Student route (overview)
Japanese schools usually drive immigration: Certificate of Eligibility (CoE), then visa, then Zairyu card and municipal steps.
Steps
- Admission — School starts CoE process in Japan.
- CoE — Receive digital or paper eligibility certificate.
- Visa application — Embassy/consulate with CoE, forms, photo (often 4×3 cm, recent), financial proof (often about ¥1.5–2.0 million per year or sponsor package).
- Entry — At major airports you typically receive the Zairyu card at immigration.
- Municipal registration — Within 14 days: address registration and National Health Insurance enrollment.
Checklist
- Passport, photos, CoE, application form, financial/sponsor evidence, highest diploma as required.
Official links
Go deeper
Operational detail and official links—amounts and deadlines change; always confirm on the competent portal before filing or paying.
Immigration & residence card
Residence card
Your residence card states status of residence, validity, and any part-time work permission—carry it at all times. Renewals and status changes go through regional immigration bureaus or online services where available.
Address changes
After every move, notify immigration and your municipality within the legal deadline (typically 14 days)—late notification can be penalised.
Visas from abroad
Certificate of Eligibility (COE) routes for study/work visas are handled via Japanese embassies/consulates with sponsor documents.
Resident registration
Ward office / city hall
Moving-in and moving-out notifications; juminhyo certificates for banks, mobile contracts, and schools.
My Number
Individual Number notification and optional My Number card for digital ID; update your address after you move.
Study
Scholarships, Japanese preparation, and international-student procedures via JASSO.
Forms, counters, and ward names (e.g. kuyakusho in Tokyo) differ by city—always check your local government site alongside ISA and MOFA.
This block complements the guide with institutional entry points—not legal or tax advice.