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Here, we will describe the immigration procedures necessary for entry into and residence in Japan for foreign students considering studying at universities and Japanese language institutes in Japan.
The immigration procedures for foreign students are based on the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act (“Immigration Control Act”), which stipulates the procedures related to entry and residence in Japan by all foreign nationals and establishes 27 statuses of residence according to the activity the relevant foreign national will be undertaking while in Japan or their position. It also establishes a period of stay (how long the foreign national may reside in Japan) according to status of residence.
What then is the status of residence of foreign students studying at a university or Japanese language institution in Japan? Foreign students at studying at one of the following educational institutions are eligible for a College Student residence status. 1) Students studying at universities (undergraduate and graduate), junior colleges, special training colleges (post secondary courses only), preparatory educational institutions, colleges of technology. 2) Students studying in high schools and advanced and general courses (excludes post secondary courses) at special training colleges as well as students enrolled in miscellaneous schools or equivalent educational institutions.
A visa must be acquired in order to study in Japan. There are two ways in which the visa may be acquired. 1) The foreign student wishing to enter Japan for studies should files an application for a visa directly to an overseas Japanese embassy or consulate. 2) An employee of the educational institution in which the foreign student is scheduled to enroll makes an application to the relevant Regional Immigration Bureau for a Certificate of Eligibility for Residence Status (“Certificate of Eligibility”) on the foreign student’s behalf. Once the Certificate of Eligibility is granted, the foreign student wishing to enter Japan takes his/her Certificate of Eligibility to an overseas Japanese embassy or consulate and files an application for a visa. (See diagram) The Certificate of Eligibility provides proof that the status of residence for which the application is made applies to the relevant foreign national and that s/he conforms to the conditions for entry as prescribed in Article 7 Paragraph 1 Item 2 of the Immigration Control Act. Therefore, being in possession of a Certificate of Eligibility will make the procedures for visa issuance at overseas Japanese embassies, etc. as well as the landing immigration procedures at a Japanese airport go smoothly. The documents necessary for filing an application for a Certificate of Eligibility to the immigration office is described at the Immigration Bureau of Japan website. Please note that because the documents required by a Japanese educational institution may differ from school to school, you should consult the school in which you are scheduled to enroll for details.
A landing examination must be undergone upon arrival at an airport in Japan. A valid passport with valid visa affixed, Certificate of Eligibility (if one has obtained a certificate) and ED card (embarkation and disembarkation card: normally distributed in the plane during flight but also available at the port of arrival) are submitted to the immigration officer and personally identifying data (fingerprints and facial photograph) provided. The matters examined include the following: 1) That the passport and visa are valid 2) That the activities that the foreign national will be engaged in while in Japan as stated in the application are true and falls under one of the status of residence categories described in "1. Status of Residence and Period of Stay " above and conforms to the standards stipulated by ministerial ordinance. 3) That the period of stay requested conforms to the period as established by law. 4) That the foreign national does not fall under any of the grounds for denial of landing. The landing examination for 2) above will be simplified and speedy for those who have obtained a Certificate of Eligibility. Once the foreign national is deemed to conform to aforementioned conditions 1) through 4), entry is authorized and a seal of verification for landing is affixed on the passport, either as a sticker or stamp. The landing permit seal contains information such as the status of residence, period of stay and date of expiration.
A foreign national residing in Japan for more than 90 days must register as an alien within 90 days of entering Japan. Alien registration is made at the municipal office of your domicile. A passport and two photographs are necessary to file an application for an Alien Registration Card.
