Studying Abroad from Japan: Admissions, Tests & Student Visas

Studying abroad from Japan (Kaigai Ryugaku 海外留学) is a sequence, not a single application. You sit English tests, win admission, prepare Japanese academic records, prove your funds, and then apply for a student visa whose rules depend on the destination and on your passport. This guide covers degree, exchange and language-school study in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, for Japanese citizens and foreign residents of Japan; scholarships and post-study work rights are covered in separate guides.

Overview & Eligibility Framework: Degree, Exchange and Language-School Routes

Four Study Types and What Each Needs

Most Japanese study abroad is short. JASSO’s survey for academic year 2024 found that 66.2% of Japanese students who started study abroad went for under one month.¹ Longer study falls into four broad types, and the visa route follows from the type.

Study type	Length	Usual admission route	Visa implication
Full degree (undergraduate, Master’s, PhD, MBA)	Set by the program, usually 1 year or more	Direct application to the foreign institution	Student visa in all four countries
Exchange or study-abroad semester	1 to 2 semesters	Nomination by your Japanese university under an agreement	Student visa if longer than the visitor limits below
Short language course	Weeks to a few months	Direct enrollment with the school	Often no student visa (see next section)
Long language course	Longer than the visitor limits below	Direct enrollment with the school	Student visa, or the UK Short-term study visa for English

Exchange students usually stay enrolled at their Japanese university. That matters later for National Pension, and in Canada an exchange student who pays no tuition to the Canadian school needs no provincial attestation letter.² In the UK, degree-level study is capped at 5 years from age 18 (with listed exceptions such as medicine), and below-degree study at 2 years.³

When a Language Course Does Not Need a Student Visa

Short English courses often fit within visitor rules, but each country draws the line differently.

Country	Study allowed without a student visa (as of October 2026)	When you need a student visa or permit
United States	Recreational, non-credit study as part of a tourist visit on a B visa or the Visa Waiver Program⁴	Any credit-bearing or degree study: F-1 (or M-1)⁴
United Kingdom	Up to 6 months at an accredited institution as a Standard Visitor, including English courses⁵	English courses over 6 and up to 11 months: Short-term study visa (age 16+); longer or other courses: Student visa⁶
Canada	Programs of 6 months or less, with no right to work while studying⁷	Programs longer than 6 months: study permit⁷
Australia	Up to 3 months of study in total on an ETA (subclass 601, the route for Japanese passports; European passports use the eVisitor, subclass 651)⁸	Longer study: Student visa (subclass 500)⁹

The US rule is strict: study leading to a US degree or certificate “is never permitted” on a visitor visa (as of October 2026).⁴ The UK Short-term study visa costs GBP 228 plus the Immigration Health Surcharge (as of October 2026).⁶ Study limits on working holiday visas are covered in the working holiday guide.

The 18-Month Admissions Timeline: From English Exams to Enrollment

Japan’s calendar rarely lines up with foreign intakes. Schools run 1 April to 31 March by regulation, and most Japanese universities follow that pattern in practice, although each university president may set the academic year and allow mid-year admission and graduation.¹⁰ A March graduate heading to a September intake therefore applies while still in their final year in Japan.

T-18 to T-12 Months: Research, Test Preparation and First Test Dates

Start with a test that your target schools and your visa both accept. Scores generally last 2 years: TOEFL iBT and UK SELT results are valid for 2 years, and Australia requires the test within 2 years before you lodge (as of October 2026).¹¹¹²⁹ A first sitting 12 to 18 months ahead leaves time for a retake while keeping the score valid at the visa stage.

T-12 to T-6 Months: Applications, Recommendations and Transcripts

UK undergraduate applications run through UCAS. For 2027 entry, UCAS lists 15 October 2026 for Oxford, Cambridge and most medicine, dentistry and veterinary courses, 13 January 2027 (18:00 UK time) as the equal consideration date for most courses, and 30 June 2027 as the last date before Clearing (as of October 2026).¹³ Many universities “will continue to accept applications from international students until later in the year”, and dates change each cycle, so check UCAS for the cycle you are applying in.¹³

US deadlines are set by each institution, so confirm each school’s dates directly. Ask your Japanese schools early how long English transcripts and recommendation letters take to issue.

