This is how I came to Japan [International Students]

Not Yet in Japan

Interested in studying in Japan

I am an international student at a university in Tokyo. I wanted to live in Japan because my father works for a Japanese-related business. I researched about life in Japan before planning my study abroad.

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Find a school you want to attend

Once you have decided what you want to study and what you want to do after you graduate, look for schools and areas you would like to go to, and prepare for your study in Japan. Lifestyles are very different between urban and rural areas of Japan. Refer to the article "To Live in a City or to Live in the Countryside" to find out which lifestyle is right for you.

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Find out about studying in Japan

There are many ways to start studying in Japan. Choose the one that fits you best. For more information, see the articles on our portal or visit the links on this page.

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Study Japanese

Study the Japanese language before you go there. Have a look at the JP-MIRAI Portal for articles about people who studied Japanese on their own before going to Japan. You can also learn Japanese using the videos and websites posted on the portal site.

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Take an exam

There are several exams you need to take in order to study in Japan, such as JLPT, EJU, TOEFL, IELTS, SAT, IB, etc. The required exams depend on the school you go to. Check the application guidelines of the school you wish to attend and take the appropriate exams. Also, try to find out about your desired school as early as possible.

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Prepare your admission documents

After you pass the exam, you will complete the enrollment procedures. You will then receive a Letter of Acceptance from the school. This acceptance letter is necessary for your visa application, so be sure to keep it in a safe place.

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Going to Japan

Get a certificate of eligibility from your school, and apply to the Immigration Bureau for your status of residence.

You will receive a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) from the school.After receiving the COE, gather all other necessary documents and apply for a visa at the Japanese embassy or consulate general in your country.

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Start living and studying in Japan!

Now, you are finally in Japan to begin your study abroad experience. Documents required for entering Japan may change. Check the Immigration Services Agency of Japan (Immigration Bureau) or your school's website for details. Once you have all your documents ready and have received your resident card at the airport, go to your school to complete the necessary procedures.

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Enroll in the school

When you live in Japan, you may encounter things you don't understand or have trouble with. You can download the JP-MIRAI Portal app to look up articles, and use Assist to talk to someone at the help desk. The Portal and Assist are available in 9 languages. If your language is available, you can consult in your native language.

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Start living and studying in Japan!

Many of you will probably go out with your friends once you settle into your classes and life at school. Use JP-MIRAI Friends to post comments like, "Let's talk in Japanese and Spanish!" or "I can teach you Myanmar cuisine, so please teach me Japanese cuisine," and get together with a group of people. Some students may find a part-time job in Japan. In Japan, there are rules to follow for international students working part-time, so please follow them. (*JP-MIRAI Friends is operated by JP-MIRAI, a general incorporated association)

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Think about your post-study career

Let's think about what you want to do after completing your studies abroad in Japan and your future career. After their studies in Japan, some students obtain Engineer / Specialist in humanities / International services (a.k.a. GIJINKOKU) status and start working in Japan. Let's take a look at the steps required for GIJINKOKU status.

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We will be adding more information to the article in the future. Stay tuned!