▼Click for the details
Step1 Collect the Required Documents
The Division of Students Exchange will send you a notice around 3 months before the expiration of your residence card. Check the List and start collecting them.
Some documents should be requested from the university and may take some time to be issued. Please start preparing as soon as possible.
Step2 Go to the Immigration Bureau Early Enough Before Your Period of Stay Expires
Once you have all the required documents, please go to the Immigration Bureau and apply for an extension before your period of stay ends. (Depending on the case, the immigration process may take anywhere from about 3 weeks to a few months to screen your documents.)
There are several immigration offices. You should go to the immigration office that has jurisdiction over the address registered on your residence card. (Immigration Offices)
If you live in Ibaraki→Tokyo Shinagawa Office, Ibaraki Mito Office
If you live in Tokyo or other Kanto areas→Tokyo Shinagawa Office etc.
You can also apply online using the Immigration’s Online Application System.
※You will need My Number card and IC card reader.
（The university does not lend out card readers.）
Step3 Notify the Division of Student Exchange
Once you submit the documents at the immigration office, please notify the university.
If you are unable to use the link, you can also notify the office by Email (visa-shien@un.tsukuba.ac.jp).
Step4 Receive the New Residence Card
When the screening process is completed, you will receive a postcard from the immigration office. Please go to the immigration office by the deadline indicated on the postcard to receive your new residence card.
Be sure to bring a revenue stamp with you (⑥ from the list of required documents).
※For those advancing within the University of Tsukuba (e.g., from undergraduate or research student to graduate school)
If you receive your new residence card after your new enrollment at the University of Tsukuba, you need to submit a “Certificate of Enrollment” at the immigration office. You can get the certificate from the certificate issuing machine at your academic service office or the Student Plaza (2nd floor).
Step5 Submit a Copy of the New Residence Card (Front and Back Sides)
■How to submit (upload PDF files)
In case you cannot submit via our system, please email the copies(visa-shien@un.tsukuba.ac.jp) or bring the copies to our office.
※We do not make copies at our office. Please make a copy yourself.
■If you are changing your address, register your new address on your residence card at the city hall and on TWINS.
Below are the required documents you need to submit to the immigration office. Generally, students are responsible for preparing the documents themselves. However, some documents should be requested from the university and may take some time to be issued. Please start preparing as soon as possible.
Documents ①～⑨ are required for everyone.
If you fall under one of the following categories, documents ⑩⑪ are also required.
■Right before entering the University of Tsukuba, you were enrolled in a school or university (including the University of Tsukuba) in Japan→ +⑩
■You have passed the entrance exam for graduate school at the University of Tsukuba and are scheduled to begin your studies within the next three months → +⑪
▼Click for the details
➀Application Form (Applicant Part)
②Application Form (University Part)
Request the division of student exchange to issue following below flow. It takes 1-2 weeks for issuance. Please apply as soon as possible.
【How to receive the Application Form (University Part)】
1. Please fill the yellow part and email the form (JP, EN) to your supervisor.
In case student ID number has been changed from April, write both of old and new student ID number.
Ex. Student ID No || New 2025*****, Old 2021*****
2. Your supervisor should fill the blue part and email the form to the Division of Student Exchange
(E-mail: visa-shien@un.tsukuba.ac.jp)
3. The Division of Student Exchange will prepare the【Application Form (University Part)】and send you an email to pick it up.
4. Please come to the Division of Student Exchange to pick up the document.
※If you do not know who your supervisor is, please ask at your academic service office.
➂Certificate of Enrollment
Available from the certificate issuing machine at your academic service office or the Student Plaza (2nd floor).
④Statement on Student
Please send the form to your supervisor and ask to write it for you.
In case you need to apply for visa extension just after entering the University, and your supervisor cannot give comments on your attendance at school, he/she can write the reason why he/she decided to accept you instead.
⑤Proof of Financial Resource(s)
MEXT Scholarship Recipient：
Certificate of Scholarship.
(Available from the certificate issuing machine at your academic service office or the Student Plaza (2nd floor).)
Self-Financed Students or Recipients of Other Scholarships：
Please prepare documents that clearly indicate the source of your living and tuition expenses, using the following as a reference. If a single document does not fully explain the flow of funds, please provide multiple documents. If the documents are not written in Japanese or English, please attach a Japanese or English translation. Your own translation is acceptable.
■Certificate of Scholarship
Some certificates are available from the certificate issuing machine at your academic service office or the Student Plaza (2nd floor). If you cannot issue the document from the machine, please request directly from the foundation.
■Copy of the Bankbook
The past one year’s records to the day of application, the front page of the bankbook, and the page with the account number.
■Remittance Certificate
Request at your bank.
■Written Oath by Your Financial Supporter
Ask your financial supporter (e.g. parents) to write the oath following this format (sample).
■Letter of Reason
If you brought cash into the country and have no official proof of it, please explain the situation (A4-size, free format) sample.
⑥Revenue Stamp ※Fees will be revised on 2025/4/1
You will need a revenue stamp to receive the new residence card.
You can buy the revenue stamp at a post office, convenience store or at the immigration office. Put the revenue stamp on the form (exl, pdf) and submit at the immigration.
※Fees will be revised on 2025/4/1
For applications applied to the Immigration Bureau by March 31, 2025
→4,000 Yen
For applications applied to the Immigration Bureau on or after April 1, 2025
→6,000 Yen (5,500 Yen for Online application)
⑦Passport
Present a valid passport at the immigration office. Photocopies are not accepted.
⑧Residence Card
Present your Residence Card at the immigration office. Photocopies are not accepted. Make sure your current address is officially written on the card. If not, register your newest address on your residence card at the city hall.
⑨Research Certificate
Apply online to the Division of Student Exchange.
It takes around one week to be issued, so please apply as soon as possible.
⑩Documents from Your Previous School/University
If this is your first time renewing your visa and right before entering the University of Tsukuba you were enrolled in a school or university (including the University of Tsukuba) in Japan, the following documents are required.
■Certificate of Graduation
■Transcript
■Attendance Record (If you have graduated from a Japanese language school)
If you have graduated from the University of Tsukuba: request from following URL.
Those who have graduated from an undergraduate program
Those who have graduated from a graduate program
If you have graduated from a different school in Japan:
Please request from your school by yourself.
⑪Proof That Your Next Higher Education Has Been Decided
If you have passed the entrance examination for graduate school at the University of Tsukuba and will start your study in less than 3 months, the following documents are required.
■Two copies of【Letter of Acceptance】
One is for the Immigration Office, the other one is for the Division of Student Exchange. We need it to issue the “②Application Form
(University Part).” Please submit by email or in person at our office.
■Certificate of Intension to Enter University
Request at the “Graduate School Admission Section, Division of Admission, Department of Educational Promotion.”
✉ dai.daigakuinka@un.tsukuba.ac.jp
☎ 029-853-2230 or 029-853-2231
International Student Support
Division of Student Exchange
University of Tsukuba
(101, 1st Floor, 1A-Building)
1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8577 Japan MAP
✉ visa-shien@un.tsukuba.ac.jp
☎ 029-853-6084
Office hour：weekdays 9:00-17:00 (closed 12:15-13:15)