Regular Program (2-year General Course): Application Information
For those who will get a student visa and study for 1 to 2 years
Please make sure to apply 6 months prior to entry to Japan.
Important Dates
| Term | Application starts | Application closes Selection fee payment | Certificate of Eligibility（CoE）application | CoE results | Placement test | Term starts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring Term 2024 (Apr. - Jun.) |
Aug. 21, 2023 | Oct. 20, 2023 | Nov. 14 - 17, 2023 | Feb. 21, 2024 | Mar. 19, 2024 | Apr. 8, 2024 |
| Summer Term 2024 (Jul. - Sep.) |
Nov. 20, 2023 | Jan. 31, 2024 | Mar. 12 - 14, 2024 | May. 16, 2024 | Jun. 19, 2024 | Jul. 8, 2024 |
| Fall Term 2024 (Oct. - Dec.) |
Feb. 19, 2024 | Apr. 26, 2024 | Jun. 3 - 6, 2024 | Aug. 15, 2024 | Sep. 18, 2024 | Oct. 15, 2024 |
| Winter Term 2025 (Jan. - Mar.) |
May. 20, 2024 | Jul. 31, 2024 | Sep. 10, 2024 | Oct. 31, 2024 | Dec. 18, 2024 | Jan. 14, 2025 |
| Spring Term 2025 (Apr. - Jun.) |
Aug. 19, 2024 | Oct. 18, 2024 | Nov. 18 - 21, 2024 | Feb. 20, 2025 | Mar. 18, 2025 | Apr. 7, 2025 |
| Summer Term 2025 (Jul. - Sep.) |
Nov. 18, 2024 | Jan. 31, 2025 | TBD | TBD | Jun. 18, 2025 | Jul. 7, 2025 |
| Fall Term 2025 (Oct. - Dec.) |
Feb. 17, 2025 | Apr. 28, 2025 | TBD | TBD | Sep. 17, 2025 | Oct. 14, 2025 |
| Winter Term 2026 (Jan. - Mar.) |
May. 19, 2025 | Jul. 31, 2025 | TBD | TBD | Dec. 17, 2025 | Jan. 13, 2026 |
Flow from application through entrance
1. Inquire now!
Reception hours:
9:00 – 19:30 on Mon. - Thu. / 9:00 – 17:00 on Fri.
9:00 – 19:30 on Mon. - Thu. / 9:00 – 17:00 on Fri.
+81-3-3359-9600+81-3-3359-9600
2. Send the filled-out Application Forms and related documents by email
After receiving your inquiry, JLI will send you the application form and notify the specified selection processing fee. Mail the originals of documents to the office later (You will be notified of the details).
3. The admission results will be notified to the applicants by e-mail or by mail upon careful consideration and selection.
We will carefully review your “Objective for studying Japanese,” “Necessity for studying Japanese,” “Personal history of studying Japanese,” “Financial capability of the applicant for studying and living in Japan,” etc.
4. For the successful applicants
Make sure to mail the original of application materials to the JLI office by the specified date. On your behalf, the JLI will submit an application for the Certificate of Eligibility to Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau. The review process will take appropriately 3 months.
5. We will notify you of the results of the review.
Upon receiving the results of review from Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau, we will notify you.
6.Remit the admission fee and tuition by the specific date.
Remit the admission fee and the combined tuition for the first year. You will be notified of the remittance deadline.
7. After confirming remittance, the JLI will mail you the Certificate of Eligibility and an official Letter of Admission.
8. Apply for a student visa.
Submit the Certificate of Eligibility, the Letter of Admission and your passport to Japanese embassy or consulate, and apply for a visa (which typically takes several days).
9. Final registration and the placement test for new students
Come to Japan by the Level-check Test date, register for the final registration at the JLI office and take the test. You will be placed to an appropriate class based on the results of the test.
If you fail to register for the final registration by the designated date without any prior notice, the JLI will revoke the admission and report the matter to Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau.
If you fail to register for the final registration by the designated date without any prior notice, the JLI will revoke the admission and report the matter to Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau.
10. Course start!
Look up your class and classroom on the bulletin board on the first day of class, and proceed to the room.
Application Package
- All documents must be in either Japanese or English. If the original is in neither language, it must be accompanied by a Japanese or English translation.
- Make sure that each certificate has the issuer’s name, title, the institution’s address, phone number and fax number. If possible, it should be signed by the issuer.
- The certificate must be dated within 3 months of the notification date of the selection results.
- A copied document must be the direct copy of the original (i.e., the first-hand copy). It should not be a two-sided copy.
