Top >> Graduate Studies Program Top >> During the Program - VISA - 1. Certificate of Eligibility (COE) According to Japanese immigration law, international students must obtain a valid student visa prior to entering Japan. In order to obtain this visa, students must first apply for the COE, an official document issued by the Japanese Ministry of Justice. Students then submit this certificate with their visa application. Waseda University requests all nominated exchange students to submit the application form for the COE along with the program application. 2. Visa Status - "College Student" Waseda University will submit the application for the Certificate of Eligibility (COE) to the Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau on behalf of successfully admitted exchange students. It usually takes at least one and half months for Immigration to issue the COE. After receiving the COE, Waseda will send it to the representative international office at your home university. The COE should be submitted along with other visa application materials to your nearest Japanese Embassy or Consulate. The status of your visa should be “College Student.” This visa is usually issued within a few days after application submission. However, visa processing may require a week or more depending on your circumstances. < Note > You are not able to obtain a college student visa without the COE. Please do not enter Japan without first obtaining a valid college student visa. The COE and visa are not required for Japanese nationals.