Student Visa Application Guide 2026
Student Visa Application Guide 2026
Year 2026
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction 1
Class Information 2-3
Application process 4
Fees and Payment methods 5-6
Refund policy 7
Required documents 8-10
Agreement 11
ATTENTION
Please read each section of this guide carefully.
After reading, the applicant and the financial guarantor should sign the agreement
found at the end of the guide.
INTRODUCTION
Thank you for your interest in Shinjuku Japanese Language Institute, or Shinjuku Nihongo Gakko SNG.
We pride ourselves on having highly qualified instructors who can provide you with the best language
experience in Japan.
Please find below the overall process to admission and information about SNG. Please note that in ac-
cordance with Japanese immigration law, the school is required to handle your Certificate of Eligibility
(COE) application process, so that you can apply for your student visa.
Please keep in mind that applying for a student visa means that the main purpose of coming to Japan is
to study. Therefore, it is required by all students to fully respect attendance and punctuality.
APPLICATION PERIODS
SNG student visas are granted to start either from April or October of each year.
As the examination of the document takes time, applicants must finalize the application during the periods indicated
below.
PERIOD OF APPLICATION
TERM LENGTH AND SUBMISSION
The application documents must be sent to Shinjuku Japanese Language Institute (SNG Tokyo) or submited through an
agent.
Tel: +81-(0)3-5273-0044
[Link]/en
1
CLASS INFORMATION
A placement test and an interview will be held before the classes start, to assess your language skills and determine the
type of course, general or intensive, that would suit you best. It is strongly advised not to overestimate by requesting
to enter the intensive program as it may result in difficulties to keep up with the pace. Please remain open to the school
advice on this matter.
SNG programs includes 920 hours of class per year.
Please be aware that it is difficult to obtain a work visa in Japan if you do not have a degree.
GENERAL PROGRAM
CEFR B2-C1
BUSINESS
OBJECTIVE : Acquiring the skills to communicate fluently CLASS**
in Japanese. Aimed at students who wish to focus on
improving overall conversation skills through role play and CEFR B1 TEACHER
TOURISM TRAINING**
group work.
BUSINESS
Students passing Intermediate Advanced level may join
CLASS*
CEFR B1
Advanced classes (see below***)
3 MONTHS 3 MONTHS 3 MONTHS 3 MONTHS 3 MONTHS 3 MONTHS 3 MONTHS 3 MONTHS 3 MONTHS 3 MONTHS
JLPT 3 MONTHSN5 N4 N3 N2 N1
CEFR A1 CEFR A2 CEFR B1 CEFR B2 CEFR C1
CEFR B2-C1
INTERMEDIATE INTERMEDIATE
BEGINNER BEGINNER ADVANCED ADVANCED ADVANCED
I II
I II I II III
JLPT N5 N4 N3 N2 N1
CEFR A1 CEFR A2 CEFR B1 CEFR B2 CEFR C1
2
INFORMATION ON TIMETABLE
Levels from Beginner to Intermediate I are held in the afternoon (13:30-17:00).
Levels from Intermediate II to Advanced are usually held in the morning (09:10-12:40).
Please note that it is not possible to choose between the morning and afternoon class.
In addition, each term (3 months) includes 3 half days with curriculum related events or activities.
3
APPLICATION PROCESS
Here are the steps to apply for a student visa.
Please carefully read each step from the beginning of the application.
1. As a general rule, the applicant must have completed (graduated from) secondary
education in their home country.
Criteria for Consideration When 2. As of the date of application, the applicant must meet at least one of the specified
Applying for a Student Visa requirements regarding Japanese language proficiency.
3. The financial guarantor must be deemed capable of covering the applicant’s
expenses.
refunded, so please make sure to apply after careful consideration of your study project.
STEP 7 : ACQUISITION OF THE STUDENT VISA VIA JAPANESE EMBASSY OR CONSULATE IN YOUR
COUNTRY
Once you have received your COE, you are required to apply for your visa at the Japanese Embassy or
Consulate in your country. Please check the necessary documents beforehand, as they vary by region.
Afterward, decide on your accommodation in Japan and purchase your plane ticket.
At the entrance ceremony and new student orientation, we will provide you with necessary infor-
mation and school rules for studying in Japan. You will also receive your textbooks on the same
day. Classroom information will be sent to you by e-mail the day before the first day of class.
