After winning

After MEXT Selection: From Results to Arrival in Japan

You made it through the application. Now what? The visa, the flight, the Japanese preparatory course and every bureaucratic step to complete before classes start.

ScholarshipUnion Editorial 2 min read Updated Oct 5, 2026

Final results for the 2027 intake arrive between January and early March 2027 for research students (after February for undergraduates). April-term scholars must then arrive between 1 and 7 April 2027 — so the weeks after your result move fast.

Post-selection checklist

Track your preparation after receiving your MEXT selection.

Visa paperwork — the embassy processes this (including a Certificate of Eligibility where needed).
Student visa — obtain a new "Student" visa at the Japanese mission in your country, even if you already hold another Japanese residence status. The standard fee has been about ¥15,000 for a single-entry visa since 1 July 2026 (MOFA); ask your embassy whether MEXT scholars pay it.
Flight — MEXT provides an economy ticket on its set schedule and route; arriving outside the period means paying your own way.
Accommodation — a university dorm or private housing. Some universities ask for fees in advance.
Bank account — open a Japan Post Bank account after arrival; MEXT pays the stipend only there.
Health insurance — enrol in National Health Insurance on arrival.
Start Japanese study — even the basics help enormously.
Contact your professor or lab — introduce yourself before you arrive.

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Money for the first weeks

The first stipend payment arrives one to one-and-a-half months after you land. MEXT recommends bringing at least about US$2,000. If you have a family, the guidelines suggest arriving alone first to secure housing.

Your first year, if you arrive in April

1
April
Arrive in Japan
Orientation, city registration and bank setup.
2
April–September
Language training
Intensive Japanese, if your accepting university decides you need it.
3
October onwards
Begin your programme
Start your research or degree — or, as an undergraduate, continue the one-year preparatory course until March.

Still in the application phase? Start with the step-by-step guide. Waiting for results? Read the Living in Japan guide so you are ready when the good news arrives.