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2026-09-13

Before you pay a Japanese language school, check one thing

日本語学校に学費を払う前に、ひとつ確かめること

If you are about to pay tuition to a Japanese language school, check one thing first.

Japan is changing how these schools are approved. Under a law that took effect in 2024, a school has to be certified by the Ministry of Education to keep accepting students on a student visa after March 2029.

96 schools have been certified so far. Most of the schools running under the old system have not been, yet.

The latest round, announced in April, is worth reading slowly. 100 schools applied. 32 were certified, 2 were rejected, 13 are still under review, and 53 withdrew before a decision was made.

Not being certified yet does not make a school a bad school. Many are still preparing, and they have until March 2029.

But it is a question you are allowed to ask before you pay.

The Ministry of Education publishes the list of certified schools. Look your school up on it. If it is not there, ask the school where it is in the process and when it expects a decision.

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