Dec 29, 2025

Overseas Education Loan to Study in Japan: Costs, Loan Types, Process & More

Japan, the Land of the Rising Sun, is a technological and economic marvel. From energy-efficient solutions for a sustainable future to innovative techniques that change the healthcare landscape, the country has the most brilliant minds working on diverse global issues. Part of this innovation stems from the Japanese education system, which places a lot of emphasis on quality research, practical learning, and creative thinking. With 47 Universities featured in the QS World University Rankings 2026, Japan is becoming a sought-after study destination by the year.

Although international students may find Japan more affordable than the Big 4 study destinations, they may still require an overseas education loan to study in Japan for the tuition fees, living expenses, and other education-related expenses. In this article, students will find all they need to know about financing their dream education in Japan, starting with the perks of choosing Japan as a study destination. Let us begin this journey!

Table of Content

Why Study in Japan?

Japan aims to welcome 4,00,000 international students by 2033, creating policies and opening more English-taught courses to make that a reality. Some reasons behind the country’s rising popularity are mentioned below.

• Japanese Universities offer English-taught programs with excellent research and teaching facilities, industry collaborations, diverse interdisciplinary curricula, and high graduate employability.

• Japan ranks 7th in the world for education quality, giving students access to globally valued qualifications

• Japan has the 5th-largest economy in the world, with well-developed sectors in Technology, Finance, Healthcare, Sustainable Development, and many other fields

• It has a safe and culturally rich environment, with locals striving to treat international students and professionals with kindness and courtesy

Additionally, knowledge of the Japanese language can open many doors for professional, academic, and social opportunities in the future. Having gotten a brief idea of the push behind studying in Japan, it is time to move on to the estimated cost of studying in Japan.

Cost of Higher Education in Japan

The major cost of education lies in regular expenses like tuition fees and living expenses, as well as other important incidentals. Students can get an estimate of the major costs below.

Knowing these aggregate costs can help students create a tentative budget and figure out what quantum of finance they need from an overseas education loan to study in Japan. The next section covers the types of loans they can consider, so keep going.

Types of Overseas Education Loan to Study in Japan

The Indian financial market is brimming with financial lenders offering services and products for every kind of expense and ambition. For international students, loan schemes are either secured or unsecured. Here’s how they are different:

• Secured Education Loans: Require students to pledge a tangible or intangible asset (property, FDs, government bonds, etc.) as collateral against the loan. The loan amount is approved based on the value of the collateral.

• Unsecured Educations Loans: Do not require any collateral, instead offering loan amounts at higher interest rates to make up for the risk. Students and co-applicants need to establish creditworthiness for the loan.

The Japanese student visa authorities accept both secured and unsecured loans as proof of funds, as long as they come from recognized lenders. Get an idea of some excellent lenders in the upcoming section.

Lenders Offering Overseas Education Loan to Study in Japan

International students can get overseas education loans to study in Japan from Nationalized Banks, Private Banks, Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs), and International Lenders. The lenders having the most easily accepted and impressive loan schemes are listed below.

As we can see, there are plenty of unique options available for overseas education loans for international students dreaming of higher education in Japan. Each scheme is different, but promises to cover the same expenses. Go through the coverage provided by overseas education loans below.

Expenses Covered in Overseas Education Loan to Study in Japan

International students planning to study in Japan may think that lenders in the Indian financial market only cover the academic expenses, but that is not true. A brief list of the expenses covered by an overseas education loan to study in Japan is given below.

• Tuition fees, examination fees, and University deposits for the duration of the course.

• Study material, laptop, books, and other academic materials.

• Living expenses, including accommodation, food, clothing, etc.

• Travel expenses, airfare, health insurance, visa fees, and other incidental costs.

Basically, an overseas education loan provides comprehensive coverage of all the financial requirements of studying in Japan, although the exact amount depends on the loan amount and margin. Students need to create a financial profile that matches the lender’s requirements, which we will cover next.

Eligibility Criteria for Overseas Education Loan to Study in Japan

An overseas education loan is a commitment, and lenders ensure that students can fulfill their end of the commitment by setting certain eligibility criteria. These criteria may change according to the lender, but the general requirements are as follows:

• The student/applicant must be an Indian citizen aged 18 to 35.

• They need proof of admission to a recognized Japanese university for an accepted course.

• The student must show a good academic record and a good score in the required standardized tests (IELTS, JLPT, etc.).

• The co-applicant (wherever required) should be a relative or guardian of the student, with a stable income and an acceptable CIBIL score.

Apart from these requirements, lenders may also specify some requirements for the collateral offered for secured education loans. Once students have checked all the criteria thoroughly, they need to gather the documents we have mentioned in the next section.

Documents Required for Overseas Education Loan to Study in Japan

The documents required for education loans to study in Japan differ across the process. In the beginning, lenders generally require some paperwork that helps them understand the student’s requirements and their financial profile. Get a brief list below.

