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）
Whether a change from a working holiday to a student visa can be applied for inside Japan depends on the country. What screening looks at most strictly is your ability to cover tuition and living costs, so proving that you have funds to concentrate on your studies without relying on part-time work is important.
A person staying in Japan on a working holiday visa is thinking about switching to a student visa.
It depends on the bilateral working holiday arrangement.
The conditions of the working holiday visa you now hold are based on a bilateral arrangement between Japan and your country, so the rules differ from country to country. In many countries, a change from a working holiday to another status of residence may in principle require you to return home once and apply for a visa (査証) again, while some countries allow you to apply for a change of status of residence inside Japan without returning home. The first thing to do is to check the latest information on what your own country's arrangement says.
There are two stages, enrolment at the school and the application to the 出入国在留管理庁, and starting half a year ahead is ideal.
A student visa application takes time, because the school has to issue a certificate of admission and prepare the application documents. In general, you need to have applied to the school by 3 months to 4 months before the entry date. Screening by the 出入国在留管理庁 (Immigration Services Agency of Japan) also takes roughly 1 month to 3 months, so you must complete the application before your current working holiday visa expires. So that you are not caught rushing as the deadline approaches, it is said to be ideal to start preparing half a year in advance.
Proof that you have funds to concentrate on your studies without relying on part-time work.
The student visa is a status of residence whose purpose is study, so you must prove that you have funds to concentrate on your studies without relying on part-time work. You will need a certificate of bank balance in your own name or that of a relative (the person paying your costs), and documents showing that there is a steady income. If your stay in Japan has already been long, you may also be asked to explain what you have spent money on during that time, so your documents need to be prepared in a way that is easy to follow.
Building a concrete and consistent story based on your working holiday experience is important.
Rather than simply saying that you want to stay in Japan, you need to build a concrete and consistent story: that your experience during the working holiday has shown you that you need deeper specialist knowledge or a higher level of Japanese. The key to success is writing a 理由書 (written explanation) that sets out logically how your background so far and your future goals connect with what you will study in Japan.
During a working holiday you can work relatively freely, but once you switch to a student visa a strict limit of up to 28 hours per week applies. If you work long hours as you did during the working holiday, you may not only receive a fatally poor assessment at your next renewal, but in the worst case be treated as working illegally. It is important to be aware that the purpose of your visa has shifted entirely to study, and to put in place a way of keeping to the rules.
It depends on the country. Some countries allow an application for the change inside Japan, while in many countries you may have to return home once and apply for a visa again.
You need to have applied to the school by 3 months to 4 months before entry, and it is said to be ideal to start preparing half a year in advance.
Yes. Unlike during a working holiday, a strict limit of up to 28 hours per week applies.
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This page is a translation of the Japanese original. Where the two differ, the Japanese version prevails.