• Visa Application
• Make Your Travel Plan
• Before Departure
• After Landing
• Living in Osaka (Dormitory, Living Cost, Eating Options, Insurances, Mobile and Internet)
• Information Resource for International Students

Information here is intended for exchange students from partner universities and UMAP member institutions. It is, however, relevant for regular international students and short-term trainees as well, so use it for your reference.

Visa Application

Foreign nationals will need to obtain a visa to enter Japan unless you are exempted from it.
https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/index.html

Certificate of Eligibility (COE)

When applying for a visa, it is strongly recommended for you to obtain a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) beforehand. COE is an official document issued by the Immigration Services Agency of Japan, and it has the advantage of reducing the time required to obtain a visa and complete immigration procedures.

OIT will apply for the COE on behalf of the exchange students themselves, and send the COE to your home institution as soon as it has been issued.

Certificate for Completion of Registration to the ERFS system

As a part of new border measures of Japan, receiving organizations must apply for the Certificate for Completion of Registration to the ERFS system, which stands for Entrants, Returnees Follow-up System.

OIT will apply for the ERFS certificate and send you a PDF copy by email. You are requested to show a hardcopy of this certificate when you apply for a visa at a Japanese overseas mission, embassy or consulate-general.

* The ERFS certificate won't be required if you are entering Japan after October 11, 2022.

Visa Application

To apply for the "Student" visa, the students themselves must visit a Japanese embassy or consulate-general in their country and submit COE with other required documents.
https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/long/visa6.html

It normally takes at least 5 to 8 business days to issue a visa. During the COVID-19 pandemic, you may need to make an appointment before you visit the embassy or consulate-general of Japan. Please check their Web site for further information.

Make Your Travel Plan

The COVID-19 border measures of Japan has been eased from June 1, 2022. Check the current Japanese border measures here.

Arriving Date

Normally, you plan to arrive in Osaka 3 days prior to the starting date of your program. However, currently, we suggest you to arrive 4 to 7 days prior to the start due to COVID-19 border measures of Japan.

Book Your Flights

After you book your flights to Osaka, please send a copy of flight information (e.g. e-ticket) to OIT International Office. We will inform the dormitory your check-in date and time.

Note:

• Be aware that immigration process at an airport of your entry in Japan is time consuming because of COVID-19 related boarder measures. If you are required to take a COVID-19 test at the airport and taking a connecting flight to Osaka, please make sure that you have 4 hours or even more for the flight connection.
• If you are staying in the dormitory, please be aware that available check-in time is from 9 am to 5 pm. If you arrive late, you will need to stay in a hotel with your expence.

International Travel Insurance

OIT requires all exchange students to be covered by an international travel insurance for the entire period of your study abroad. Read more here.

What to Bring

Clothing

You need to know the climate of Osaka before you pack your clothing in your luggage.
Here is a Web page showing the climate of Kinki district (Kansai region including Osaka):
www.data.jma.go.jp/gmd/cpd/longfcst/en/tourist/file/Kinki.html
Summer from July to September is very hot, and winter from mid-November to mid-March is cold. We also have a rainy season from mid-June to mid-July.
However, you don’t need to bring a whole lot of clothing with you because you can always buy here. You have many options of fast fashion in Japan such as UNIQLO.

Money

Credit cards and electronic money (e-money) are widely accepted for public transportation and places such as restaurants, super markets, convenience stores, and shops. However, there are still many places they only accept cash. So, it is always good idea to bring enough cash in Japanese yen.

Bank Account: If you are staying in Japan for more than six months, we recommend you to open a bank account in Japan.

Before Departure

COVID-19 Test before Departure

All entrants must provide a certificate of inspection within 72 hours prior to departure. Read more about Inspection Certificate here.

From September 7, 2022, you are not required of the pre-departure test of COVID-19 if you have completed the vaccination with three shots.

Fast Track

You can pre-register for airport quarantine procedures to reduce your time in the airport. You need to register required documents with "MySOS" application, and the screen will change to green after documentation review is complete. Please complete the pre-application via the application at least 16 hours prior to your flight’s scheduled arrival time. Pre-register in English

After Landing

Immigration Check

During your immigration check after the first landing in Japan, show your MySOS screen to an officer and answer to questions.

Residence Card

Your COE will be exchanged with "Residence Card" upon your entry in Japan. It contains your personal information such as name, birth date, gender, nationality/region of origin, address, status of residence, period of stay, and whether or not you can work.

Since July 9, 2012, it became possible for a foreign national whose status of residence is "Student" to obtain "permission to engage in an activity other than that permitted under the status of residence previously granted" at the port of entry. However, OIT does not allow exchange students to obtain the permit and work during their stay in Japan.

COVID-19 Test at Airport

If you are coming from Group Yellow countries without Valid Vaccination or Group Red countries, it is mandatory to take a COVID-19 test at the airport of first landing in Japan.
* Grouping of the country or region is shown here.

If you are tested positive of COVID-19 at the airport quarantine, you will need to follow directions of the Chief of the Quarantine Station and recuperate at a specific facility designated by the Chief of the Quarantine Station.

