If you’ve set your plans to study in Japan, you will need to start your preparations for a student visa as soon as possible. Submitting documents and navigating the admission and immigration processes can be overwhelming, so we want to make sure you know everything about studying in Japan — down to organizing your arrival here as an official ryuugakusei (international student).
If you would like to live and study in Japan on a student visa, Coto School Finder team is also excited to help you find the right language school and guide you through document preparations and admission. To get started, fill out our inquiry form, and we’ll assist you as soon as possible!
If you are interested in studying in Japan on a student visa, check out our full guide on how to study in Japan.
Step 1: Choosing The Right Japanese Language School
There is no such thing as the “best” Japanese language school in Japan. It all boils down to your goal and study plans. One thing to keep in mind is that each school has different teaching methods, course structure and atmosphere. For example, some schools focus on preparing students for their job hunting in Japan. Other schools might put more emphasis on university preparations. Even if you’ve heard a lot of great testimonies, you should still consider the following things when you are filtering your options:
- Which city or prefecture in Japan do I want to study?
- What is your goal after your language studies? Do you want to find a job immediately or enter higher education?
- What is your preferred lesson intensity? Do you like smaller or bigger classes?
These questions are just the tip of the iceberg, but we’ve curated a complete guide on how to find a Japanese language school that works best for you. Coto School Finder works closely with our partner schools, and we can advise you on the best course of action. Have a look at the 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!
Step 2: Understanding the Application Process and Timeline for a Japanese Student Visa
If you apply through Coto School Finder, we’ll match you with the right language school. You can do an initial inquiry on our contact form — or apply directly to one of our school pages. We will handle all communication with the school and make sure your documents for the school application are correct.
Here are the steps you can expect when you work with us:
- Fill out the inquiry form at Coto School Finder and confirm your application once you match with a school.
- The selected school approves your initial application.
- Fill out the formal student visa application form the school provides.
- Interview screening with the school coordinator (this varies between schools).
- Start submitting the necessary documents by the application deadline. Once we received all the required documents, we will forward this to the school.
- Once acceptance has been issued, the school will send your documents, which will be processed at the Japanese immigration for the issuance of your Certificate of Eligibility (COE).
- Wait for immigration to approve your visa application and issue the COE. This can take 2-3 months.
- The school will send you the COE.
- Apply for the actual student visa at your local Japanese embassy by submitting the COE, passport, photos and visa application form.
- Get your student visa in about a week
- Begin your studies in April 2023!
What is a COE, and why is it important?
Basically, a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) is an official document issued by Japanese immigration (Ministry of Justice) to show that you have met all the conditions of the Immigration Control Act to stay in Japan for a long time under their designated activity. This includes disclosing criminal records, financial situation, employment and past travel history in Japan. All applicants, excluding visas for short-term stays, must have a COE issued before they apply for a visa.
Think of the COE preliminary visa screening you have to take before actually applying for a student visa. Without getting approval from the Japanese government, your local consulate cannot issue your visa.
Step 3: Preparing Documents You Need for Your Certificate of Eligibility (COE)
If you read the application process above, you might notice that processing the COE, which is one of the required documents for your Japanese student visa application, is actually more complicated than the student visa itself.
- Documents You Need to Submit
Some of these documents include:
- A passport-style photo of yourself
- Copy of your passport ID page. You should also include a scanned copy of your arrival and departure stamps if you’ve been to Japan in the past.
- Copy of your high school diploma (or proof that you have completed 12 years of education) and transcripts.
- Copy of your last education attainment certificate.
- Recent bank statement of around 2 million yen.
- You, or your sponsor’s, recent tax return.
Depending on your personal situation and the school you apply to, you might need to More documents may be required depending on your personal situation and the school you apply to. For example, you might need to submit:
- Certificate of employment of your current job. If you have working experience, you need to submit documents to certify what kind of jobs you had and that your company has consented to your leave from work and your schedule for reinstatement. You will also need to give your company profile.
- Certificate of your Japanese learning background. You may need to submit proof of the programs you have taken, study hours per week, and the total hours of your studies in school if you ever enrolled in your country.
- Documents Your Financial Sponsor Needs to Submit
You will need to fill out a Financial Sponsor form provided by the school. They will be the ones to guarantee your financial viability and proof that you will be able to support yourself during your studies in Japan. This includes paying for tuition, living costs and other expenses in Japan.
As mentioned, it’s recommended to show an average of 2 million yen (converted from the country’s currency).
You will have to submit official proof of your relationship with your financial sponsor. If your financial guarantor is a direct or distant relative, such as parents, siblings, spouse or grandparents, you can provide a copy of your family registry. However, it might be more complicated if they are not your relatives, like a friend or partner (unmarried).
These are the documents to prove you have sufficient funds to support yourself.
