Things you need to DO!

If you were to study at NUCB Business School as a foreigner for more than three months you’ll need to get a student visa. This process may vary depending on the area in which you process the visa application. But generally, it involves lots of form-filling and trips to the embassy.

Generally, the documents that you’ll need to process the visa are:

1. Passport

2. One visa application form (nationals of Russia, CIS countries or Georgia need to submit two visa application forms)

3. One photograph (nationals of Russia, CIS countries or Georgia need to submit two photographs)

4. Certificate of Eligibility (Note) - the original or one copy (If you have an electronic Certificate of Eligibility, please present it at the visa application counter or submit a printed copy)

Further information regarding the student visa requirements can be found here. 

Any foreigner who wants to enter Japan for non-temporary reasons has to apply for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE).

The Certificate of Eligibility for Japan is a document you have to get before you can apply for a long-term Japan Visa, such as a Work Visa , Student Visa , or Marriage Visa . However, it is the Immigration Services in Japan who issue Certificates of Eligibility, so you need a sponsor or proxy in Japan to handle the application on your behalf.

The purpose of the Japan Certificate of Eligibility is to facilitate the visa application process. It serves as approval from the Japanese Immigration Services that you meet the entry requirements as set by the Japanese government.

For NUCB Students, COE Application is handled by the School. Applicants can simply check their email for mails from NUCB containing links to the required documents. Applicants then need to fill in the required documents and hand it over to NUCB. Once the application has been processed, applicants can wait for the COE to be mailed directly to the listed address.

If you are moving to Japan for a long term, you would need to have a Japanese mobile phone number. Aside from providing access to data and internet services, mobile phone numbers are useful in administrative purposes as well. A lot of administrative procedures, such as signing up for bank accounts, delivery services, home internet, or even gym memberships require you to have a number that can be contacted. 

Fortunately, you can pre-order a Japanese sim card even before you arrive in Japan. There are a lot of mobile providers to choose from. Some even provide airport pickups for convenience when you arrive in Japan. Some companies such as Mobal or Sakura Mobile have English customer support which is useful for international students. If you are applying for a number online, the sim cards will be shipped to you. Or if it’s an e-sim, it will be sent to you through email.

If you want to get a Japanese number once you are already in Japan, you can do so through in-person or online methods. For the in-person method, you would need to go to the store and apply for a contract with them. The biggest companies that you might try to apply to are Softbank, DoCoMo and au by KDDI. For online methods, you can go with companies that provide online services such as Rakuten Mobile or Line Mobile. Keep in mind that these companies might not have good English services so if you are not proficient in Japanese, it’s better if you could bring along someone who is proficient. Or you could also use translation apps such as DeepL, google translator, etc.

To create a contract, usually there are some documents that you would need to bring to the store. The requirements vary from companies but the usual documents that are needed are:

• Official ID, in most cases a Japanese driver’s license, My Number card, Passport, or Residence card will suffice

• A credit or debit card

• A hanko (personal seal) if you have one.

Alternatively, you can always buy travel sim cards from stores in japan such as Bic Camera, Yodobashi Camera, or even at some airports. There are some vending machines in the airports that provide travel sim cards as well. But, those sim cards are usually for data only so they don’t provide Japanese phone numbers. In addition, those sim cards usually have expiration dates so you would need to buy a new one once the period is up.

In Japan, whenever you move into a new place, you would need to register yourself at your local ward office. The ward office (区役所 kuyakusho) is like your local council office or local government office. They serve several purposes, registering addresses, births, deaths, marriages, paying bills, finding information and so on. 

It’s important to remember that not all ward offices will have staff that speak other languages or even English as a second language. However, they will have some type of guidance system in place. Whether it’s English printed guidelines for the forms or translators available on the phone, some even have volunteer staff in the building that can help with translations. Remember to be prepared and most importantly be polite and patient.

As a NUCB student, the school usually holds info sessions regarding this ward office procedures. They will explain completely about the ward office registration process so be sure to attend that info session. 

Generally, the steps to register at the ward office is as follows:

1. When you enter the office, a staff member will direct you to the forms that you will need to fill

2. Fill the form (Some sections are to be filled in Japanese). There are usually examples shown on the table in english

3. Give the forms to the employee. they will check it and hand you a queue number

4. When called, go to the designated table and present your forms

5. The staff will ask you to confirm and fill in any data if necessary and provide you with your residence card with the address part in the back already filled.

6. You’re done

All people aged 20-59, regardless of nationality or length of stay, who have registered address in Japan must be covered by the National Pension system, which is a Japanese public pension system, and must pay contributions by law. If you have financial difficulty in contribution payments, however, you may apply for contribution exemption system or

payment postponement system for each year. The pension office examine your application, mainly your past income in Japan. If you are qualified, exemption/postponement is granted

By taking this procedure, you establish valid coverage periods to be included in the requirement to receive future old age pension as well as today’s disability pension in case you accidentally get injured and suffer from disability.

