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6-12 months before departure
Budget and documents are easy to delay. A clear checklist makes applications, visa steps, and arrival much smoother.
Traps
These misconceptions aren't rare scenarios — most people hit at least one of them at this step. Knowing in advance doesn't mean you won't stumble, but it can save you a few weeks of detours.
Treating the first-year budget as tuition plus one month of living costs times twelve, dropping the first-month one-time ledger (housing setup often runs 4-7 months of rent plus furniture and appliances).
Assuming funds proof only needs a sufficient amount, ignoring how the funds formed — a sudden large transfer is hardest to explain and should be in place early, not topped up just before submission.
Assuming 'fix whatever is missing after arriving in Japan' — overseas consulates will not produce China-issued originals for you, and re-issuing from the original school / police / bank / notary / local foreign affairs office costs much more after departure.
Breakdown
Follow the checklist below and you won't miss anything important. You don't have to finish it all at once, but every item should be clearly answered within this stage.
Tool
There's a ready-made tool for this step. You don't have to use it every time, but it's worth opening when you're stuck.
Click to open · use it right here in this step
Open tool →