FAQ in Daily Life

・Q１ What kind of support can international students receive？

・Q２ Is there any procedure that new international students have to take right after they arrive？

・Q３ I would like to know about medical institutions that I can communicate with in foreign languages.

・Q4 What kind of procedure should international students take when they/ their spouse is pregnant?

・Q5 I would like to know which procedure do international students/ their family have to take when they deliver a child?

・Q６ I would like to know about child-raising support system and nursery school.

・Q7 I would like to know about the details of admission to the elementary school/ junior high school.

・Q８ What should I do with the bill letter for National Health Insurance？

・Q９ I received a bill letters for National Pension contribution. Do I have to pay this？

・Q１０ What should I do with the Citizen Tax Declaration？

・Q１１ I have to pay a large medical expense because I had been in a hospital for a while.
I would like to know about “High-Cost of Medical Care System.”

・Q１２ What should I do when I need a guarantor for my apartment?

・Q１３ I would like to know about the mobile phones in Japan.

・Q１４ What should I do when I want to have a part-time job?

・Q１５ Even though I would like to work in Japan, it seems like I cannot find a job by the time I graduate. What can I do?

・Q１６ Is there any office/department at Kumamoto University that helps/supports international students who would like to work in Japan?

・Q１７ What should I do when I receive a bicycle from my friend?

Q１　What kind of support can international students receive？　

１．Tutor System
Tutors provide educational guidance on an individual basis to international students who have enrolled in Kumamoto University. In addition, international students with limited Japanese ability can ask their tutors for help with aspects of their daily lives.

【Eligibility Period】
Eligibility period varies according to international students’ status.

Status of international students	Eligibility period	Note
Full-time undergraduate students	24 months
Full-time graduate students	12 months	The period of those who had a tutor when they were research students also counts.
Research students	12 months
Teacher trainee students	12 months
Japanese language trainees (preparatory education)	6 months
Special undergraduate auditors (University-Level Short-Term Exchange Program)	2 months
Special undergraduate auditors (other than those above)	6 months
Japanese studies program students	6 months
Special research students	6 months	If special research students’ period of stay is less than 6 months, the eligibility period is the same as their period of stay.

　　　
【Tutoring Hours】
The maximum hours of tutoring are 45 hours per semester except for short-term exchange students. Short-term exchange students can have their tutors for within 15 hours/ a semester.
Those who are at Kumamoto University less than 6 month can be supported by a tutor for the period below.
15 hours/2 months, 22 hours/3 months, 30 hours/4 months, 37 hours/5months

【What do Tutors do】Just a few examples
Tutors help international students with their studies. (teach Japanese, how to register for classes, how to write reports and so on.)
Tutors provide assistance with Japanese needed for everyday living (for example, meeting you at the bus stop
when you arrive in Kumamoto, helping with various procedures at City Hall, going to hospital with you, finding your accommodation and helping with the contract, etc.)
　　　
【Inquiry】
For University-Level Short-Term Exchange Students･･･International Students Office(General Education Building 2^nd floor)
Other international students･･･academic office of your faculty or graduate school
GSST students･･･staff in charge for international students at GSST office

２．The Kumamoto University Support Association for International Students

Kumamoto University has established the Kumamoto University Support Association for International Students in order to support foreign students.
　　
【Kinds of Support the KU Support Association Provides】
・Supporting System for finding a guarantor
A guarantor is usually required before you move into a private apartment. Kumamoto University is offering an “institution endorsement” which involves the Director of the Collage of Cross-Cultural and Multidisciplinary Studies at KU offering to be the guarantor for those full-time international students who are not able to find a guarantor on their own.
Not available to part-time students (research students and researchers).

・Consolation Payment
If you have anything happen such as unexpected accident, you might be able to receive a consolation payment. Please first consult with the International Students Office.

・Loan
When you need a large amount of money for a short term with appropriate reasons and it is determined that you need support from the KU support association, you can receive a loan without any interest.

３．Liaison Office for International Students
【International Students Office: 2^nd floor of Building A at General Education Building】
【Graduate School of Science and Technology Academic Section Office:Kurokami South Campus】
【Students Affairs Section, School of Medicine: 3^rd floor of Medical Education ＆ Library building】
Please visit the office above anytime if you have any questions or concerns.
　
【Consulting Room for Students: 1^st floor of General Education Building】
When you feel depressed/worried about study or human relationships, etc., please feel free to consult with an advisor at the consulting room for students. (*Since it is Japanese language only, you need a translator if you cannot speak/understand Japanese.)

