Reviewed by Yasir Khan, Founder, LAMTANS Group of Companies, and British Council registered consultant
To study in Japan from Pakistan your school applies for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) at an immigration bureau in Japan, then you apply for the student visa at the Japanese Embassy in Islamabad or the Consulate General in Karachi. No fixed funds amount is published. This guide covers the steps, work limits and the MEXT scholarship.
Japan student visa process from Pakistan
- Your school applies for the COE at a regional immigration services bureau in Japan, usually as your proxy. You may be asked for a savings balance certificate, an income certificate for the past year and documents showing the source of funds.
- Apply for the visa in person at the Embassy of Japan in Islamabad if you live outside Sindh and Balochistan, or at the Consulate General of Japan in Karachi if you live in either. Bring your passport, visa form, photo and COE (original or copy; an e-COE printout is accepted).
- Collect your visa and travel to Japan.
- After arrival, you receive a residence card for stays over three months and must register at your municipal office within 14 days.
Japan’s foreign ministry gives a standard of five working days from the day after receipt if there are no problems, and the Karachi page says at least six working days. Without a COE, long-term applications typically take one to three months and need many more documents. We could not find the COE processing time or validity on the pages we read.
The ministry’s visa-fee page, dated 24 June 2026, says the consular fee order changed on 1 July 2026 and gives about 15,000 yen for a single-entry visa. It lists no student or Pakistan figure, so we confirm the fee before you pay.
Costs and funds
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| National university, first year (admission plus tuition) | About 820,000 yen |
| Local public university, first year | About 910,000 yen |
| Private university, first year | About 1,300,000 yen |
| Average monthly living cost (2023 survey, excluding study costs) | 105,000 yen; housing about 41,000 yen, Tokyo 57,000 |
The first-year averages come from an undated Study in Japan table. National Health Insurance is mandatory for stays of three months or more and covers 70% of medical costs. The official pages we read state no minimum bank balance, so we confirm what your school and the immigration bureau will ask for.
Working in Japan as a student
Student status alone does not allow work. You need permission from the regional immigration bureau, and then you may work up to 28 hours a week, or 8 hours a day in long school holidays. Adult-entertainment work is prohibited by law, and violations can bring punishment or deportation. Your status can be revoked if you work every day without attending school.
If you have no job when you graduate, you can change status to Designated Activities to keep job hunting. It is granted for six months and can be extended once, to a maximum of one year. Spouses and children of university students can stay under Dependent status tied to the student’s stay, but the official advice is to bring them only once you are settled and financially stable. We could not confirm whether dependants may work.
English requirements and entry with the HSSC
Kyoto University’s International Undergraduate Program sets no minimum English score, and typical successful candidates have TOEFL iBT 90 or IELTS Academic 6.5. Waseda University’s SILS says competitive applicants score 95 or above on TOEFL or 7 or above on IELTS, with no minimum. The Study in Japan guide gives TOEFL iBT 71 to 80 or IELTS 5.5 to 6 for English-taught undergraduate programmes. Japanese-taught programmes need JLPT N1 or N2.
Universities require 12 years of formal school education, or an equivalent. The education ministry’s page does not mention Pakistan and tells applicants to ask the embassy or consulate whether their course counts as 12 years. We found no official statement that the Pakistani HSSC is accepted, and we could not read the master’s entry rules.
Dates, MEXT scholarship and how we help
Universities start in April, and some offer September or October entry. Language schools start in April, July, October and January. The official timeline says to request materials 11 to 12 months before, apply 6 to 8 months before, and depart about a month before.
The MEXT (Japanese Government) Scholarship has an embassy route and a university route, and exempts tuition. The Embassy of Japan in Pakistan ran Research and Undergraduate calls for 2027, which closed on 26 May 2026 and 5 June 2026. The 2027 undergraduate scholarship is for applicants born on or after 2 April 2002, lasts five years with a preparatory year and pays 117,000 yen a month. The 2027 research stipend is 143,000 to 145,000 yen a month by level. We did not find a published date for the next call. JASSO’s honors scholarship pays 48,000 yen a month to privately financed students, and 30,000 yen at language institutes.
We help with course choice, school applications, COE paperwork and your visa file. We cannot promise a visa. Compare other countries on our student visa from Pakistan guide or see all study abroad destinations, including Singapore, Malaysia and Germany.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Certificate of Eligibility for Japan?
A COE is issued by a regional immigration bureau, usually applied for by your school. You need it for the student visa application.
Where do I apply for a Japanese student visa in Pakistan?
At the Embassy of Japan in Islamabad, or the Consulate General of Japan in Karachi for residents of Sindh and Balochistan, in person.
Can I work while studying in Japan?
Yes, up to 28 hours a week after you get permission from the immigration bureau, and up to 8 hours a day in long holidays.
Can I stay in Japan after graduating to find a job?
Yes. Designated Activities status lasts six months and can be extended once, for a maximum of one year.
What does the MEXT scholarship cover?
It exempts tuition and pays a monthly stipend, for example 117,000 yen for undergraduates in 2027. The Embassy of Japan in Pakistan runs Research and Undergraduate calls.
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Official sources: Study in Japan: immigration procedures · Japan foreign ministry: student visa · Embassy of Japan in Pakistan · Consulate General of Japan, Karachi · Study in Japan: part-time jobs · MEXT scholarships · Study in Japan: cost of living. Figures checked on 11 October 2026. Reviewed by Yasir Khan, British Council registered consultant, LAMTANS Consultants. Last updated 11 October 2026. Rules change, so we confirm the latest position at your consultation.