02_Status of Residence
Students who do not have Japanese nationality and do not have a status of residence such as “permanent resident” or “dependent” are required to obtain a “student” status of residence. It is not possible to be in school with a status of “temporary visitor”, so be sure to complete the necessary procedures.
●Application for status of residence
●Extending the Period of Stay
●Changing the Status of Residence
●Temporary Departure
●If you want to have a part-time job
●Information on Status of Residence
Application for status of residence
In order to apply for a “Student” status of residence, you will need to apply for a “Certificate of Eligibility” (COE).
For international students who do not reside in Japan, Waseda University will apply for the COE on behalf of the student (only when the student is applying for a “Student” status).
For information on the necessary documents and where to send the documents, please make sure to check the information from the office of the school/graduate school you are scheduled to enroll at.
- Attention
- *Students returning to school or re-enrolling in school must also follow a similar procedure. See the website of the Center for International Education.
- *COE appliciation will be made only after the payment is confirmed.
- *Make sure to give yourself plenty of time when making the application, since it takes 2 to 3 months to issue a COE.
- *A COE is valid for 3 months. Be sure to acquire a visa and enter Japan within 3 months after the issuance of COE.
Extending the Period of Stay
You may apply to extend your period of stay from three months before your period of stay expires.
Any stay after the expiration is illegal residence, so be sure to apply to the Immigration Services Bureau to extend the period of stay before the expiration date.
Procedure Flow
The general procedure is as follows.
※Please refer to the website of the Center for International Education for how to submit information on your status of residence.
- Attention
- We may file a report to the Immigration Services Bureau stating that you are a “missing person” if you; do not carry out the procedures to extend your period of stay (illegal stay); do not submit information on your status of residence to Waseda after extending your period of stay; or do not respond to inquiries (via telephone, email, or other forms of communication) from Waseda.
Handling Offices
The handling office and application processes differ depending on the School/Graduate School. Refer to the website of the Center for International Education for the application processes.
| Affiliation | Handling Offices |
|---|---|
| (Graduate) School of Fundamental/Creative/Advanced Science and Engineering | School office on Nishi Waseda campus |
| (Graduate) School of Human/Sports Sciences | School office on Tokorozawa campus |
| School of International Liberal Studies, Graduate School of International Culture and Communication Studies | Office of School of International Liberal Studies・Office of Graduate School of International Culture and Communication Studies |
| Japanese Language Program | Center for Japanese Language |
| Graduate School of Environment and Energy Engineering | School office on Honjo Campus |
| Graduate School of Information, Production and Systems | School office on Kitakyushu Campus |
| All (Graduate) Schools except above | Center for International Education |
Required Documents
Please check the website of the Center for International Education for the required documents.
Changing the Status of Residence
If you wish to change your status of residence to “Student”, receive a stamped application form from Waseda University and apply at the Immigration Services Bureau.
Procedure Flow
The general procedure is as follows.
※Please refer to the website of the Center for International Education for details on how to submit information on your status of residence.
- Attention
- We may file a report to the Immigration Services Bureau stating that you are a “missing person” if you; do not submit information on your status of residence to Waseda after changing your status of residence; or do not respond to inquiries (via telephone, email, or other forms of communication) from Waseda.
Handling Offices
The handling office and the application processes differ depending on the School/Graduate School. Refer to the website of the Center for International Education for the application processes.
| Affiliation | Handling Offices |
|---|---|
| (Graduate) School of Fundamental/Creative/Advanced Science and Engineering | School office on Nishi Waseda campus |
| (Graduate) School of Human/Sports Sciences | School office on Tokorozawa campus |
| School of International Liberal Studies, Graduate School of International Culture and Communication Studies | Office of School of International Liberal Studies・Office of Graduate School of International Culture and Communication Studies |
| Japanese Language Program | Center for Japanese Language |
| Graduate School of Environment and Energy Engineering | School office on Honjo Campus |
| Graduate School of Information, Production and Systems | School office on Kitakyushu Campus |
| All (Graduate) Schools except above | Center for International Education |
Required Documents
Please check the website of the Center for International Education for the required documents.
Temporary Departure
If you are leaving Japan temporarily, such as to return to your home country or to travel abroad during a long vacation period, please be sure to check the “I am leaving Japan temporarily and will return” box on an ED card (available at the Airport Immigration) and present it to the immigration officer (for an example of how to fill out the ED card, see here).
*If you do not re-enter Japan within one year of your departure, you will lose your status of residence.
*If your period of stay is less than one year after your departure, you must re-enter Japan before the expiration date of your period of stay.
If you want to have a part-time job
The “Student” status of residence is for receiving an education in Japan. Therefore, when acquiring a part-time job, you must submit an “Application for Permission to Engage in Activity other than that Permitted under the Status of Residence Previously Granted” to the Immigration Services Bureau.
【How to apply】
Take the following four documents to the Immigration Services Bureau. The process will take from two weeks to two months.
- Application for Permission to Engage in Activity other than that Permitted under the Status of Residence Previously Granted (Form downloadable from the CIE website)
- Passport
- Residence card
- Student ID
【Working hours】
It is determined by law that “Activity other than that Permitted under the Status of Residence Previously Granted” (part-time employment) shall be limited to 28 hours per week (8 hours a day, 40 hours a week, during summer, winter, and spring breaks). If you work beyond this limit, you will be subject to punishment, such as deportation, a fine, or imprisonment.
*You are prohibited from working part-time in any kind of adult entertainment businesses. This includes work such as washing dishes or cleaning in places where adult entertainment is conducted.
【If you are working part-time in Waseda University】
If you are a regular student working as a Teaching Assistant (TA) or a Research Assistant (RA) at Waseda University with a “Student” status of residence, you do not need to apply for “Permission to Engage in Activity other than that Permitted under the Status of Residence Previously Granted.” However, working hours as either a TA or an RA, or both a TA and an RA at Waseda University must be under 20 hours per week.
*As a general rule, non-regular students (including exchange students) cannot work as a TA/RA, but if circumstances allow non-regular students to work as a TA/RA, “Permission to Engage in Activity other than that Permitted under the Status of Residence Previously Granted” will be needed.
*Regular students who will be doing work other than as a TA/RA will need to apply for “Permission to Engage in Activity other than that Permitted under the Status of Residence Previously Granted.”
Information on Status of Residence
For more information on status of residence, please refer to the following.
[Center for International Education] Location: Waseda Campus, Bldg. 22, 4FHP: https://www.cie-waseda.jp/visastatus/en/
E-mail address: cie-zairyu@list.waseda.jp [Tokyo Regional Immigration Services Bureau] 5-5-30 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8255, Japan
TEL:0570-034-259
For inquiries from overseas: +81-3-5796-7234