【Health Care Center】
The Health Care Center at the university provides various types of services so that students can lead comfortable lives.
When you feel sick, consult the staff at the Health Care Center. In the case of minor illness andinjures, visit the Center for treatment. The staff there will let you know if you need to go tohospital.
Also, a specialized doctor will see students who have mental problems.
Doctors from Kumamoto University Hospital are available for special health consultations.

Q２　Is there any procedure that new international students have to take right after they arrive？　

You need to take procedures at Kumamoto City Chuo Ward Office (Citizen Registration, Join the
National Health Insurance and National Pension Plan) and open a bank account, etc. Tutors will help you with those procedures.
We will talk about what new international students should do/know at the orientation for new international students, new students must join this orientation.

Q３　I would like to know about medical institutions that I can communicate with in foreign languages.

You can search the website below.
【The Clinic and Hospitals in Kumamoto City (Kumamoto City Medical Association)】
You can search in English, Korean, Italian, Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Vietnamese, Laotian and Cambodian,
http://www2.city.kumamoto.med.or.jp/forn/index.php

Please refer to the link below for other information.
【Multilingual Medical Questionnaire (available in 18 languages)】
（made by International Community Hearty Konandai and Kanagawa International Foundation）
http://www.kifjp.org/medical/

【Medical Treatment Consultation (AMDA: International Medical Information Center)】
http://amda-imic.com/modules/activity/index.php?content_id=13

【Kumamoto International Foundation】
http://www.kumamoto-if.or.jp/info/s_detail.asp?LC=e&PageID=3&l_id=16

Q４　What kind of procedure should international students take when they/their spouse is pregnant?

Submit the Pregnancy Notification Form to City Hall and receive the maternal passbook.
This will enable you to receive services such as maternity check-up.
Please refer to page 13 and 14 of “Support Handbook for Women” (PDF file)

http://www.kumamoto-kekkon-kosodate.jp/common/UploadFileOutput.ashx?c_id=3&id=89&sub_id=2&flid=140

Also, please search for gynecology and obstetrics available in English at Q3.

Q５　I would like to know which procedure do international students/their family have to take when they deliver a child?

Submit the birth notification to City Hall and receive “proof of birth registration.”
(Needed when applying for passport and CoE)
Do not forget to join the national health insurance and other required procedures.

Please refer to page 15 and 16 of “Support Handbook for Women” (PDF file)

http://www.kumamoto-kekkon-kosodate.jp/common/UploadFileOutput.ashx?c_id=3&id=89&sub_id=2&flid=140

※Please apply for passport and residence card.

【Apply for a Passport】
Please apply for a passport as soon as possible after delivering a baby at embassy/consular office of your country.

【Apply for Certificate of Eligibility (CoE)】
Please apply for it at the Immigration Bureau within 30 days after delivering a baby.
Forms are available at the International Students Office.

Q６　I would like to know about child-raising support system and nursery school.

Please refer to page 17 to 26 of “Support Handbook for Women” (PDF file)

http://www.kumamoto-kekkon-kosodate.jp/common/UploadFileOutput.ashx?c_id=3&id=89&sub_id=2&flid=140

Q７　I would like to know about the details of admission to elementary school/junior high school.

It takes 6 years to graduate from elementary school, 3 years for junior high school, 3 years for high school and 4 years for university (junior college for 2 years) in the Japanese education system and compulsory education is the 9 years of elementary school and junior high school.
In these terms of compulsory education, tuition is free of charge , but it is necessary to pay for lunch cost, school trips and so on.

【In case of coming to Japan and admission to school】(Kumamoto City)
After the citizen registration, go to Kumamoto City Education Board and take the procedure. You can receive the form that says designated school, please submit the form to the new school.
As a general rule, your children can go to the school one day after the submission of the form.

For details, please contact the office below.
Education Board, General Affairs Department, School Affairs Section
Tel: 096-328-2716

Q８　What should I do with the bill letter for National Health Insurance？　

Please check whether you are ① or ② and take the right procedures.

①Your income is under 1,000,000 yen a year but your bill letter asks you to pay much more than 2,000 yen a month. (Scholarship and foreign income does not count.)
⇒You might have not submitted “Income Declaration Form for National Health Insurance.”
If you do not submit this form between January and June, you are charged with the highest monthly insurance premiums. Please make sure to submit the form to the ward office.
　 Please read “How to Declare.”

