Australia Visas for Foreign Children in Japan – School Trips, Homestay and Summer School (Visitor visa subclass 600)

School Trips, Homestay, Short-Term Study and Summer School (Visitor visa subclass 600)

If your child is a foreign national living in Japan and plans to travel to Australia for a school trip, homestay, international exchange program, language camp or summer school, they will usually need an Australian visa.

This page explains, from the perspective of a Japanese immigration lawyer (gyoseishoshi), how minor children (under 18) can obtain the appropriate short-term visa for Australia when they are living in Japan and hold a non-Japanese passport.

1. Even for School Trips, a Visa Is Required

If your child will participate in:

• a school-organized trip to Australia,

• a homestay or cultural exchange program, or

• an international exchange event organized by a local government, school or other institution in Australia,

they will usually need a Visitor visa (subclass 600 – Tourist stream).

Schools or program organizers may ask you to submit proof that a visa has already been granted or that the visa application is in process. If your child cannot join the trip or homestay simply because they do not have a visa yet, it would be a great pity.

Our office provides a full application support service for short-term Australian visas for foreign children living in Japan.

2. Birth Certificate Required for Minor Children

For applicants under 18 years of age, Australian authorities normally require a birth certificate. The issue date does not matter, but the document itself is essential.

• If the child was born in Japan
  You will need a “Shussei Todoke Kisai Jiko Shomeisho” (Certificate of Entry in the Birth Register).
  This can be obtained from the city/ward office where the birth was registered.
  Note: a simple “Shussei Todoke Juri Shomeisho” (certificate that the birth report was received) is not acceptable.

• If the child was born outside Japan
  You will need a birth certificate from the child’s home country, clearly showing the names of both parents.
  A copy is usually acceptable, but it may need to be translated into English.

We always recommend that parents prepare the birth certificate as early as possible, because it is a key document for a child’s visa application.

3. Our Mission: Supporting Foreign Children in Japan

Yokoyama Legal Service Office supports:

• elementary, junior high and high school students,

• technical college students and university students,

who are foreign nationals living in Japan and wish to go to Australia for:

• short-term study,

• language training,

• summer school,

• study tours and exchange programs, or

• homestay and cultural experience programs.

We focus on children and students who live in Japan and hold non-Japanese passports (for example, Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, Filipino, Mongolian, Russian, Indonesian, Afghan and many others).

4. Why Summer School and Study Tours in Australia Are So Popular

In recent years, summer study programs abroad have become very popular among families in East Asia. For example, in China many parents start planning overseas summer study programs from around April, and the number of students going abroad for short-term programs continues to grow.

Japan’s English education, frankly speaking, tends to lag behind in terms of practical speaking skills. Foreign parents living in Japan (especially Chinese parents) often have very high educational aspirations and up-to-date information from their home countries, so they are very proactive about sending their children abroad for language and cultural experience.

Many parents want to:

• expose their children to a wider world,

• broaden their perspective and independence, and

• let them master English from an early age.

Australia remains one of the most popular destinations for these goals.

5. Why Choose Australia for Short-Term Study?

For a one-month study tour or summer school, which country is best?

Australia offers many advantages:

• Rich nature and beautiful environment

• Friendly and relaxed people

• Relatively safe society with strict gun control laws,
  making firearms incidents very rare compared with some other countries

• Mild climate and many sunny days throughout the year

Because Australia is in the Southern Hemisphere, seasons are opposite to Japan.
When it is summer vacation in Japan, it is cooler in many parts of Australia, making it easier for children to focus on their studies.

Australia is also one of the world’s most multicultural societies:

• It is often said that roughly one in four residents was born overseas.

• People come from many different cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

• Diversity and mutual respect are strongly valued.

For children on short-term programs, this means:

• they can quickly make friends from many countries,

• they feel less “foreign”, and

• even if their English is not perfect, it is still accepted and understood.

Homestay standards in Australia are generally high, and many schools work with experienced host families, which is another major advantage.

6. Schools and Courses for Short-Term Study

For short-term study, we often recommend private English language schools in Australia.

Typical features:

• Flexible start dates – some schools accept new students every week or every month.

• Flexible course length – some offer courses starting from one week.

• General English courses – usually open even to beginners; placement is done by level.

• Summer programs – especially in school holidays, schools may offer programs combining
  English study + activities (sports, sightseeing, cultural workshops, etc.).

For children and students who want to enjoy learning rather than entering a long, intensive course, these short-term language and activity programs are very suitable.

7. Typical Costs for Short-Term Study in Australia

Average total cost for a short-term study program in Australia is roughly:

300,000 – 800,000 JPY (as a very general reference range)

Approximate breakdown:

• Visa application and support:
  about 60,000 JPY (if you hire a professional;
  if you apply on your own, the government charge itself is around 30,000 JPY in many cases)

• Airfare:
  about 80,000 JPY for a return ticket to Sydney using a low-cost carrier (varies by season)

• Tuition (language school):
  about 60,000 JPY for 1 week to 300,000 JPY for 2 months

• Accommodation (homestay or student residence):
  about 50,000 JPY for 1–2 weeks to 250,000 JPY for 2 months

• Living expenses / pocket money:
  about 50,000 – 100,000 JPY, depending on length of stay and lifestyle

These are approximate figures for reference only; actual costs will vary by school, location, season and program.

