Student Visa for Japan
You are here
The cherry blossoms in Japan are legendary. When in full bloom they radiate a beautiful and delicate side of nature – it’s easy to get lost in the backdrop of the lovely pink flowers. So, before you take your first cherry blossom selfie, let’s make sure you can enter Japan with a student visa.
While this may be the first time you apply for a student visa, we’ve “been there, done that” quite a few times. Every year our team of visa specialists support each of our students studying abroad in Japan to have the proper documents to enter the country. So, let's get started!
Japanese visa processes and requirements are determined by the Japanese consulates, not by IES Abroad. While our team of visa specialists regularly updates this page, the most up-to-date and official, information can be found on Japanese government and consulate websites. This page was last updated September 6, 2019.
What is a Japanese student visa?
A student visa for Japan is a legal document adhered to one of the inside pages of your passport that you must have before entering Japan. The visa serves as approval from the Japanese government for you to legally remain in Tokyo or Nagoya for the duration of your study abroad program.
Do You Need a Visa for Japan?
Depending on your IES Abroad program and citizenship, you may need a student visa to study abroad in Japan. We’ve outlined citizenship options below to help you learn more about your visa requirements.
If you will be going on a Customized & Faculty-Led Program, you may need a student visa depending on the length and nature of your program. Learn more in your myIESabroad account.
If you are a U.S. citizen...
You will need to apply for a student visa for Japan for our semester or academic year study abroad programs.
You will not need a student visa for our summer study abroad programs.
If you are a Japanese citizen...
You are not required to obtain a student visa in order to study in Japan, but you will have to travel using your Japanese passport.
If you are a non-U.S. and non-Japanese citizen...
You will need to apply for a student visa for Japan for our semester or academic year study abroad programs.
For a summer program, you may be required to get a tourist visa. Please reach out to your IES Abroad Advisor for details.
Applying for a Student Visa for Japan
Once you are accepted to your IES Abroad program, you will find detailed step-by-step instructions to apply for a Japanese student visa in your myIESabroad account. For now, read below for a bit of information about this process.
HOW
You will be required to submit a copy of your passport and supplemental documentation to apply for a Certificate of Eligibility (CoE). Depending on your program, you may need to submit the copy of your passport when you apply to your study abroad program.
We will submit your CoE documents to the Japanese Immigration Bureau on your behalf. Once processed, you will then submit your passport, CoE, and other documentation to apply for a study visa.
You may have to attend an in-person appointment at your Japanese consulate.
Please note that the CoE process can take a few months.
WHEN
You can expect to receive your Certificate of Eligibility approximately 3-4 weeks before the program start date. You will apply for your Japanese student visa after receiving your CoE.
We recommend that you apply for your Japanese visa immediately once you receive your Japanese CoE as it usually will take a week or more to process.
WHERE
In the United States, there are 15 Japanese consulates and one embassy in Washington, DC. Each consulate serves a specific geographic region called a "jurisdiction". The consulate that serves your jurisdiction is where you will apply for your Japanese student visa. Use the tool on the Japanese embassy website to determine your consulate.
Each consulate may have specific instructions on applying for a Japanese student visa that may differ from other Japanese consulates. This means that your visa application requirements may differ from another student's requirements if they are applying to a different consulate. When checking the application requirements for your student visa for Japan, always refer to your consulate's website.
COST
U.S. citizens are exempt from the Japanese student visa fee. Students of other nationalities may have to pay a fee to their consulate, which ranges from $8-$55.
Our team of visa specialists are here to help. Step-by-step instructions to ensure you have the proper visa and/or entry documents to study abroad are available in your myIESabroad account once you are accepted to a program.
