How to Work Part-Time

This video guide provides a comprehensive and detailed overview of the process of obtaining a student visa to live in Japan. We will explain all the requirements, necessary documents, and in what order they should be completed. In general, there are four Japanese language school terms a year: January, A

Example Timeline
(September 1st - April 1st)

  • DAY 1: Start by emailing a school in Japan. They will ask for these documents:

    • Visa application (They will email you a application. Answer the questions with short essays. The school will review your application before submitting it to the visa office in Japan. The school might ask you to “improve” some of your answers, before they submit your application)

    • Color photo of your valid passport

    • 3x4 cm “passport style” photo (taken within the past 6 months)

    • College or high school diploma (scan)

    • College transcript (contact your college for a copy)

    • Bank Balance (a PDF of your current bank statement, or a PDF “proof of account balance” from your investment account. You can also use your parent’s account)

    • Paycheck or business income (If you’re working, include a scan of a recent paycheck. If you have your own business, include your business license, and some proof of income from the business)

    • PRO TIP* (If you’re working online / remotely, you should explain, in your application answers, that your priority will be learning Japanese. Working online is not understood in Japan, so avoid mentioning it completely if possible. Tell the school you want to work a normal part time job when you get to Japan)

  • DAY 30: Skype interview with the school.

  • DAY 90: The school may request “real” documents mailed to them.

  • DAY 180: The school will email scans of COE and ERFS documents, and payment instructions.

  • DAY 181: Go to your bank or brokerage office, with the wire instructions, and send a YEN wire transfer to the school’s bank account. or use the transfer wise app It will take a week for the wire transfer to finalize, and the school will have the money.

  • DAY 188: The school will (DHL) mail you the real COE and ERFS documents. It will take a week to get them.

  • DAY 189: Buy your one-way ticket to Japan. (Consider visiting a different part of japan before school starts.)

  • DAY 190: Get these items ready. Put them in a USPS envelope. You will mail them to the Japanese embassy in your state / region:

    • Passport Visa

    • ID photo (2 passport style 2"x2" photos) printed on photo paper, taken within the last 6 months, and different from photo on your passport.

    • ERFS document (emailed from school) print out in color.

    • Certificate of Eligibility (emailed copy from school) print out in color.

    • Permission of Entrance (emailed from school) print out in color.

    • Release of Liability (download it from you state / region Japanese embassy website) print out in color.

    • Application (download it from the embassy website) print and fill it out. Email your school if you need help.

    • USPS Express “prepaid” envelope (The embassy will use the envelope to send you your completed visa paperwork) It should be addressed to your home.

    • ERFS document (The real one) This is the final document. The school has already mailed it, from Japan, and you have to wait for it.

    • Certificate of Eligibility (The real one) This is the final document. The school has already mailed it, from Japan, and you have to wait for it.

  • DAY 195: You will receive the real COE and ERFS documents from the school.

  • DAY 196: Mail the USPS envelope with all the items inside to the embassy.

  • DAY 210: You will receive the return-envelope, with your passport and student visa inside, and you’re done.

  • DAY 211: Fly to Japan! (Remember bring your Certificate of Eligibility on the plane. You will need it upon landing in Japan, so you can work part-time up to 28 hours on a student visa.)