T-6 to T-0: Admission Letter, Visa, Health Cover and Exit Administration

The admission document unlocks the visa: Form I-20 (US), a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies or CAS (UK), a letter of acceptance plus a provincial attestation letter unless exempt (Canada), or a Confirmation of Enrolment or CoE (Australia).¹⁴¹⁵²⁹ For Canada, most applicants must accept the offer and pay tuition “either in part or in full” before the attestation letter is issued (as of October 2026).¹⁶

Visa windows differ. The UK accepts applications from 6 months before the course and within 6 months of receiving the CAS, and you may travel up to 1 week before a course of 6 months or less or up to 1 month before a longer one (as of October 2026).¹⁵ The US Department of State’s student-visa page is reported to allow F-1 issuance up to 365 days before the program start and entry up to 30 days before it, but that page could not be retrieved for this guide, so confirm the timing with the US Embassy (as of October 2026).¹⁷

Australia ties the visa to enrollment and insurance: your CoE must be valid when the visa is decided, and Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) must start on the day you arrive (as of October 2026).⁹ Australian lodgement windows were not confirmed for this guide. Leaving-Japan administration (city hall, health insurance, pension and tax) is sequenced in the master relocation framework and the moving-out notification guide.

The chart is illustrative for a September 2028 intake. Start dates, including Australian intakes, are set by each institution, so shift the bars to match your start date.

gantt
    title Illustrative plan for a September 2028 intake
    dateFormat YYYY-MM-DD
    axisFormat %b %Y
    section Tests
    Research schools and test prep        :2027-03-01, 2027-08-31
    English test sittings and retakes     :2027-06-01, 2027-11-30
    GRE or GMAT if required               :2027-06-01, 2027-10-31
    section Applications
    Transcripts and recommendations       :2027-09-01, 2027-12-31
    Applications submitted                :2027-10-01, 2028-01-31
    Offers and acceptance                 :2028-01-15, 2028-04-30
    section Money and documents
    Funding plan and scholarships         :2027-09-01, 2028-03-31
    Bank balance certificate              :2028-04-01, 2028-06-30
    section Visa and departure
    Student visa application              :2028-03-15, 2028-07-31
    Japan exit administration             :2028-06-15, 2028-08-31
    Travel and arrival                    :2028-08-15, 2028-09-15

Standardized Testing Strategy: TOEFL iBT, IELTS, Duolingo, GRE and GMAT

English Tests for Admission vs English Tests for the Visa

Universities set admission scores, but visa authorities can have their own rules. The UK Student route requires CEFR level B2 for degree level and above, and B1 below degree level; for degree-level study, your university may assess your English itself, provided it is equivalent to B2.¹⁵³ Where a Secure English Language Test (SELT) is used, its details and component scores must appear on the CAS.³

The UK SELT list does not include TOEFL iBT or the Duolingo English Test. Approved providers are the IELTS SELT Consortium (“IELTS for UKVI” or “IELTS Life Skills”), LanguageCert, Pearson (“PTE Academic UKVI” or “PTE Home”), PSI Services (“Skills for English UKVI”, outside the UK) and Trinity College London (inside the UK) (as of October 2026).¹² A student heading to a below-degree course may therefore need IELTS for UKVI or another SELT even if the school accepts TOEFL.

Australia accepts only listed tests and no fully online versions such as IELTS Online or TOEFL iBT Home Edition (as of October 2026).⁹ For tests taken on or after 7 August 2025, minimums include IELTS Academic 6.0 overall (lower with at least 10 or 20 weeks of English language study, ELICOS) and TOEFL iBT 67 (as of October 2026).⁹ Whether you must submit English evidence depends on your case, and UK, US, Canadian, New Zealand and Irish passport holders are exempt.⁹

No separate visa English test was found on US or Canadian official pages; schools set English requirements there.

The January 2026 TOEFL iBT Redesign

From 21 January 2026, TOEFL iBT reports scores on a 1 to 6 scale in half-point steps, aligned with the CEFR (as of October 2026).¹¹ For a two-year transition, reports also show a comparable score on the old 0 to 120 scale, and the test is now adaptive, taking about two hours according to ETS (as of October 2026).¹¹¹⁸ Check whether each school states its minimum on the new or the old scale.

