Visa/Certificate of Eligibility (COE)
Foreign nationals residing outside of Japan must have a "Student" status of residence in order to enroll at Osaka Sangyo University. In order to obtain a student visa, you must first be issued a "Certificate of Eligibility (COE)" by a Japanese Regional Immigration Bureau (Immigration Bureau). By presenting this "Certificate of Eligibility" along with your passport and other necessary documents for a student visa application to a Japanese diplomatic mission overseas, you can quickly obtain a student visa. Our university will act as your agent and apply for the Certificate of Eligibility to the Immigration Bureau, so please submit the necessary documents to us.
1. Process from applying for a Certificate of Eligibility to entering Japan
Immigration Bureau (Osaka Immigration Bureau) Inspection
Certificate of Eligibility (sample)
2. Documents required for applying for a Certificate of Eligibility
| Required Documents | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1 | COE Proxy Application Request Form *Download here | Everyone |
| 2 | Application form for Certificate of Eligibility (3 sheets for applicant (1), (2), and (3) + 1 sheet for various confirmation documents, total of 4 sheets) Handwritten application forms will not be accepted. Various confirmation documents must be submitted even if they are not applicable. *Download here | Everyone |
| 3 | The photo must be 50KB or less in size, with the extension "jpeg" or "jpg." It must have been taken from the front within the last six months and must not have been edited. It must be taken without a hat and without a background. Please refer to here. | Everyone |
| 4 | A copy of your passport (the page with your name, photo, passport number and expiry date) - please submit a clear copy of the photo and text. | Everyone |
| 5 | This document should be prepared by the person who will cover the tuition fees and living expenses in Japan. [If prepared in your native language, a Japanese translation is also required] *The average monthly expenditure for international students in Osaka is 149,000 yen. *Download here | Everyone |
| 6 | Income certificate of sponsor Income certificate for the most recent year (issued by a public institution) issued within the last three months | Everyone |
| *If the financial sponsor has no income: (1) A savings certificate issued within the last three months showing a balance equal to or greater than the total amount of tuition and living expenses required until graduation. | ||
| 7 | Certificates showing relationship to student (household register, resident registration, family certificate, etc.) issued within the last three months | Everyone |
| 8 | Copy of Japanese language proficiency certificate (Japanese language proficiency test certification results, scores, etc.) | Everyone |
| 9 | Study Plan: If you are re-enrolling or returning to school, please explain the circumstances (reason for expulsion, withdrawal, leave of absence, etc.) and write your study plan (approximately one A4 page). | Only applicable persons |
| 10 | If you have attended a university or Japanese language school in Japan, please submit a certificate of completion (or certificate of enrollment) and a transcript from that school (if you are enrolled in a Japanese language school, please also submit a certificate of attendance). | Only applicable persons |
- In addition to the documents listed above, you may be asked to submit other documents if the Immigration Bureau or the University deems them necessary for the screening process.
- "6. Income Certificate of Financial Sponsor" in the list above is a particularly important document for immigration review. Expenses related to studying abroad include not only living expenses but also tuition fees during your time at the university. Please note that you will need to prove that you can fully cover the expenses necessary for your planned study abroad period.
- "8. Copy of Japanese Language Proficiency Certificate" in the list above is a document that proves that you have passed the Japanese Language Proficiency Test N2 or above, the Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students (Japanese (reading comprehension, listening comprehension, and listening-reading comprehension)) with a score of 200 or above, the BJT Business Japanese Proficiency Test with a score of 400 or above, or that you have studied Japanese for 600 hours or more (equivalent to N2).
- Please be sure to keep the originals of all certificates on hand so that you can immediately send them to our university by international mail if you are requested to submit them by the Immigration Bureau.
3. Where to submit required documents
Submit to: zairyu-ieo@cnt.osaka-sandai.ac.jp When sending by email: Please use the specified subject. Subject: COE, Examination Number (or Student ID Number), Name (in English as it appears on your passport)
(Notes when submitting) Please submit each document in the following format.
