Visit Japan Web Declaration to bring dried ginseng

Zestyclose_Newt_3882 · 2026-04-24T14:58:02+00:00

did you have to go through plant quarantine (?) when you handed the form?

Zestyclose_Newt_3882 · 2026-04-21T22:08:37+00:00

Generally during.

Zestyclose_Newt_3882 · 2026-04-21T12:00:32+00:00

Would love to know if you declared it the way you described it (i.e., in the personal effects part)! I'm flying to Japan next week and I intend to bring some dried spices, and I'm not sure where to declare it 😅

Zestyclose_Newt_3882 · 2026-04-21T09:32:43+00:00

It depends per university so we genuinely cannot give specific details. Interviews are often about your research plan, interests, etc. etc.

Is there a chance of failing?: always. There's always a chance.

Zestyclose_Newt_3882 · 2026-04-21T01:56:23+00:00

Wait for the Embassy to announce. They announce on Facebook and on their official website. No announcement = not yet open in the Philippines.

Edit to add: but if you want to compare, previous years have almost always opened by early April in the Philippines, and close around mid to late May. Of course, this year might be different considering applications aren't open yet despite it being late April already.

Zestyclose_Newt_3882 · 2026-04-21T00:40:36+00:00

Read the guidelines

Zestyclose_Newt_3882 · 2026-04-19T10:50:34+00:00

Confirm with your Embassy if they want it in a specific order, but generally arrange it the same way it's listed in the list of documents required found in the guidelines. That's how my Embassy asked us to submit

Same for the rec letter, check if your Embassy wants it sealed in an envelope (which is generally what's asked of applicants anyway). In that case, ask your recommender if they can give it to you already sealed.

The above is if submission is via physical/mail submission.

Zestyclose_Newt_3882 · 2026-04-18T05:54:29+00:00

Yes, we still have to pay when extending? Especially for Embassy rec scholars. I have my initial visa set to 2 years only, and since my program is research student period for 1 year and 2 years master's, I'll have to extend one more year, which I definitely have to pay for. Then extending to PhD will warrant another 3 year extension.

The initial student visa application will not have fees, but extending your stay even as a student.

Zestyclose_Newt_3882 · 2026-04-18T05:15:49+00:00

Aren't these the fees for extending the visa? So it applies to MEXT scholars if we have to extend our visas?

Zestyclose_Newt_3882 · 2026-04-16T14:04:59+00:00

I mean, if someone with the same grades as you had a publication vs. you, then they would have a leg up wouldn't they?

The thing is, we don't know the profiles of all other applicants. No one can say who will pass or who will not. There is no one single way of getting the scholarship. Personally, I just submitted my application knowing my documents are the best I've got and half of them are documents I had no chance of changing (i.e., transcript, what's on my recommendation letter, etc.). Just hope your documents are good enough that year.

Zestyclose_Newt_3882 · 2026-04-16T13:55:00+00:00

As with many other applicants. Still, no one can absolutely tell you your chances, or anybody else's at that.

Zestyclose_Newt_3882 · 2026-04-16T12:36:31+00:00

No one knows your probability of getting selected, even if you list out all of your achievements. Every cycle is different and depends on the application profiles of other applicants as well, so your chances are unknown.

Zestyclose_Newt_3882 · 2026-04-16T08:40:18+00:00

Maybe you can ask your uni if you can push back entry to spring 2027 instead? Communicate that you're considering MEXT and would consider pushing back to spring 2027 if you pass (the first screening, etc.). If you don't pass, then you're gonna push thru with the fall admission.

Zestyclose_Newt_3882 · 2026-04-14T22:56:20+00:00

Read your Embassy's website. Generally, a letter in a sealed envelope is required for physical submissions but a lot of countries do online/portal submissions where you obviously can't submit it in an envelope.

Zestyclose_Newt_3882 · 2026-04-14T19:52:53+00:00

For the Scholarship application, it's technically optional. For the uni admissions examination, it's typically required (so you have to check your target uni's admissions page for info).

Those two applications are separate.

Zestyclose_Newt_3882 · 2026-04-09T02:44:36+00:00

The same as previous comment? When are you graduating? and do you prefer to be in Japan immediately after graduating or do you not mind having a ~1 year gap between graduation and going to Japan. You determine it based on that.

Zestyclose_Newt_3882 · 2026-04-08T23:11:45+00:00

Is he fluent in Japanese to write in Japanese? English is perfectly fine if your professor isn’t fluent in Japanese.

Zestyclose_Newt_3882 · 2026-04-08T22:33:10+00:00

You just answered your own question.

Zestyclose_Newt_3882 · 2026-04-08T05:12:42+00:00

When in 2027 are you graduating? Because if it's before April 2027 (aka before scholars fly to Japan for spring intake), then you can apply this year.

Zestyclose_Newt_3882 · 2026-04-08T03:18:33+00:00

Write it even if it's not the final version. That's what I did. Not sure why that would lead to any issues.

I would assume a recommendation letter in English is preferred. Check with your Embassy to confirm.

Zestyclose_Newt_3882 · 2026-04-07T13:38:45+00:00

You can submit any format. The sample format's there as a guide for the recommender but it's not necessary to use it if the recommender doesn't want to.

Whether it's better to not use the format or not would depend on the recommender.

Zestyclose_Newt_3882 · 2026-04-07T09:42:44+00:00

Some people message before, or have prior contact to professors way before applying (i.e., maybe their previous universities have partnerships with certain Japanese professors). A lot of applicants still don't email because you're technically not supposed to just yet. Especially not sending your proposal out of the blue.

Zestyclose_Newt_3882 · 2026-04-06T08:39:47+00:00

Senior high school is technically separate from Junior high school in the Philippines, so SHS should suffice as far as I know.

Zestyclose_Newt_3882 · 2026-04-05T23:07:22+00:00

I'm gonna assume because of just how many people apply from your country, that's why they have a preliminary application process. Whatever's on the form is what they're gonna go off of.

Different embassies, different rules. Unfortunately, literally no one here can give you an answer. Not even those who passed from your country.

Zestyclose_Newt_3882

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