4
SCHOOL FEES
• The processing fee must be paid after the applicant has been accepted and before the school submits the application
documents to the Immigration Services Agency of Japan. The processing fee is non-refundable.
• After the COE is issued, please pay the registration fee, tuition fee for one year, textbook fee, and insurance fee for
one year.
• The tuition fee is subject to change. Please understand this in advance
• Extracurricular activity fees, accomodation costs, and transportation expenses are not included.
Regardless of the actual length of enrollment, the texbook fee will be the amount shown on the right.
• The insurance premium for foreign students is provided by the Japanese Language Institute Co-operation (JLIC) and
covers 30% of medical expenses. In addition to this insurance, students with a student visa are also obliged to join
the National Health Insurance (the National Health Insurance fee is not included in the above-mentioned insurance
premiums for foreign students). The National Health Insurance covers 70% of medical expenses. Please apply for it
yourself at the city hall or ward office in your area.
• Please refer to the following link for details on the insurance for international students of the Japanese Language
Institute Cooperation (JLIC). Our students are enrolled in “Plan B”. The coverage period is one year starting from the
month of enrollment.
[Link]
5
PAYMENT METHODS
1) ONLINE PAYMENT
Please visit the online payment website [Link] (English is available) and follow the payment instructions.
- Choose the type of payment you wish to use, such as domestic bank transfer or credit card or debit card.
- A «Student ID» will be requested : please input the invoice number instead.
- Make sure that the recipient is specified as «Shinjuku Japanese Language Institute»
2) BANK TRANSFER
3) CASH PAYMENT
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REFUND POLICY
Processing fee is non-refundable under any circumstances.
Any bank fees incurred as a result of payment shall be borne by the applicant.
Refunds will be issued either to the original bank account from which the payment was made or to the applicant’s
personnal account.
• In the case of cancellation before the issuance of the COE after submitting an application to the Immigration
Services Agency of Japan:
The processing fee is non-refundable. However in the event of withdrawal before the COE is issued, the application
may be postponed and the processing fee can be held for up to a year, subject to availabilty of space. Please inquire
and confirm. For example: For an application originally made for April 2025, the processing fee can be held and applied
to an application up to April 2026.
• Others
Refunds will not be available in the following conditions:
Closing due to natural disasters (i.e. earthquakes, typhoons etc.), infectious diseases, human disasters (i.e. war etc.).
Deportation or expulsion.
Delayed arrival in Japan.
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REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
IMPORTANT REMARKS
• All documents, except diplomas, must be issued within the 3 months previous to the application submission.
• Documents sent to the Immigration Services Agency of Japan are generally not returned. If you want them to be,
you must specify it as soon as you register.
• The documents must be completed in Japanese or English and in CAPITAL LETTERS (except your e-mail address
and Statement of Purpose for Study in Japan).
• Please attach separated Japanese translation sheets to the documents issued in other languages. If applying
through an agent, please check as they might provide translation services.
• The forms must be filled in first person by the applicant. It is prohibited to use correction fluid/tape.
• Documents must be printed or copied on one side only.
• Please do not staple documents together.
• If the application contains fraudulent information (ALL documents including the Certificate of Health), your
application will be rejected.
APPLICATION FORM
PROVIDED BY THE SCHOOL
1 1ST PAGE / SECTION • Please make sure that there are no missing parts.
PERSONAL • Please write your name as shown on your passport.
INFORMATION • Please make sure not to leave time gaps when listing your education history.
EDUCATION HISTORY
In the case of an unavoidable time gap, please provide a written explanation.
• Please make sure to write the complete address of each school (including
the building number) and specify the type of school (Primary school, Middle
School,...).
• If necessary, provide a separate spreadsheet listing your previous schools.
2 2ND PAGE / SECTION • Please make sure that there are no missing parts.
JAPANESE STUDIES • Please make sure not to leave any gaps in time when listing your work history.
WORK HISTORY In the case of an unavoidable time gap, please provide a written explanation.
ENTRIES IN JAPAN
• Please make sure to write the complete address of each employer (including
VISA APPLICATIONS
CRIMINAL RECORD the building number).