(1) Application for full or partial exemption from contribution payments

You may apply for full or partial exemption for a particular year when each income of you, your spouse (including one not living with you) or household head in the previous year(s) is lower than a certain amount, or if any of you are unemployed. If you are examined to be qualified, the exemption is granted. (Please note that the partial exemption requires you to pay the remaining contribution amount; if you fail to pay the remaining amount, the partial exemption period will no longer be valid and result in a non-payment period.)

(2) Application for postponement of contribution payments

You may apply to postpone your payments if you are younger than 50 years (except students) and each income of you or your spouse in the previous year is lower than a certain amount. If you are examined to be qualified, the postponement is granted.

You can do this process by going to the ward office. The staff there will direct you through the process similar to when you want to register your address there. You will require your resident card for the application. It is recommended that you apply for pension exemption on the same day you apply for the national insurance and register your address on your resident card.

"Hoken" or national insurance refers to the mandatory health insurance system. It's designed to ensure that everyone has access to affordable healthcare. As a student, you're typically required to enroll in the National Health Insurance (NHI) program.

Here's what you need to do:

1. Enroll in National Health Insurance (NHI): If you're staying in Japan for more than three months, you're usually required to enroll in NHI. You can do this at your local municipal office (city hall) within two weeks of moving to your new address in Japan. You'll need your residence card. As with the pension exemption, it is recommended that you do it on the same day as you update your address on your residence card. 

2. Pay Premiums: Once enrolled, you'll need to pay premiums for your insurance. You can pay monthly, quarterly, or half yearly. Per month, typically you’d have to pay an amount between 1500 and 2000 yen.

3. Use Your Insurance Card: After enrollment, you'll receive a health insurance card. You'll need to present this card whenever you visit a medical institution in Japan. With NHI, you'll typically only pay a portion,30%,  of the medical expenses, with the insurance covering the rest.

4. Keep Your Information Updated: Make sure to inform your municipal office about any changes in your circumstances, such as moving to a new address or changes in your income.

Once you have applied, you will receive a letter in the mail . It will contain your temporary health insurance card. It is very thin, and will not be made of plastic like your ID. Always bring it wherever you go. 

When it comes the time to pay up, you will receive a letter containing the amount that you need to pay, a sheet with information, and two (!) payment slips. One will be for a monthly payment, the other for a longer time frame. You can choose whether you prefer to pay monthly or in one go.

In order to pay, go to a convenience store/ konbini (e.g., 7-eleven) and show them the payment slip. They will scan the code on it and you can proceed to pay. Make sure you have enough cash, as you need to pay cash!

After your first year in Japan, your payment may increase.

An IC card, or smartcard, is a rechargeable plastic prepaid card used in Japan to pay train, subway, bus and monorail fares, and for e-payment at convenience and other stores, vending machines, station coin lockers, parking lots, and more. If you’re staying in Japan, an IC card is going to be very useful.

There are 3 types of IC Cards that you can buy in Japan.

- blank, you simply purchase and start using.

- named (registered), with your name, gender, date of birth and telephone number, and the protection of being able to stop the card if it is lost or stolen, and of having it reissued without losing the stored fare.

- commuter pass, a named card that can be used as a monthly pass, enjoying the discount afforded by a monthly pass. Even while using an IC card as a monthly pass, you can still use it for travel outside the section of line covered by the pass, and recharge it as normal. A commuter pass IC card can be recharged on a monthly basis as a commuter pass, or, if no longer needed as a commuter pass, used as a normal card with no problem.

An IC card costs 500 yen to issue, refundable when you have finished with the card and returned it. You can simply buy an IC Card from the ticket machines at the stations. For computer passes, you can go to the station office to ask them to issue one for you. IC cards can be recharged at any station ticket machine that bears the IC card symbol, or when getting on or off a bus.

To recharge your IC Card, at a station ticket machine, press the "Charge" button, insert the card, select the amount of the top-up, then insert banknotes. If you want a receipt, press the "Receipt" button before inserting money. [you can find the English Language button on the top right corner]

Registered Pasmo and Suica cards can be auto-charged (the official term being quick charged), but this requires registering the IC card to a specific (railway company-recommended) Japanese credit card. The auto-charge function works only within the area where the card was issued.