Quarantine

If you are coming from Group Blue countries or Group Yellow countries with Valid Vaccination, you are not required of any quarantine.

Read more about quarantine here.

Living in Osaka

Dormitory

Exchange students can live in our dormitory "International House" provided by Josho Gakuen Educational Foundation. It is fully furnished and no deposit required. A janitor is stationed to support students in their daily lives. It is conveniently located near downtown and 3 km from Omiya Campus. For further information, please refer to the following link:
https://www.josho.ac.jp/english/facility/kokusaikaikan.html

• Available check-in date: from 3 days prior to the starting date of your study at OIT
  * Currently permitting 7 days prior to the start due to COVID-19 border measures of Japan.
• Available check-in time: from 9 am to 5 pm (preferably from 10 am to 4 pm) everyday including weekends
• Check-out: by 3 days after the last day of your study at OIT
• Monthly rent for international students: 35,000 yen without utility
• Payment method: bank deduction or cash payment at convenience store with fee (no credit card accepted)

Access from Kansai International Airport

From Kansai International Airport (KIX), it will take about 2 hours to the dormitory by public transportation.

JR (Kansai Airport Rapid Service) & Keihan Railway

1. Take the “Kansai Airport Rapid Service” train from JR Kansai Airport Station to Kyobashi Station which takes approx. 75 minutes.
2. Take a local train (Keihan Railway) from Kyobashi Station to Noe Station. *Only local trains stop there.
3. Walk along the railroad from Noe Station to the dormitory. For more details, please click here.

We recommend you to buy a ICOCA card for railway ticket at JR Kansai Airport Station. You can buy it from a ticket vending machine and deposit money, then you don't have to buy train or bus tickets every time you ride them.

Access to OIT Campuses

Access to Osaka Institute of Technology (PDF)

Cost of Living

It depends on the individual, but in general more than 85,000 yen is required per month.

*Free Wi-Fi is available campus-wide. At the dormitory, free Wi-Fi is only available in the lounge (1st floor).

Eating Options

1. Cafeterias and a cafe on campuse
2. Cooking for yourself in your room at the dormitory
3. Restaurants and cafes around the dormitory or campuses
4. Buying light meals at convenience stores

Insurances

International Travel Insurance

Payment of medical bills is the students' own responsibility, and OIT cannot provide any financial assistance.
OIT requires all exchange students to be covered by an international travel insurance for the entire period of your study abroad. The coverage must be more than the following table.

*In case your insurance does not cover all requirements above, you will have to buy a supplemental insurance when you arrive at OIT.

Note:

• Most Japanese clinics and hospitals do not accept private health insurance and do not provide medical services without cash payment. If seeking care under travel insurance, you will need to make full payment for treatment upfront and file a refund application by yourself.
• Private insurance companies often require a medical certificate and receipt for the refund, so it is best to contact your insurance company before visiting a hospital.

National Health Insurance (NHI)

Exchange students who will stay in Japan more than 3 months must join the National Health Insurance (NHI) regardless of the kind of insurance they may already have. This is a strict legal requirement in Japan. Once you arrive in Japan, you must complete the required procedures at your local city/ward office *.
(*OIT staff or student volunteer will support you with the procedures.)

Under NHI, patients need to pay 30% of the total cost of care at clinics and hospitals. More than 90% of Japanese hospitals and clinics, including dental clinics, accept National Health Insurance. NHI also provides benefits for high medical costs associated with surgery and hospitalization.

Premiums are charged monthly. Though costs will vary depending on your annual income and the area you live in, you only pay about 1,800 yen per month if you don’t have a previous year’s income in Japan.

Personal Accident Insurance for Student Pursuing Education and Research "Gakkensai"

"Gakkensai" provides necessary support in the case of accident or injury suffered during activities related to research or education. All exchange students need to purchase this insurance when they arrive at OIT. Premium (JPY 1,000) * will be charged when applying.

*The annual premium is charged even for those who enroll midway through the academic year.

Mobile and Internet

Mobile Phone

We recommend you to make a mobile contract at one of discount mobile phone companies in Japan, for example: "UQ mobile" provided by KDDI, "Y!mobile" by SoftBank, "povo" by Au, and "ahamo" by DoCoMo. You can also sign it up on Internet; Sakura Mobile is an example. With a new SIM card, you can use your own smart phone in Japan.

Internet

• On campus:
  Free Wi-Fi (OIT-AirLAN.1x) is available on campus.
• Dormitory:
  Free Wi-Fi is only available in the lounge area on the 1st floor.
• Other Area:
  To use the Internet in your room, you need to make a contract with a service provider at your own cost. You could also make a contract for a mobile WiMAX router or rent it if it’s for short-term.

Information Resource for International Students

• STUDY IN JAPAN Basic Guide (Japan Student Services Organization)
• STUDY IN OSAKA (Osaka Global Student Support Association)
• OSAKA INFO (Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau)
• Osaka Safe Travels (Osaka Foundation of International Exchange)
• Osaka Medical Net for Foreigners (Osaka Prefecture)
• A GUIDE FOR LIVING IN OSAKA (City of Osaka)
• Events for International Students (Osaka International House Foundation)