Outline of the Institute
Faculty and Staff
Application for Certificate of Eligibility
In order to study at a Japanese university, it is necessary to obtain a “Student” status of residence.
If you obtain a Certificate of Eligibility prior to applying for a visa, the visa will be issued relatively smoothly.
If the applicant is outside Japan, a university official may be able to apply on behalf of the applicant.
Those who wish to enroll in a degree program should prepare to obtain “Student” status of residence by the time of enrollment.
*In some cases, a “Certificate of Eligibility” may not be issued even if the university applies on your behalf.
Flowchart: From Application for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) to Visa Issuance
留学生：International Student 愛媛大学教職員：Ehime University Staff
地方入国管理局：Regional Immigration Services Bureau 在外公館：Japanese Embassy/Consulate
出入国港：Port of Entry
(1)認定証明書交付申請依頼：Request for COE Application
(2)認定証明書交付申請：COE Application
(3)立証：Substantiation
(4)審査：Review
(5)認定証明書交付：COE Issuance
(6)認定証明書送付：Sending the COE
(7)査証申請：Visa Application
(8)査証発給：Visa Issuance
(9)上陸申請：Application for Landing Permission
※在留資格認定証明書の有効期限は３か月：The COE is valid for three months from the date of issuance.
Extension of Period of Stay
The period of stay in Japan as an international student (status of residence “Student”) is determined by the Immigration Bureau of the Ministry of Justice as one of the following: March, June, 1 year, 1 year and 3 months, 2 years, 2 years and 3 months, 3 years, 3 years and 3 months, 4 years and 4 years and 3 months.
Those who will stay in Japan beyond the period of stay must go through the procedure for extension of the period of stay.
The Immigration Services Agency of Japan will accept applications for permission for renewal three months prior to the date of expiration of the period of stay. Please be sure to submit the necessary documents and complete the procedures by the day your period of stay expires.
Also, since there are documents to be prepared by the university, please be sure to contact the International Relations Division prior to application.
Precautions
- When your period of stay is renewed and a new resident card is issued, please bring your resident card to the International Relations Division and report it.
- If you work part-time, you may also apply for permission to engage in activities other than those permitted under the status of residence at the same time.
Change of status of residence
A “Student” status of residence is required to apply for various scholarships and apartment joint guarantorships.
If you wish to change your period of stay in Japan as an international student (status of residence “Student”) , please submit the following documents to the regional immigration services bureau and apply.
When changing the status from “Temporary Visitor” to “Student”
International students who entered Japan with a temporary visitor visa due to unavoidable circumstances, such as not being able to obtain a visa in time for their arrival in Japan, must first apply for a “Certificate of Eligibility” for “Student” at the nearest regional immigration services bureau.
Then, as soon as the Certificate of Eligibility is issued, they will apply for “Permission to Change Status of Residence”.
Precautions
- When your status of residence is changed and a new residence card is issued, please bring your residence card to the International Relations Division and report it.
Part-time work (Permission to engage in activities other than those permitted under the status of residence)
With “Student” status, you are only allowed to engage in activities related to your studies or research as a international student while in Japan.
Therefore, if you wish to engage in part-time work, you must obtain permission to engage in activities other than those permitted under the status of residence in advance.
Please note that you will be subject to punishment if you engage in part-time work without permission.
Permission to engage in activities other than those permitted under the status of residence is not required for TA/RA work on campus, but is required for SA and tutoring work.
Precautions
- Once you have received the permission to engage in activities other than those permitted under the status of residence, please bring your residence card to the International Relations Division and report it.
To Employers
As a general rule, international students are permitted to work up to 28 hours per week during the academic term.
However, during long vacation periods such as the university’s summer break, this limit is extended to up to 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week.
Please note that if a student has multiple part-time jobs, the total combined working hours across all workplaces must not exceed these limits (28 hours per week during the term, or 40 hours per week during long vacations).
For details on Ehime University’s academic calendar, please refer to the following link:
Temporary Departure/Re-entry
When a foreign national with a valid passport and residence card leaves Japan, if he/she re-enters Japan to continue his/her activities in Japan within one year of departure (or until the expiration date of his/her stay if the expiration date comes less than one year after departure), he/she is not required to obtain a re-entry permit in principle (this system is called a “deemed re-entry permit”).
When leaving Japan, please be sure to present your residence card and check the appropriate box on the Embarkation and Disembarkation Card for Re-entrants (ED card) indicating that you are leaving Japan temporarily and will return.
For details, please refer to the Immigration Services Agency website.
If you are leaving Japan for reasons such as temporary return to your home country, travel, or attendance at an academic conference, you must submit an Overseas Travel Notification through the Study Support System.
After returning to Japan, please submit an “Overseas Travel Return Notification”.
Precautions
- If you leave Japan during your period of stay and re-enter within one year (or the period of stay if there is less than one year remaining on your visa), you do not need a re-entry permit. In this case, you will lose your status of residence if you do not re-enter Japan before the expiration date, as it is not possible to extend the validity period of your visa abroad. Please be sure to check the duration of your visa before leaving Japan. (If you expect to be abroad for more than one year, you will need to apply for a “re-entry permit” in advance.)
- For more information on applying for a re-entry permit, please click here.
Bringing in family members
When an international student wishes to invite his/her family from his/her home country, it is necessary to obtain the status of residence “Dependent” for them (spouse or children only). The procedure is that the international student himself/herself applies to the Immigration Services Agency for a “Certificate of Eligibility” for the family member as an agent for the family member. For details, please refer to the website below.