Suica and Pasmo have apps for smartphones that allow the user to do away with the plastic card and simply swipe a smartphone instead. Train reservations can also be made via the app. However, not all models of mobile phone and smartphone have the required chip inside. The only Apple products that have it are the iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, and Apple Watch Series 2 or later. The Suica app links to Apple Pay, so the card can be recharged using only your smartphone.

There are 10 interchangable IC Cards that can be bought in Japan, typically based on the region where you bought it. These cards can be used in any area where the following 10 cards are issued. The cards are:

• Suica

• Pasmo

• Icoca

• PiTaPa (Kansai Thru Pass)

• Toica

• Manaca

• Kitaca

• Sugoca

• Nimoca

• Hayakaken

Getting a bank account in Japan could be a difficult matter. Most bank institutions in Japan typically would not create bank accounts for foreigners unless they already stayed in Japan for at least 6 month. International students or foreigners who came to Japan on a working holiday should apply to several banks when you attempt to open a bank account. We recommend opening it at a nearby bank from your home, school or workplace so that it is easier.

NUCB Recommends you to open a bank account at Japan Post Bank because they provide temporary accounts for foreigners who recently arrived in Japan. Temporary accounts can be used to store money and withdraw money, but cannot be used to transfer money. You can change the account to a regular one after you stayed in Japan for at least 90 days. 

There are other alternative banks that you can apply to such as SBI Shinsei Bank. The procedure for opening an account there is relatively easy and online. To open it, enter the required information, photograph the identity verification document and signature or seal, and upload it with a dedicated application. After the procedure is completed, a cash card, a security card, and online banking guide will be mailed to your home approximately one week later. 

There is also an option to use internet banks to withdraw money while you’re in Japan such as Revolut, wise, etc. A Lot of Japanese ATMs accept international debit/credit cards as well.

Online applications can be processed in english

If you are a foreigner on a  student visa, you need to apply for approval to do part-time work in Japan. Until you obtain this approval you are not legally allowed to work part-time during your stay. Once you get the work permit, the number of hours a foreign student is allowed to work per week is capped at 28 hours per week. During school holidays this increases to 40 working hours per week. If someone is engaging in more than one part-time job, the total working hours should meet the conditions.

To get a working permit, you can ask the immigration officer at the Airport when you arrive in Japan and get your residence card. They usually will put a stamp in the back of the residence card to specify if you are going to work part-time. Otherwise, you can do the procedure later at the local immigration office. To do so, you would need some documents such as:

・Application form filled in

・A document material that proves the part-time work content

・Passport

・Residence card

・Student ID card in the case of international students

The application time is varied. It could take a day to be finished or for up to two months. After granted, the type and details of the work permit (company name, address, work duty) will be indicated by a seal of verification attached to the passport, and on the back side of the residence card. Note that the work permit has a valid period same as that of the visa. So the work permit may need to be reapplied when applying for a visa extension.

Different types of part-time jobs have different pay rates, but usually it’s by the hour. Your hourly wage can range from 898 yen (Yamanashi Prefecture’s minimum hourly wage as of Nov 2022) to 1,500 yen or more depending on where you work and the type of work you are doing. For example, Tokyo’s minimum hourly wage is higher than Yamanashi’s. A wider range of jobs will be available for you to apply as your Japanese ability increases, and you’ll probably find that jobs requiring higher levels of Japanese pay better too.

For most part-time jobs, you will need to open a Japanese bank account to receive your salary. For some informal jobs like babysitting, your employers may just give you your salary in cash; however, the standard way of receiving your salary is with a monthly bank transfer.

Finding a part-time job in Japan can indeed be challenging, particularly if your Japanese language skills are limited. However, as you mentioned, having proficient Japanese language ability significantly increases your chances of securing a job more easily. Here are some common methods to find part-time jobs in Japan:

1. Online Job portals: There are quite a lot of online job portals in Japan that have listed part-time jobs, indeed being one of the popular ones.. All of them serve the same purpose and quite similar in terms of navigation and operations. They allows you to search for jobs based on location, industry, and other criteria. Unfortunately, the websites and almost all job posting is only available in the Japanese language and you will have to rely on Google Translate.

2. HelloWork: HelloWork, also known as Public Employment Security Offices, is a government-run employment service in Japan. They provide job listings and assistance to job seekers, including those looking for part-time work. You can go to any HelloWork office near you and follow the application procedure. They will notify you with the available jobs and you can attend the interview. It is recommended you take a friend who speaks Japanese with you to the HelloWork office.

3. Applying directly to stores: Many stores, restaurants, cafes, and other businesses in Japan often accept direct applications for part-time positions. Visiting these establishments in person or checking their websites for job openings can be a good way to find opportunities. You can buy a standardized part time application from a convenience store, fill out the form and give to any store that appears to be hiring. The form is always in japanese so, Google Translate all the way.