Country edition: India
Visa guide · Japan

Japanese student visa (COE route) for Indian students

Official sources only·Last checked 29 Oct 2026

The visa follows the Certificate of Eligibility. Once the COE is issued in Japan, you apply for the visa in India through VFS.

Embassy of Japan in India — Visa (opens in a new tab) Study in Japan — Immigration (opens in a new tab) Study in Japan: full guide
First document
Certificate of Eligibility (COE) [3]
Where to apply
VFS in India, no appointment needed [1]
Max stay per grant
4 years 3 months [3]
Register address
Within 14 days of moving in [3]
01 Order of work

Step by step

  1. COE application in Japan

    Usually by your school as proxy, with your funding documents. [3]

  2. Visa at VFS

    Submit up to 3 months before travel; pay only the visa fee and VFS service charge. [1]

  3. Arrival

    Landing permission and residence card; apply for part-time work permission at the airport if you want it. [4]

02 Where files go wrong

Choke points to check twice

  • Weak proof of funds for the COE (savings certificate, income for the past year, source of funds). [3]
  • Paying 'agents' who promise faster visas. [1]
03 Book these early

Tests for the Japanese student visa (COE route) file

The admission letter behind your visa usually depends on these scores. Open a guide for fees in India, versions and score rules.

04 On this visa

Work during and after your course

  • Part-time work needs 'permission to engage in activity other than that permitted'; it can be granted at the airport on first entry. Limit: 28 hours a week (up to 8 hours a day in long holidays). [4]
  • To work full time you change status, for example to Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services. [5]
  • If you have no job at graduation, you can change to 'Designated Activities' to keep job-hunting: 6 months, extendable once, up to 1 year. [5]
05 Official sources & verification

Where these facts come from

Every fact above is read from the official pages below (government, embassy, regulator, test owner or university), last checked on 29 October 2026. Visa money, fees and work rules change several times a year — open the official page before you pay or apply.

  1. Embassy of Japan in India — Visa (opens in a new tab) VFS, 3 months ahead, no phone payments · Last checked 29 Oct 2026
  2. Embassy of Japan in India — MEXT scholarships (opens in a new tab) Categories, 2027 dates, no fee · Last checked 29 Oct 2026
  3. Study in Japan (JASSO) — Immigration and student visas (opens in a new tab) COE, 4 years 3 months, residence card · Last checked 29 Oct 2026
  4. Study in Japan (JASSO) — Part-time work (opens in a new tab) 28 hours, ¥81,000 average, scams · Last checked 29 Oct 2026
  5. Study in Japan (JASSO) — Changing status of residence (opens in a new tab) Work statuses, 1-year job hunting · Last checked 29 Oct 2026
  6. Study in Japan (JASSO) — Living costs (opens in a new tab) ¥105,000 a month, rent · Last checked 29 Oct 2026
  7. Study in Japan (JASSO) — Universities (opens in a new tab) April start, some September · Last checked 29 Oct 2026
  8. Study in Japan (JASSO) — Academic fees (opens in a new tab) ¥535,800 national average
  9. Study in Japan (JASSO) — Academic fees table (PDF) (opens in a new tab) ¥282,000 admission fee
  10. MEXT — Application guidelines, Japanese Government Scholarship 2026 (opens in a new tab) ¥117,000 undergraduate allowance

Spotted something out of date? Email margdarshan07support10@gmail.com with the official link and we will update it.

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