Sections

Status of Residence, Changing Status of Residence, and Extending the Period of Status of Residence

Kyoto Branch of Osaka Regional Immigration Bureau

4th Floor, Kyoto Second Local Joint Government Bldg.,
34-12 Higashi-Marutamachi, Marutamachi-Kawabata,
Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8395
Phone: 075-752-5997
Fax : 075-762-2121
Open: Mon. - Fri. 9:00 - 12:00, 13:00 - 16:00 (Except Holidays)
Application forms to download offered by Immigration Bureau Homepage (External Link)

Status of Residence

In principle, international students at Kyoto University must have "College Student" residence status. The duration of "College Student" status is six months, one year, one year and three months, two years, or two years and three months.

Changing Status of Residence

Scholarship application and international student events require "College Student" status. Due to revisions to the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act in July 2010, "College Student" and "Pre-College Student" statues have been integrated. When students with "Pre-College Student" resident status enter a university, they do not have to change their status to "College Student." Students with status other than "College Student" and "Pre-College Student" statuses should consult with their faculty/graduate school offices.

Required Documents

  1. Passport
  2. Alien Registration Card
  3. National Health Insurance Card
  4. Copy of Acceptance Letter
  5. Application Forms for Change of Status of Residence (*1
  6. Processing fee \4,000

(*1

a) Application forms "For organization, parts 1 & 2" to be completed by faculty/graduate school office
b) Application forms "For applicant, parts 1, 2 & 3" to be completed by the applicants 
(NOTE) Additional documents may be required.

Extending the Period of Status of Residence 　

Applications are accepted from three months prior to the current period's expiration date. Applicants must also go to the City/Ward Office within 14 days of the extension to report the change and update their Alien Registration Card.

Required Documents (in the case of "College Student" status)

  1. Passport
  2. Alien Registration Card
  3. National Health Insurance Card
  4. Certificate of Enrollment (from faculty/graduate school)
  5. Transcript (from faculty/graduate schools)
    Students without a transcript, such as research students, must submit a certificate of research content written by their academic advisor (free format).
  6. Application Forms for Extension of Period of Stay (*2
  7. Processing fee of \4,000

(*2

a) Application forms "For organization, parts 1 & 2" to be completed by faculty/graduate school office 
b) Application forms "For applicant, parts 1, 2 & 3" to be completed by the applicants 

(NOTE) Scholarship certificates with duration and amount are also required for students who receive the MEXT scholarship and such. Additional documents may be required.

Visa and Status of Residence for Family

Family members of international students will need "Dependent" status of residence in order to live together with the international student in Japan.

Students can submit the application forms for the Certificate of Eligibility on behalf of their family at the Immigration Bureau in Japan. It may take up to several months (depending on the number of applicants and other factors) for the Certificate of Eligibility to be issued.

After receiving Certificates of Eligibility for each family member, students should send them to their family. The family should then take the Certificates of Eligibility along with the other necessary documents to the Japanese　Embassy/Consulate in their country to apply for the "Dependent" visa. The documents required will vary from country to country. Please inquire at the Japanese Embassy/Consulate in your country. Certificates of Eligibility are valid for three months. Family members must enter Japan before the certificate expires.

Required Items for Certificate of Eligibility

  1. One 4x3cm facial photo of each applicant (family member) taken within 6 months
  2. Copies of each applicant's (family member's) passport pages that show their photo, the passport's number, and expiration data
  3. Original/official copies of certificates such as marriage licenses, birth certificates, and family registers, that indicate the relationship between the student and each applicant (family member)
    * If these certificates are written in a language other than Japanese, it is necessary to attach a brief Japanese translation.
  4. Copies of the student's passport pages(see 2. above)
  5. Official copy of the student's Alien Registration Card (Toroku Genpyo-Kisai-Jiko-Shomeisho) available at the City/Ward Office
  6. Certificate of student's enrollment
  7. Documents that prove student's ability to provide financial support; either one of the following:
    a. Certificate of Balance or Certificate of Remittance from the student's bank
    b. Scholarship Certificate with amount and duration
  8. Application forms for Certificate of Eligibility *
  9. Those who wish to have the documents sent back to them should include a self-addressed envelope with a \380 postage stamp attached.

(NOTE) Additional documents may be required.