②It has been less than a year since you joined the Health Insurance, or those who already submitted the declaration form to city hall and get the discounted bill letter (your income is under 1,000,000 yen ＝ around 2,000 yen).
⇒Please settle the payment. Please refer to “How to Pay the Insurance Premium”.

・How to Declare
1．Fill in the declaration form. (The forms are sent to you but are also available at the International Students Office at Kurokami/Students Affairs Office at Honjo and Kumamoto Chuo Ward Office)
2.　 Submit it directly to Kumamoto City Chuo Ward’s Citizen Affair Section, or send by postal mail.

・You might be charged the insurance premiums without any reduction if you do not declare your income by 1 June. (*The premiums amount you are supposed to pay in a year will be recalculated after your declaration even later than June.)
・Forms are available at the International Students Office at Kurokami Campus/Students Affair’s office at Honjo. (Limited numbers of envelopes are available, too.)

※For those who do not know how to write the declaration form, you can receive support from the office below.
【Kurokami Area】 International Students Office (General Education Building)
【Honjo Area】 Students Affairs Office (3^rd floor of Medical Education ＆ Library building)

・Time that insurance premium is determined
After checking the income from the declaration form by 1 June, you will get the notice of insurance premium in June.
・Months you pay the insurance premium
June to March (10 times in a year)
※You do not pay the insurance premium in April and May.
※Monthly premium is the annual premium divided by 10 months.

【Inquiry】: Kumamoto City National Health Insurance and Pension Division
　　　　　　 TEL: 096-328-2290

・How to Pay the Insurance Premium
You can settle the payment at a Bank (Higo Bank, Kumamoto Bank, Japan Post Bank (Yu-cho Bank) etc.), convenience store (Seven Eleven, Lawson, FamilyMart, etc.) and Kumamoto City Hall (Health Insurance and Pension Division), each ward office (east・west・south・north) Citizen Affairs Section.

※Kumamoto City website
https://www.city.kumamoto.jp/hpKiji/pub/detail.aspx?c_id=5&id=1449&class_set_id=5&class_id=923

・About National Health Insurance (Handbook for International Students P.5)
Foreign students who live in Japan for longer than 3 months must register for National Health Insurance.
Please hand in a “Change in status/ eligibility for National Health Insurance” and “Application for National Health Insurance” to Kumamoto City Kuyakusho (Ward Office) after having filled out all the appropriate parts.
You need to notify when your address changed, brought your family to Japan or a baby is born. Please proceed to cancel your health insurance when you go back to your country.

Q９　I received a bill letter for National Pension contribution. Do I have to pay this？　

Basically, international students who have not earned a certain amount of money do not have to pay pension contributions. Full-time students take different procedure from part-time students. There are two types of procedures and which procedure you take depends on your student status (full-time students/ part-time students). Please refer to the following information.
※Scholarship and foreign income does not count as income.

・【Full-time students】
Take the procedure of「special exception payment for students」

・Application Date/ Time
When you wish to apply this exception. (It takes 3～4months to be admitted)
※Those who already got this exception and would like to continue this need to apply for it every April or May.

・What You Need for Application
・Student card or Certificate of Enrollment (something that can prove you are a student)
・Seal (If a representative will apply for instead of you)

・Contact・How to Apply
Citizen Affairs Section at Ward Offices, Each General Brunches, Yoshino-branch
Fill out「Application form of special exception payment for students」

・Inquiry
Citizen Affairs Section at Chuo Ward Office TEL096-328-2278
Citizen Affairs Section at East Ward office TEL096-367-9125
Citizen Affairs Section at West Ward Office TEL096-329-1198
Citizen Affairs Section at South Ward Office TEL096-357-4128
Citizen Affairs Section at North Ward Office TEL096-272-6905

【Part-time student】
Apply for National Pension Waiver.

・Application Date/ Time
When you wish to apply for this exception. (It takes 3～4months to be admitted)
※Those who already got this exception and would like to continue this need to apply for it every July or August.
*You can apply for national pension waiver when you join the National Pension Plan. If you check “automatically renew”, you do not have to apply for it every year.

