Visa

Okayama University will support the application for the Certificate of Eligibility (CESR) for foreign visiting researchers who will be accepted for more than 91 days at Okayama University based on the regulations for visiting researchers at Okayama University, and who will obtain the status of residence “Cultural Activities” or “Professor”.
After the acceptance is approved, please register with the CESR system for Visiting Researchers at Okayama University through the section in charge of the department or the faculty.

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Support is not available for those:
  • who obtain a “Temporary Visitor” visa
  • who are not visiting researchers
  • whose research period is less than 90 days
  • whose status of residence is other than “Cultural Activities” or “Professor”

VISA and CESR procedure

International Researchers

The International Affairs Department has supporting procedures relating to the application for the Certificate of Eligibility for Status of Residence (CESR) for international researchers under the following conditions:

  • International researchers who have an acceptance period more than 91 days
  • International researchers who intend to obtain a visa of “Professor” or “Cultural Activities”

Those who qualify will receive an email from the International Affairs Department detailing the procedures needed for the International Affairs Department to apply on behalf of the researchers for the CESR. Please refer to the following detailed instructions. When the researcher is already a resident in Japan and they wish to be joined by their dependents, the researcher must carry out the necessary procedures themselves at the Immigration Bureau.

The Status of Residence for Researchers

International researchers need a visa and passport to enter Japan. Their status of residence will be “Professor” or “Cultural Activities”. If international researchers stay in Japan less than 90 days and don’t receive any payment, they can enter Japan using a short-term tourism visa. Those who are nationals of countries exempted from short-term visas can enter Japan with only their passports. Refer tothis website for visa procedures and required documents for nationals who are not exempt from the visa requirement (ex: China, Russia and The Philippines). To obtain a “Professor” or “Cultural Activities” visa, it is necessary to apply for a “Certificate of Eligibility for Status of Residence” (CESR). The CESR is issued by the immigration bureau when the CESR application has been completed. A visa will be given by presenting the CESR to the Japanese embassy or Consulate General overseas.

Application of Certificate of Eligibility for Status of Residence (CESR)

A CESR is issued before the visa application by a regional immigration authority and has the advantage of reducing the time required to obtain a visa and to complete immigration procedures. The application can be made by either the applicant or a proxy in Japan at the nearest regional immigration authority. You can apply for a visa without a CESR but it may take one to three months to obtain a visa. If a CESR is issued before the visa application, it will take one week to obtain the visa.

Visa Procedure

Only in the case of International Researchers who have an acceptance period more than 91 days and who intend to obtain a visa of “Professor” or “Cultural Activities”, will their CESR applications be made by the International Affairs Department.

  1. Issuance of a Letter of Acceptance by Okayama University
  2. Receipt of a letter regarding the visa application from the International Affairs Department
  3. Preparation of the application form
  4. The International Affairs Department applies for your CESR to the Immigration Bureau after completing the applications
    one or two months after application
  5. The International Affairs Department receives your CESR from the Immigration Bureau
  6. The International Affairs Department sends you your CESR
  7. Apply for a visa of “Professor” or “Cultural Activities” at the Japanese Embassy or Consulate-General in your country
  8. Visa issued
  9. Book your flight
  10. Departure from home country / Arrival in Japan

When International Researchers with an acceptance period of less than 90 days intend to obtain the visa “Professor”

*International Researchers who engage in educational activities or research receiving some salary need to obtain a visa of “Professor” regardless of how long they stay in Japan

Procedures

  1. The faculty in charge or supervisor of the international researcher applies for the CESR to the Immigration Bureau with the required documents
  2. The CESR is issued after 1-2 months
  3. The International Researcher outside Japan receives the CESR
  4. The International Researcher applies for a visa of “Professor” at the Japanese Embassy or Consulate-General in his own country
  5. Visa issued

Required Documents

  • Application Form for Certificate of Eligibility for Status of Residence (CESR): Professor
  • A letter of acceptance
  • Certificate of payment
  • Photo (size: 4cm×3cm without background and no hats)
    Please write your name on the reverse and attach it to the application form
  • A copy of your passport with pages of your photo, name, date of birth, and passport number
    (if you have a valid passport at this point) 
  • Return-mail envelope (with address written on the front and affixed with 380 yen)