- Application for Certificate of Eligibility: Excel format
- Face photo: extension "jpeg" or "jpg"
- Other documents: Color scanned data (PDF format)
*You may be asked to submit the originals of various certificates by the Immigration Bureau. Please be sure to keep them on hand so that you can immediately send them to our university by international mail.
4. Notes
- If you wish to decline enrollment at our university after applying for or receiving a Certificate of Eligibility, please contact the Certificate of Eligibility Office immediately.
- Please be aware that if you have previously applied for a Certificate of Eligibility and been denied, it will be very difficult for you to obtain a Certificate of Eligibility, even if our university applies on your behalf this time.
- Since the visa examination is conducted by the Immigration Bureau, the university will not take any responsibility if the visa is denied.
- If you have dual nationality and Japanese nationality, you cannot apply for a Certificate of Eligibility.
Regarding extension of period of stay
The period of stay for students with the "Student" residence status is from 3 months to 4 years and 3 months. To extend this period, you must apply for extension of your period of stay to the Immigration Bureau before the expiration date of your period of stay. You can apply for extension of your period of stay from 3 months before the expiration date of your period of stay. Please apply for documents to be prepared by your institution at International Exchange Office at least two weeks in advance.
required documents
- Application for extension of period of stay (Excel link)
Please check the sample form here. - Passport, residence card, student ID (the address on the back must be the same as your residence card)
- Certificate of enrollment
- transcript
- Expenses explanation
- List of documents to be submitted
- Various confirmation documents
- Photo (4cm x 3cm)
- Fee: 6,000 yen
*The Immigration Bureau of Japan may request you to submit additional documents in addition to documents 1 to 8.
Once you receive your new residence card, please bring it to International Exchange Office within one week or submit a copy via Google Form.
Regarding intermediation of applications for period of residence status, etc.
An intermediary application is when the university handles application procedures such as applications for permission to extend the period of stay on behalf of the student. If you are unable to apply in person at the Immigration Bureau due to class commitments, please apply to International Exchange Office at least 3 months to 1 month before the expiration date of your period of stay. However, if you repeat a grade or have poor grades, you will not be able to apply for transfer.
Regarding change of residence status
If you wish to change your residence status from another status of residence such as "Temporary Visitor" or "Dependent Stay" to "Student", please contact International Exchange Office.
Regarding permission to engage in activities other than that permitted under the status of residence previously granted.
If your residence status is "Student" or "Dependent", you are not allowed to work part-time in Japan. However, if you obtain permission to engage in activities other than that permitted under the status of residence previously granted, you can work part-time. It is illegal to start working before you are permitted to engage in activities other than that permitted. Be sure to obtain permission to engage in activities other than that permitted under the status of residence previously granted before starting part-time work. If you work part-time without permission, you will be subject to penalties and deportation. Additionally, they are not permitted to work in establishments such as entertainment businesses.
Please note that when renewing your period of stay, you will need to apply again for permission to engage in activities other than that permitted under the status of residence previously granted.
[Notes] ?The permitted number of hours for part-time work is up to 28 hours per week. (During the university's summer and winter holidays, it is up to 8 hours per day.) ?You cannot work part-time while on leave from school. ?When you receive permission to engage in activities other than those permitted under the status of residence permitted, be sure to notify International Exchange Office. ?If you are expelled or dismissed from school, you will not be able to work part-time again.
Regarding temporary return and re-entry
If international students are returning to their home country temporarily or traveling abroad and re-entering Japan within one year of their departure (or before the expiration of their period of stay if it expires within one year), they will be eligible for a "special re-entry permit." If they have more than one year left on their period of stay and will be re-entering Japan more than one year after their departure, they will need to obtain a "re-entry permit" in advance.
You cannot stay in Japan during your leave of absence!
For international students with a "student" status of residence, attending university and studying is a condition for staying in Japan. While on a leave of absence, this condition does not apply, so unless there is a special reason, you will not be allowed to stay in Japan.