The Student visa lets you study at an accredited school in Japan and, with a separate work permit, work up to 28 hours a week part-time. It is the most common first step toward working in Japan long-term.
Key facts
- Sponsor
- Accredited school in Japan
- Part-time work
- 28 h/week; 8 h/day in long holidays (permit required)
- Maximum period of stay
- 4 years 3 months (set per applicant)
- Proof of funds
- No fixed figure — sponsor balance + 1 year of income + source of funds
- Family
- Possible for long programs
- Path to work visa
- Yes, via change of status
Application timeline — April intake (October intake runs six months later) (2026–2027)
| Step | What happens | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Jun–Sep, year before: pick and apply | Language schools take applications direct or via agencies; compare total fees and the station the school sits on, not the brochure | P2J estimate |
| Sep–Nov: school compiles the COE file | Sponsor bank and income statements + your diplomas + Japanese-study records; the school files a batch to ISA | P2J estimate |
| Dec–Feb: immigration screening | Pure waiting — no large unexplained movements in the sponsor account meanwhile; the money trail itself is what gets screened | P2J estimate |
| Late Feb: COE issued | Pay the first semester or year of tuition; the school mails you the original COE | P2J estimate |
| March: visa at the embassy (about 1 week) | Booking flights after the visa is in hand is early enough | P2J estimate |
| April: entry and enrollment | Residence card at the airport — tick the part-time work permission box at the same counter; that is the legal basis of the 28-hour week | ISA (official) |
One visa, six kinds of school
The Student (留学, ryūgaku) status of residence is not a language-school visa. It covers Japanese language institutes, specialized training colleges (専門学校), junior colleges, colleges of technology, universities and graduate schools. The status is the same in every case; what changes is who admits you, the Japanese you need, and what the first year costs. The period of stay is set per applicant and cannot exceed 4 years 3 months.
| School | First-year admission + tuition, average | Japanese usually expected | What it leads to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese language institute | ¥610,000–1,900,000 | None to start | N2-level Japanese, then a school or a job |
| Specialized training college (専門学校) | ¥1,300,000 | N2 in most programs | A senmonshi diploma that satisfies the education requirement for a work visa |
| University (undergraduate), national | ¥820,000 | N1–N2, or an English-taught program | A degree, new-graduate hiring |
| University (undergraduate), private | ¥1,300,000 (¥3,800,000 medical/dental/pharmacy) | Same | Same |
| Graduate school, national | ¥820,000 | Varies; many programs run in English | A degree and a research record |
| College of technology (national) | ¥320,000 | N2 | Engineering transfer routes |
Averages published by JASSO for the first year. Materials, practical-training and examination fees are charged on top, and figures vary by school — check the school’s own application guidelines.
What immigration actually checks
In most cases you never touch the immigration counter yourself: the school applies for your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) as your proxy at a regional immigration bureau in Japan. What you supply is the money trail, and there is no published minimum balance. What is asked for is:
- the financial sponsor’s savings balance certificate,
- an income certificate covering the past year, and
- documentation identifying the source of the funds.
That third line is where applications fail. A modest balance with a year of matching income behind it reads better than a large balance that appeared last month, because the sponsor’s ability to keep paying for the whole course is what is being judged — not the number on the day.
The 28-hour rule, in full
Working is not included in the Student status. You need separate permission to engage in activities outside your status (資格外活動許可). If your period of stay is longer than three months you can get it at the airport when you first land — otherwise you apply at your regional immigration bureau afterwards. The conditions:
- 28 hours a week, and up to 8 hours a day during long school holidays.
- The income is meant to supplement your study costs — not to build savings or to send money home. This is written into the permission itself and surprises most people.
- Adult entertainment work is prohibited by law, at any number of hours.
- The work must not interfere with your studies. Every year students lose their status not because of the hours but because attendance collapsed and renewal was refused.
About 65% of privately financed international students work part-time, earning roughly ¥81,000 a month on average — enough to cover living costs, nowhere near enough to cover tuition. What they earn per hour:
| Hourly wage | Share of students |
|---|---|
| Less than ¥1,000 | 20.5% |
| ¥1,000–1,200 | 50.2% |
| ¥1,200–1,400 | 20.5% |
| ¥1,400–1,600 | 5.0% |
| More than ¥1,600 | 3.6% |
Restaurants (39.2%) and retail (28.4%) take two thirds of student part-timers. Once you have the permission in hand, the counter procedure itself is covered in our immigration bureau guide.
