origin has signed a Working Holiday Agreement with Japan, hence, one's eligibility depends on their nationality. Under this form of visa, one has to maintain financial stability along with valid travel and health insurance during their stay in Japan.
• General Student Visa: To be eligible for a Japan Student Visa, one has to obtain a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) from the education provider and then apply for the Student Visa. The duration of this student visa depends on the duration of the chosen study program.

Who Needs to Apply for the Student Visa

Japan has visa exemption agreements with over 70 countries/regions around the world. For short-term visits (less than 90 days), these nations do not require a visa. The visa-exempt countries are mentioned in the table below:

Andorra	Austria	Belgium
Bulgaria	Croatia	Cyprus
Czech Republic	Denmark	Estonia
Finland	France	Germany
Greece	Hungary	Iceland
Ireland	Italy	Latvia
Liechtenstein	Lithuania	Malta
Monaco	Netherlands	North Macedonia
Norway	Poland	Portugal
Romania	San Marino	Serbia
Slovakia	Slovenia	Spain
Sweden	Switzerland	United Kingdom
Australia	New Zealand	Canada
United States	Argentina	Bahamas
Barbados	Chile	Costa Rica
Dominican Republic	El Salvador	Guatemala
Honduras	Mexico	Suriname
Uruguay	Lesoth	Mauritius
Tunisia	Brunei (14 days)	Indonesia (15 days)
Israel	Malaysia	Republic of Korea
Singapore	Thailand (15 days)	Hong Kong
Macao	Taiwan	Turkey
United Arab Emirates (30 days)

Except for Brunei, Thailand, Indonesia, and the United Arab Emirates, citizens of all other nations listed are eligible for a 90-day visa-free entry into Japan. However, a valid visa is required for any individual from any nation who plans to enroll in a course lasting longer than 90 days.

Cost of Japanese Student Visas

For a student visa to be issued, certain fees must be paid. For a single-entry visa, the cost is ¥3000, for a double or multiple-entry visa, it is ¥6,000. However, depending on the country and kind of visa, the costs could vary slightly.

Steps to Applying for a Japanese Student Visa

A foreign student must first ascertain whether they need a visa to study in Japan. If so, they should start the process of applying for a Japanese visa. The following steps must be taken by interested candidates:

Applying to a Chosen Japanese School

The first step in obtaining a student visa is deciding which Japanese institution to attend. To be admitted into the institute, the applicant must then submit numerous application forms and supporting documentation. These are the following:

• An application form
• A personal history form
• Diploma and transcript
• A photocopy of passport
• Passport-size photographs
• Proof of Medical history
• Proof of financial sources

Students must contact their institute's authorities to obtain proper knowledge of the documents required, as the required documents and forms may differ depending on the institute.

Obtaining the Japanese Certificate of Eligibility (COE)

Upon the candidate's admission request being approved by the institute, the application for their visa will be sent to the Japanese Immigration authorities. After that, the institute will receive a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) from the immigration authorities. Once the candidate has paid the first semester's fee, the institute will send the COE to them about a month before the course starts. The COE doesn't replace the student visa, it is a mere prerequisite to be eligible to apply for the Japan Student Visa. The COE shows that the candidate meets all the requirements set by the Japanese government for foreign students and hence the Japanese Immigration Service has approved their application to study in Japan.

Gathering the Documents and Beginning the Application Process

After obtaining the COE, the candidate must complete the application form and send it, together with the necessary paperwork and fees, to the Japanese Embassy or Consulate in their nation.
Documents Required While Applying for Japanese Student Visa:

• The Certificate of Eligibility (COE).
• Valid passport with its photocopies.
• Duly signed copy of Japan's Visa Application form.
• Good quality recent passport-sized photographs with a white background within the dimension of 4cm x 3cm with neutral expression facing straight at the camera.
• Proof of past educational qualification or any professional experience relevant to one's preferred study program.
• Proof of financial resources
• Letter of Admission indicating one has been accepted in a Japanese School/University which also includes details and duration of the course.
• In some cases, the Japanese Embassy or Consulate might ask the international students to provide a Letter of Guarantee and a Letter of Invitation issued by one's education provider.
• One might also have to submit a Letter of Motivation or Cover Letter stating one's genuine intent for their visit to Japan.