- Bank statements
- Income statements
- Registration of family registry or birth certificate
- Certificate of employment or business license (with tax registration)
- Certificate of tax payment
- Pledge of financial support, explaining clear reasons why they want to support you and how they will cover the tuition and living expenses.
You can also be your own sponsor. For this, you will need to provide the documents above under your name. If it’s someone else, the financial documents should show their name.
If you want to self-sponsor, you should have around 3 million yen in your bank account.
For the most updated information on Japanese immigration, please refer to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Japan website or contact us.
Step 4: Wait to Receive Your COE
We mentioned that the schools will submit the documents for COE on your behalf to Japanese immigration, but you also need to know that student visa applications have specific deadlines for each term. For example, if you are joining the April semester, the deadline imposed by the Japanese Immigration Bureau will be sometime in November. This is why it’s important to submit them as soon as possible.
Typically, COE takes 2-3 months to be issued. You will get them one month before your planned arrival date in Japan.
Can My COE Get Denied?
If you’ve made sure to submit all documents, it’s rare for your COE to be rejected. To reduce the chance of getting your COE denied, we suggest you provide the most up-to-date, accurate and complete documents. You might need to provide additional documents, so make sure to not submit things on a tight deadline.
Here are a few reasons why your COE can get denied:
- You are applying for more than one school
- You falsified or forged official documents, such as bank statements and income.
- You don’t submit enough documents
- You didn’t declare relevant information, such as previous COE application history, travels to Japan and criminal records
- You have been deported from Japan in the past
- You committed a crime in Japan or overseas
To avoid this, we will make sure that your documents are error-free, including inconsistency and typos in your application form.
Step 5: Applying for a Japanese Student Visa at Your Local Embassy
Once your Japanese language school sends you your COE, you’re one step closer to finalizing your Japanese student visa. Congratulations!
As soon as you receive the certificate, make an appointment at your Japanese embassy or consulate. The process is relatively simpler than applying for a COE. To make a Japanese student visa, you will need the following documents:
- The original COE (and one additional copy)
- A recent, passport-style photo
- Your passport
- Visa application form
- Certificate of Admission given by the school
- Other additional documents your consulate may ask for, depending on the country.
Keep in mind that you will need your COE back after your visa is issued because you will still need it upon landing in Japan.
How long can I stay in Japan with a student visa?
This depends on when you arrive in Japan, your course length and when school starts. A student visa allows you to stay in Japan as an international student for 3 months to 4 years and three months. The period goes up in increments, like 6 months, 1 year, 1 year 3 months and 2 years.
It’s rare for students to get a visa that lasts 2 years when they are in a language school since this is the maximum amount of time someone can study in a nihongo gakkou (Japanese language school). It’ll be different if you are enrolled in other Japanese educational institutions, like a university or graduate school.
Usually, you will be granted around 1 year and 3 months. If you are studying longer — like 1 year 6 months or two years — you can extend your stay when the time comes.
You can apply for an extension period of stay, and the school will help you with the process. You must apply for it in person at the Immigration Services Agency. You can also have a lawyer or proxy represent you.
Step 6: Prepare for Your Arrival in Japan!
Once you receive your student visa, you can start booking your flight to Japan. This is also the time for you to book accommodation.
Many of Coto’s partner school provides a student dorm, sharehouse and homestay options. They partner with several accommodation agencies that offer a range of options. It’s good to decide on what type of accommodation you want to live in by the time you get your visa to not delay anything.
You can choose between
- Student dorms
- Apartments
- Sharehouse
- Homestay
An important thing to know is that you must have accommodation before you arrive in Japan. You will need to list down the address on official forms at the airport immigration.
Tip: Applying for the Work Permit as a Foreign Student The Day You Arrive in Japan
A lot of us are probably planning to work part-time as a student in Japan at some point. Part-time permits do not have an expiration date (as long as your visa or residency permit doesn’t), and it’s a very quick and simple process if you do it at the airport.
As a new resident and upon your arrival in Japan, submit the Permission to Engage in Activity Other Than That Permitted Under the Status of Residency form to the immigration at the airport
We recommend filling out the form and finishing the application by the time you arrive in Japan because you will be able to get the permit right away — the same time they issued your residence card. The immigration staff will stamp the bottom side of the back of your zairyuu kaado (residence card) with a black stamp. They’ll also put a sticker on your passport. For the full guide on getting a part-time job in Japan, head to our guide here.
Don’t find the answer you’re looking for? Have more questions? Coto School Finder is here to help you with any questions you might have about the student visa application process for Japan. Contact us directly.
Get Free Support to Study in Japan!
Want to study Japanese in Japan — and embark on a new adventure?
Coto School Finder offers full support for international students who want to study in Japan for at least 1 year. We work together to find the best language school that fits you, apply for a student visa, and support your arrival in Japan.
