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）
The review of practice for 「留学」 was announced on 10 April 2026 (令和8年4月10日), and it applies to people entering a Japanese language educational institution. How Japanese ability is proved has been tightened, and a test certificate or an interview is now required. Oversight and guidance on activities outside the status of residence have also been strengthened, so keeping strictly to the 28 hours per week rule matters more than ever.
A guide for students and school staff who want to know what the review of practice for the student visa covers.
It was announced on 10 April 2026 (令和8年4月10日), and applies to people entering a Japanese language educational institution. For a change of status or an extension of stay, it applies to applications filed on or after 1 July 2026 (令和8年7月1日).
The review of practice concerning the 在留資格「留学」 was officially announced on 10 April 2026 (令和8年4月10日). The timing of application is as follows.
The review covers 2 points: tightening how Japanese ability is proved (requiring the submission of a Japanese language test certificate or an interview), and strengthening oversight and guidance on activities outside the status of residence, that is, part-time work.
Note, however, that it applies to people entering a Japanese language educational institution (日本語教育機関), and does not extend to student status generally. Please check first whether it applies to you.
Even where attendance clears the bar, it is said to be increasingly seen as not enough on its own.
For many years, the school attendance rate has been the main indicator in extending a student visa and in changing to another visa. However, cases are said to be appearing where a visa is refused even though attendance clears the bar, and simply sitting in a seat at school is said to be no longer enough.
Rather than a declaration of study hours, objective test certificates and score reports are said to carry more weight.
Until now, when enrolling at a Japanese language school or extending a visa, submitting a certificate of study is said to have tended to be enough for the status of residence to be granted, whatever the person's actual language ability. The direction now, however, is that a mere declaration of study hours is not enough. For people entering a Japanese language educational institution, how Japanese ability is proved has been tightened, and submitting a Japanese language test certificate or attending an interview is now required. The weight given to objective test results, such as a pass certificate or score report for the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT), is greater than ever. A student who has been in Japan for a long time but has never taken a public Japanese language test, or who never manages to pass even at beginner level, is said to face a growing risk of being suspected of staying for illegal work rather than study, and of having a visa extension refused.
Schools are said to be required to keep track of and manage their students' part-time work.
This review also includes strengthening oversight and guidance on activities outside the status of residence, that is, part-time work. Where an international student works part-time, there is a limit of 28 hours per week as a rule, and 8 hours in 1 day during long vacation periods. Until now, some students are said to have worked beyond the limit without telling their school. Schools are said to be increasingly required to check on their students' part-time work regularly, hold interviews with them, and manage and guide them properly. If a student does not cooperate with the school's enquiries, or is found to be working beyond the limit, schools are said to be required to report the matter to the 地方出入国在留管理局 (Regional Immigration Services Bureau), or to encourage the student to withdraw voluntarily or to return home.
Behind this is said to be the fact that schools which fail to keep proper track of their students now risk losing their accreditation as appropriate educational institutions. Students with very poor academic results are said to be treated as suspected of illegal work, in a system that increasingly leads straight to an individual investigation.
Obtain an objective Japanese language test certificate, keep strictly to part-time work hours, and prepare a written explanation if results drop.
Attendance is said to be no more than the minimum condition for getting into the ring. From now on, what is said to be asked is the substance: how much you have improved your Japanese, and how seriously you have kept to the rules of study and part-time work. For students who keep the rules and take their studies seriously, this is said to be a change they need not fear.
It was announced on 10 April 2026 (令和8年4月10日), and applies to people entering a Japanese language educational institution. For a change of status of residence or an extension of period of stay it applies to applications filed on or after 1 July 2026 (令和8年7月1日), and for 在留資格認定証明書 applications it applies to applications for students due to enrol from October 2026 (令和8年10月) onwards.
Attendance is treated as the minimum condition, and it is said to be increasingly seen as not enough on its own. Proof of Japanese ability and compliance with the part-time work rules are looked at as well.
Overwork is said to be very likely to be treated as a serious problem, and if you hold more than one part-time job you are expected to manage your total hours strictly.
Rather than submitting the application as it is, you are advised to set out the reason your results dropped and how things have improved in a report on your study situation, that is, a 理由書 (written explanation), and to attach it on your own initiative.
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This page is a translation of the Japanese original. Where the two differ, the Japanese version prevails.