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Changing from SOFA Status

Separating from the Military Outside Japan

If you separate from the military outside Japan, you need to apply for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) for a student visa. Please see Applying for a New Student Visa for instructions and deadlines.

Remaining inside Japan after Separating from the Military

If you separate within approximately 2 months of the start of your first semester, you can apply for a student visa inside of Japan. To qualify for student status, you must be admitted to a full-time program at TUJ. You need to arrange an address near your start semester and remain inside of Japan until you receive your student visa.

  1. Wait for an email with instructions from TUJ before the start of your first semester
  2. Submit the required documents and fill in your application.
  3. Make an appointment and meet with a TUJ visa coordinator no later than 14 days after you lose SOFA status
  4. TUJ submits your application to immigration on your behalf
  5. You receive a student visa within 60 days of separating from the military

So that you can obtain a student visa within 60 days of your official separation date/loss of SOFA status, it is imperative you act quickly to complete your visa application and meet with the visa coordinator to submit your application on time. If you fail to do so, you will lose your formal status and be in Japan illegally.

Required Documents

1. Application Form

Will be emailed to you 2 months before the start of your first semester

2. Official Discharge Letter

DD-214 or an official document indicating your separation from the military and that you will not be renewing your SOFA status. If you are under SOFA status as a dependent of a family member in the military, then TUJ needs to see an official letter from the military stating your name and the effective date of your separation from your family's SOFA status.

3. Passport

Photo/ID and signature pages of your passport

4. Headshot photo (4 cm high x 3 cm wide)

Submit an official headshot photo that is:

  • Taken within the last 3 months
  • It must show a clear, full front view of the student's face from the bottom of the chin to the top of the hair
  • With a white or off-white background
  • 2 inch x 2 inch photo is acceptable
  • File extensions allowed for uploads are: doc, docx, gif, jpg, mpg, pdf, png
5. Proof of Financial Viability

The Japanese Immigration Bureau requires all students to show the ability to support themselves when applying for a student visa. You must prove that sufficient funds are or will be available from a reliable financial source.

The proof of financial viability needs to:

  • show where the money is actually coming from 
  • be dated within the last three months
  • total 3,500,000 yen (or equivalent in foreign currency) or more
  • be in either Japanese or English

Financial viability can be proven by submitting copies of any combination of the following documents:

  • Bank statements
  • U.S. Financial Aid award letter
    (work with TUJ’s Financial Aid Coordinator after your acceptance regarding your Financial Aid award if U.S. citizen)
  • Scholarship award letters
  • Retirement account statements
    (must have documentation regarding cash/loan availability)
  • Loan approvals
    (work with TUJ's Financial Aid Coordinator after your acceptance regarding loan certification)
  • GI Bill Certificate of Eligibility
    (Submit a PDF copy of the GI Bill COE issued by the VA. You do not need to submit a Letter of Sponsorship.)

If the document is not under your name or you do not have the full amount, a financial guarantor, such as a parent or relative can submit documents on your behalf to meet the requirement. Your guarantor should provide documents in his or her name and also complete the Letter of Sponsorship below.

Arrow-Large Letter of Sponsorship (PDF) New Tab