PhD Program

Student Visa

It is, in principle, necessary for international applicants who does not possess Japanese nationality to obtain a "Student Visa" after they have been accepted at GSAPS, completed the prescribed registration procedures, and effectively made the decision to begin their studies at GSAPS. Students must submit a valid passport and the Certificate of Eligibility to the Japanese Embassy or Consulate in their home country in order to apply for a "Student Visa." GSAPS will act as proxy to obtain the Certificate of Eligibility from the Tokyo Immigration Bureau of the Ministry of Justice for applicants under Foreign Application Method, who does not possess Japanese nationality. Applicants desiring to have the GSAPS as their proxy are requested to submit a complete set of the following materials at the time of their application to the GSAPS in order to complete the processing in time. The GSAPS will not act as proxy for the Certificate of Eligibility if the designated materials are not submitted. In addition, please be aware that the Certificate of Eligibility cannot be issued if the application for the Certificate of Eligibility is done by proxy other than GSAPS or if the application for a student visa is conducted separately from the application for the Certificate of Eligibility to GSAPS. Please also note that in some cases, the Immigration Bureau may require additional materials.

Application Materials for the Certificate of Eligibility

1. Application for the Certificate of Eligibility(designated form)
   For applicant, Part 1, 2 and 3.
   Please complete the following columns in Kanji (Chinese characters), if applicable.
   1 Nationality, 3 Name, 5 Place of birth, 8 Home town/city
   Please do not write "Signature of applicant (legal representative or the proxy)" and "29 Agent or other " on Part 3.
2. Photograph
   4cm length x 3cm width (Must be taken within the last six months.) Attached to the application form. Your full name must be written on the back.
3. Documents to prove that applicants can defray all the expenses (tuition, fees and living expenses) incurred during their stay in Japan (2 years for MA Program, 3 years for PhD Program)
   e.g. bank balance certificate of the supporter's account, written proof of the receipt of a scholarship amount and duration.
   

   * Please submit the bank balance certificate of saving account or checking account in principle.

   * If there are multiple supporters including self, it is requested to submit related documents of each supporter respectively.

4. Income Certificate for the past three years(yearly)
   To prove how the bank account balance was created.
   (e.g. Income Certificate issued by employer, Tax payment certificate with annual income)

   * If there are multiple supporters including self, it is requested to submit related documents of each supporter respectively.

5. Written Oath for defraying expenses (designated form)
   Must be written by the sponsor of applicant.
   Must be accompanied by a Japanese or English translation if written in a third language.
   Should applicants choose to defray the expenses on their own, this document is not required.

   * If there are multiple supporters, it is requested to submit this documents of each supporter respectively.