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Japanese Language School in 2026: Intake Periods and the Certificate of Eligibility Process

Most Japanese language schools take new students two or four times a year: typically April and October, or January, April, July and October. To study on a Student visa you first need a Certificate of Eligibility (CoE), and in practice the school files that application on your behalf. Because immigration offices set their own windows for school applications and review takes one to three months, the real deadline is usually much earlier than your start date.

Which schools can sponsor a Student visa

Not every place that teaches Japanese can bring you to Japan as a student. To hold the "Student" (留学) status for language study, you must enroll at either an institution listed in the Ministry of Justice notice (often called a 告示校) or a MEXT-accredited Japanese language institution (認定日本語教育機関). How to check those lists is covered in a separate article in this series.

A few numbers worth knowing before you choose a course:

  • Length of enrollment: time at a Japanese language school is normally capped at two years.
  • Period of stay: the Student status is granted for a period set case by case by the Minister of Justice, never longer than 4 years and 3 months.
  • Next step after language school: if you want to move on to a Japanese university or vocational school taught in Japanese, the Immigration Services Agency (ISA) says you will be expected to reach about JLPT N2 level, so pick a course whose goal matches that plan.

Intake periods and why timing matters

Each school decides its own start dates, but the common patterns are twice a year (April and October) or four times a year (January, April, July and October). Schools submit very large numbers of CoE applications, so regional immigration bureaus generally accept them only during set periods for each intake. Once you have a school in mind, ask it straight away which application window applies to your start month and when it needs your documents. Do not plan around your flight date; plan around the school's internal deadline.

The CoE flow, step by step

  • Apply to the school. The documents you need depend on the school and on your nationality or region, so the school's own checklist is the one to follow.
  • Show basic Japanese ability. ISA asks schools to confirm that new students have at least A1 level on the Japanese Language Reference Framework, by test or interview. JFT-Basic at A1 or above and JLPT N5 or above are the main accepted tests, and ISA also lists several other tests that count for the time being.
  • Confirmation forms prepared by the school. The "various confirmation forms" (各種確認書) must be filled in by the school you will attend. You cannot prepare them yourself.
  • Proof of funding. The CoE file for language-school students includes a statement of financial support (経費支弁書) and, where relevant, scholarship documents.
  • Tuberculosis screening, if it applies to you. Applicants holding Philippine, Nepalese or Vietnamese nationality must now include a certificate showing they do not have active TB, issued by a clinic designated by the Japanese government. For Indonesia, designated clinics are scheduled to start exams on November 2, 2026 and the certificate becomes mandatory from January 4, 2027. Myanmar and China are also on the list, with dates not yet fixed. The certificate is generally valid for 180 days from the chest X-ray.
  • Submission. School staff can file as your agent at the immigration office covering the school's location. Applications are not accepted by post, but online filing is available. There is no fee.
  • Review. ISA's standard processing period is one to three months.
  • Receiving the CoE. Since March 17, 2023 a CoE can be issued by email instead of on paper. If you received a paper certificate and then decide not to come, ISA asks you to return the original.
  • Visa and arrival. You present the CoE at a Japanese embassy or consulate when applying for the visa, and again on landing, which lets both steps move quickly.

Plan your money realistically

The Student status is not a work visa. With separate permission you may work up to 28 hours a week, or up to 8 hours a day during long school holidays, and some venues are always off limits. ISA states plainly that paying all tuition and living costs from part-time work is not acceptable, and it warns about agents who claim students can earn 300,000 yen a month. Build a funding plan that works even if you earn less than you hope.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Starting too late. Contact schools early enough to meet their internal deadline, not just the immigration window.
  • Name mismatches. If the spelling on your application differs from your passport, checks can slow every later step. ISA recommends attaching a passport copy when you can.
  • Old certificates. Any certificate issued in Japan must be dated within three months of submission.
  • Skipping the school check. Confirm the school is on one of the official lists before you pay anything.

Once the visa is in your passport, the next job is arrival paperwork. Many students stay in a furnished monthly apartment for their first weeks so they have a fixed address for city-office registration while they look for long-term housing.

Sources

This article was created by OHAYO Stay based on the sources above (edited, reorganized and translated). It is not an official publication.

Rules and dates can change. Always confirm with the official source before you apply.