While most students eligible for a “student” visa are universities, vocational schools, and Japanese language schools, elementary and junior high school students are also eligible for a “Student” visa as of January 1, 2015, following the revision of the Immigration Control Act to promote international exchange at younger ages.

If the requirements are met, it is possible to send only children of these ages to study in Japan without coming to Japan accompanied by their parents.

We would like to explain the requirements for “Student” visa for parents who wish to send their children of elementary, junior high, and high school age to study in Japan.

 

 

Common Requirements

 

1. Enroll and attend the following schools in Japan.

– Technical college
– High school
– High school of a special needs school
– Junior high school
– Junior high school of a special-needs school
– Elementary school
– Elementary school Elementary school Elementary school

2. The foreign student must have sufficient expenses (school fees, housing, living expenses, travel expenses, etc.) for his/her stay in Japan.

 

 

High school students

 

 

1.The age of the student must be 20 years old or younger.

 

2.The student must have received at least one year of Japanese language education or education in the Japanese language at an educational institution in Japan or abroad.

 

*The student is eligible for a “Student” visa regardless of whether the school is public or private, but not for a day school or a correspondence school.

 

 

Junior high school students

 

1. The student must be 17 years of age or younger.

 

2. The student must have a caretaker in Japan (a person who takes the place of the student’s parent in Japan, such as a relative, house mother, or host family).

 

3.The junior high school in which the student plans to enroll has a full-time staff member in charge of providing guidance for the foreign student’s daily life.

 

4. The school must have a dormitory with a full-time staff member and other accommodations that enable foreign students to lead their daily lives without any problems.

 

*Students from both public and private schools are eligible for a “Student” visa.

The secondary school of an integrated junior and senior high school is also eligible.

 

 

Elementary school students

 

 

1. The applicant must be 14 years of age or younger.

2. The child must have a caretaker (a person who takes the place of a parent in Japan, such as a relative, house mother, or host family) in Japan.

3. The elementary school to which the child is to be enrolled has a full-time staff member in charge of providing guidance for the foreign child’s daily life.

4. A boarding house with a full-time staff member or other accommodations that enable the foreign children to lead their daily lives without difficulty is secured.

 

*Both public and private schools are eligible for the student visa. Integrated junior and senior high schools are also eligible.

 

 

Summary

 

If the child is to attend a public elementary or junior high school, a relative or other custodian must have the principal’s seal of the elementary or junior high school in the area of residence stamped on the application form in advance.　There are many other required documents, and they also vary depending on the individual’s background.

Obtaining a visa is more difficult than for students studying at universities or Japanese language schools. If you are considering sending your child to study in Japan, please contact us.

 

 

 

Profile

Ami Ito

Born in Tokyo, Japan

Spent high school years in England and graduated from a high school in London

Studied cross-cultural communication at Sophia University, Department of English, Faculty of Foreign Languages.

After graduation, worked in the overseas division of SEIKO Watch Corporation for 11 years.

TOEIC score 970

Officially registered with the Financial Services Agency’s “List of Foreign-Language Professionals (Gyoseishoshi Lawyers) in Chiba Prefecture.

 

Having lived abroad, I learned how difficult it is to live and work in a different culture. To help foreigners who want to live and work in Japan and companies who want to hire foreigners, I became an immigration lawyer.

I like talking to people and listening to them. I will carefully listen to the client’s situation and propose the best way to deal with the situation by utilizing my knowledge of the law. I also try to communicate with clients carefully so that they do not feel uneasy.