It might be anxious to submit a student visa application in Japan. The same thing happened to me a few years ago when I was in my early 20s and contemplating my ambition of studying and working in the Land of the Rising Sun. At the time, my mind was clouded with a lot of uncertainties.

I had to ask, “Can I do this?” Do I have the motivation to stick with my plans? Have I accumulated enough savings to pay for my studies? After deciding that my desire to live in Japan outweighed my uncertainties and concerns, I started the process of applying for a student visa right away.

At this point, there was no going back. I can reassure you today that studying in Japan was a decision I don’t regret making if you find yourself feeling the same way as I did.

It feels good to have achieved a goal I’ve had since I was a child. If anything, I understood that I need to have started sooner!

You must provide the following paperwork when applying for a student visa in Japan:

You will need to complete an application form with your personal information, educational background, employment history, and the reason(s)/purpose(s) for your study abroad in Japan after you have decided which Japanese school you wish to apply for.

In the designated area for the occupation, you may enter “preparing to study in Japan” if you are not presently working. Additionally, there is a part for prior Japanese education. Indicate “self-study” if you have so far studied alone.

Typically, you’ll need to take a passport-style picture (3 cm width by 4 cm height) on a simple backdrop. It is advised that you take off your spectacles if you wear them, like I did in my case, and make an effort not to grin for the photograph.

Your submitted picture must have been shot within the last three months. Additionally, it shouldn’t be the same image that appears on your passport or any other kind of identification.

You must scan a copy of your passport’s front page. Include copies of any entrance and departure stamps from prior visits to Japan.

I’ve previously been to Japan on a 90-day visiting visa. When the immigration department learned about this, they seemed to be persuaded that I was deserving of being given a student visa. I suppose having a track record makes a good impression!

Many educational institutions around the nation demand that you provide an authentic certificate from the institution from where you graduated. Since a bachelor’s degree is one of Japan’s minimum educational criteria, you may not be able to get a working visa if you haven’t completed your studies.

If you want to remain and work here for a long time, as I do, be sure you prepare ahead. I had successfully completed my bachelor’s degree in my own country and had indicated interest in attending graduate school in Japan.

A course completion certificate or a letter from a language school are acceptable forms of adequate documentation to demonstrate your involvement in Japanese study.

You must provide a copy of your JLPT results if you have completed any level and achieved success. This is another technique to strengthen your case for a student visa.

You need a sponsor if you want to study in Japan on a student visa. Even though the majority of students work part-time jobs, sponsors are still required to pay for your stay in the nation.

Here are two sponsorship possibilities for you to think about:

The immigration authorities would likely assist you in processing your visa smoothly if they are aware of the positive connection between you and the mentioned family member. This is the simplest choice. Although anybody may be a sponsor, there would be a ton of paperwork required, and a non-family member’s visa acceptance status wouldn’t be assured.

You may choose to be a self-sponsor if you have sufficient resources to demonstrate that you can pay the tuition and other costs for the length of your studies. Please be aware that there could be tighter financial restrictions for this.

The chosen individual (either another person or yourself) must provide evidence that they have a certain quantity of money in their bank account in order to be accepted as a sponsor.

The cost varies depending on the duration of the student visa you are requesting: 1.5 million JPY for a 6-month visa and 2.5 million JPY for a 1-year visa. The money might be shown by yearly revenue from employment or savings.

Proof that your sponsor is presently employed is required. It is necessary to write a formal letter on business letterhead that includes a statement of the recipient’s position within the organization.

Pay stubs or tax documents may also be used to show your sponsor’s salary details. The Immigration Bureau is interested in learning about yearly income, however information on monthly wage may also be appropriate.

A bank certificate displaying your current account balance may often be created by banks for whatever reason you see suitable. Additionally, printouts of online bank balances are accepted by several schools in Japan.

If your sponsor lives in Japan, they must also provide additional personal papers, such as jyuuminhyou, evidence of three years’ worth of local and federal taxes paid, family register information (if they married a Japanese citizen), and a copy of their residence card.

Please be aware that this post seeks to cover all the fundamental paperwork you need if you’re applying for your first student visa to Japan. The list of essential papers, however, can be much lengthier if you have a history of having visa applications denied.

Most of the time, the school you want to apply to will need to be aware of this so they can make the appropriate documents.

There may or may not be extra criteria for other schools. For clarity, it is thus preferable to inquire about the criteria at the institution of your choice.

I still recall how happy I was when I finally received my student visa. I resembled a little child who just received their favorite Christmas present!

It’s not as difficult as it sounds to apply for a visa in Japan. Take use of the drive you have to make your dreams a reality. If you know where to look, there are many opportunities in the Land of the Rising Sun.

I think I’ve covered practically every paperwork that has to be ready before the student visa application process begins. I hope you find a lot of value in this essay.

Fulfill your ambitions and we’ll see you across Japan!