Student Visa Application
Process Starts Here!
(This page looks best on a laptop, not a phone, but it’s your choice) Every year thousands of people get a student visa, and move to Japan. You might feel overwhelmed by the application process, but with our step-by-step guide, anybody can do it! Before you start the student visa application, please review this entire page, and watch every video. Your student visa application will take 6 months, but there’s actually only 4 things you need to do:
Email One Year Visa, and we’ll help you find a great school.
Collect your documents, fill out the application, and do a video call with the school.
Pay the school tuition, and receive your COE document in the mail.
Send documents to the Japanese embassy, receive your visa, and fly to Japan.
Day 1 - Day 15
Pick a school, and send your documents.
DAY 1: Contact One Year Visa, and pick your school. (If you want to start school in April, we’ll begin the application process in October)
DAY 2: Start collecting the required documents “A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H.” (more information about each document below)
DAY 7: You’ll do a video call / interview with the school.
DAY 15: You “passed” the interview! You will submit documents “A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H” and the completed school application “I” to One Year Visa.
A
3x4cm passport photo
(digital copy and printed on photo paper)
B
Photo of your passport
(Take a nice photo of your passport, and if you visited Japan before, take photos of the stamps in your passport)
C
150 hour certificate
or
College Japanese classes
or
Passing the JLPT N5 or higher
(You need to show “proof of studying at least 150 hours of studying Japanese” to the Japanese government)
D
Official (sealed) transcripts
(Contact your college or high school, and get an official copy of your transcripts. Some schools might want a official copy mailed to them, in Japan, so be ready for that)
Save the file: ”name_transcripts.pdf”
E
Official Diploma
(You will need a PDF of your college or high school diploma. Some schools will want a physical copy mailed to them, in Japan, so be ready for that)
F
Pay-check and W-2 tax form
or
business license
(The Japanese government wants to see you are making money from a job, or you own a business)
G
Last three months of bank statements
and
Investment account “balance letter”
(You need to show the Japanese government you have around $15,000 USD in the bank and / or an investment account)
H
Birth Certificate
(Only required if you have a financial sponsor)
Save the file as: ”name_birth_cert.pdf”
I
School Application
(Find your school below, and download the application documents. There is also a video that explains exactly how to complete the application process. The schools are listed from north to south)
STOP
Day 20 - Day 135
Document review, and pay the school.
DAY 20: One Year Visa will review your documents, and send them to the school.
DAY 21: You will pay the school’s “application fee” (around $150 USD)
DAY 50: The school might want you to mail your real diploma and official transcripts to them. (depends on the school)
DAY 119: The Japanese immigration department will create your COE document.
DAY 120: The school will email you a picture of the COE document, tuition invoice, and payment instructions.
DAY 121: Use an international payment app (wise.com) to send a money to the school’s bank account. The transfer might take a few days to reach the school’s bank account.
DAY 127: The school will (DHL) mail you the real COE document. (This letter will take a week to reach you)
Day 128 - Day 150
Mail documents to your Japanese embassy.
DAY 128: Buy your one-way ticket to Japan, but you can’t fly yet.
DAY 129: Find the Japanese embassy in your area.
https://www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/jicc/consulate-guide.html
Download A and B from the website, and print them out.DAY 130: Collect documents C, D, E, F, G.
DAY 135: Your H (real COE) will arrive in the mail.
DAY 136: Mail A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H to the Japanese embassy.
DAY 150: You will receive, in the mail, your passport + student visa and the real COE.
DAY 151: You’re done! Fly to Japan!
(Bring your real COE on the plane. You will need it if you want a part-time job in Japan)
A
Visa Application
us.emb-japan.go.jp/jicc/consulate-guide.html
(Print it out, fill it out in black ink, and glue on the 2”x2” passport photo. Japanese embassies, in America, will process your student visa for free, but I don’t know about other Japanese embassies)
B
Release of Liability
(Print it, and sign it in black ink)
C
normal 2”x2” passport photo
(printed on photo paper, white background, and glued to the application document)
D
Passport
(Should not expire in the next 12 months. Your passport should have at least 2 blank pages. NOTE: The last 2 blank pages, in an American passport, are not “real” pages. They are for immigration officials to write notes)
E
Color copy drivers license
(Color print out of your drivers license. Front and back. I don’t remember sending this document, but they want to see it)
F
Color copy of COE
(The school emailed you a picture of your COE, so just print it out)
G
Prepaid envelope
(Buy an envelope, write your home address on it, and pay for postage + tracking)
H
Real COE
(The school will “DHL” mail this document to your house, from Japan, and it will take around 7 days to get there. You will need to sign for it, when it arrives)