Australia added its own TOEFL condition. From 21 January 2026, applicants must select “Taking TOEFL for Australia” when registering, and Home Affairs still publishes its TOEFL minimums on the 0 to 120 scale (as of October 2026).⁹

IELTS Academic, Duolingo English Test and Score Validity

IELTS for UKVI has the same content and scoring as IELTS Academic. According to IELTS’s own pages, the differences are test-day security and the UKVI Test Report Form, and the UKVI version must be taken in person at an approved centre.¹⁹ The Duolingo English Test is on neither the UK SELT list nor Australia’s accepted-test table, so treat it as an admission test only where a school accepts it (as of October 2026).¹²⁹

GRE and GMAT for Graduate and MBA Applicants

The GMAT Focus Edition has been the only GMAT since 1 February 2024, and GMAC states that scores are valid for 5 years.²⁰ GRE requirements are set by each program, so check each department’s page.

Preparing Japanese Academic Records: English Transcripts, GPA and Document Certification

English Transcripts and Certificates From Japanese Schools

Ask your Japanese school or university for English transcripts (Eibun Seiseki Shomeisho 英文成績証明書) and graduation certificates (Eibun Sotsugyo Shomeisho 英文卒業証明書). Whether a foreign university wants them sealed, sent directly by the school or evaluated by a credential service is its own policy. For the UK visa, qualification evidence is not required for degree-level study at a provider with a compliance track record or where the ST 22.1 concession applies.³

Ask for an English certificate that carries the school’s official seal. MOFA will not certify an English graduation certificate bearing only the principal’s signature, and it cannot accept university certificates carrying the POPITA electronic watermark.²¹²²

GPA Conversion and the Japanese Grading Scale

No official national conversion table was found. The receiving institution or its evaluator converts Japanese grades into its own scale, so supply the grading key printed on your transcript and ask the admissions office how it will be read.

When MOFA Certification Is Needed: Koin Kakunin vs Apostille

Only certify a document when the recipient asks. MOFA says applicants should apply only if the foreign receiving body or the embassy or consulate in Japan requires it.²³ No requirement for apostilled transcripts was found on UKVI, IRCC, Home Affairs or US Department of State visa pages, so certification is mainly an institution-specific request.³²³

MOFA offers two certifications of Japanese public documents. Koin Kakunin (公印確認) confirms the official seal and must then be legalized by the destination country’s embassy or consulate in Japan; an Apostille (アポスティーユ) is accepted by Hague Apostille Convention countries in place of legalization.²³ The United States, United Kingdom, Australia and Canada (since 11 January 2024) are all parties, but a recipient may still ask for legalization instead.²⁴²³

MOFA can add Koin Kakunin to most school-issued certificates, but it cannot attach an Apostille to documents from university corporations or private schools.²²²¹ For those, the Apostille route runs through a notary, while Koin Kakunin is available if legalization is acceptable.²¹

Issuing school	Koin Kakunin at MOFA	Apostille at MOFA
National or public university corporation	Yes	No (except degree certificates issued before incorporation or by non-incorporated public universities)
Private university	Yes	No
National colleges of technology (KOSEN)	Yes	No
Public high, junior high or elementary school	Yes	Yes
Private high, junior high or elementary school	Yes (student certificates such as graduation, completion and transcripts)	No
Private senmon gakko or kakushu gakko	No	No

