Japan Student Visa and Certificate of Eligibility — 2026 Complete Guide

How to get your Japan student visa via the COE process, work rights during study, and post-graduation visa pathways including SSW and Engineer visas.

Japan's student visa process: Step 1 — your institution applies for Certificate of Eligibility (COE) with Japan Immigration (1–3 months); Step 2 — you apply for the visa at your local Japanese embassy (5–7 days). Financial requirements: tuition + ¥120,000–¥150,000/month. Work rights: 28 hrs/week during term, full-time during vacations (申請required at airport). Post-study: Engineer/Specialist in Humanities visa, Specific Skilled Worker (SSW), or 6–12 month job-hunting Designated Activities visa. Popular with Nepali, Vietnamese, and Bangladeshi students.