Do I need a personal guarantor???

Unfortunately due to a political problem caused in part by illegal immigration and illegal overstays, applicants from some countries require additional documentation in the form of a personal guarantor.

You will need a personal guarantor only if you are a citizen of one of the following countries:

Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh,
Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Philippines,
China (except for Hong Kong/Macau residents), Mongolia,
all of the former Soviet Bloc except for Hungary, Poland and the Czech Rep.,
all of Africa except South Africa.

This list will change from time to time.

You do not need a guarantor if:
1) Your nationality does not appear in the list above.
2) If you have dual nationality and your second passport is of a country that does not appear in the list above.
3) If your nationality appears in the list above but you are a permanent resident of a country that does not appear in the list above.
4) You are a resident of Hong Kong or Macau.

If you DO NOT need a personal guarantor please return to the Visa Information Index and continue.

Applicants who require a personal guarantor please scroll down for further information.

If you require a personal guarantor then when you read through the visa information please remember the following 2 points:

1) For short courses of 3 months duration or less you do not require a "financial guarantor". Your remittance of the tuition fees is sufficient. However you will need either:

a Japanese citizen
or
a foreign resident in Japan

to act as your "personal guarantor". The personal guarantor will be required to issue a statement guaranteeing your good conduct, and taking full responsibility for actions you may undertake during your stay, and guaranteeing that they will ensure that you depart from Japan at the conclusion of your course.

2) For longer courses you will require both a financial guarantor as well as a personal guarantor. You will also of course need to obtain the student visa.

Please return to the Visa Information Index and continue.