Source: MOFA application guide (21 January 2026) and FAQ (1 June 2026).²²²¹

Documents MOFA cannot certify directly follow the notary route. A notary office (Kosho Yakuba 公証役場) notarizes the document, the Legal Affairs Bureau (Homukyoku 法務局) certifies the notary’s seal, and MOFA can then certify it.²² One-stop notary offices handling all three steps exist only in Hokkaido (Sapporo district), Miyagi, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Shizuoka, Aichi, Osaka and Fukuoka; this is a paid service, whereas MOFA’s own certification is free (as of October 2026).²¹

flowchart TD
    A["Does the university, employer or embassy ask for certification?"] -->|No| B["Submit the school-issued document as instructed"]
    A -->|Yes| C{"Apostille or legalization requested?"}
    C -->|"Legalization"| D["MOFA Koin Kakunin, then the destination embassy or consulate in Japan"]
    C -->|"Apostille"| E{"Issued by a public school (not a university corporation)?"}
    E -->|Yes| F["MOFA Apostille"]
    E -->|No| G["Notary office, then Legal Affairs Bureau seal certificate"]
    G --> H["MOFA Apostille (or one-stop notary office in listed areas)"]

Three practical rules trip up applicants. Documents must in principle be originals issued within 3 months and bear the issuer’s name and official seal, although once-only documents such as a degree certificate (Gakuiki 学位記) can be certified when the recipient wants the original.²²²¹ Attaching a translation turns a public document into a private one, and MOFA does not translate.²⁵²¹

MOFA accepts applications by mail or at its Tokyo or Osaka counters, returns documents by post in principle 3 business days after receipt, and does not accept mail applications from abroad (as of October 2026).²¹ Apostilles for other relocation documents are explained in the master relocation framework.

Demonstrating Financial Solvency: Bank Balance Certificates (Zandaka Shomeisho)

What Each Country Asks For

Each country checks funds differently, and the amounts change often, so check the figure in force on your application date.

Country	Who checks funds	Amount basis (as of October 2026)	Evidence timing and form	Notes
United States	School (for Form I-20), then the officer at entry	The amount shown on your Form I-20¹⁴	Documentary evidence of financial support at admission¹⁴	School sets the amount
United Kingdom	UKVI	Outstanding course fees for up to 9 months, plus GBP 1,529 a month in London or GBP 1,171 elsewhere, up to 9 months; GBP 1,570 or GBP 1,203 for applications made on or after 30 November 2026¹⁵²⁶²⁷	Held 28 consecutive days; latest evidence dated within 31 days before applying²⁶	Japanese nationals applying from where they live usually need not submit it, but may be asked³
Canada	IRCC	CAD 23,448 for one person (outside Quebec) plus tuition and travel²⁸	Examples include six months of bank statements, a GIC, an education loan or a scholarship²⁸	Quebec uses its own amounts through the CAQ²⁸
Australia	Home Affairs	AUD 29,710 for 12 months of living costs, plus first-year course fees and travel; or parents’ or partner’s annual income of at least AUD 87,856⁹	Whether you must submit evidence depends on the Document Checklist Tool⁹	Travel guide figure AUD 2,000 when applying from outside Australia other than Africa⁹

The UK figures carry fine print. Part months are rounded up, an accommodation deposit paid to the university can offset up to GBP 1,529 (GBP 1,570 for applications from 30 November 2026), and yen funds are converted at the OANDA spot rate on the application date (as of October 2026).³²⁶²⁷ Canada’s CAD 23,448 applies to applications made on or after 1 September 2026 and excludes tuition and transport, while Australia adds AUD 10,394 for a partner and AUD 4,449 for a child (as of October 2026).²⁸⁹

Getting a Bank Balance Certificate From a Japanese Bank

A bank balance certificate (Zandaka Shomeisho 残高証明書) states your balance on a specified date. Each bank sets its own terms; the following are examples of banks’ own published terms, not recommendations. Japan Post Bank issues English certificates at the counter with the balance in yen only, and SMBC offers English certificates, charges JPY 880 per certificate and mails it about 1 to 2 weeks after the request (as of October 2026).²⁹³⁰

Keep a yen margin above the requirement. Because the UK converts at the rate on the application date, a weaker yen can leave a certificate short.²⁶

Parents’ Funds, Scholarships and Sponsorship Letters

Parents’ money usually counts if you document the relationship. The UK accepts funds in a parent’s or legal guardian’s name with proof of the relationship and their written consent (as of October 2026).²⁶ Canada accepts a letter from the person providing the money, Australia’s income route relies on parents’ or partner’s income, and scholarship evidence is covered in the scholarships guide.²⁸⁹

Major Student Visa Pathways: US F-1, UK Student Visa, Canada Study Permit, and Australia Subclass 500

