The Year Abroad (Japan) Pre-departure information
Pre-departure information Applying for a student visa
Medical issues
If you want to work, study, or live in Japan, you must first obtain a Certificate of Eligibility, which is issued by the Ministry of Justice in Japan.
The majority of our partner universities will require you to have a medical before you arrive. Some universities will arrange for you to have a medical when you arrive in Japan, for others you can arrange a medical with your GP or with our University Medical Centre (visit www.kent.ac.uk/medical for further details). Any medical you arrange must include a chest x-ray to check for tuberculosis.
To obtain a Certificate of Eligibility, you will first have to apply to your host university, who contact their local immigration office and make an application on your behalf. Your host university will begin this process once they have received your financial guarantee, which (as mentioned in the previous chapter), will need to show that you have approximately £5,000 in readily available funds. You will only be able to apply for your visa once you have received your Certificate of Eligibility from your host university. These certificates are usually sent to students from July onwards and should be treated as important legal documents – if you lose your Certificate of Eligibility, replacements can be difficult to obtain. Once the Certificate of Eligibility has been obtained, you must go to the Japanese Embassy in London (please see the Contacts section on p16 for details). Visa applicants living in the north of England (ie Northumberland, Durham, Cumbria, Tyne and Wear and Cleveland) and Scotland should apply to the Consulate-General of Japan in Edinburgh (again, for contact details, please see p16). All applications must be made in person and no appointment is necessary. You will be applying for a College Student visa. When you visit the Embassy/Consulate-General, you will need to bring: • a valid passport • a visa application form, completed and signed • one passport-sized photograph (taken within the last six months) • your original Certificate of Eligibility, plus a copy of the Certificate. Please note that you need a copy of your Certificate of Eligibility for entry into Japan. The original Certificate is retained by the Embassy. You will also need to pay the visa application fee for UK nationals which costs about £5. It normally takes three working days for your application to be processed – you will then be contacted and asked to collect your passport and visa. Your student visa also allows you to work in Japan. However, you would have to apply for a separate Work Permit at the local immigration office in Japan. Please note that work is limited. For further information on applying for a college student visa, visit www.uk.embjapan.go.jp/en/visa/visa-main.html
You should wait for instruction from your Japanese university regarding when and where to take your medical.
We would also recommend the Japan Travel Centre, which is situated close to Piccadilly Circus in London (for further details, visit www.japantravel.co.uk). This is a specialist travel agent that deals only with travel to Japan and will aim to offer you the best fare possible. Your Japanese host university may also suggest a date and time that you should aim to arrive in Japan, particularly if they are arranging transportation from the airport for you. You should do your utmost to ensure that you arrive in Japan at this pre-arranged time.
Luggage and packing Pre-departure security check This is a compulsory meeting, which will take place in April or May 2010. It will give you invaluable information regarding personal security and other relevant issues. After this briefing, you will be asked to sign a form to ensure that you have attended and understood the information.
Exam results We would urge you not to book any flights until you receive your second year exam results. Although booking ahead may seem like a more economical solution, if you do not receive at least 60% in Politics or 50% in Anthropology in your stage two exams you will not be able to take up your place at your host university. (In this case you will default to being a standard three-year student.) Therefore, it is important not to book your flights until you have received your results. We also suggest that you wait until you have your Certificate of Eligibility before booking your flights.
Booking flights There are many airline carriers that operate between Japan and the UK. Prices will vary depending on the directness of the flight, the departure time and the season. It may be possible to get a cheaper flight by purchasing an International Student Identity Card (ISIC) and claiming a student discount. The ISIC card can be purchased from STA Travel agents for £9 (see www.isiccard.com for further information). Some of the most well-known airlines that fly direct to Japan are: British Airways www.britishairways.com Virgin Atlantic www.virgin-atlantic.com KLM www.klm.com Japan Airlines www.jal.com In addition to checking flights through high-street travel agents or any of the above links, it may be useful to look at some Internet-based travel companies such as www.lastminute.com, www.expedia.com and www.octopustravel.com. These companies often compare flight prices on multiple airlines for you, so this could save you some legwork!
The amount of luggage you can take with you will be restricted according to the ticket you use to fly to Japan. Apart from the weight restriction imposed by your airline, there is also an article limit, which will restrict the number of suitcases or bags you can take with you. In most cases, for long-haul flights it is possible to check one suitcase for transportation in the hold and then take a small cabin bag onto the plane with you. It is important to remember that, with new restrictions on luggage, a laptop bag or handbag will also count as one piece of cabin luggage. Remember to check your airline’s size limitations too, which will define the dimensions allowed for your suitcases and carry-on luggage. A good general rule is to take no more than you can comfortably carry. Most students accumulate additional items while they are away so it is a good idea to leave some space in your suitcases on your outbound flights. Check the climate of the area you will be going to and note any special differences that may require specific clothing (very cold winters, for example). Take appropriate clothing for the region, or buy it there, as you may find it less expensive than buying in the UK. Excessive baggage is expensive so forward planning is essential.
Food and drink If you have any food restrictions due to health or religious reasons, it is advisable to bring some food for your first few days in Japan until you get used to your local area. From then on, you will get to know the shops or stores where you can buy all of your necessary items. It is very important to realise that, on the whole, the Japanese have very little awareness of foodrelated allergies. There is also very little awareness of vegetarianism or other restricted diets (whether undertaken for personal or religious reasons) and you will need to be aware of this before you go to Japan, so that you can plan for any eventuality.
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