5 Steps to Study Abroad in Japan
Step (5)
Status of Residence Procedure
- Step (1)Understanding Japan’s Education System
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Step (2)Search for Schools
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Step (3)Research Entrance Exams
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Step (4)Researching Cost and Scholarship
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Step (5)Status of Residence
Procedure
After deciding where to study, in order to study abroad in Japan, international students will need Status of Residence. Basically, the education institute that you will be studying at will provide support when you apply for Status of Residence but please individually check the procedures, when each procedure needs to be done, requirements to obtain Status of Residence, and the required documents.
Immigration Procedures (Status of Residence)
Status of Residence is an “approval” for foreign nationals to stay in Japan legally. Immigration Services Agency of Japan will review the application and foreign nationals who are approved for Status of Residence are permitted to stay in Japan. There are various types of Status of Residence depending on the purpose of staying in Japan, position, or status of the foreign national.
Status of Residence to study at educational institutions such as universities, junior colleges, college of technology, professional training college, and Japanese language schools is “Student”. Periods of stay are as follows: 4 years and 3 months, 4 years, 3 years and 3 months, 3 years, 2 years and 3 months, 2 years, 1 year and 3 months, 1 year, 6 months or 3 months.
(1)Procedure for Status or Residence
[Step 1] Procedure of Status of Residence until entering school (1)~(3)
It is necessary to apply to the school you wish to study at and be approved of enrollment after school admission.
[Step 2] Procedure of Status of Residence until entering school (4)~(6)
To study abroad in Japan, you will need to obtain residential status. To do that, you will need to obtain Certificate of Eligibility from Regional Immigration Services Bureau. If you possess Certificate of Eligibility, it will be easier to receive visa approval within the standard visa application process (approximately 1 week) at embassies or consulate general. It normally requires 1 to 3 months from application to issuance of Certificate of Eligibility so please prepare in advance and apply for the certificate.
*You will need to obtain your visa and come to Japan within 3 months from the issuance of Certificate of Eligibility.
You are only able to apply for Certificate of Eligibility from within Japan. Applying through posting is not permitted. If you are applying from overseas, the following 2 to 5 will have to apply on behalf of you. Most cases are as Case 2 in which basically the school you will be studying at will act as proxy on behalf of you. If the school will not do the application procedure on behalf of you, you will need the following 3 to 5 to apply on behalf of you.
- 1.
- Applicant himself/herself
- 2.
- Staff of institution in which the applicant will study at
- 3.
- Staff of institution which will extend scholarship to the applicant or staff of institution which will support other school expense or living expenses of the applicant
- 4.
- Relatives residing in Japan (Friends / Acquaintance are not permitted)
- 5.
- Other representatives specified by Ministry of Justice (such as administrative scrivener or attorney)
[Step 3] Obtaining visa (7)~(8)
After receiving Certificate of Eligibility, you will need to apply for visa issuance at Embassy or Consulate General of Japan in your home country. It is possible to receive visa approximately 1 week from application.
Visa
Visa is a certificate issued from Embassy or Consulate General of Japan in your home country for foreign nationals who wish to enter Japan with a valid passport and is certified that he/she may enter Japan. The certificate which is the above visa will be pasted on your passport.
- [Required documents for application]
- 1.
- Passport
- 2.
- Visa application form
- 3.
- Photograph
- 4.
- Certificate of Eligibility
- 5.
- Other documents (Submitting documents differ depending on your home country so please check with your country’s Embassy of Japan / Consulate General of Japan)