Foreign students in Japan with the status of residence of College Student or Pre-college Student who wish to work part-time in Japan must make an application for Permission to Engage in Activity Other than that Permitted by the Status of Residence Previously Granted and receive approval in advance. The application for Permission to Engage in Activity Other than that Permitted by the Status of Residence Previously Granted is made to the Regional Immigration Bureau, its branch office or detached office (hereinafter collectively referred to as "Regional Immigration Bureau") in one's area of domicile. The following documents are necessary for making an application for Permission to Engage in Activity Other than that Permitted by the Status of Residence Previously Granted. 1) Application form for Permission to Engage in Activity Other than that Permitted by the Status of Residence Previously Granted (Available at the Regional Immigration Bureau. The application form can also be downloaded from the Immigration Bureau of Japan website.) 2) Passport and Alien Registration Card Note that even if you have Permission to Engage in Activity Other than that Permitted by the Status Residence Previously Granted, there are restrictions placed on the amount and type of work you may do. For example, activities related to adults entertainment business (e.g. Pachinko parlor clerk, host/hostess of bars and cabarets, etc.) are prohibited. Hours of work permitted are also restricted as follows: No fee is charged to apply for Permission to engage in Activity Other than that Permitted by the Status of Residence Previously Granted. Additionally, students enrolled at a university or high-school (4th and 5th year non-degree graduate programs only) who are working as a teacher’s assistant or research assistant as per a contract with that university or high-school do not need to apply for Permission to engage in Activity Other than Permitted by the Status of Residence Previous Granted.
If travelling to your home country or other overseas destination during school breaks, etc. one can return to Japan to continue one's studies without having to acquire a new visa if a Re-entry Permit is obtained in advance. The term of validity of a Re-entry Permit is the same as the date of expiration of the Period of Stay. There are two types of Re-entry Permits: Single Permit (for single use) and Multiple Permit (can be used as many times as necessary within the Period of Stay). One should obtain a Multiple Permit if one plans to leave Japan more than once during their period of stay. The application for a Re-entry Permit is made at the Regional Immigration Bureau. 1) Application form for Application for Re-entry Permit (Available at the Regional Immigration Bureau. The application form can also be downloaded from the Immigration Bureau of Japan website.) 2) Passport and Alien Registration Card The fee charged to apply for a Re-entry Permit is 3,000 yen for a Single Permit and 6,000 yen for a Multiple Permit (A revenue stamp for the relevant fee is necessary at the time of application.)
If one wishes to continue studying in Japan beyond the Period of Stay (shown on the landing permit) initially granted upon entry, one must make an application for permission to extend the Period of Stay. The application must be made without fail before expiration of the Period of Stay. The application for extending one's Period of Stay is made at the Regional Immigration Bureau. The fee to apply for permission to extend the Period of Stay is 4,000 yen. (A revenue stamp for the fee is necessary at the time of application.) The following documents are necessary for the application. 1) In the case of students studying at a university, graduate school, junior college, special training college (post secondary courses only), preparatory educational institution, or college of technology. (1) Application form for Application for Extension of Period of Stay (Available at the Regional Immigration Bureau. The application form can also be downloaded from the Immigration Bureau of Japan website.) (2) Passport and Alien Registration Card (3) Certificate of school enrollment, school transcript, etc. (Differs according to student type) i) University undergraduate and graduate students, junior college students, preparatory educational institution students, college of technology students, etc. ii) Students in a special university course and students in post secondary courses at a special training college iii) Research students iv) Audit students (4) Document certifying that the student can meet expenses while staying in Japan 2) In the case of a status of residence of Pre-college Student (1) Application form for Application for Extension of Period of Stay (Available at the Regional Immigration Bureau. The application form can also be downloaded from the Immigration Bureau of Japan website.) (2) Passport and Alien Registration Card (3) Certificate of school enrollment (with enrollment period listed), certificate of attendance and school transcript (all issued by the school of enrollment) (4) Document certifying that the student can meet expenses while staying in Japan
