Preparations, entry requirements, guarantor details, and basic procedures.
Please refer to the Application Flowchart page. It is important to prepare in advance in order to study in Japan as you anticipate. We recommend that you begin preparing as soon as possible.
1. Access study abroad information materials Various kinds of information related to studying in Japan can be accessed at Japanese diplomatic establishments abroad. They include the following:
General information related to studying in Japan (for example, necessary preparations, educational facilities, immigration procedures, living in Japan, etc.)
Material concerning the Japanese system for international students
Material related to scholarships
Information related to Japanese universities (university and undergraduate department guide), graduate schools, specialized training colleges and Japanese-language institutions
Information regarding accommodations in Japan
Sample of entrance examinations for international students
2. Information Provision by International Student Advisors Japanese diplomatic establishments in countries where there are large numbers of students interested in studying in Japan have former international students and other people who are knowledgeable about Japan on hand to serve as international student advisors (please note, however, that they are not full-time staff). In addition, regional information sessions may be held once or several times a year, not only in the capital city but also in regional cities, so please inquire at the Japanese embassy or other diplomatic mission abroad in your country.
Six Japanese embassies and consulates (located in Beijing and Shanghai, China; the Republic of Korea; Malaysia; Indonesia; and Thailand) have special space set aside to provide information about studying in Japan. Full-time international student advisors are on hand at these embassies and consulates to provide information as well as consultation. Please find the nearest Japanese embassy or other diplomatic mission abroad in your country on the website below: Websites of Japanese Embassies, Consulates and Permanent Missions
The regulation that made a guarantor necessary to acquire entry and status of residence in Japan was abolished in December 1996. Therefore, you no longer need a guarantor to enter Japan as an international student. However, guarantors are required in various aspects of life in Japan. For example, you need a guarantor when you are renting a room, taking an entrance examination or gaining admission to a Japanese university or specialized training college. After enrollment, you may also be required to apply for scholarships and tuition fee reductions. Therefore, although you no longer need a guarantor to gain entry into Japan, there will be many situations when you need a guarantor after you arrive in Japan (these are also required of Japanese students).
If you are considering studying in Japan, it is important that you inquire with the school you are planning to attend regarding the need for guarantors since policies differ depending on the school. For example, if you are enrolling in a Japanese language school, the school may become your guarantor while you are a student. In some areas, an association for international relations (run by local government) may become your guarantor while staying in the area.
Please refer to the following pages to check the costs required to study in Japan and the estimated cost of living in Japan:
Please refer to our Immigration Guide page for a brief guide to immigration procedures.
If a foreign national travels to Japan to take an exam, they must obtain a Temporary Visitor visa at the Japanese embassy or consulate in their country by presenting the exam voucher of their school of choice. The period of stay can be 15, 30 or 90 days. However, if a foreign national is a national of a country under the Visa Exemption Arrangements, they will not need to apply for a visa.
*Note: If you are a national of a visa-required country, as a rule, you must return to your home country after passing the exam to obtain a Student status of residence.
Prioritize original documents, cash/cards, active SIM/eSIM, basic prescriptions, and weather-appropriate clothes. Avoid overpacking heavy items.
Educational System & Schools
Degrees, school types, and guidelines for choosing where to study.
In addition, the website of the NIC-Japan (National Information Center for Academic Recognition Japan) provides an authoritative overview of the Japanese education system, types of higher education institutions, higher education credentials, and information on admission to higher education institutions.
Please see the Japanese Educational System page for a list of available degrees (Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, Doctoral, and Professional degrees).
Please refer to the Educational System (Colleges of Technology) page for a description of colleges of technology (Kosen), which offer five-year engineering and technical programs starting from high school level.
The following pages provide information on general application materials and admissions tests. However, application materials and entrance examinations vary greatly from school to school, so please inquire directly with the school you wish to apply to:
Status of residence, extensions, residence cards, and travel regulations.
Please refer to the Immigration Guide or Re-entry & Extensions pages for information on procedures related to your status of residence while studying in Japan.
The residence card (Zairyu Card) is issued to mid- to long-term residents when they enter Japan. You are required by law to carry it with you at all times. Please see the Immigration Guide page for details.
Please see the Accommodation page which provides information on school dormitories, private apartments, and finding housing guarantors.
Notification must be made within 14 days to the regional immigration services bureau for school changes, or to the municipal office for residence changes. Please refer to the official procedures on the websites below:
You will need to change your status of residence if you conduct activities falling under a different status. Applications must be submitted to the regional immigration bureau.
1) Graduating and starting work: You must apply for a Change of Status of Residence from 'Student' to employment-based statuses (e.g., 'Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services') before starting work. Change of Status Guidelines
2) Job hunting after graduation: If you wish to continue job hunting in Japan after graduation, you must change to 'Designated Activities' (Tokutei Katsudo), usually valid for 6 months and renewable once. This requires a recommendation letter from your university.
3) Starting a business after graduation: Excellent students initiating entrepreneurial corporate setups can stay up to 6 months under 'Designated Activities' to establish a company in Japan.
Yes, you can apply for an Extension of Period of Stay at the regional immigration bureau before your current stay expires. For details on renewal procedures and documents, check the Re-entry & Extensions page or the Immigration Services Agency Extension Guide .
By obtaining a re-entry permit (or utilizing the Deemed Re-entry Permit system if you hold a valid passport and residence card and return within one year), you can temporarily leave Japan. Please read details on the Re-entry & Extensions page.
Life & Career in Japan
Part-time work, health insurance, utility setups, and job-hunting guidance.