• Identity proof, address proof, and passport-sized photographs of the applicant and co-applicant (wherever necessary).

• An admission letter from a recognized University in Japan.

• A fee structure or tuition fee schedule from the University.

• An estimate of the living costs in the student’s preferred student city.

• Academic transcripts, including marksheets, standardized test scores, and qualifications.

• Proof of income (salary slips or profit & loss statements) and IT returns from the co-applicant (wherever applicable).

• Collateral documents for secured education loans.

Students need to submit these documents alongside a completed loan application form to start the loan process. Keep reading to know the steps of the process.

Application Process for Overseas Education Loan to Study in Japan

The very first step of getting an overseas education loan is researching loan types and lender options to narrow down options as per one’s requirements and profile. Once that is done, students can follow the steps given below.

• Check the eligibility criteria as specified by the lender and confirm 2-3 lenders to approach accordingly.

• Apply for the overseas education loan to study in Japan and submit all the necessary documents.

• Wait for the documents to be reviewed and verified, communicating with the lender for any additional requirements.

• The lender approves the loan application and sends a sanction letter to the student with the loan amount, interest rate, repayment terms, etc.

• Discuss the details and submit any additional documents required before the loan is disbursed.

The loan disbursement is the last step, and takes around 2-5 days to complete after the loan is sanctioned. Students need to specify the disbursement amount and other details with the lender. They may require a pre-visa disbursement of some funds for the Japanese student visa process, which is detailed in the next section.

Visa Norms for Overseas Education Loan to Study in Japan

Japan’s visa application process starts with receiving a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) from the Regional Immigration Bureau upon request from the student’s chosen University. This document is crucial to start the student visa process. Similarly, students also need to arrange evidence of funds, which can be shown with an overseas education loan to study in Japan. This helps them get the visa approval in time, so let us learn more below.

Evidence of Funds to Study in Japan

Students may be asked for proof of funds during the COE application or the student visa. They may need to show around ¥ 1.6 million, which covers 1 year of tuition or living expenses. This amount may also vary based on the student’s University, city, and accommodation of choice. 

The evidence of funds can be provided by documents such as a savings balance certificate, accompanied by previous IT returns. It is important to thoroughly understand the Japanese student visa process so that one can apply for an overseas education loan to study in loan with a supportive lender. Keep reading to know how one can make that decision easier.

Overseas Education Loan to Study in Japan with Élan’s Help

The overseas education loan process seems simple on the surface, but each process has a lot of detail and technical information to deal with. This can be difficult to navigate alone, so our experts at Élan Overseas Education Loans step in to make the loan process run smoothly.  Some services we provide to students seeking overseas education loans to study in Japan are mentioned below.

• We help students choose the best out of 20+ lender options with a variety of loan types, interest rates, and repayment terms.

• Our loan experts thoroughly understand the student’s financial background and assist them in creating a profile that leads them to the ideal lender.

• We provide end-to-end assistance with eligibility checks, EMI calculations, document preparation, and pre-visa disbursement processes.

• The team tracks the loan application through sanction and disbursement, communicating with the lender for any additional requirements.

• We ensure fast and hassle-free loan approvals so that students can manage visa procedures and payment deadlines without worries.

Our team of experts takes the stressful parts of the overseas education loan process away, leaving students to juggle everything else on their plates with a peaceful mindset. With Élan just a call or text away, students can focus fully on studies after they reach Japan.

In closing, overseas education loans to study in Japan are an extra boost to help students launch off towards their study abroad dream. Trusted loan consultants like Élan Overseas Education Loans help shortlist the best banks for education loans to study in Japan and add an experienced hand in the entire process. With practical insights on everything from approval to repayment, students can save themselves the time and anxiety of the loan application process with our help.

Overseas Education Loan to Study in Japan FAQs

1. Which courses can I pursue with an overseas education loan to study in Japan?

The courses approved for an overseas education loan to study in Japan differ across lenders and loan types. Some may only approve Master’s and/or Bachelor’s courses, while others may approve Diploma, Pathway, Foundation, and Language courses. Students need to check the lender’s eligibility requirements for a clearer idea.

2. Can international students work part-time in Japan while studying?

Yes, absolutely! International students are allowed to work part-time for up to 28 hours per week during the course and up to 40 hours per week over the holidays in Japan.

3. Does Japan offer a post-study work visa?

Yes, it does. Called a “Designated Activities” visa, students can look for work for up to 1 year after they graduate, after which they can switch to a work visa.

4. What is the maximum secured loan amount I can get for Japan?

Lenders like ICICI Bank and the State Bank of India offer secured education loans of up to INR 3 crores to study in Japan. The maximum loan amount available to students depends on their cost of education and financial profile.

5. How is the loan amount disbursed for Universities in Japan?

The loan amount can be disbursed into the University account, the co-applicant’s account, or the student’s account. Generally, the tuition fees and academic expenses are sent directly to the University, while the student receives loan disbursements for living expenses and travel. This depends on the agreement reached with the lender.