Student visas for primary and secondary school students

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Requirements for primary, secondary and high school students to study in Japan
[Common requirements]
[For senior high school students]
[For junior high school students]
[For primary school students]
When attending an International School
Necessary documents
Appication process
FAQ
Our office makes each case on a case-by-case basis.
Reference page:

Primary, secondary and high school students can also obtain a student visa in Japan.

Long-term study is also possible, and as long as the requirements are met, the visa can be renewed, so that students can eventually continue to renew their visa until they graduate from university.

This section explains the application requirements, necessary documents and the process.

Requirements for primary, secondary and high school students to study in Japan

[Common requirements]

① Enrol in and attend the following schools in Japan.

Senior high schools (including the second semester of secondary schools). Senior high schools of special-needs schools *Excluding regular schools.
Junior high schools (including the second semester of compulsory education schools and the first semester of secondary education schools) Junior high schools (including the second semester of compulsory education schools and the first semester of secondary schools), junior high schools of special support schools
Elementary schools (including the first semester of compulsory education schools) Elementary schools of special-needs schools.

② The foreign student has sufficient expenses (school fees, housing, living expenses, travel expenses, etc.) for his/her stay in Japan.

[For senior high school students]

① The age of the applicant must be under 20 years.

② At least one year of education in the Japanese language or education in the Japanese language at a Japanese or foreign educational institution.

[For junior high school students]

① The age of the applicant must be under 17 years.

② A carer or guardian of the foreign students in Japan (a person who takes the place of a parent in Japan, e.g. a relative, matron, head of household in a homestay). The student must have a guardian in Japan.

③ The junior high school to which the student is to be admitted must have a full-time staff member in charge of guiding the life of foreign students.

④ Boarding houses with permanent staff and other accommodation facilities that enable foreign students to carry out their daily activities without hindrance are ensured.

[For primary school students]

① The age of the applicant must be under 14 years.

③ The primary school to which the student is to be admitted must have a full-time staff member in charge of guiding the life of foreign students.

④ Boarding houses with permanent staff and other accommodation facilities that enable foreign students to carry out their daily activities without hindrance are ensured.

*There is no requirement for primary or junior high school students to have received at least one year of Japanese language education, but in practice, if they cannot speak any Japanese, they are more likely to be rejected as they will not be able to attend school in Japan and will not meet the requirements to study in Japan.

(Except in the case of students receiving English language education at an international school).

When attending an International School

If a student intends to receive education at an international school (i.e. an educational institution established to enrol a significant number of foreigners from abroad and to provide primary or secondary education in a foreign language, a special training school or a school of any kind), the following requirements apply.

①Being a juvenile/young person (age requirement).

②The educational institution where the student intends to receive education must have a full-time staff member in charge of guiding the life of foreign students.

③The international school must be a specialised school or a school of various types. In other words, it must be accredited. It must not be an unaccredited school (a mere ‘school’).

International schools are schools that provide pre-school, primary and secondary education based on the education system of the country or region, mainly for foreign children, although there is no legal definition or regulation. International schools in Japan usually fall into the category of ‘various types of schools’ and are often authorised by the prefectural governor.

Please note that when a student attends an interscholastic school, they are usually educated in English and there is no Japanese language requirement.

Necessary documents

Application form with photo
Application form, filled out by school.
Copy of Passport
Letter of admission and explanation of support arrangements issued by the school
Documents certifying the custodian; copy of ID, certificate of registration or lease agreement of the residence, and explanation of how he/she became a custodian.
Documents certifying the financial supporter’s ability to pay all expenses during the student’s stay in Japan and an explanation of the relationship; certificate of employment, letter of financial support, certificate of bank balance, certificate of taxation, certificate of payment of school fees, certificate of family relations showing the relationship, etc.
Certificate of graduation and documents that clarify career history.
Documents certifying the history of Japanese language study at Japanese language education institutions.
Documents that clarify the outline of the accommodation in which the foreign child/student will live in everyday life; e.g. a floor plan.
If there are special circumstances, a written explanation, petition, etc.

Appication process

STEP1: First, unless a child is going to live in a student dormitory, he/she needs a relative in Japan, such as an uncle or aunt, who can provide him/her with a place to live. That relative will be his/her ‘custodian’.

STEP2: Then, the next step is to find a school in Japan that will accept a child for admission.

STEP3: Once a child has decided on a school to accept him/her, prepare his/her documents and apply for a certificate of eligibility (COE).

STEP4: It will be issued in about two to three months, which he/she can then post back to his/her home country to obtain a VISA.

STEP5: After arriving in Japan, he/she can enrol successfully.

FAQ

Can you recommend a school that will accept me for admission?: Sorry, our firm is not an agency. This is not a study abroad agency and we do not offer a school placement service.

I have no relatives in Japan, can I still apply?: If you have no relatives in Japan, you can ask someone with whom you have a close relationship living in Japan to act as your custodian. In this case, you will need to provide a detailed explanation of how you came to agree to a guardian and how you will take care of the child. If there is no custodian at all, the only option is to find a school with student accommodation. At present, there are not many such schools.

I haven’t decided on a school in Japan, can I still apply?: As this is a “student” visa, you cannot apply if there is no school in Japan that accepts you (admits you). Please read the “Application process” above.

After obtaining a study visa for my child, can I also obtain a visa for the parent or guardian?: Even if your child is granted a student visa, there is no visa available for the guardian. Therefore, if the guardian also wants to obtain a Japanese visa, he or she will have to obtain a separate visa, independent of the child’s student visa.

I am already in Japan with a “student” visa, can I transfer?: If you wish to transfer to a new school, you must first notify the school under the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act. You can then transfer to another school, but as many schools have never accepted international students, it is advisable to check in advance whether you will be able to renew your visa at the new school without any problems before you transfer.

Can I also attend an international school on a student visa?: A student visa can also be granted if the student attends an international school. In this case, the international school usually provides education in a foreign language, such as English, so Japanese language proficiency or previous study of Japanese is not required. Reference to, 続々開校するインターナショナルスクールは誰のためか？

Our office makes each case on a case-by-case basis.

The Immigration lawyer at our office is dedicated to providing the best possible service.

We are dedicated to listening to your situation, helping you suggest the best solution, and creating individualized application forms and schedules and other documents. None of the documents are the same.

If you come to our firm and apply for a paid consultation, we will provide you with a detailed list of required documents in Japanese, English and Chinese. We look forward to hearing from you.