(1) Status of Residence “Student”
International students who intend to enroll at the university for the purpose of obtaining a degree are, in principle, required to hold the “Student” status of residence.Students with a “Temporary Visitor” status of residence are not permitted to enroll at the university.
*As a general rule, a change of status of residence from “Temporary Visitor” (short-term stay/tourist visa) to “Student” is not permitted within Japan.Therefore, Ritsumeikan University does not provide support for procedures to change one’s status of residence from “Temporary Visitor” to “Student” while in Japan.
Please note that international students who already possess a long-term status of residence other than “Student” (such as Permanent Resident or Dependent) are eligible to enroll at the university. In such cases, there is no obligation to change one’s status of residence to “Student.” However, students who do not hold the “Student” status of residence are not eligible for various support programs that are available exclusively to students with the “Student” status, including scholarships and tuition reduction programs.
Status of Residence “Student”（The Immigration Services Agency of Japan） https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/status/student.html
(2) Timing of Procedures Related to Status of Residence
International students are required to complete various residency-related procedures at different times and situations during their academic studies. However, there are multiple types of residency procedures, and the necessary steps may differ depending on the individual and their circumstances, making it difficult to fully understand all relevant information.
The following materials summarize when international students need to undertake residency-related procedures during their university life. While the content is based on typical cases and may not apply exactly to every situation, please refer to it as a guide for what procedures may be required in different situations.
Status of Residence Procedures （PDF download）
*Please note that the information provided may be updated due to changes in regulations. Always make sure to check the latest information.