8. Where to Apply for Short-Term Programs

There are various ways to apply for short-term study or summer school in Australia, for example:

• international exchange organizations,

• language school groups,

• university-affiliated programs,

• school-organized group tours, and more.

For example, there are organizations such as:

• AFS Japan – a public interest foundation offering language training, high school exchange and cultural programs in Australia and other countries.

• EF Education First – one of the world’s largest language school networks, offering summer programs and short-term intensive English courses with international classes and various after-school activities.

(Please check these organizations’ websites or contact them directly for up-to-date details on their programs.)

Our office does not sell programs or tours.
We focus on the visa side: helping children who already have a program or school in mind (through an agent, school or directly) to obtain the correct Australian visa.

9. Tourist Visa vs Student Visa for Short Stays

For short-term programs up to 3 months, you normally do not need a student visa.
In many cases, a tourist visa is sufficient, for example:

• Subclass 600 – Visitor visa (Tourist stream).

However, a visa itself is still required.

Unlike Japanese passport holders (who may be eligible for certain e-visa arrangements), foreign nationals living in Japan usually must obtain an Australian visa in advance, even for:

• a two-week short program, or

• a one-week school trip or homestay.

This is exactly where many families feel the “visa barrier”.

(And yes, somewhere in Australia your child may be able to meet the very cute quokka!)

10. Required Documents for School Trips and Homestay (Minors, Visitor visa)

When a minor child travels without both parents, the list of required documents becomes much more complex.

Typical documents (examples):

• Online visa application (through ImmiAccount)

• Form 1229 – Consent to grant an Australian visa to a child under the age of 18 years

• If an agent or exempt person assists:
  Form 956 – Advice by a migration agent / exempt person of providing immigration assistance

• Copy of the entire passport of the child

• Recent passport-sized photo (about 4.5 cm × 3.5 cm, taken within the last 6 months)

• Copy of the child’s Residence Card (front and back)

• For some nationalities, copy of a national ID card from the home country

• Birth certificate (copy):

  • If born in Japan: “Shussei Todoke Kisai Jiko Shomeisho”

  • If born abroad: home-country birth certificate showing both parents’ names

• Certificate of enrollment from the school in Japan (original)

• Detailed itinerary / schedule of the trip or program

• Letter from the trip organizer or accompanying group in Australia or Japan

• Copies of the parents’ passports and Residence Cards

• Proof of ability to cover expenses (bank statements, income certificates, etc.)

• Juminhyo (residence record) for the entire household

In addition, depending on the family situation (divorce, remarriage, sole custody, etc.), further documents may be needed to prove who has legal custody and who must give consent.

11. Travel Consent and Legal Custody Issues

Australia places strong emphasis on the welfare and rights of children.

When a child leaves or enters Australia, authorities may ask for a travel consent letter.
This is a document showing that the parent who is not travelling (or other legal guardian) agrees to the child’s trip.

Unlike Japan, Australia uses the concept of legal custody:

• After divorce, both parents may still retain legal custody in some situations.

• In such cases, one parent cannot decide alone on important matters such as a child’s visa application.

• Therefore, when only the mother or only the father travels with the child, this must be carefully considered.

Even more attention is required when neither parent travels with the child – for example:

• school trip,

• homestay or summer school,

• short-term study program with a host family or guardian in Australia.

In those cases, Australian authorities often require:

• Form 1257 or a similar declaration from the adult in Australia (aged 21 or over) who will be responsible for the child’s care during their stay.
  This is in addition to the parents’ consent, and focuses specifically on the welfare and daily care of the child in Australia.

At our office, we:

1. Check the law of the child’s home country related to legal custody.

2. Determine who legally has custody and therefore whose consent is required.

3. Clarify if there are any parents or guardians whose consent is not legally required (for example, due to loss of custody under home-country law).

4. Attach a legal explanation to the visa application to make this clear to the Australian Embassy / Department of Home Affairs.

This is a distinctive service we provide as a Japanese administrative law office with experience in international family and custody issues.

12. Why It’s Better to Consult a Specialist

For minor children, visa applications involve:

• many more documents than for adults,

• several forms about consent, custody and guardianship,

• birth certificates,

• translated documents from Japanese or other languages into English.

If documents are missing or incomplete, there is a real risk of visa refusal.

To avoid having a carefully planned school trip or short-term study program ruined by a visa problem, we strongly recommend consulting a professional.

Yokoyama Legal Service Office has helped many families with:

• mothers travelling together with children for summer school or camp,

• children travelling alone on school programs,

• students joining university language courses and short-term ESL programs,

• minors from various countries with different custody systems.

13. FAQ – Common Questions About Minor Children’s Visas

Q. My child is a “permanent resident” in Japan. Do they still need an Australian visa?
A. Yes. Even if your child is a permanent resident in Japan, if they hold a foreign passport (for example, Chinese, Vietnamese, Mongolian, etc.), they will still usually need to obtain an Australian visa.

