Student Visa Process

Japan works differently from most countries. The school applies to the Immigration Services Agency for a Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) on your behalf, and the visa at the embassy is issued on the strength of that certificate. Getting a CoE is the main hurdle.

Step by step

1. Choose the pathway: a Japanese-language school, a vocational school (senmon gakko), or a university or graduate school.
2. Apply to the school with your academic records, passport copy, financial documents and a study plan.
3. The school applies for your CoE at the Immigration Services Agency. Processing usually takes one to three months, and the school applies only in set windows before each intake.
4. Pay the first fees when the school asks, after the CoE has been issued.
5. Apply for the visa at the Embassy of Japan in Kathmandu, or through the channel the embassy currently uses, with the CoE original, passport, photograph and the form.
6. Fly to Japan within the period on the CoE. You receive a residence card on arrival.

What Japan checks closely

• Funds and their source. Applicants from Nepal are asked to show clear financial support, often about ¥2,000,000 or more for the first year, with the history of the money explained.
• Japanese language ability. For language schools you usually need proof of study such as 150 hours or JLPT N5 or N4. Rules for language-school applicants have been getting stricter, including from the October 2026 intake.
• Consistent history. Gaps in study, a change of plans or inconsistent documents lead to more questions.

Be careful with agents

Choose only registered schools and never pay anyone who promises a guaranteed CoE. Our counsellors work only with schools we can check and explain every fee in writing.

Check before you rely on it. Language requirements, financial rules and visa fees have been changing, and the embassy procedure for Nepali applicants can change too. Rules, fees and dates are changed by governments often. We last reviewed this page in October 2026. Confirm the current position on the Embassy of Japan in Nepal or ask our counsellors, who check it again before your file is submitted.

Talk to WIEC about Japan

Our Lalitpur counsellors can review your marks, English score and finances and tell you honestly which courses and universities fit. Book a free appointment, start your file online at Apply Online, or practise for the English test with IELTSWIZZ.