Study
Can I use Japanese student loans as a foreigner?
Possibly, but public and private student-loan programs have their own nationality/residency/status requirements.
VerifiedPrimary topic verifiedLast checked: 18 Aug 2026
What you need to know
Requirements & exceptions
- Scholarships are often more accessible than standard domestic student loans.
Documents
- Passport/residence card
- School admission/enrollment documents
Likely cost
School- and program-specific. Tuition, admission/exam fees, materials, insurance and immigration-document costs vary; public-school compulsory education and private higher education have very different cost structures.
Where to act
The school/university and its admissions office; municipal board of education for public schools; Immigration Services Bureau when Student status or a status change is required.