Japan student visa guide

International students at Japanese universities, colleges, vocational schools and Japanese language schools stay under the "Student" status of residence. In most cases the school applies to a regional immigration bureau in Japan for your Certificate of Eligibility (COE), and you then apply for the visa with that COE. Nigerian applicants submit at the Japan Visa Application Centres (VFS Global) in Abuja or Lagos.

Use the guide below as a planning reference, then check the official source before you pay anything or submit an application.

Tips from experience

• Choose your school early, because the COE alone can take 1 to 3 months.
• Ask your school exactly which financial documents and amounts it needs for the COE.
• Keep your funds in accounts you can explain, and avoid sudden large deposits before the COE application.
• Use only the Japan Visa Application Centre (VFS Global) in Abuja or Lagos. The embassy warns about fake agencies collecting visa fees.
• Do not count on part-time work to pay for your studies. Study in Japan says average earnings do not cover school and living costs.
• Check the MEXT scholarship (embassy recommendation) application guidelines each year if you want government funding.

Documents most applicants need are marked required. Others depend on your case or on what the office asks for. Build a printable checklist.

• Valid passport Required

• Visa application form Required

• Photograph Required

  Follow the photo rules on the visa centre site.

• Certificate of Eligibility (COE) Required

  Original, copy, the email COE or a printout.

• Admission or acceptance letter Required

  Your school uses it to apply for the COE. Bring a copy to your appointment.

• Statement of financial support Required

  The ISA form for the COE application, usually filed by your school.

• Sponsor's savings balance certificate Required

  Used for the COE application.

• Sponsor's income certificate for the past year Required

  Used for the COE application.

• Academic certificates and transcripts Required

  Your school asks for these for admission and the COE.

• Evidence of the source of funds If asked

  Asked for when the school or immigration needs to see where savings came from.

• Scholarship award letter If asked

  If you have MEXT, JASSO or another scholarship.

• Proof of language ability If asked

  Japanese or English, as your programme requires.

• Other documents the visa centre lists If asked

  The MOFA list notes that some nationalities need extra documents, so check the Japan Visa Application Centre list for Nigeria.

Indicative government fees only. School fees, translations, tests, courier and service charges are extra.

Living funds

No fixed amount. See the basis below.

Basis

Japan does not publish one fixed national amount. When the COE or visa is processed, you must show you can pay all your expenses (tuition and living costs) while studying, using a statement of financial support and evidence such as your sponsor's savings balance certificate, income certificate for the past year and documents showing where the money came from.

Tuition included

Yes

We found no official figure from the Immigration Services Agency or the Embassy of Japan in Nigeria. Your school will tell you how much it expects to see for the COE application, so ask it early and keep the funds traceable.

Typical decision time

The Immigration Services Agency gives a standard processing period of 1 to 3 months for the COE. After that, the Embassy of Japan in Nigeria says the minimum time from visa application to passport collection is 12 working days in Abuja and 14 working days in Lagos, and longer if many people apply or the file needs review in Tokyo.

How early you can apply

Study in Japan suggests starting school applications 10 months to a year before your course begins. Apply for the visa as soon as you receive your COE. Visa centre appointments can be booked online up to three months ahead.

Latest sensible time to apply

Submit your visa application at least four to six weeks before you need to travel, as the Nigeria processing time is at least 12 to 14 working days and can take more than a month if extra review is needed. A single entry visa is normally valid for three months.

1. 1

   Get admission to a Japanese school

   Apply to a university, college, vocational school or Japanese language school. Study in Japan suggests starting 10 months to a year ahead of your course.

2. 2

   Prepare your financial documents

   Gather your sponsor's savings balance certificate, income certificate for the past year and evidence of where the funds came from, plus the statement of financial support form. Ask your school how much it needs to see.

3. 3

   Your school applies for the COE

   The school usually acts as your proxy and applies for the Certificate of Eligibility at a regional immigration bureau in Japan. The standard processing period is 1 to 3 months.

4. 4

   Receive your COE

   The COE can be sent by email. You can present the email or a printed copy when you apply for the visa.

5. 5

   Book and attend a visa centre appointment

   Book online with the Japan Visa Application Centre (VFS Global) in Abuja or Lagos and attend in person. Applications by proxy are not allowed in principle. A VFS service charge applies on top of the visa fee, and Lagos applicants also pay a courier fee.

6. 6

   Wait for the decision

   Allow at least 12 working days (Abuja) or 14 working days (Lagos) before you can collect your passport. Do not book non-refundable travel until the visa is issued.

7. 7

   Travel and get your residence card

   Enter Japan within three months of visa issue. At major airports such as Narita, Haneda, Kansai and Fukuoka you receive your residence card at immigration. Apply for work permission at the airport if you plan to work part time.

8. 8

   Register your address

   Within 14 days of finding where you will live, take your residence card to the municipal office to register as a resident. You will later receive your My Number (individual number) notification.

Work and post study rules change often. Confirm them on the official source before you plan around them.

• The COE was refused because the source or amount of funds was not convincing or could not be traced.
• Documents were found to be false or inconsistent with the COE application, which can lead to visa refusal even after a COE is issued.
• The applicant could not clearly explain their study plans or the link between their background and the course.
• The COE expired before the visa application or travel date.
• The file was incomplete or extra documents asked for by the embassy were not provided.
• The application was made through an unauthorised agent instead of the applicant in person at the visa centre.

Refused before? Read what to do after a visa refusal.