Japan Visa for Overseas University Interns
Japan Visa for Overseas University Interns
Are you studying at a university outside Japan and planning an internship with a Japanese company? Or is your company preparing to host students from an overseas university? Kawagoe Masanobu Administrative Scrivener Office helps you identify the appropriate Japanese immigration procedure and prepare supporting documents.
We support enquiries concerning paid internships under Designated Activities (Notification No. 9), unpaid placements, university-to-company agreements and Certificate of Eligibility (COE) applications.
Based in Sagae, Yamagata, Japan · Enquiries from overseas universities, students and Japanese host companies · English enquiries welcome
For Overseas Students
Understand how payment, internship duration and your university course affect the residence status.
For Japanese Companies
Prepare university agreements, training plans, supervision arrangements and appropriate filing documents.
Paid & Unpaid Internships
Determine whether Designated Activities, Cultural Activities or Temporary Visitor is relevant.
Which Visa Is Needed for a University Internship in Japan?
There is no single Japanese residence status covering every internship. The Immigration Services Agency distinguishes internships by whether the student receives remuneration and how long the activities will last.
| Internship Type | Generally Relevant Status | Important Points |
|---|---|---|
| Paid internship | Designated Activities (Notification No. 9) | Must form part of the overseas university degree course and meet specific university, host and duration conditions. |
| Unpaid internship over 90 days | Cultural Activities | A COE and supporting documents concerning the activities and financial arrangements are generally required. |
| Unpaid internship of 90 days or less | Temporary Visitor | The genuine unpaid educational nature of the placement must be confirmed. A visa may be necessary depending on nationality. |
This guide primarily addresses students enrolled at universities overseas who are not enrolled at a university in Japan. Rules differ for students already living in Japan under a Student status.
Paid Internships: Designated Activities (Notification No. 9)
The Designated Activities internship category allows eligible students enrolled at foreign universities to undertake remunerated practical training at a host organization in Japan as part of their degree course , subject to the prescribed conditions.
University Enrollment
The student must be enrolled in an overseas degree-awarding course. The published guideline includes university and graduate degree courses but excludes correspondence education courses.
Educational Relevance
The internship must be evaluated as part of the university curriculum and relate to the student's academic studies, such as through credits or a graduation requirement.
University–Host Agreement
The overseas university and Japanese receiving organization need an internship agreement covering the educational purpose and relevant conditions.
Duration Limit
The internship cannot exceed one year, and the cumulative internship period cannot exceed one-half of the degree course's standard period of study.
What Kind of Work Is Appropriate?
The placement should help the student acquire meaningful knowledge and skills related to their course. Training consisting primarily of repetitive routine tasks that do not advance the student's studies may be unsuitable.
Unpaid Internships: Cultural Activities or Temporary Visitor
More Than 90 Days
An unpaid internship exceeding 90 days is generally considered under the Cultural Activities status according to the Immigration Services Agency's internship guidance.
The Japanese host and student should prepare a clear plan, information about the activities and supporting financial documentation. The appropriate COE filing arrangement must be established.
90 Days or Less
Genuinely unpaid educational internships of 90 days or less are generally considered under Temporary Visitor. Visa requirements depend on nationality and the circumstances of the stay.
Temporary Visitor must not be used as a substitute for permission to undertake paid employment.
Requirements for Japanese Host Companies
The receiving company should be able to demonstrate that the internship is a genuine educational programme and that adequate arrangements are in place for supervising the overseas university student.
Training Plan
Set out learning objectives, tasks, worksite, schedule, training period and the skills the student is expected to gain.
Supervision
Identify those responsible for supervising the placement, evaluating progress and communicating with the overseas university.
Student Treatment
Clarify remuneration, hours, holidays, accommodation, insurance and workplace arrangements as applicable.
University Coordination
Confirm that the university approves the programme and recognizes it as part of the student's studies.
University–Company Internship Agreement
For the paid internship category, the agreement between the foreign university and the Japanese host organization is a central document. The Immigration Services Agency provides guidance on the information to be included.
Depending on the circumstances, remuneration and working conditions may also be detailed in a separate agreement between the student and host organization. The university agreement and all other documents should be consistent.
Documents Commonly Needed for a Paid Internship COE
The official Designated Activities internship guidance lists documents including the following. The exact checklist depends on the application type and the applicant's circumstances.
| Document | What It Helps Establish |
|---|---|
| COE application form and photograph | Identity and application particulars |
| Certificate of enrollment | Current enrollment in an overseas university |
| University–host internship agreement | Formal educational relationship and agreed placement terms |
| University approval or recommendation | University authorization of the placement |
| Curriculum, credit or internship plan | How the internship forms part of the degree programme |
| Details of duties, duration and remuneration | Actual activities and student treatment in Japan |
| Previous internship stay history | Any earlier stays under the internship scheme, or a statement that none occurred |
| Information on the degree course duration | Compliance with the prescribed cumulative period limit |
| Explanation of host compliance with the guidelines | Host's supervision and other measures required by the current guidelines |
Japanese translations are generally required for foreign-language documents submitted to immigration authorities. Further evidence can be requested during examination.
How the Application Process Works
Step 1 · Identify the Correct Status
We examine whether the placement is paid, how long it will run, whether it forms part of the student's degree and the proposed duties.
