MMoving to Japan

Do I need to re-enter Japan if I’m exchanging in April – July but coming over in February?

  • November 18, 2025

Hi! First time posting here. Im unsure of the steps I need to take if I intend to come to Japan for holiday from Late Feb to April when my student visa is only for my exchange from April – July (1 semester)

My country has a 90 day tourist visa with Japan so I don’t have a worry on the 1 month~ holiday I plan to do. But my worry is with the “switching” of my visa from tourist to student. Do I need to exit and re-enter Japan to switch to my student visa?

And if so, is the cheapest option really only by taking a flight out to South Korea and returning? Or are there cheaper options?

Alternatively, would it be possible to just activate my student visa early? I wouldn’t mind that too, but since it’s 6 weeks in advance, I don’t know if the customs will be okay with it.

by FurballTheHammy

1 comment

  1. The problem here is that you’re unlikely to even ***have*** your COE a month or more before your exchange.

    Schools generally time their applications so the COEs are issued 2-3 weeks before the start of classes. No COE, no visa. No visa, no possibility of entering early and then switching.

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