If a foreign student studying in Japan under the residence status of College Student wishes to bring family members to Japan to live together, a visa for living together in Japan must be acquired. Note that family members who can be brought to Japan are limited to his/her spouse and children. Foreign students studying under the residence status of Pre-college Student may not bring family members to Japan. As explained in 3. above, there are two ways of acquiring a visa for Japan. One way is to go directly to an overseas Japanese embassy or consulate and apply for a visa. The second way is for the foreign student to make an application for a Certificate of Eligibility at the Immigration Bureau in Japan on behalf of his/her family. Once the Certificate of Eligibility is granted, it is sent to his/her family, who then takes it to a Japanese embassy or consulate to apply for a visa. The application for Certificate of Eligibility is made at the Regional Immigration Bureau. The following documents are necessary for the application for a Certificate of Eligibility for bringing family members to Japan. 1) Application form for Application for Certificate of Eligibility (Available at the Regional Immigration Bureau. The application form can also be downloaded from the Immigration Bureau of Japan website.) 2) The passport, Alien Registration Card and a copy of the Alien Registration Card of the foreign student making the application 3) One of the following documents that prove the relationship between the foreign student making the application and his/her family member(s) being brought to Japan: (i) (In the case of a spouse) Marriage certificate (copy) (ii) (In the case of a child) Birth certificate (copy) (iii) Documents that are the equivalent of the above 4) Document verifying the income of the foreign student making the application (i) Certificate of deposit balance for a bank account in the name of the foreign student making the application or a document verifying that the foreign student is receiving a scholarship (listing the amount of the grant and the institution granting the scholarship) (ii) Documents that are the equivalent of the above and certify that the foreign student making the application can meet living expenses 5) 1 photograph of the family member(s) being brought to Japan (Photograph of the person(s) who will be entering in Japan taken within 6 months of the application. Must be a clear bust shot (upper body) taken from the front with bare head and nothing in the background. The size of the photograph must be 4cm high and 3cm wide.) 6) 1 self-addressed standard-size envelope with stamp(s) worth 380yen affixed (for recorded delivery purpose) The residence status of the family member will be "Dependent." Note that if the family member wishes to remain in Japan beyond the original Period of Stay, or if s/he will go overseas, s/he will also need to make an application for Extension of Period of Stay or a Re-entry Permit.
If a foreign student who has graduated from a university, vocational college, etc. (one who has obtained a title of Senmon-shi (specialist) from the school) finds employment in Japan, s/he must change his status of residence from College Student to one that authorizes him/her to work in Japan. Statuses of residence that authorize employment in Japan include Engineer, for working in services in the field of science; Specialist in Humanities/International Services, for working in the field of humanities such as an interpreter, translator and in international trade; Researcher, for working in research; Investor/Business Manager, for managing one’s own company; and Instructor, for teaching at Japanese elementary and middle schools. According to the Immigration Bureau, of the 8,467 foreign students who found employment in Japan during 2010, about 69.2% were authorized a change of status of residence to Humanities/International Services, and about 17.7% were authorized a change to Engineer. Therefore, we will explain here the application procedures for changing the status of residence to Humanities/International Services and Engineer. Criteria such as “Employment is based on a contract with a Japanese company, etc. (one cannot work on a freelance basis),” “The content of the work utilizes the specialized knowledge gained through university education, etc.,” “The person has an education of a university graduate or higher or has 10 years or more hands-on experience,” and “The salary is equivalent to or higher than that of Japanese nationals” must be met. (Note that residency status is granted based upon a liberal understanding of the connection between the field studied at university and the content of work) The application for Change of Status of Residence is made at the Regional Immigration Bureau. The fee to apply for Change of Status of Residence is 4,000 yen. (A revenue stamp for the fee is necessary at the time of application.) http://www.moj.go.jp/ONLINE/IMMIGRATION/ZAIRYU_HENKO For Specialist in Humanities/International Services: http://www.moj.go.jp/ONLINE/IMMIGRATION/ZAIRYU_HENKO
Foreign students for whom employment in Japan was not gained before graduation from a university, graduate school, etc., or foreign students who graduated from special training colleges and acquired the title Senmon-shi (specialist) and who wish to stay in Japan and continue searching for employment in Japan after graduation are authorized to stay for a maximum of 1 year. In such cases, the status of residence becomes Designated Activities, and the period of stay is, as a general rule, 6 months. 1 renewal of the period of stay is allowed. The application for Change of Status of Residence to Designated Activities is made at the Regional Immigration Bureau. The fee to apply for Change of Status of Residence is 4,000 yen. (A revenue stamp for the fee is necessary at the time of application.) The following documents are necessary for the application. 