Student visa for Japan: schools, documents and part-time work

Rules and fees change often. Last checked: 7 November 2026. Always confirm with the official sources below before you apply.

The Student status (留学, ryūgaku) is for people who study at a school in Japan: universities (including junior colleges and graduate schools), colleges of technology, vocational schools (専修学校), high schools and other schools, and Japanese-language institutions.

Changes to know. (1) Visa fees went up on 1 July 2026 (the Bangladesh embassy says the visa is free for Bangladeshi nationals; see below). (2) From 1 October 2026, extensions and changes of status in Japan cost ¥10,000–¥75,000 depending on the period granted (it was ¥6,000). (3) If you enter a Japanese-language school from April 2027, ISA asks for an extra “confirmation of ability to pay expenses” form.

Who it is for

Anyone accepted by a school in Japan who will study there as the main activity. Your school is your main partner: it sends your documents to immigration and checks your attendance.

Requirements

• An acceptance from a school in Japan.
• Proof that you (or a sponsor, or a scholarship) can pay tuition and living costs. You submit a statement of who pays (経費支弁書) with evidence. ISA’s page does not publish a fixed minimum amount. Your school will tell you what it needs.
• Academic certificates that match your study plan.
• From April 2027, for Japanese-language schools: the extra financial-capacity confirmation form.

The full checklist is in Who is eligible below.

Japanese level needed

ISA does not set one Japanese level for the Student status. Each school sets its own entry requirement. Many Japanese-language schools ask for some study before you come. The Japan Foundation says JFT-Basic results can be used when applying to a Japanese-language institution. University programmes taught in English may not need Japanese at all. Check with your school.

To start before you leave, use our free JLPT N5 course: Lesson 1: Hiragana, Lesson 6: Greetings and introducing yourself and Lesson 22: Shopping conversation cover your first days.

How to apply, in short

Apply to a school. The school applies for your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) at the regional immigration bureau. ISA’s standard period is 1 to 3 months, and the COE is free. With the COE you apply for the visa at home and then fly to Japan. The detailed steps are in How to apply, step by step below.

Applying from Bangladesh. Since 3 November 2024 the Embassy of Japan in Dhaka accepts visa applications only through VFS Global (Gulshan-2, Dhaka). You must book online; new appointments for the month after next usually open on the 15th of each month. The embassy’s standard processing time is 7 working days from the day VFS receives a complete application, and longer if documents are missing. Mid-March to early June and mid-September to late October are very busy, mainly with students, so book early.

Other countries. Each Japanese embassy has its own system. The Embassy of Japan in Nepal also takes applications only through VFS Global. Other embassies use their own application centres or accredited agencies, and these have changed recently in some countries, so always check your own embassy’s visa page. If you are a national of the Philippines, Viet Nam or Nepal, you also need a TB clearance certificate from a designated clinic (see below). Indonesia’s screening starts on 2 November 2026, and the certificate is required from 4 January 2027.

Visa fee. MOFA raised visa fees for applications accepted from 1 July 2026: about ¥15,000 for a single-entry visa and about ¥30,000 for a multiple-entry visa, paid in local currency. MOFA also says the fee may not be required, or may be different, depending on your nationality. The Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh says the visa is free for Bangladeshi nationals (its page is dated October 2024, before the July 2026 change, so confirm with VFS Global when you book). VFS Global charges its own service fee.

Working rules

• You need permission first. To work part-time you need “permission to engage in activity other than that permitted”. It is free. You can apply at the airport when you first land with a Student status (unless your period of stay is 3 months), or later at the immigration bureau.
• Up to 28 hours a week with the general (“comprehensive”) permission. During your school’s long holidays, the limit is 8 hours a day.
• No adult entertainment businesses. You cannot work at bars, hostess clubs, gambling-type arcades and similar businesses covered by the adult entertainment law, even for a few hours.
• Teaching or research assistant work for your own university (or college of technology, year 4 and up) does not need this permission.
• Internships and other work outside these limits need a separate, individual permission.

Family

Student is one of the statuses that allow a spouse and children to come on the Dependent status, if you can support them. ISA asks for proof such as a bank balance or scholarship certificate. See our Dependent visa guide.

How long you can stay

ISA decides the period for each person, up to 4 years and 3 months at a time. To extend, apply before your period ends. If your period of stay is 6 months or longer, you can apply from 3 months before it ends. For an extension, ISA also asks for a statement about who pays your living costs. The standard processing period is 2 weeks to 1 month.

Changing status after your studies

• To a work visa: many graduates change to Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services. ISA lets graduates of Japanese universities, junior colleges and graduate schools submit the shorter “category 1” document set when changing from Student. See our Engineer/Humanities guide.
• Job hunting after graduation: graduates of a Japanese university or vocational school who keep job hunting can get a “Designated Activities” status. With it, they can also get the general 28-hour work permission.
• To SSW: pass the skills test and the Japanese test for a field, get a job offer, then apply. See our SSW guide.
• Changing school: report the change to ISA within 14 days.

Common mistakes and scams to avoid

• Fake bank statements. Some agents sell “arranged” balance certificates. ISA can cancel a status that was granted on false documents, even if you did not know they were false.
• Working more than 28 hours. Count all your jobs together. Too many hours can lead to refusal at extension time, or worse.
• Not attending school. If you stop studying for 3 months without a good reason, your status can be cancelled.
• Paying for things that are free. The COE is free, and the embassy says the visa is free for Bangladeshi nationals. Pay VFS only its own service fee, at its own counter.
• “Study visa = work visa” promises. The Student status is for study. Agents who promise full-time work on a Student visa are lying.
• Forgetting your address. Report your address at your city or ward office within 14 days of moving in, and again within 14 days whenever you move. Not reporting an address within 90 days of arrival is a reason for cancellation.

Free official help. The Immigration Services Agency’s information centre answers questions about forms and documents: 0570-013904 (from IP phones or overseas: 03-5796-7112).