What is a Student Visa?
The Japanese student visa (在留資格「留学」, zairyū shikaku ryūgaku) lets a foreigner stay in Japan to study at a recognised educational institution — Japanese language school, college, technical school, or university — for periods of 3 months to 4 years and 3 months.
The 4-step process
- Apply to a school in Japan and get accepted. Most language-school cycles open ~6 months before intake (April / July / October / January).
- School applies for your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) with the Japanese Immigration Services Agency. This usually takes 1–3 months.
- Submit the COE at the Embassy of Japan in Dhaka along with the visa application form, passport, photo and a few supporting documents. Processing: 5–7 working days.
- Enter Japan within 3 months of the visa being issued. At the airport you receive your Residence Card (在留カード).
Documents you'll need
- Valid passport (≥ 6 months validity)
- Original COE + 1 photocopy
- Completed visa application form
- Recent passport-sized photo (4.5 × 4.5 cm, white background)
- Academic certificates and transcripts
- Bank statement / sponsorship documents proving financial capacity (the school will tell you the exact amount, but plan for ~JPY 1.5–2 million in covered funds)
Costs
Embassy visa fee in Bangladesh is currently around BDT 3,000 for a single-entry visa. Language school tuition is on top of that — typically JPY 600,000–800,000 for the first year (paid before COE issuance in most cases).
Most common rejection reasons (and how to avoid them)
- Insufficient or unclear financial documents. Make sure the sponsor's relationship is clearly stated and bank statements show consistent balances.
- Vague study purpose. Your statement of purpose should mention why Japan, why this school, and your plan after graduation.
- Document inconsistencies between application forms (e.g. different addresses or dates).
After arrival
Within 14 days of arrival, register your address at the local city hall — this activates your residence card and is required for everything else (bank account, phone, part-time work permission).
You can also apply for the Permission to engage in Activities other than that Permitted under the Status of Residence (資格外活動) at the airport — this gives you the 28-hour-per-week part-time work permit straight away. See the 28-hour rule guide.