United States: I-20, SEVIS Fee and the F-1 Visa at the US Embassy in Tokyo

Your school issues Form I-20, and you pay the SEVIS I-901 fee of USD 350 (as of October 2026).³¹¹⁴ The visa application fee is USD 185, and some nationalities also pay a reciprocity issuance fee (as of October 2026).⁴ A visa integrity fee was created by 2025 legislation, but no official notice that it is being collected was found (as of October 2026), so check the Embassy’s fee page when you apply.³²

Interview waivers no longer cover students. Since 1 October 2025, all nonimmigrant visa applicants must be interviewed apart from narrow exceptions (certain B-1/B-2 and H-2A renewals and diplomatic or official categories), and officers may require an interview in any case (as of October 2026).³³ The US Embassy in Japan asks F, M and J applicants to set social media accounts to “public” and to apply in their country of residence or nationality; book at the US Embassy Tokyo or a US consulate in Japan that offers visa services (as of October 2026).³⁴

Students are still admitted for “duration of status” (D/S). The Department of Homeland Security published a final rule on 17 July 2026 replacing D/S with a fixed admission period from 15 September 2026, but on 14 September 2026 the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts postponed its effective date and barred DHS from implementing it.³⁵³⁶ DHS appealed on 30 September 2026, and the case continues (as of October 2026).³⁶

If the rule takes effect, long programs would be affected. F students would be admitted to the program end date, up to 4 years, plus 30 days to depart, and English language training would be capped at 24 months in total.³⁵³⁷ The eCFR’s “current” text already shows the amended wording despite the court order, so follow the court status rather than that text.¹⁴³⁶

United Kingdom: CAS and the Student Visa

A licensed student sponsor issues your CAS, and you apply online. The fee from outside the UK is GBP 558, and the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) for students is GBP 776 a year, with none for stays of 6 months or less (as of October 2026).¹⁵³⁸³⁹ Decisions usually take about 3 weeks.¹⁵

Japanese nationals benefit from two concessions. Under ST 22.1, those applying from the country where they live usually need not submit financial evidence or qualification documents, though the caseworker may ask, and Japanese nationals are exempt from the Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) (as of October 2026).³⁴⁰ Your permission is an eVisa, and holders of permission to study do not need a separate Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).¹⁵⁴¹

Applicants under 18 need parental consent from both parents (or one with sole responsibility) and a document naming the parents, such as a birth certificate.¹⁵

Canada: Letter of Acceptance, PAL and the Study Permit

Most applicants need a letter of acceptance from a designated learning institution (DLI) and a provincial or territorial attestation letter (PAL/TAL). From 1 January 2026, students in a degree-granting Master’s or doctoral program at a public DLI are exempt, and Quebec requires a CAQ instead (as of October 2026).² Changing school, and generally changing level, needs a new letter (as of October 2026).²

Fees are CAD 150 for the study permit and CAD 85 for biometrics (as of October 2026).⁴² You apply online before travel, IRCC sends a port of entry letter of introduction and, if needed, an eTA or visitor visa, and the permit itself is issued when you arrive.⁴³ Japanese passport holders flying in need an eTA.⁴⁴

Australia: CoE, the Genuine Student Requirement and Subclass 500

The base visa charge is AUD 2,500 from 1 July 2026, reduced to AUD 2,050 for primary applicants in English language (ELICOS) or non-award courses and for holders of passports from ten ASEAN countries (as of October 2026).⁴⁵ Home Affairs also lists a lower cost for eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens.⁹ You must be a genuine student whose primary reason for being in Australia is study, shown through targeted questions in the online application.⁹⁴⁶

You need a valid CoE at decision and OSHC, and in general you apply online from outside Australia.⁹ Work is limited to 48 hours a fortnight while your course is in session, with no limit for Master’s by research or doctoral students (as of October 2026).⁹ Post-study work options are covered in the post-graduation work rights guide.