1) In the case of graduation from a university or graduate school: (1) Application form for Application for Change of Status of Residence (Available at the Regional Immigration Bureau. The application form can also be downloaded from the Immigration Bureau of Japan website.) (2) Document that certifies that the applicant can meet living expenses while residing in Japan (3) Diploma from a university, etc. or certificate of graduation (4) Letter of recommendation for continued job search activities from the university of graduation (5) Materials that show that job search activities are continuing 2) In the case of graduation from a special training college and acquisition of the title Senmon-shi (specialist) (1) Application form for Application for Change of Status of Residence (Available at the Regional Immigration Bureau. The application form can also be downloaded from the Immigration Bureau of Japan website.) (2) Document that certifies that the applicant can meet living expenses while residing in Japan (3) Certificate of acquisition of the title Semon-shi (4) Diploma from a vocational college or certificate of graduation and school transcript (5) Letter of recommendation for continued job search activities from the special training college of graduation (6) Materials that show that job search activities are continuing (7) Document that shows details of the content learned at the special training college As described above, a letter of recommendation from the university or special training college of graduation is required in order to continue job search activities after graduation. Please consult with the university, etc. when desiring to continue the job search after graduation. If a job offer is received during the Designated Activities period of stay but the date of joining the company is ahead in the future beyond the period of stay (for example, an offer is received in September to join the company in April), one can continue to reside in Japan until that time (granted that the date of joining the company is within 1 year of the job offer and does not exceed 1.5 years after graduation). In such cases, the application to renew the period of stay under the resident status of Designated Activities will require documents to certify that one can meet living expenses during the period of stay, materials for making an application to change the status to residence to one that conforms to the activity that will be carried out after joining the company from which the job offer is received, the job offer letter and pledge from the company making the job offer (to be in contact with the former foreign student to whom the job offer is made once every certain period of time, to report to the Immigration Bureau without delay if the company withdraws the job offer, etc.)
If a foreign student who has graduated from a university or graduate school wishes to carry out activities to start up one’s own company after graduation, activities to start up a company may be continued for a maximum of 180 days after graduation. In such cases, the status of residence becomes Temporary Visitor, and the period of stay is, as a general rule, 90 days. Up to 1 renewal of the period of stay is allowed. The application for Change of Status of Residence to Temporary Visitor is made at the Regional Immigration Bureau. The fee to apply for Change of Status of Residence is 4,000 yen. (A revenue stamp for the fee is necessary at the time of application.) The following documents are necessary for the application. 1) Application form for Application for Change of Status of Residence (Available at the Regional Immigration Bureau. The application form can also be downloaded from the Immigration Bureau of Japan website.) 2) Diploma from a university, etc. or certificate of graduation 3) Letter of recommendation from the university of graduation 4) Business plan 5) Documents such as a certificate of registered matters for a company or corporate body that makes clear the content of the business that one is trying to start in Japan 6) Document that certifies that the applicant can meet living expenses while residing in Japan 7) Document that certifies that one possesses the funds necessary for starting up a company 8) Document that makes apparent the outline of the office or that certifies that it is certain that an office will be secured 9) A document that makes apparent that one's university carries out start-up support 10) Document that certifies that a means for returning to one's own country in the case that a change of status of residence to Investor/Business Manager is not granted is secured In order to receive approval to carry out start-up activities after graduation as described above, it will be necessary that the university from which one is graduating carries out start-up support for its students (such as holding start-up seminars or exchange meetings with companies, offering grant subsidies or providing office space) and a letter of recommendation from the university will be required. Please consult with the university from which you are graduating, etc. if you wish to continue company start-up activities after graduation.
Please note the following points when filing applications with the Immigration Bureau. 1) Of the documents to be submitted to the Immigration Bureau, certifications that are issued in Japan must have been issued within 3 months of submission. 2) Japanese translations must be attached to materials written in a foreign language. 3) Documents submitted to the Immigration Bureau are not returned as a general rule. If you wish the return of the original document, etc., please request the return at the Immigration Bureau when making the application. 4) The submission of documents other than those listed above may be required for submission during the process of examination of an application by the Immigration Bureau. 5) The application procedures, necessary documents, etc. described above are those as of July 2010. Please confirm the latest information at the Immigration Bureau of Japan website, etc. or inquire with the Immigration Information Center described in 14. below.
The Immigration Information Center responds to inquiries and consultations regarding entry and residence procedures. Consultations are accepted by face-to-face interview, telephone or email. Email consultations are limited to the Foreign Residents Information Center. Immigration Bureau of Japan, Immigration Information Center:  |
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