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Student visa

Long-term program

Study Japanese full-time for 6 months to 2 years on a student visa — the usual path to a Japanese university, a vocational college or a job in Japan.

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Browse 30 schools

Course length6 months – 2 years

IntakesApril · July · October · January

First year at our schools¥777,000 – ¥1,115,000

Part-time workUp to 28 h/week, with permission

Is it for you?

Who the long-term program is for

Choose long-term if you…

  • plan to live in Japan for 6 months or more
  • want to enter a Japanese university or vocational college
  • want to work in Japan after school
  • want to learn Japanese to an advanced level

Short-term may suit you better if you…

  • stay less than 3 months
  • want to try Japan before committing
  • learn Japanese for travel or for yourself

About the short-term program

Requirements

What you need to apply

Each school sets its own rules; these are the usual requirements. Immigration rules: Student visa for Japan.

Age

Usually 18 or older when the course starts.

Education

12 years of school — a high-school diploma. With 11 years you need at least one more year at a college or university.

Japanese

Basic Japanese (level A1): JLPT N5, JFT-Basic A1 or a certificate of study hours, as your school requires.

Money

A sponsor — usually a parent — or your own savings that cover tuition and living costs. The school tells you the amount.

Documents

What to prepare

From you

  • School application form and CV
  • High-school diploma (and university diploma, if any) with transcripts
  • Passport copy, with any previous Japanese visas
  • Recent passport photo
  • Japanese study certificate or JLPT / JFT-Basic result

From your sponsor

  • Proof of your relationship
  • Certificate of employment and income
  • Bank balance certificate
  • Tax documents, if self-employed

If you pay for yourself, you provide these documents yourself.

The exact list depends on your country and your school — after the first consultation we send you yours. To see the immigration side now, try Which documents do I need?

Timeline

Intakes and application dates

Start Course length Apply at the school Immigration result (CoE)
April 6 months – 2 years September – 31 October end of February
July 6 months – 1 year 9 months December – early March end of May
October 6 months – 1 year 6 months March – early May end of August
January 6 months – 1 year 3 months May – early August end of November

Typical dates — not every school runs all four intakes, and lengths differ by school (see each school page). You pay the school only after your CoE is issued. Scroll sideways on small screens.

Step by step: How it works

Costs

What the first year costs

At our 30 partner schools the first year costs ¥777,000 – ¥1,115,000: the application fee, the enrollment fee, a year of tuition and other compulsory school fees. You pay the school after your CoE is issued.

Housing is extra — each school page lists its dormitories and rents. Our help is free.

Compare schools and prices

ARC Academy, Tokyo — example Amount
Application fee ¥30,000
Enrollment fee ¥70,000
Tuition, first year ¥816,000
First year total ¥916,000

From the ARC Academy page. Scroll sideways on small screens.

After language school

Where the program can take you

University or graduate school

Many schools prepare you for the EJU and university entrance exams, and some recommend students to partner universities.

Vocational college

A senmon gakko (vocational college) teaches a profession in Japanese — IT, design, hospitality, business and more.

A job in Japan

With a job offer you can apply to change your status of residence to a work visa. Some schools have their own careers office. Where to start: How to find a job in Japan.

Partner schools

30 schools for the long-term program

See all 30 schools

  • Ohara Japanese Language School, Tokyo

    Tokyo

    ·Funabori, Edogawa

    Ohara Japanese Language School

    Apr · Jul · Oct · Jan

    1–2 years

    First year¥800,000

  • ISI Tokyo-Takadanobaba Academic Pathway Campus, Tokyo

    Tokyo

    ·Takadanobaba

    ISI Tokyo-Takadanobaba Academic Pathway Campus

    Apr · Jul · Oct · Jan

    15 months – 2 years

    First year¥1,015,000

  • ISI Shibuya-Harajuku, Tokyo

    Tokyo

    ·Shibuya & Harajuku

    ISI Shibuya-Harajuku

    Apr · Jul · Oct · Jan

    1 or 2 years

    First year¥1,055,000

FAQ

Questions, answered

Can’t find yours? Send us a message — a real person replies.

Write to us

Can I start with no Japanese at all?

Not on a student visa. You need basic Japanese (level A1) — for example JLPT N5 or JFT-Basic A1 — or a study-hours certificate, as your school requires. Short courses accept beginners.

The Certificate of Eligibility is issued by Japan’s Immigration Services Agency and lets you apply for the student visa. The school applies for you; it takes about 2–3 months.

Yes, with permission from immigration: up to 28 hours a week, and up to 8 hours a day during the school’s long holidays. Rules, pay, taxes and insurance: Part-time work for students.

Usually a parent or another relative, or yourself if you have enough income and savings. The school tells you how much it needs to see.

Enter a university or a vocational college, or change to a work visa if you get a job in Japan.

Yes. Most partner schools have a dormitory or partner housing; we help you choose and apply. Rents are on each school page.

Tell us your plans. We’ll handle the rest.

One short form — we reply with a shortlist of schools and the next steps.

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Students in yukata at a Japanese language school

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