Step 2 · Review the University and Host
We check relevant enrollment, educational requirements, the agreement and the Japanese host's training arrangements.
Step 3 · Prepare the COE Application
Where a COE is appropriate, we help organize the documents and determine the legally permitted submission arrangements in Japan.
Step 4 · Visa and Entry
After COE issuance, the student follows the applicable Japanese embassy or consulate visa procedure and undergoes entry examination.
Our Professional Fees for Internship Visa Support
Our professional fees are based on the published schedule of Kawagoe Masanobu Administrative Scrivener Office. All prices include Japanese consumption tax.
| Service | Professional Fee (Tax Included) |
|---|---|
| Paid internship · Designated Activities COE | From ¥110,000 |
| Change of status · Designated Activities | From ¥110,000 |
| Extension · Designated Activities (no major changes) | From ¥44,000 |
| Unpaid long-term internship · Cultural Activities COE | From ¥88,000 |
| Other procedures / multiple interns | Individual quotation |
The immigration COE application itself currently has no application fee. Consular visa fees, when applicable, are separate. Temporary Visitor consular application support, if applicable, is quoted individually.
Who Can Contact Our Office?
Students Abroad
Find out which immigration category may apply and what documents to request from your university and host company.
Overseas Universities
Coordinate an internship programme with a Japanese partner and understand the university's documentation role.
Japanese Host Companies
Prepare to receive one or more overseas interns with an appropriate educational programme and immigration documents.
Kawagoe Masanobu Administrative Scrivener Office
Our office is based in Sagae City, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. We welcome immigration-related enquiries from foreign nationals, overseas educational institutions and Japanese organizations throughout Japan.
We review the proposed activity and supporting information, and explain the scope of our document preparation and authorized immigration application services before engagement.
All decisions are made by the competent Japanese authorities. Approval cannot be guaranteed.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do overseas university students need a visa for an internship in Japan?
The required immigration status depends on payment, duration and actual activities. Paid internships are generally considered under Designated Activities (Notification No. 9); unpaid internships may fall under Cultural Activities or Temporary Visitor.
2. Can a paid internship be completed on a tourist visa?
No. Temporary Visitor should not be used as a substitute for the status required for remunerated internship activities. The correct immigration route must be confirmed before travel.
3. Is a university-to-company agreement required?
For the paid internship scheme under Notification No. 9, an agreement between the overseas university and Japanese host is a key requirement. It must reflect the educational nature and relevant terms of the placement.
4. Does the internship need to award university credits?
It must form part of the student's educational programme and be appropriately evaluated by the university, such as through academic credits or a recognized graduation requirement. An unrelated informal placement is not equivalent.
5. How long can a paid internship last?
Under Notification No. 9, no more than one year, and the cumulative internship period must not exceed half the university course's standard duration. Other requirements also apply.
6. Can graduate students participate?
Potentially yes. The official guideline includes qualifying graduate degree programmes. The student must meet the relevant enrollment, age, course and educational requirements.
7. What if the internship is unpaid and lasts six months?
The Immigration Services Agency generally identifies Cultural Activities as the relevant status for an unpaid internship lasting more than 90 days. A COE and an appropriate submission arrangement should be considered.
8. What if the internship is unpaid and lasts two months?
A genuinely unpaid placement of 90 days or less is generally considered under Temporary Visitor, subject to the actual activities, nationality and visa requirements. A student should not assume that every proposed placement is permitted.
9. Can a company call a salary an allowance to avoid the paid-internship rules?
No. The real nature of any payment must be examined. Describing remuneration as a stipend or expense allowance does not by itself change its legal treatment.
10. Are ordinary repetitive duties suitable for the paid internship route?
The programme must have genuine academic value related to the student's major. Work consisting mainly of repetitive tasks without meaningful educational benefit may not satisfy the requirements.
11. Can a company host several university interns?
Possibly, depending on the host's supervision capacity and other applicable requirements. Each student's eligibility, programme and documents must be examined individually.
12. Is a Japanese translation required for university documents?
Immigration authorities generally require Japanese translations of documents prepared in foreign languages. Translation costs may be additional.
13. Is a summer job the same as the internship scheme?
No. The Designated Activities Summer Job category (Notification No. 12) is a different scheme with its own requirements. The correct category depends on the student's purpose and circumstances.
14. Can your office guarantee approval?
No. Applications are assessed individually by immigration authorities, and consular visa decisions are separate. Our services cannot guarantee permission or entry.
How to Send an Enquiry in English
You may use the contact form in English, even if the field labels are displayed in Japanese. For an efficient initial review, please tell us:
Students & Universities
Japanese Host Companies
Official Guidance & Related Services
Please confirm the current rules with the Immigration Services Agency and the Japanese diplomatic mission handling any visa application.
Planning a University Internship in Japan?
We can help you assess whether Designated Activities, Cultural Activities or another immigration route is appropriate, and identify the documentation needed from the student, overseas university and Japanese host organization.
Kawagoe Masanobu Administrative Scrivener Office
Sagae City, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan
Tel: +81-237-86-7198
Telephone hours: 9:00–18:00 (Japan time)
English enquiries from Japan and overseas are welcome. All applications remain subject to examination by the competent authorities.