Immigration needs to confirm that you or your sponsor can financially support your stay in Japan. The 2,000,000 yen estimate covers tuition fees, accommodation, and monthly living expenses for the duration of your studies.

Preferred documents include a monthly bank statement showing the bank name, account holder’s name, date of issue, and available balance, or a bank certificate. Investment statements may also be considered, provided the funds can be liquidated at any time.

No. Students who have not been working full-time for at least 1–3 years cannot self-sponsor. You will need to have a sponsor support your application.

A sponsor must be a direct relative — a parent, sibling, or spouse (with a marriage certificate). Distant relatives such as aunts or uncles are also accepted, but will need to provide additional documents including the applicant’s birth certificate, the parent’s birth certificate (the one related to the aunt or uncle), and the aunt or uncle’s birth certificate.

Preferred documents are personal income tax returns (W2 or 1040 forms for US applicants, P60 forms for UK applicants, etc.). Monthly payslips covering one full year, pension statements for retired sponsors, and invoices for freelancers may also be considered.

Yes, but you will still need to submit a bank statement showing a minimum of 2,000,000 yen and an income tax return alongside your scholarship documents. Schools want to ensure you or your sponsor can provide financial support in case the scholarship does not continue for any reason.

Some school partners offer performance-based scholarships during your studies — typically small tuition discounts rather than full coverage. We strongly recommend ensuring your financial documents are in order regardless of scholarship status.

The minimum requirement is a high school diploma, associate’s degree, or equivalent (such as a GED for homeschooled students). A bachelor’s degree is preferred.

No. A 1-year certificate course is not recognized as equivalent to a bachelor’s or associate’s degree by most Japanese language schools. If this applies to you, please submit your high school diploma instead.

Yes, as long as you will be 18 by the time you arrive in Japan to begin your studies. Please note that some schools set their own age limits of 30 or 40 years old maximum.

The minimum age is 18, and there is no official upper age limit for a student visa. However, individual schools may have their own age preferences, so it is worth checking with your chosen school.

Work experience is not a strict requirement. However, if you graduated from high school more than 5 years ago, you will be expected to provide an employment history.

Prepare a separate Word document listing all your travel dates and submit it alongside your application form.

A copy of your previous e-ticket or flight itinerary showing your travel dates will be accepted.

If you previously worked in Japan, you’ll need your canceled residence card, a copy of your previous employment contract, and a withholding tax slip. If you are currently working in Japan, please submit your residence card, employment certificate, contract showing your employment dates, and withholding tax slip.

It will only affect the length of your language school student visa if you took Japanese language classes during your exchange program. If your exchange program was conducted entirely in English with no Japanese classes, it will not count against your visa duration.

From you: your previous residence card, passport stamps, a copy of your student visa page, and transcripts from your home university showing the exchange program dates. From the Japanese university: a grade transcript, attendance transcript, and COE application form.