ALWAYS NU

Pre-Arrival Information

Prepare for the new life in Nagoya, Japan!

Obtain a Passport, Visa, and Certificate of Eligibility	You will need a "Student" visa in order to enroll at Nagoya University as an international student. Please refer to the "Passport/ Visa/ Certificate of Eligibility" page and begin preparing accordingly. Even if you already have a passport, please check to make sure that it has not expired. Please note that Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship students do not need a Certificate of Eligibility.
Decide where to live in Japan	Consider where you want to live while studying in Japan: [University Dormitories] International students who are new to Japan can reside in university dormitories if they meet certain conditions. You must apply during a designated period before enrollment, so please be sure to check the information carefully. Nagoya University decides which dormitory you will live in depending on your conditions. For more information about each dormitory, please see the "Student Residence" page. Where to apply：Student Affairs Division of your school When to apply：In January for residence starting from April/ In July for residence starting from October Period of Residence：6 months to 1 year(depending on your academic program, financial situation and dormitory) * Please check the date/time when you can move in. * If you send your luggage to your dormitory, please ensure the luggage will be delivered after your arrival. [Private Apartments] Most international students are allowed to stay in a university dormitory for 6 months to 1 year. So either you will need to look for another place to live after leaving the university dormitory or you could choose to live in a private apartment from the start. See here for more information on how to find a private apartment in Nagoya.
Arrange your flight	[MEXT Scholarship Students] A designated travel agency will arrange your flight. Upon receiving a contact from them or the staff at your local embassy/consulate, please follow their instructions. [Independently-Financed International Students] You will have to arrange your own flight. If you are planning to move into a university dormitory, please make sure when you are allowed to move in before scheduling your flight.
Register on "Visit Japan Web"	Make sure to sign up for the online immigration service "Visit Japan Web" before entering to Japan. This service allows you to get the arrival procedures for "immigration", "customs" and other services done online, which is really helpful.
Make a financial plan for your new life	Check ahead of time to see what your living expenses will be. [Estimated Living Expenses for Students (single student, for 1 month)] Items Amount Tuition fee JPY 44,650(JPY 535,800/year as of AY2023) (MEXT Scholarship Students are exempt.) Rent(Private Apartment) Approx. JPY 35,000-60,000 Utilities Approx. JPY 10,000 Communication expense Approx. JPY 1,500-6,000 Food Approx. JPY 45,000 Other Transportation, books, school supplies, etc. Refer to the budget as listed above, you should prepare enough money to cover your living expenses for at least 2 months without expecting any additional financial support from your family or scholarship foundation, etc. because it usually takes much longer than expected to open a bank account in Japan. Furthermore, if you plan to use a credit card in Japan, it is recommended to obtain one in your country before you arrive as you may face difficulties finding a guarantor for a credit card in Japan.
Ensure online access	Internet access varies by dormitory, but you can sign a contract to get Internet for your own room at your own expense. All of Nagoya University students can access to Wi-Fi service and the computer room on campus for free; however, the number of computers is limited, and not all of them are available 24 hours a day. A Nagoya University ID is required to use those services which is issued to you after you enroll. Therefore, we recommend that you find a way to ensure you have internet access for a few days after your arrival, such as by acquiring a prepaid SIM card in your home country in advance or purchasing one at the airport.
Confirm how to get to the Nagoya area	Make sure to check your transportation method, route, and time from your arrival airport to Nagoya City. Please note that you may be charged an additional fee to take the Shinkansen with oversized luggage, so please make sure to check this webpage before your arrival. In addition, it is recommended to have the cash (change) to purchase tickets if you plan to use public transportation such as subway. Transit / Route Information: Japan Transit Planner Ekitan (Available in Japanese) Transportation Bureau, City of Nagoya * Immigration procedures at the airport may sometimes take more time than expected depending on the time of arrival. You might miss a train/bus reservation, so please give yourself lots of time. Especially, for those arriving in the evening or later, it is recommended to plan well in case of delays, such as making a reservation for staying a night near the airport.
Check your upcoming schedule after arriving in Japan	There are very important administrative procedures for you to do upon your arrival, so please be sure to complete each of them. In addition, you will also need to complete some procedures and attend some events, so please follow the instructions given by the Student Affairs Division of your school.
Consider purchasing insurance plans	All international students are required to enroll in National Health Insurance. However, this alone may not suffice in some serious cases. Nagoya University strongly recommends that you purchase in additional student insurance in case you find yourself liable for damages or suffer a serious accident or other emergency.
Things to bring with you	If you are taking a specially prescribed medication, note that you may not be able to acquire the same medicine in Japan. It may also be necessary to obtain permission in advance to bring certain prescription medications into Japan, so be sure to consult with a doctor in your home country. Furthermore, if you have dietary restrictions, whether for health or religious reasons, it is recommended that you bring food from your home country for the first few days until you are accustomed to life in Japan. (However, any meat products, vegetables or fruits are banned to import to Japan. Please be careful to bring these kind of food with you. If you brought any prohibited items illegally, you might be punished with serious penalty. See here for more information.) Also, it may be helpful to bring items of cultural importance, such as traditional clothing or folkcraft, that you can use to introduce your country to others while in Japan.
Confirm your emergency contact information	Each School/Graduate School has a section and staff that oversee international students. Ensure to keep frequent communication and if you need to be reached immediately in case of an emergency. You can find the contact information for your international student advisor and the Student Affairs Division here.