Student
Japan
Last updated: December 25, 2025
4 years (renewable)
$20
2-4 months
Medium
About this Visa
The Japan Student Visa lets you live in Japan while studying full-time at a university, college, language school, or vocational school for 6+ months. Your school applies for a certificate on your behalf, then you apply for the visa at the Japanese embassy. You can study full-time. You can also work part-time up to 28 hours per week. You can bring your spouse and children if you have enough money to support them. You can get health insurance that covers 70% of your medical costs. After you graduate, you can apply for a work visa to stay in Japan longer. Important: If you study Japanese at a language school, you can only stay for a maximum of 2 years total. After that, you must switch to a different visa type or leave Japan.
Key Benefits
- Work part-time up to 28 hours per week
- Health insurance covers 70% of medical costs
- Bring spouse and children
- Renew visa while studying
- Change to work visa after graduation
- Travel internationally and return to Japan
Eligibility & Requirements
Eligibility Criteria
- Have an admission letter from a recognized Japanese school
- Prove you have money for tuition and living expenses
- Have finished high school or equivalent
- Have no criminal record
- Have valid language test scores
- Be truthful on your application
- Not have violated any previous visas to Japan
Financial Requirement
Show at least ¥1.5 million to ¥2.5 million (approximately $9,600-$16,100 USD) in savings or scholarship support.
Documents
- Valid passportMust be good for 6+ months beyond your stay
- Certificate of Eligibility (COE)From your school
- Admission letterFrom your Japanese institution
- Financial proofBank statements, scholarship letter, or sponsor letter
- Academic recordsHigh school diploma and transcripts
- Language test scoresJLPT N4+ for Japanese programs; TOEFL or IELTS for English programs
- Passport photos4cm × 3cm, white background
- Motivation letterWhy you want to study in Japan (sometimes required)
Disclaimer: The information on this page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. Visa requirements, fees, and processes change frequently. Please verify all information with official government sources and consult a qualified immigration attorney before making decisions.