Student visa (留学)

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa Name	Student Visa (留学, Ryugaku)
Stay Length	Up to 4 years 3 months
Cost	COE free; visa fee 15,000 JPY
Eligibility Timing	Requires school acceptance before applying
Work Rights	28 hrs/week with permit
Study Rights	Permitted at recognized Japanese institutions
Medicare	Not stated in the source
Travel Facility	Not stated in the source
Citizenship	Not stated in the source
Family Sponsorship	Graduate spouses only; not language
Visa Record	Renewable during period of study
Processing Time	1 to 3 months

---

Purpose & Eligibility

The Student visa allows foreign nationals to study at recognized Japanese universities, graduate schools, Japanese language schools, vocational schools (senmon gakko), high school exchange programs, or preparatory courses (bekka).

General eligibility requirements include:

• Acceptance letter from a Japanese educational institution recognized by MEXT.
• Sufficient financial means (via personal savings, sponsor, or scholarships) to cover tuition and living expenses.
• Valid passport and genuine intent to study.
• Language School Entrants (Effective April 2026): Must demonstrate Japanese ability at CEFR A1 or above (e.g., JLPT N5, J.TEST F-G, NAT-TEST 5-Q) under MOJ ISA rules.
• Universities / Graduate / Vocational Schools: Exempt from the MOJ CEFR A1 rule; institutions apply their own language criteria (typically JLPT N2 for Japanese-medium programs, or English proficiency for English-medium programs).

Stay & Validity Periods

Single granted periods of stay depend on program length and can be:

• 1 year or 1 year and 3 months
• 2 years or 2 years and 3 months
• 3 years or 3 years and 3 months
• 4 years or 4 years and 3 months (maximum single period)

Visas are renewable indefinitely during the study period if requirements are maintained.

Costs & Fees

• Certificate of Eligibility (COE) Application: Free
• Visa Sticker Issuance (Single Entry, from 2026-07-01): 15,000 JPY
• Language School Tuition (Reference): approx. 600,000–800,000 JPY/year
• University Tuition (Reference): approx. 500,000–1,500,000 JPY/year

Processing Times

• COE Issuance (Overseas): Typically 1–3 months (June 2026 average: 43.0 days).
• Change of Status (In Japan): June 2026 average: 50.3 days.
• Renewal / Extension: June 2026 average: 42.2 days.

Rights & Conditions

• Work Rights: Permitted only after obtaining Permission to Engage in Activity Other Than That Permitted Under the Status of Residence Previously Granted (資格外活動許可).
  • Up to 28 hours per week during the academic term.
  • Up to 8 hours per day (full-time) during long vacations / school breaks.
  • Work at adult entertainment establishments is strictly prohibited.
• Attendance Obligations: Regular attendance is mandatory and monitored.
• Transitions after Graduation: May switch directly from inside Japan to a work visa (e.g., Engineer / Humanities / International Services), Business Manager, Specified Skilled Worker, or a Designated Activities (特定活動) job-seeking visa (up to 1 year).

Family Provisions

• Spouses of graduate school (daigakuin) students may apply for a Dependent (Family Stay) visa.
• Language school students generally cannot sponsor accompanying visas for spouses.

Required Documents

• Valid passport.
• Application for Certificate of Eligibility.
• Recent passport-size photograph.
• Acceptance letter and certificate of enrollment/admission from the Japanese institution.
• Financial guarantee documents (bank statements, scholarship awards, sponsor's income proof).
• Academic transcripts from previous schools.
• Japanese language proficiency certificate (if applicable).
• Reason for study document or personal statement.

Application Steps

1. Apply to and receive acceptance from a recognized Japanese institution.
2. The institution files for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) with immigration in Japan on your behalf.
3. Receive the approved COE.
4. Submit the COE and visa application to an overseas Japanese Embassy or Consulate.
5. Receive the student visa sticker and travel to Japan.
6. Register your residential address at the local municipal office within 14 days of arrival.

Important Warnings

• Attendance Rate: Attendance below 80% puts visa renewal at risk; attendance below 70% results in almost certain rejection.
• Working Hours: Exceeding 28 hours per week is monitored through tax records and is the most common visa violation.
• School Withdrawal: Leaving school requires either departing Japan or changing residence status as soon as possible.
• Fraud: Submitting false academic qualifications or financial documentation results in permanent application rejection.

Official resource: MOJ Immigration Services Agency - Student Status