Item (as of October 2026)	US F-1	UK Student visa	Canada study permit	Australia Subclass 500
Admission document	Form I-20¹⁴	CAS¹⁵	Letter of acceptance plus PAL/TAL unless exempt²	CoE⁹
Main government fees	SEVIS USD 350; visa USD 185³¹⁴	GBP 558 plus IHS GBP 776 a year¹⁵³⁸	CAD 150 plus biometrics CAD 85⁴²	AUD 2,500 (AUD 2,050 tier)⁴⁵
Funds evidence	Amount on I-20¹⁴	Fees plus GBP 1,529 or 1,171 a month (1,570 or 1,203 from 30 November 2026)²⁶²⁷	CAD 23,448 plus tuition and travel²⁸	AUD 29,710 plus fees and travel⁹
Health cover	School rules (no federal rule identified)	IHS (NHS access)³⁸	Provincial rules vary⁴⁷	OSHC from arrival⁹
Earliest application	Reported as issuance up to 365 days before start; confirm with the Embassy¹⁷	6 months before course¹⁵	Not fixed on the pages checked	Not confirmed

Japanese Citizens vs. Foreign Residents: Critical Distinctions

Your Passport, Not Your Japanese Residence, Sets Host-Country Rules

Host countries apply their rules by nationality. A foreign resident of Japan benefits from the UK’s ST 22.1 concession only if their own nationality is listed, and Canada requires a visitor visa instead of an eTA for many passports (as of October 2026).³⁴⁴ In Australia, ASEAN passport holders pay the AUD 2,050 tier and only UK, US, Canadian, New Zealand and Irish passport holders skip English evidence (as of October 2026).⁹⁴⁵

For the US, foreign residents may apply in Japan as their country of residence. Reciprocity fees vary by nationality, and nationals of countries listed under the current Presidential Proclamation “may be determined to be ineligible” (as of October 2026).⁴³⁴

Protecting Your Japanese Status of Residence While You Study

A special re-entry permit (Minashi Sainyukoku みなし再入国) lasts 1 year from departure, or until your period of stay ends if earlier.⁴⁸ A multi-year degree therefore needs a regular re-entry permit, valid for up to 5 years, and a long enough period of stay.⁴⁸ Koto City notes that foreign residents abroad 1 year or more must file the overseas move-out notice even with a re-entry permit; the departure-rules guide covers the impact on permanent residence.⁴⁹

Japanese Citizens: Passports and Overseas Residence Registration

Check that your passport stays valid for the whole course. Under Passport Act Article 16, a Japanese national staying abroad 3 months or more must file an overseas residence registration (Zairyu-todoke 在留届) with the local embassy or consulate.⁵⁰ For shorter stays, MOFA’s Tabi-Reg (たびレジ) registration provides safety alerts.⁵¹

Managing Civil Deregistration (Juminhyo) During Student Status Abroad

The 1-Year Rule of Thumb for Students

Municipalities generally expect an overseas move-out notice for study of roughly 1 year or more. Koto City, for example, says the notice is for stays abroad of “おおむね1年以上”, and that for study (留学) under 1 year while keeping your base in the ward it is not necessarily required.⁴⁹ Practice varies, so ask your city hall.

The decision moves several obligations at once: National Health Insurance, National Pension, resident tax (Juminzei 住民税) and your My Number card. The mechanics are covered in the moving-out notification, health insurance cancellation, resident tax and tax residency guides.

National Pension While Studying Abroad

The student payment special exception (Gakusei Nofu Tokurei 学生納付特例) does not cover foreign universities abroad. It covers students at Japanese universities, junior colleges, high schools, KOSEN and qualifying vocational schools, plus some Japan campuses of foreign universities designated by MEXT, subject to an income test (as of October 2026).⁵² If you file the move-out notice, compulsory membership ends; Japanese nationals aged 20 to under 65 abroad may enroll voluntarily, but voluntary members cannot use the student exception.⁵³

An exchange student who stays registered and enrolled in Japan appears to remain eligible, but this was not confirmed for this guide, so ask the pension office.⁵² Foreign nationals leaving Japan should read the lump-sum withdrawal guide first.

