Study in Japan from Nepal: COE, Visa Fee and Work Rules 2026
To study in Japan from Nepal, your Japanese school or university first gets a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) for you from Japan’s immigration authority, and then you apply for a student visa through the Japan Visa Application Centre in Kathmandu. The single-entry visa fee is NPR 2,780 plus a VFS service charge of NPR 2,430, and once in Japan you may work up to 28 hours a week only after getting permission.
Last checked: 20 October 2026. Fees are as published by the Japan Visa Application Centre, Kathmandu.
Study in Japan from Nepal: key facts
| Item | What the official sources say |
|---|---|
| Visa status | “Student” (Ryugaku). Covers universities, colleges and Japanese language schools |
| First step | Certificate of Eligibility (COE), applied for in Japan, usually by your school as your proxy |
| Where Nepali students apply | Japan Visa Application Centre (VFS Global), Kathmandu, for the Embassy of Japan in Nepal |
| Visa fee | NPR 2,780 single entry (fee table effective 1 April 2025), refunded only if the visa is not approved |
| VFS service charge | NPR 2,430 per application, non-refundable, prepaid when booking |
| Processing | VFS says 6 working days; the Embassy says usually about one week but up to about two months if careful examination is needed |
| Work limit | Up to 28 hours a week; up to 8 hours a day during school long vacations, with permission |
| Maximum period of stay | Set by the Minister of Justice per student, up to 4 years and 3 months |
The COE comes first
Japan’s student route is different from the UK, Australia or Canada. You do not start at the embassy. According to the official Study in Japan immigration page, the school that accepts you normally acts as your proxy and applies for your Certificate of Eligibility at a regional immigration services bureau in Japan. The COE is Japan’s advance check that you meet the conditions for “Student” status.
The Embassy of Japan in Nepal states that it cannot accept COE applications itself. If your proxy in Japan cannot get the COE, you can apply directly at the Embassy, but the decision may take a long time. For almost all Nepali students, the school route is the practical one.
Since 2023 Japan has been issuing COEs electronically as well as on paper. Either way, the visa application in Kathmandu needs the COE: VFS asks for the original plus one copy, or two colour copies showing both sides.
Financial proof for the COE
Japan does not publish one fixed amount that every student must show. The Study in Japan site says you may be asked to prove that you can cover your costs, and lists documents such as:
- a savings balance certificate
- a certificate of income for the past year
- records showing where the funds came from
These can be in your name or a guarantor’s, typically a parent. Your school tells you exactly what it needs, because it submits the COE file. For Nepali families, the questions are usually the same ones other countries ask: is the money real, is it yours or your sponsor’s, and can you explain where it came from. Our guide on sponsor documents covers how to prepare these papers.
Japanese language schools vs university
Many Nepali students start at a Japanese language school and then move on to a vocational college or university. The Study in Japan site confirms that Japanese language schools fall under the “Student” status, the same as universities.
The visa paperwork differs slightly. On the VFS checklist for long-stay visas with a COE:
- Language school students must add the original certificate from their Japanese language institute in Nepal, and an original Japanese language test certificate such as JLPT or J.TEST, or a letter from the Japanese school in Japan with copies of certificates.
- University students must add a copy of the university enrolment certificate.
So if you are going the language-school route, your Japanese study in Nepal is part of your visa file. Keep your class attendance and certificates in order.
Step by step: Japan student visa from Nepal
- Choose and apply to a school in Japan (language school, vocational college or university).
- Send the school your documents for the COE, including financial proof and education certificates.
- Wait for the COE to be issued by immigration in Japan, then receive it (paper or electronic).
- Book a VFS appointment online and prepay the NPR 2,430 service charge.
- Submit at the Japan Visa Application Centre, Kathmandu: application form (one sheet, printed both sides, with your own phone number), passport with at least one blank page and three copies of the bio page, a 45mm x 35mm photo on a white background taken in the last 6 months, the COE, and your school-specific documents.
- Pay the visa fee (NPR 2,780 single entry) at the centre.
- Collect your passport and travel. The Embassy says a visa is valid for three months, so do not apply more than three months before you enter Japan.
VFS asks applicants to arrange documents in checklist order, use A4 copies, and not to use pins, staples, tape or paper clips.
When you land in Japan
- Residence card: at New Chitose, Narita, Haneda, Chubu, Kansai, Kobe, Hiroshima and Fukuoka airports you receive your residence card on arrival. At other airports it is issued later.
- Register your address at your city or ward office within 14 days of deciding where you will live.
- Ask for work permission at the airport. The University of Tokyo’s official guidance says new arrivals can apply for permission to work part-time at airports that issue residence cards, right after landing.
Part-time work: the 28-hour rule
A student visa does not let you work automatically. You need “permission to engage in activity other than that permitted under the status of residence”. The Immigration Services Agency of Japan says comprehensive permission is required to work within 28 hours per week, or within 8 hours per day during your school’s long vacation periods.
University guidance adds two points students must take seriously: work in adult entertainment businesses is forbidden even with permission, and working without permission can lead to punishment or deportation. If you later renew your status, your work record and attendance matter. See our guide to the Japan visa renewal fee in 2026 for what extending your stay costs.
Nepal-specific tips
- Original documents only. The Embassy of Japan in Nepal says documents must be originals; faxed or emailed documents are not accepted, and submitted documents are not returned (except the passport in some cases).
- Reasons for refusal are not disclosed. Prepare a clean, consistent file the first time.
- The phone number on the form must be yours, not an agent’s, per the VFS checklist.
- Get your passport ready early. You need at least one blank page in it.
- Check who you are paying. Many Nepali students go to Japan through agents. Use our consultancy registration check before handing over money.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Showing large, sudden deposits with no explanation of where the money came from.
- Assuming 28 hours a week will cover tuition and rent. Plan your budget without relying on work.
- Starting a job before getting work permission.
- Applying for the visa too early. A visa is valid for three months.
- Missing the 14-day address registration after arrival.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Japan student visa fee in Nepal?
NPR 2,780 for a single-entry visa, plus a VFS service charge of NPR 2,430, per the Japan Visa Application Centre in Kathmandu.
What is a COE for Japan?
A Certificate of Eligibility issued by immigration in Japan. Your school usually applies for it on your behalf, and you need it to apply for the student visa in Kathmandu.
How many hours can international students work in Japan?
Up to 28 hours a week, and up to 8 hours a day during long school vacations, only after getting permission from immigration.
How much bank balance is needed for a Japan student visa from Nepal?
Japan does not publish one fixed figure. You or your guarantor show savings, income and where the money came from, and your school tells you what it needs for the COE.
How long does the Japan student visa take in Nepal?
VFS says 6 working days after you submit, longer if further scrutiny is needed. The COE stage in Japan comes before this and takes longer.
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Sources
- Immigration and student visas – Study in Japan (JASSO)
- Visa information – Embassy of Japan in Nepal
- Japan visa information and fees – VFS Global Nepal
- Long-stay visa with COE checklist – Japan Visa Application Centre, Kathmandu
- Work permission for “Student” status – Immigration Services Agency of Japan
- Part-time work permission – University of Tokyo
Last checked 20 October 2026. This is general information, not immigration or financial advice. Check with your school and the Japan Visa Application Centre before you apply.
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