From student to a work visa
Many long-term residents of Japan started here. The usual route:
- Study (1–4 years) — reach the Japanese level your target job needs; N2 is the practical threshold for most office work.
- Job hunting — new-graduate hiring if you are at a university or 専門学校, mid-career applications otherwise.
- Change of status — from Student to a work visa without leaving Japan.
Graduates of specialized training colleges earn a senmonshi diploma that satisfies the education requirement of the Engineer / Specialist in Humanities visa; university graduates satisfy it with the degree itself.
Budgeting the first year
Take the first-year school fee from the table above, then add living costs — see Cost of living in Tokyo for a worked monthly budget, and move-in costs for the one-off deposit, key money and furniture bill that lands in your first month. Before you leave, budget the examination fees, the visa application fee and the airfare as well; JASSO groups these as the “before coming to Japan” half of the plan, and they are routinely left out.
Japanese you will use on this page (tap ▶)
| 留学に来ました。 Ryūgaku ni kimashita. I am here to study. | |
| 在留カードはここで受け取れますか。 Zairyū kādo wa koko de uketoremasu ka. Can I receive my residence card here? | |
| 資格外活動の許可も申請したいです。 Shikakugai katsudō no kyoka mo shinsei shitai desu. I would also like to apply for the part-time work permission. | |
| 在留資格認定証明書はこれです。 Zairyū shikaku nintei shōmeisho wa kore desu. Here is my Certificate of Eligibility. | |
| アルバイトは週28時間までと理解しています。 Arubaito wa shū nijūhachi jikan made to rikai shite imasu. I understand part-time work is capped at 28 hours a week. |
Audio synthesized with VOICEVOX:Meimei Himari at standard pace for shadowing; real conversations run faster and carry accents.
Step by step
- Choose and apply to a school
The school must be accredited to sponsor student visas. Apply several months before the intake (language schools usually admit in April, July, October and January).
- Prepare financial documents
You (or a sponsor such as a parent) must show funds covering tuition and living costs, typically with bank statements and proof of income.
- School applies for your COE
The school submits the Certificate of Eligibility application to immigration in Japan on your behalf. This usually takes 1–3 months.
- Apply for the visa
With the COE, apply at the Japanese embassy or consulate in your country.
- After arrival, get the part-time work permit
Apply for "permission to engage in activity other than that permitted" (shikakugai katsudō kyoka) — you can apply at the airport on arrival.
Common mistakes & warnings
- Working more than 28 hours per week is a serious violation and a common reason for visa renewal refusals and deportations.
- Never submit falsified bank statements or diplomas. Fraud leads to refusal and long-term bans.
- Poor school attendance is reported to immigration and can prevent renewal or change of status.
Frequently asked questions
Can I work part-time on a student visa?
Yes, up to 28 hours per week (and up to 8 hours a day during long school holidays), but only after receiving the separate work permission. Work in adult entertainment is prohibited regardless of hours.
Can I change from a student visa to a work visa?
Yes. Graduates hired by a Japanese company can change status to a work visa such as Engineer/Specialist in Humanities without leaving Japan.
How much money do I need to show?
There is no published minimum. What is actually required is the financial sponsor's savings balance certificate, an income certificate covering the past year, and documentation identifying where the money came from — so a balance that appeared suddenly is a bigger problem than a smaller balance with a clear history.
Is the student visa only for language schools?
No. The same Student status covers universities, graduate schools, junior colleges, colleges of technology and specialized training colleges. The visa is identical; the admission requirements, the Japanese level expected and the first-year cost are what differ.
How much do students actually earn part-time?
About 65% of privately financed international students work part-time, earning around ¥81,000 a month on average. Half of them are paid between ¥1,000 and ¥1,200 an hour.
Is there an age limit for the student visa?
No statutory age limit exists. In practice, language schools ask applicants past their late twenties to explain the study purpose and any gap since their last education, because COE screening probes whether the plan is consistent — a clear, documented reason works at any age.
Official sources
- Study in Japan (JASSO): Academic Fees (2026-07-23)
- Study in Japan (JASSO): Immigration and Student Visas (2026-07-23)
- Study in Japan (JASSO): Part-Time Work (2026-07-23)
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan (2026-07-15)
This page provides general information only and is not legal advice. Immigration rules change; always confirm details with the official sources listed above before making decisions.