- Proof of funds (USD) 13000 none
- Application fee (USD) 20 95
- Fees updated
- Post study options updated
corrected the PR residence-time treatment and stated the general naturalization domicile rule (https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/10_00279.html?lang=ne).
Tuition
$2k–24k
per year
Work during study
28 hrs/week
vacations: Unlimited
Post-study work
6 months
2 options
Proof of funds
—
Path to staying
- Post-study workup to 6 months
- Permanent residencyafter 10 years
- Citizenshipafter 5 years
Overview
- Country
- Japan
- Visa name
- Student Visa (Ryugaku)
- Local name
- 留学ビザ
- Status
- Active
- Max duration
- 51 months
- Renewable
- Yes
The Student status of residence covers study at universities, junior colleges, colleges of technology, specialized training colleges and Japanese-language institutions. The period is designated individually and may not exceed four years and three months. In most cases, the receiving school acts as the applicant's proxy for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE); after it is issued, the student applies for a visa at a Japanese embassy or consulate. A COE does not guarantee visa issuance.
Tuition and costs
- Tuition policy
- Full fee
- Tuition range
- $2,000 – $24,000/year
- Funds type
- Bank statement
- Scholarships
- Available
The government-approved Study in Japan portal reports first-year admission and tuition fees of about ¥820,000 at national graduate schools and undergraduate universities, ¥910,000 at local public undergraduate universities, ¥1,300,000 at private undergraduate universities excluding medical, dental and pharmaceutical programs, and ¥3,800,000 for those private programs. Its listed figures range from ¥320,000 at national colleges of technology to ¥3,800,000 for private medical, dental and pharmaceutical undergraduate programs. Japanese-language institutions range from ¥610,000 to ¥1,900,000. These are school-level estimates, usually including admission fees; tuition, materials and other fees vary by institution. Scholarships and tuition exemption or reduction programs are available at many schools.
Work rights during study
- Work allowed
- Yes
- Term hours
- 28 hrs/week
- Vacation hours
- Unlimited
- Permission
- Separate permit
Student status itself does not permit work. A separate permission is required; eligible first-time entrants staying over three months can apply on arrival. The blanket permission allows up to 28 hours per week, and up to eight hours per day during long school holidays. It is valid while enrolled, does not cover adult-entertainment businesses, and work must not interfere with study. The official guidance states a daily holiday limit, not a separate 40-hour weekly vacation limit.
Post-study work options
| Program | Type | Duration | Min degree | Work | PR path |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Designated Activities Visa (Job Hunting) | Job seeker | 6 mo–24 mo | Diploma | 28 hrs | No |
| Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services Visa | Work permit | — | Diploma | Unrestricted | Yes |
Language requirements
| Test | Purpose | Language | Min score | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) | Admission | Japanese | — | There is no nationwide JLPT score stated for the Student residence status. Admission requirements vary by institution and language of instruction. Starting with October 2026 enrolments, ISA guidance requires Japanese-language institutions to confirm applicants’ willingness and ability to study Japanese, but does not set one national test score. |
| EJU (Examination for Japanese University Admission) | Admission | Japanese | — | Admission test used by many universities, including most national universities; it is not a universal Student-status visa requirement. Subject and score requirements are set by each institution. Administered in June and November. |
| TOEFL iBT / IELTS | Admission | English | — | English-medium institutions may require an English test; accepted tests and minimum scores vary by institution. No national Student-status visa score is specified. |
Fees and costs
| Fee | Type | Amount | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa Application Fee (Single Entry) | Application | $95 | One time |
Dependents and family
- Dependents
- Allowed
- Restriction
- Spouse and children only. The official Study in Japan guidance says Student-status holders at universities may sponsor dependents; students at Japanese-language institutions are not eligible to invite family under Dependent status. A dependent spouse needs separate permission to work.
- Spouse work
- Limited (28 hrs/week)
- Conditions
- A spouse with Dependent status needs blanket permission for work up to 28 hours/week; separate individual permission is needed for work outside that scope. Adult entertainment work is excluded.
Long-term pathway
- Post-study visa
- Available
- Work permit
- Possible
- Permanent residency
- After 10 years
- Citizenship
- After 5 years
- Study time counts
- Yes, full credit
How to apply
- Method
- In person
- Via
- The receiving school usually acts as the student’s proxy for the COE application; the student then applies for the visa at a Japanese embassy or consulate.
- Interview
- Not required
- Official site
- www.mofa.go.jp
- Health insurance
- Required (buy separately)
Notes and caveats
The ordinary visa fee for applications accepted from 2026-07-01 is approximately ¥15,000 for single entry, payable in the mission's local currency. Fees vary by nationality and purpose; approved-agency handling charges are extra. Visa applications may be submitted without a COE but require substantially more supporting evidence and may take several months. Visa processing time depends on the applicant's local embassy or consulate. The separate Immigration Services Agency fees for change or extension of residence status were revised from 2026-10-01 and now vary by granted period and whether the application is online; they are not the consular visa fee. After arrival, residents not covered by another public or employee health-insurance plan generally enroll in National Health Insurance. University students may sponsor a spouse and children under Dependent status, while students at Japanese-language institutions cannot invite family under that status. The general permanent-residence route requires ten continuous years in Japan, including at least five years in a qualifying work or residence status; study time can count toward the ten-year continuous-residence portion but not replace those five years. Naturalization has a separate five-year domicile rule and other conditions.
Also in Japan
Last verified Oct 9, 2026 Last changed Oct 9, 2026 Source