This article is a translation of the Japanese original. Where the two differ, the Japanese version prevails. Read the Japanese original（日本語版を読む）
When you apply for a student visa, you or the person paying your costs must prove the ability to cover tuition and living costs on a steady basis. No specific amount is laid down, but whether you have funds to cover 1 year of tuition and living costs is taken into account.
A guide for readers who want to know the tuition and living costs of studying in Japan, and the financial requirement for a student visa.
The rough figures differ for Japanese language schools, vocational schools, universities and graduate schools.
The figures above are rough tuition for the first year, and an admission fee, facility fees and similar charges may be payable on top. Please always check the latest information in the admissions guide of the school you are aiming for.
For someone living alone, roughly 70,000 yen to 210,000 yen a month is taken as a guide.
Housing costs are put at roughly 30,000 yen to 80,000 yen, food at roughly 30,000 yen to 50,000 yen, transport at roughly 5,000 yen to 15,000 yen, utilities and communications at roughly 10,000 yen to 20,000 yen, and leisure and other items at roughly 20,000 yen to 50,000 yen. That comes to roughly 70,000 yen to 210,000 yen a month in total, and living costs of roughly 840,000 yen to 2,520,000 yen a year may be needed. This is only a guide for someone living alone, and it varies greatly with the area you live in and your own way of life.
You or the person paying your costs must prove the ability to cover tuition and living costs on a steady basis.
No specific amount is laid down, but in general what is taken into account is whether you have funds to cover the full tuition for 1 year and funds to cover what 1 year of living in Japan will cost. You must prove with a certificate of bank balance or similar that you have enough money for these costs. The account may be in your own name or in the name of the person paying your costs. If that person is outside Japan, you must show that they are able to send money to you on a continuing basis, and you may be asked for a remittance plan and proof of that person's income.
As a rule, a certificate of bank balance is expected to show that the balance has been stable for a certain period going back from the date of application (for example, 3 months to 6 months). A large sum deposited just before the application may raise questions about where the money came from. If you use a scholarship, the amount awarded may be taken into account as part of the financial requirement, but a scholarship alone does not always cover every cost.
A statement of who will pay the costs, a certificate of bank balance, and proof of income and tax payment.
The documents to be submitted may differ depending on the country or region and on your own circumstances. Please always check the latest information, or speak to a 行政書士 (certified administrative procedures legal specialist, gyoseishoshi).
No specific amount is laid down, but whether you have funds to cover 1 year of tuition and living costs is taken into account.
As a rule, the balance is expected to have been stable for a certain period going back from the date of application (for example, 3 months to 6 months).
The amount of a scholarship may be taken into account as part of the financial requirement, but a scholarship alone does not always cover every cost.
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This page is a translation of the Japanese original. Where the two differ, the Japanese version prevails.