Q. For a school trip or language program, which visa should my child apply for?
A. For school trips, language programs, homestay and other short-term school events in Australia, the appropriate visa is normally “Visitor visa (subclass 600) – Tourist stream.”
Even if the child attends classes at an Australian school for a short period, this visa is often used.

Q. Is the application submitted online?
A. Yes. Applications are submitted through ImmiAccount online.
Online submission is faster and more reliable than postal applications (which are no longer standard).

Q. How long does visa processing take?
A. In many cases, processing takes around two weeks, but this can vary.
We recommend contacting our office at least one and a half months before the departure date.
Earlier is always better, especially for group trips.

Q. Our school asked us to provide proof that we have already applied for the visa. What can we submit?
A. Once the online application has been submitted and accepted, the Australian authorities issue an “Acknowledgement of application received”.
This document can usually be used to show the school that the visa application is already in process.

14. Examples of Our Past Cases (Minor Applicants)

Here are some examples of minor and student cases we have supported (nationalities and programs):

• Metropolitan high school – 6-day homestay program in Brisbane – Chinese student

• Private university – 6-week language training in Sydney – Chinese university student

• Public junior high school – 8-day international exchange program in Sydney – Chinese junior high school student

• Private high school – 4-week school-organized homestay in Brisbane – Chinese high school student

• Private high school – 15-day ESL program at a university in Sydney – Chinese high school student

• Private high school – 10-day program in Melbourne combining homestay and grammar school – Chinese high school student

• Private high school – 7-day participation in the World Scholar’s Cup in Sydney – Chinese high school student

• Public college of technology – about 1.5-month university program in Brisbane – Mongolian student

• Private university – 10-week English language center program – Chinese university student

We have assisted many other cases as well, from various nationalities and different types of programs.

15. Our Service Area and How to Contact Us

Q. Which areas do you cover?
A. We serve clients throughout Japan.

Applications can be handled via:

• telephone,

• e-mail,

• WeChat (for Chinese-speaking clients), and

• postal / courier service for documents.

Our office is located in Nihonbashi, Tokyo.
If you live nearby, you are welcome to visit us in person (by appointment).
If you live in other prefectures, everything can be done remotely.

We generally only accept cases from people who reside in Japan (i.e., who have a Juminhyo in Japan).
We do not accept cases from people living outside Japan.

16. Why Ask Yokoyama Legal Service Office to Handle Your Child’s Visa?

1. Less burden for parents
   You and your child do not have to communicate directly with the Australian Embassy or Department of Home Affairs in English.
   You can communicate with us in Japanese, English or Chinese, and we will handle the English communication.

2. Nationwide support
   We receive many requests not only from Tokyo, but also from Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Ibaraki, Shizuoka, Aichi, Osaka, Hyogo, Fukuoka and many other prefectures.
   Everything can be done via e-mail, telephone and mail/courier.

3. Translation included
   If you apply on your own, you may have to find a professional translator (e.g. NAATI-certified) for English translations of Japanese documents.
   When you request our visa service, you can simply send us the Japanese documents;
   translation into English is handled by our office and is included in our standard fee.

4. Extensive experience and know-how
   We have been specializing in Australian visas for foreign residents in Japan since 2016, handling around 100–200 applications per year.
   We have gained a great deal of practical know-how, especially about cases that are more likely to be refused if not prepared carefully (low income, short residence in Japan, complex family situations, minors travelling alone, etc.).

5. Competitive pricing
   Our standard service fee includes English translation of necessary Japanese documents.
   When you compare fees with other providers, please check whether translation is included or charged separately.

6. Protection of personal information
   Visa applications require providing highly sensitive information:
   passport data, Residence Card details, family registers, financial information, etc.
   As a licensed gyoseishoshi office under Japanese law, we are bound by a strict legal duty of confidentiality.
   In many cases, visa fees are paid via our office, so you do not need to give your credit card information directly to third parties.

7. High client satisfaction and after-care
   We have received positive feedback from many clients who successfully traveled to Australia with their children.
   We also provide after-care, such as advice on address changes after visa grant, or further applications for other countries’ visas.

17. Final Message

For many foreign families living in Japan, especially in Asia, obtaining a visa is a major hurdle when sending their children abroad. It requires extra time, money and energy.

Even so, many parents are willing to make this effort—for their child’s education, future opportunities and growth—and often also because they themselves wish to step into the wider world together with their child.

As professionals who specialize in visas, we at Yokoyama Legal Service Office sincerely hope to support foreign children living in Japan so that they can take their first step out into the world—starting with Australia.

If you are considering a school trip, homestay, summer camp or short-term study program in Australia for your child,
please feel free to contact us.

Yokoyama Legal Service Office
Phone: 03-6264-9388
Email: info@lawoffice-yokoyama.com

We are here to help you make sure your child’s exciting study trip to Australia does not fail because of visa issues.

Other Question?

Please feel free to contact us for advice!

First, please call +81-3-6264-9388 or leave a message on our website with your inquiry. (Please contact us by phone or consultation page.)

TEL: 03-6264-9388

WeChat: visa_hengshan

Email: info@lawoffice-yokoyama.com