In the margin of the copy, write down the date of making the copy, the copier’s name and their relationship with the applicant (e.g., Date: Aug 1, 2010; Copier: Kevin Nichibei; Father)
Documents concerning the applicant’s personal history, study objective and aptitude
A copy of the diploma or the certificate of graduation of your most recent degree
- If the document is not in English, it must be accompanied by a Japanese or English translation.
-
If you have graduated from a Chinese college
Submit, in addition to a copy of the diploma, an original of ‘The Report of Certification of Educational History 学歴認証報告’ issued by The Center for Information Consultation and Employment Guidance for Students of Nationwide Institutions of Higher Education全国高等学校学生信息諮詢職業指導中心 (The Certification Center of the Department of Education for Educational History 教育部学歴認定中心, TEL：Beijing 010-6891-4154). -
If you are currently enrolled in college
Submit the original of your certificate of enrollment and transcripts (no copies accepted), as well as a copy of your high school diploma. Transcripts of the last degree earned
- As a matter of principle, a copy will not be accepted.
A document to certify that your Japanese proficiency is at Level N5 (formerly, Level 4) or higher
- If you have passed the Japanese Language Proficiency Test, submit a copy of your certificate.
If you have earned a certificate of the J. TEST, submit a copy of your certificate. -
日If you have neither passed the Japanese Language Proficiency Test nor earned the J. TEST certificate, submit the following documents:
■ If you have taken the Japanese Language Proficiency Test in the past: the score (regardless of whether it was a passing grade or not)
■ If you have never taken the Japanese Language Proficiency Test in the past: a certificate of studying Japanese issued by a Japanese education institution (indicating your cumulative class hours).
A copy of your passport, one copy
- The page that lists your name, birthday, etc.
The pages that record your history of entries and exits to Japan. 3 Pictures (4cm x 3cm)
- Submit 3 pictures of yourself taken clearly without a hat or background scenery, facing front.
One for the Application for Admission / Two for the Residency Card Proof of your date of birth, place of birth, family structure, etc.
- Submit a copy of either your birth certificate, Certificate of Residence, Family Registry, etc.
-
If you are from South Korea or Taiwan:
An original Family Register 戸籍謄本 (no copy). -
If you are from China:
A copy of the Residency Record 戸口簿.
Documents concerning financial sponsorship
Official statement certifying the occupation of the Sponsor
- (no copy).
-
If the Sponsor is employed with a company or organization:
Submit a certificate of employment. -
If the Sponsor is an executive of a company or organization:
Submit the Corporate Business Profile (certificate of the entire business history). -
If the Sponsor is the owner of own business:
Submit a business permit. Tax Payment Certificate or Tax Declaration Certificate for the last 3 years
- It must state the annual income (no copy).
-
If the Sponsor resides in Japan:
Double check if the document states the annual income, as the format varies from one city/ward/town/village to another.
Bank statement certifying the Sponsor’s balance
- If the Sponsor has multiple bank accounts, submit a statement for each account (no copies). *So as to avoid bank suspicion, we advise against consolidating all your money into one account for the purpose of producing one balance statement.
Document to show the process as to how the funds certified in the bank balance came to be
- Submit copies of your bankbook, etc, for the past 12 months. If you are submitting statements from multiple bank accounts, make sure to furnish pertinent documents for each account.
-
If you are submitting a copy of a bankbook:
Make sure to include pages that state, not only deposits and withdrawals, but also your name, the financial institution’s name (the branch name), your account number and the bankbook number.
If the Sponsor is someone other than the applicant, please submit the following documents as well.
Official statement certifying the applicant’s relationship to the Sponsor
- If the Sponsor is the applicant’s parent or sibling and the relationship is already certified in the above-mentioned Document D, no additional document will be required.
-
If you are from China:
Please submit the Family Relationship Certificate, etc (親族関係公証書等) -
If the Sponsor is the applicant’s employer outside Japan：
Please submit an official order for Japanese training. -
If the Sponsor is a Japan-based company hosting the applicant：
Please submit an official statement regarding such hosting. Official statement certifying the Sponsor’s family structure
- If the Sponsor is the applicant’s parent or sibling and the relationship is already certified in the above-mentioned Document D, no additional document will be required.
-
If the Sponsor resides outside Japan:
A copy of the Certificate of Residence, the Family Registry, etc., for each member of the Sponsor’s family
* If the Sponsor resides in South Korea or Taiwan, an original Family Register (no copy); if the Sponsor resides in China, a copy of the Residency Record. -
If the Sponsor resides in Japan:
The Certificate of Residence for each member of the Sponsor’s family
Where to submit the application materials
Send the filled-out Application Forms and related documents by e-mail