Waiting for the Decision

The applicant must wait for the Japanese Embassy's decision after submitting their application. The length of the processing period varies based on the nation, kind of visa, application date, etc. If the candidate's application is approved, they can schedule their trip to Japan.

Upon Arrival in Japan

The students in Japan will receive a card known as a landing card or disembarkation card before they leave the airport. The student will fill out information about their identity. At the airport, an immigration officer will pick up this card. The officer will stamp the student's passport after they have confirmed the accuracy of all the information on the disembarkation card. After that, the students are free to depart from the airport.

Japanese Residence Card (Zairyu card)

The candidate must register their address at the local municipal office within 14 days of arriving in the nation. Japanese Residence Card is issued to those foreign nationals who are legally residing in the Japanese Province and have resident status under the Immigration Control Act of Japan. International students carrying a Residence Card while living and studying in Japan are included in the Basic Resident Register of Japan like Japanese nationals. With a Japanese Residence Card, a foreign student can change their residence status and can also apply for extending their period of stay.

Japanese Social Security and Tax Number

The student will receive a card containing their 12-digit Social Security and tax number in addition to their residence card. This is a special number that can be used to send money overseas, apply for part-time jobs, or serve as official identification.

Steps to be Taken to Extend the Stay in Japan

International students studying in Japan can only stay for a maximum of 4 years and 3 months. If the student wishes to continue their studies in Japan, this time frame can be extended. The candidate must apply for a stay extension no later than three months before their current stay expires by paying a fee of ¥4,000. Submission of the following documents is required at the Immigration Services Bureau office:

• Duly signed Application for Extension of Period of Stay
• ID photo (4cmÃ-3cm)
• Passport
• Residence card
• Certificate of enrollment status
• A transcript
• Letter of reason and Letter of Recommendation (if required)
• Proof of financial resources
• Company brochures or pamphlets

Working while Studying in Japan

A foreign national studying and residing in Japan with a Japanese Student Visa has to apply for a work permit from Japan's Immigration Office. Even with a Japanese work permit, an international student cannot work more than 28 hours a week and is restricted from working at massage parlors, bars, adult business establishments, clubs, etc. During holidays, students can work up to 8 hours a day.
On graduating and completing the study program, one can change their visa status from student to work. To be eligible for a Japanese Work Visa, one has to obtain a work contract.

Changing Japanese Student Visa to Work Visa

A student visa for Japan can be obtained for a maximum of four years and three months. If a student decides after completing their studies that they would like to work in the nation, they must visit the Regional Immigration Services Bureau or one of its branch offices to apply for a working visa. In addition to paying a fee of $4,000, they must submit the following documents:

• Passport/travel documents or Residence card
• Application form for permission for change of status of residence
• Corporate certificate of registration from hiring company
• Copy of Contract of employment
• Proof of financial statement of hiring company
• Statement of reason for employment
• Certificate of graduation or diploma

Some Things to Remember

• To find out if they can submit copies of their documentation rather than the originals, students ought to get in touch with the Japanese Embassy or consulate.
• Individuals will receive the residence card upon landing if they land at Chubu, Haneda, Narita, or Kansai airports. The student must apply for a residence card at the local municipal office in all other locations.
• To leave and return to Japan while their visa is still valid, the candidate must apply for a re-entry permit.
• Japanese Universities provide a wide variety of Scholarship Programs for international students which makes the education affordable for foreign nationals living and studying in Japan.
• Japan's advanced public healthcare sector provides tax-free treatments and check-ups, which makes it easier for international students to afford their stay in Japan with minimal expenditure.
• Being ranked as the World's second-largest economy, Japan provides great employment opportunities that help international students join the technologically driven economy right after completing their education.