Yes, if you obtain 'Permission to Engage in Activity other than that Permitted under the Status of Residence' at the immigration office. You are allowed to work up to 28 hours per week (8 hours per day during long school holidays). Please refer to the Part-Time Work page.
Yes, both internships and job hunting are permitted. If an internship is paid, you must obtain a part-time work permission. Please check the following resource pages:
Yes, international students staying in Japan for more than 3 months must join the National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme, which covers 70% of medical costs. Please see our Insurance page for details.
If you wish to extend your current scholarship or apply for new ones during your stay, you must consult the international student office at your school or the scholarship organization as soon as possible. Guidelines and deadlines vary widely.
Before returning home, please complete these important procedures:
Appartment/Dormitory: Notify your landlord at least 1-2 months in advance, clean the room, settle bills, and cancel utilities (water, gas, electricity).
Municipal Office: Submit a Notification of Change of Address, return your National Health Insurance Card, settle premiums, and hand back your 'My Number' card.
Financials: Close your bank accounts and cancel cell phone contracts (ensure all final automatic bills have cleared before closing bank accounts).
Job hunting in Japan usually begins early. Universities offer career assistance, and you can leverage services like the Tokyo, Nagoya, or Osaka Employment Service Centers for Foreigners. Please see the Employment in Japan page.
Please consult our Changing Status of Residence page. You need documents from your employer showing the contract terms and financial health of the company, plus your graduation certificate.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), through overseas embassies and consulates, supports alumni associations organized by returned international students to help network and access career opportunities.
The official NIC-Japan Website provides authoritative, accurate information in English and Japanese describing the higher education system and degree structures.
Yes. Most Japanese banks require a local Japanese phone number. A Sakura Mobile eSIM allows you to get your number activated before arrival.
Roughly ¥90,000 to ¥130,000 per month depending on rent, utilities, and daily commute expenses.
Sizes over 27-28 cm are rare in local Japanese retail stores. We recommend packing a couple of extra pairs from home.
MEXT Scholarships & Applications
Procedures, deadlines, eligibility, and documents for Japanese Government Scholarships.
If you are applying via Embassy Recommendation, you must consult the Japanese embassy in your home country or check their guidelines. Normally, you must apply to the embassy in the country of your citizenship. For University Recommendation, consult the academic department of the Japanese university you wish to enter.
If you cannot return home due to emergency circumstances, please check the special instructions on the website of the Japanese embassy in your home country or consult directly with the scholarship office of the Japanese embassy in your country of citizenship or your current country of residence.
Please verify eligibility details on our Grants & Scholarships page. Eligibility criteria are detailed in the official application guidelines issued annually by MEXT or your local Japanese embassy.
It depends entirely on the availability of academic supervisors and laboratories at the university. You must verify and request acceptance from the specific university's department or research lab.
For Embassy Recommendation, check the embassy website in your home country (normally applications open around April-May). For University Recommendation, deadlines depend on the university's academic calendar (usually around October-December for autumn admission).
The complete list of universities is not published publicly. You should research universities offering your field of study. Use resources like the School Directory or JP CUP database to identify targets.
Please contact the Japanese embassy (Embassy Recommendation) or the host university (University Recommendation). You can usually submit a 'Certificate of Expected Graduation' or an official letter from your current school explaining the delay.
Submission rules depend on the embassy or university. Some embassies require physical mail delivery or hand-submission, while others accept online portals. Read the local guidelines carefully.
Please contact the scholarship office of the Japanese embassy or the university's international admissions division directly if you have not received confirmation within the expected timeframe.
Embassy recommendations are submitted directly to the Japanese embassy in your home country. University recommendations must be submitted directly to the admissions office of your target Japanese higher education institution.
You should consult the embassy or university. In some cases, a digital signature, verification email directly from the referee, or a recommendation signed by a department dean or supervisor may be acceptable.
Yes. If you submit a photocopy of your diploma instead of the original, it must be officially certified (attested/notarized) by the issuing school, the Ministry of Education in your country, or the Japanese embassy.
Written Exams & Qualifications
Difficulty levels, language requirements, samples, and equivalent qualification rules.
If you wish to enroll in an English-taught degree program, Japanese language proficiency is often not required.
If class instruction is in Japanese, you will typically need an N2 or N1 level in the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT), or a score of 250+ in the EJU Japanese section. Check with your target school.
Yes. EJU is held twice a year (June and November) in 17 cities across 13 countries/regions outside Japan. Please refer to our Examinations page for details.
In principle, a 12-year formal education curriculum is required. If your curriculum is shorter (e.g. 10 or 11 years), you can meet eligibility by:
Completing 1-2 years of higher education in your country or a university preparatory program.
Enrolling in authorized University Preparatory Courses (Junbi Kyouiku Katei) designated by MEXT in Japan.
For MEXT scholarships, the Japanese language exam tests proficiency ranging from N4 to N2/N1 levels. For academic subjects (Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, etc.), the level is equivalent to the Japanese high school curriculum.
You should first consult the academic advisors or scholarship officer at the Japanese embassy in your home country (Embassy Recommendation) or the university admission department (University Recommendation).
Scholarships & Funding
Details on merit scholarships, MEXT funding, private awards, and eligibility.
There are three primary categories of funding available:
Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarships: Full tuition, monthly stipend, and airfare.
JASSO Honors Scholarships: For self-supporting international students.
Local Government & Private Foundations: Offered by municipalities and private foundations.
Yes. While most private scholarships require you to be enrolled in Japan, a small number accept applications from overseas before arrival. Please refer to our Grants & Scholarships page.