Visa required for enrolling for 3 months or less.
Students who intend enrolling for short studies only will not require anything more than a tourist visa. For many nationalities, a 90 day landing permit will be granted automatically upon arrival in Japan. Please see the visa requirements section for details. Please note that for most nationalities the maximum period of stay for a short-stay (tourist) visa is 90 days/3 months. Please ensure that you do not arrive too early - or you will find that you are unable to complete the program.

Visa required for enrolling for 6 months.
For studies of 6 months or longer (regardless of whether you study for 6 months in the AIJP only or if you transfer to another Academic program for the second 3 months), the easiest way is to apply for a 6 month student visa and start in April or October. If this doesn't fit your schedule, it is possible to either (a) start on a tourist visa in January or July and then change to the student visa 3 months later (you need to leave and re-enter Japan for that) OR (b) Leave the country after 3 months and then re-enter on another tourist visa OR (c) for some countries, it is possible to stay up to 6 months in Japan on a tourist visa by getting an extension. The reason why the student visa is the easiest way is because you qualify for national health insurance, you can get cheaper accommodation, mobile telephone rentals etc and can work part-time. Please see the visa requirements section for details.

Visa required for enrolling 9 to 18 months.
For studies of 9 months or longer (regardless of whether you study in the AIJP only or if you transfer to another program), the easiest way is to apply for a student visa and start in April or October. No matter what the length of study, the visa will be for 12 months with an optional extension of 6 months. If this doesn't fit your schedule, it is possible to either (a) start on a tourist visa in January or July and then change to a 6 month or 12 month student visa later. Note that you will need to leave and re-enter Japan for that. The reason why the student visa is the easiest way is because you qualify for national health insurance, you can get cheaper accommodation, mobile telephone rentals etc Please see the visa requirements section for details.

Visa required for enrolling in 8 quarters (2 years).
If you want to study for 2 years, you need to start in April with a student visa.

Please note that students enrolling for more than 6 months will usually need a student visa (shugakusei). The student visa is available from April or October (only). The exceptions include working holiday visa holders, students with Japanese ancestry, cultural activities visa, work visa etc. Please note that if you begin on a tourist visa and then transfer to the student visa you NEED to leave the country. However, the usual application deadlines will still apply.

If you are on a work visa or working holiday visa you can transfer to the student visa at any time, and DO NOT need to leave the country, provided you can prove adequate funds, education background etc.

Citizens of certain countries will need to find guarantors. The visa requirements section has further detail and appropriate links to the relevant Ministry of Foreign Affairs sites.