PLAN AFTER • If necessary, provide a separate sheet with previous jobs that did not fit on
GRADUATION the original page.
• Military service and part-time jobs belong to the employment history section.
3 3RD PAGE / SECTION • Please write a self introduction, detailed reasons for studying Japanese,
PURPOSE OF STUDY plans after graduation and reasons why you chose SNG.
IN JAPAN
4 4TH PAGE / SECTION • Please make sure to fill at least two entries, as these serve as emergency
FAMILY INFORMATION contacts.
• If you have relatives living in Japan, please submit a copy of their resident
cards (both sides).
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5 6TH PAGE / SECTION • Please make sure that there are no missing parts.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT • Please write your name as shown on your passport.
STATEMENT • Tuition Fee: please write “¥ 840,000”.
• Cost of Living: please write the amount you will receive/use for monthly
living expenses.
• Must be filled out and signed by the financial guarantor personally.
6 6TH PAGE / SECTION • Please sign upon reading the oath carefully.
WRITTEN OATH
7 CERTIFICATE OF HEALTH • The Certificate of Health requires the signature and seal of a doctor and must
be submitted within the 1 year prior to the scheduled application submission
date.
APPLICANT’S DOCUMENTS
o ID PICTURES x4 • Photo Size: 3 cm x 4 cm.
• Please submit photos taken within the last 3 months.
• The subject should face forward and should not wear a hat. The background
should be neutral and free from shadow.
o PASSPORT COPY • Please submit a copy of the ID page with your picture and personal information.
• Please submit a copy of all pages with entry stamps for all previous stays in Japan.
• If you do not own a passport, please submit another form of identification.
o PREVIOUS STAYS IN • For all stays longer than 30 days: please submit a description on what you did
JAPAN in Japan, in chronological order.
LAST DIPLOMA • Depending on your nationality, you will be required to submit the original or
o (CERTIFICATE OF a copy.
GRADUATION) • Chinese nationals need to apply for Verification reports. For postsecondary
students, please provide your Verification Report. For secondary school
students, please provide both your Verification Report of National College
Entrance Examination (Gaokao) Scores and your Verification Report.
LAST SCHOOL • Depending on your nationality, you will be required to submit the original or
o TRANSCRIPT a copy.
o JLPT, J-TEST, NAT • If you ever took a Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) or another
CERTIFICATE AND Japanese language tests.
RESULTS • Depending on your nationality, you will be required to submit the original or
a copy.
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FINANCIAL GUARANTOR’S DOCUMENTS
o GUARANTOR’S ID COPY • Please submit a copy of the guarantor’s passport. In case the guarantor
does not have a passport, please submit another identification document.
o RELATIONSHIP PROOF • Please submit a copy of the birth certificate or family register certifying the
relationship with the applicant.
• Please submit the original certificate from the bank stating the financial
o BANK BALANCE
CERTIFICATE guarantor’s current bank account balance. This document should be in a
letter format, a plain balance statement is not enough.
• The certificate must be issued by your bank and should mention means to
contact the bank as well as the name and position of the person issuing the
certificate.
o BANK TRANSACTION • For some nationalities, you will be required to provide the original of the
RECORD bank transaction record for the past 12 months, showing the transactions
and evolution of the bank balance.
• For other countries, Immigration might require a copy : please have them
ready to send if asked. Failing to do so in a short time may result in a denial
of COE.
• The document should be in the original format from the bank.
o CERTIFICATE OF • Please submit the original copy of the Certificate of Residence including records of
RESIDENCE all household members (Jyuminhyo issued by city office/ward office).
• Please do not submit a Certificate of Residence with ‘My Number’ written on it.
o RESIDENCE CARD • Limited to foreign nationals. Please submit copies of both sides of the cards.
o SNG FORM • This form is required for those who reside in Japan along with family members.
同意書(DOUI SHO)
10
AGREEMENT
Please sign the agreement below and send it to the school once you have read this guide.
In case something is not completely clear, please contact our staff before signing the agreement.
I have read, understood and agreed to the information provided in this application guide.
DATE : DATE :
SIGNATURE : SIGNATURE :
11
The school staff remains available to answer any question you may have
about the application process and required documents.
日本語教育振興協会認定校 Certified by the Association for the Promotion of Japanese Language Education