How I got to Japan as a Japanese Language Student

On the way to JLPT Test Site

If you dream of living in Japan, the first step is to learn the language. Japan is a country where English use is uncommon despite the effort Japan puts into strengthening English proficiency. To enjoy Japan to the fullest, you will need to get a good grasp of the language. And the best way to do this is to be a Japanese language student.

Sometime in late 2015 (if I remember correctly), I saw an ad on Facebook about a study and work program in Japan. I checked it out, attended a seminar, and got application forms and a list of requirements. I submitted my documents and waited for the COE result, which took a couple of months. I passed, paid the processing fees, and I was on my way. 

I studied at Oarai International Exchange Academy (大洗国際交流アカデミー） for a year and a half from October 2016 to March 2018.

Simple right? Now let me break down the steps on how to come to Japan as a Language student. 

Prep Work

Before making life-changing decisions (like quitting your job and moving abroad thinking you can make a living by doing odd jobs), always do your research. Before deciding to be a Japanese language student, I did my fair share of research before I jumped on board the "Study and Work in Japan" train. I had been researching a way to get to Japan for years(I was desperate to go to Japan, childhood dream, and all) before I finally found the way that fit me the best.

 

Some things to research:

School or Agency 

There are many language schools all over Japan. Decide where in Japan you would want to study, and research available language schools in the area. Just search for: "Japanese language school in PlaceName." This search should show you the schools in that area. Some students opt to go with agencies, although these usually will cost a little bit extra.

Program Fees

Not all language schools are created equal. Some schools will cost more than others, and this is something you should research on. Spoiler alert: studying in Japan is expensive. So don't be shocked by the figures you see. 

Requirements

For non-OECD countries, the documentary requirements to be a Japanese language student are a bit more strict. It will be best if you do some research on this as well. I will talk more about this in detail below.

Study basic Japanese

"Wait, what?! But this was supposed to be the reason why I am going to Japan to learn the language, right???" Coming to Japan with zero Japanese will be difficult, especially if you chose the countryside area to study. Also, the chances of getting approved for a COE (Certificate of Eligibility) is better if you have credentials showing study time(a certificate showing at least 150 hrs of Japanese language study, or a JLPT N5)

*Special note on age limit: Most language schools will accept students aged 18-30. They prefer that you already have a university degree, but finishing senior high school will suffice. Only university graduates (bachelor's degree holders) can find a job after graduation from language schools.

Find a Sponsor

Studying in Japan can be very expensive. Tuition alone will set you back around 700,000 yen for one year. Adding dormitory costs, utilities, food, and other miscellaneous expenses would bring you up to a total of 1.3 million yen a year. Hence, the Immigration Bureau requires a sponsor who is a family relative and can support the Japanese language student during their stay in Japan. The sponsor would need to show proof of 1.5 million yen bank balance (this is the minimum though most language schools would require 2 million or more).

Application Timelines

Every school has its timeline, this is just a rough estimate of the usual times

Graduation: March

Step 1 - Decide on a School/Agency

After researching schools, you need to decide on which school you would like to apply to. You can then proceed to start the application process one of a few ways:

Apply Directly

Language schools get most of their students from abroad, and more often than not, they will have a direct application link on their website. You will almost always see their application timeline as well. (This can be difficult for smaller schools who are very limited with their English ability)

Apply through Agencies

There are services online offering help with processing documents like GaijinPot Study and Go! Go! Nihon. According to their websites, they offer free services, and you will only pay the fees required by the school.

Apply through a Friend or Family member

If you have a friend or family who's already living in Japan, they can apply to the school directly for you. This method is my preferred way because it's easier to get feedback from both the school and the applicant.

Step 2 - Gather the Required Documents

After the initial inquiry for the application, you will receive a list of required supporting documents. These supporting documents will be used to acquire a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) with the Immigration Bureau. These documents are mostly proof of the ability to pay for your stay in Japan. Gathering documents is time-consuming, and I strongly advise you to gather all the documents you can, as soon as possible. The usual documents required are:

Applicant(Student):

School Application Forms 

University Diploma 

Transcript of Records (the last school attended)

Family Registry (usually your birth certificate should suffice)

Certificate of Employment (for past and current job)

Certificate of Completion (Japanese language study 150 hours or more)

JLPT/JTEST/NAT results (if available)

Health certificate (some schools have this included with their application form)

Sponsor:

Identity document (passport copy)

Proof of relationship with the student (for family members, please prepare documents that show your relationship; birth certificate, marriage contracts, etc.)

Certificate of bank balance (This should be recent, or issued within the last three months, so save this for the end)

Income tax documents for the past three years

Certificate of employment showing annual salary - if currently employed (this also has to be recent)

Letter of guarantee (usually provided by the school)

Step 3 - Submit your Application and Pay the Processing Fee

Some schools will work with you as you gather your documents. There will be a lot of emails back and forth to make sure your application is "wrinkle-free." Schools will usually ask you to scan your filled in application form first so that they can double-check all the details you wrote. Once everything is in order, you will submit the original signed application directly to the school via post or parcel. In addition to this, you will also need to send the processing fee (non-refundable, ranging from around 20,000 yen). Putting together an application for a COE (Certificate of Eligibility) is incredibly time-consuming because everything has to be in Japanese. 

Step 4 - Wait for the COE Approval

COE applications take around three months at the most. This wait time can be extremely nerve-wracking, speaking from experience. While waiting, you can study Japanese, master the kana (hiragana and katakana), and increase your vocabulary. This extra step can help ease the transition when you arrive as a Japanese language student. 

Step 5 - COE Approval and Tuition Payments

Congratulations! You now have your COE, and you are now halfway there! The next step will be to send your tuition payment to your school. Depending on the school and your agreement, you will have to pay anywhere from 6 months worth to a year's worth of tuition upfront. This payment scheme is a safe-guard for the school because many students (especially from southeast Asia) tend to leave midway through school in hopes of getting jobs elsewhere. Requiring the payments upfront ensures the student will stick to the program till graduation. Once the school validates your tuition payment, your COE will be sent via EMS (Express Mail System) or through any other parcel service you choose. You will be paying the shipping fees.

*Special Very Important Note:

If, and when you come to Japan as a Japanese language student, you CANNOT quit midway. You will have to see your studies through graduation to secure a legal job afterward. There are ways around this, but they are ILLEGAL and can result in jail time or deportation. If Japan is your dream, do it right from off the bat.

Step 6 - Visa Application and Ticket Purchase

Once you have your COE, you will have to send your visa application to your country's Japanese embassy. The turnaround time varies per country, but the general average is five working days. You will also get a piece of paper for an application to allow you to work part-time as a student with your COE package. You will submit this application to the immigration desk once you enter Japan. When you get your visa, you can then book your flight to Japan. You will need to inform your school of your flight details to arrange your airport pick up. You will be paying for your ticket as well. 

Step 7 - Come to Japan and Start Your Adventure!

Yokoso! Welcome to Japan! After disembarking your plane, you will go through immigration and get your brand-spanking-new residence card with the stamp at the back showing proof of your permit for part-time work. You are now officially an international exchange student. 

Are you ready for your Japanese language student adventure?  Click here to read about our first-day-of-school shenanigans.

For questions, feel free to comment below or message me on Facebook or Instagram.