Student Health Insurance and Campus Medical Waivers

Mandatory Host-Country Schemes: UK IHS, Australia OSHC, Canadian Provincial Plans

The UK and Australia build health cover into the visa. The UK IHS, paid with the application, lets you use the National Health Service (NHS) (as of October 2026).³⁸ Australia requires OSHC from an approved provider for the whole stay, and you should not enter before it begins.⁹

Canada leaves health cover to the provinces. In British Columbia, for example, students with a study permit of 6 months or more must enroll in the Medical Services Plan on arrival, wait “the balance of the month in which residency is established, plus two months”, and pay an International Student Health Fee of CAD 75 a month (as of October 2026).⁴⁷ Other provinces differ and were not confirmed for this guide, so check with your province and university.

US University Health Plans and Waiver Rules

No general federal health insurance requirement for F-1 students was identified for this guide. Ask your US university whether it requires its own plan and what waiver criteria, if any, apply before buying other cover.

Japanese Insurance That May Still Apply

NHI overseas medical expense reimbursement (Kaigai Ryoyohi 海外療養費) is designed for short trips. Osaka City describes it as a scheme for people with a Japanese address travelling briefly, not for long-term residence abroad, and it excludes planned treatment and continuing treatment of chronic conditions.⁵⁴ Claims lapse 2 years from the day after treatment.⁵⁴

Students covered as dependants under a parent’s employee health insurance may keep that status while studying abroad, as explained in the health insurance cancellation guide.⁵⁵ Private travel and student insurance is covered in the long-term travel health insurance guide.

Common Pitfalls & Regulatory Compliance Risks

Booking TOEFL iBT for a below-degree UK course: it is not a SELT. Fix: book IELTS for UKVI or another listed test (as of October 2026).¹²
UK funds held too briefly or evidence too old: the rule is 28 days held and evidence within 31 days. Fix: time the bank certificate even if you may not need to submit it (as of October 2026).²⁶³
Asking MOFA for an Apostille on a university certificate: it cannot be issued directly. Fix: use Koin Kakunin if legalization is acceptable, or the notary route.²²²¹
Certifying unrequested documents or attaching a translation first: a translation makes it a private document. Fix: certify only on request.²³²⁵
Studying on visitor status beyond the limits: UK 6 months, Australia 3 months, Canada 6 months, US recreational only. Fix: use the student route (as of October 2026).⁴⁵⁷⁸
Leaving for a multi-year degree on a special re-entry permit: it lapses after 1 year. Fix: obtain a regular re-entry permit.⁴⁸
Assuming the US 4-year admission cap applies: it is postponed by court order. Fix: check the litigation status (as of October 2026).³⁶
Skipping the Canadian PAL/TAL when not exempt, or taking an at-home test for Australia: either can sink an application. Fix: check the exemptions and accepted tests (as of October 2026).²⁹

References & Official Sources

Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO), “2024（令和6）年度日本人学生留学状況調査結果”, May 2026, as cited in the published statistics article (not re-fetched), https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/ja/_mt/2026/05/data2024n.pdf ↩
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, “Provincial attestation letter (PAL) or territorial attestation letter (TAL)”, page dated 2 September 2026, https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/study-permit/get-documents/provincial-attestation-letter.html ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶
GOV.UK, “Immigration Rules: Appendix Student” (ST 7, 12, 13, 19, 20, 22.1), updated 8 October 2026, https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-student ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰
US Department of State / USEmbassy.gov, “F & M Visa: Wizard Results” (MRV fee, visitor-visa study limits), accessed October 2026, https://common.usembassy.gov/en/study-visa/ ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷
GOV.UK, “Visit the UK as a Standard Visitor” (Visit to study), accessed October 2026, https://www.gov.uk/standard-visitor ↩ ↩²
GOV.UK, “Study English in the UK (Short-term study visa)”, content updated 9 September 2026, https://www.gov.uk/visa-to-study-english ↩ ↩²
IRCC, “Study permit: Who can study without a permit”, page dated 9 September 2026, https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/study-permit/eligibility/study-without-permit.html ↩ ↩² ↩³
Australian Department of Home Affairs, “eVisitor (subclass 651)” (last updated 8 September 2026) and “Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601)” (last updated 12 October 2026), https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/evisitor-651 and https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/electronic-travel-authority-601 ↩ ↩²
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