・What You Need for Application
・Student card or Certificate of Enrollment (something that can prove you are a student)
・Seal (If a representative will apply for instead of you)

・Contact・How to Apply
Citizen Affairs Section at Ward Offices, Each General Brunches, Yoshino branch
Fill out「Application form of exception payment for students」

・Inquiry
Citizen Affairs Section at Chuo Ward Office TEL096-328-2278
Citizen Affairs Section at East Ward office TEL096-367-9125
Citizen Affairs Section at West Ward Office TEL096-329-1198
Citizen Affairs Section at South Ward Office TEL096-357-4128
Citizen Affairs Section at North Ward Office TEL096-272-6905

※When you join the National Pension Plan, please apply for the waiver application. (Applications are available at every ward office.)Please be reminded that you cannot send this form by postal mail.

Ｑ１０　What should I do with the Citizen Tax Declaration？

Please check whether or not you have to declare after reading below.

【Those who have to declare】
People who live in Kumamoto city at the time of January 1^st and also in the previous year,
・had income from the management of business, agriculture, real estate or dividends
・earned salary as a part-time worker or daily employment
・sustainer lives in another city
・received no public pension such as survivor pension or disability pension
・received employment insurance only
・did not earn any income (except for those who are dependent family members of people who live in Kumamoto) etc.

【Those who do not have to declare】
・file an income-tax return of income tax and reconstruction special income-tax
・earn only employment income and your place of employment submits “report of salary payment”
・do not earn any income and family members who live in Kumamoto city support your living costs

・Time/place of Declaration
Normally, time of declaration is between the end of January and the middle of March (March 15th).
You can declare at the closest revenue department (at each ward office).
Also, you can declare via postal mail.
(Need your identity verification documents, certificate of income and withholding tax and other required certificates.)

・What You Need When You Declare
(A)Seal
(B)identity verification documents
From 2018’s declaration, needed for “number check” (check written my number is correct) and “identity check” (the person who has my number card is the correct owner).

・In case the identical person declares
・If you have “My Number Card”
Please bring “My Number Card” to the revenue department so that staff at ward office can do both number check and identity check.
・If you do NOT have “My Number Card”
Please bring those documents to check【1】”number check” and【2】”identity check.”

【１】documents that can confirm your number・・・
Notice card of my number or certificate of residence that includes my number, etc.

【２】documents that can verify your identity
○verify with only one document
(example) driver’s license, passport, residence card, other certificate with a face photo (student card or employee ID card) etc.
○verify with two documents
(example) Basic Resident Register card (without a face photo), other ID card (student card, employee ID card, family register, certificate of residence or certificate of income and withholding tax) etc.

○In case you submit via postal mail
Please make sure to enclose documents that can verify your number and identity as declare by yourselves.

（C）documents that certify your income
・Those who have employment income or public pension, please submit certificate of income and withholding tax or certificate from salary payer.

（D）documents that can confirm amounts to be deducted from taxable income
・Receipt or certificate for payments of national health Insurance premium, premium for nursing-care insurance, medical insurance premium for elderly people, national pension premium or earth quake insurance premium, etc.
・The documents such as the receipts for medical expenses, expensive care or health insurance, etc.
・Physical disability certificate, mental disability certificate, etc.
・Receipt of contribution

（E）copies of declaration form of previous year and statement of items balance of payment

【Inquiry】
Chuo revenue department (at Chuo ward office) 096-328-2181
East revenue department (at East ward office) 096-367-9138
West revenue department (at West ward office) 096-329-1174
South revenue department (at South ward office) 096-357-4143
North revenue department (at North ward office) 096-272-1114

Q１１　I have to pay a large medical expense because I had been in a hospital for a while.I would like to know about “High-Cost of Medical Care System.”

As you join the national health insurance, the time when you need to pay high cost medical expenses, that exceed the limit of medical expense in a month at the same medical center will be refunded if you declare them to the City Hall.
The amount limit of medical expenses is determined by income.

Also, you can only pay the amount limit from the first if you show “Certificate of amount limit” issued at the Ward office to the medical center.

・What You Need
1. National Health Insurance Card
2. Seal (signature is acceptable if you do not have one.)
3. My Number card (If possible)

・Contact・Where to Apply
Ward Offices, Each General Brunches

・Inquiry
Health and Welfare Office, Health Hygiene Department, Health Insurance and Pension Division
TEL: 096-328-2290 FAX: 096-324-0004

Q１２　What should I do when I need a guarantor for my apartment?

If you are a full-time student (undergraduate student, graduate student), the “Director of Collage of Cross-Cultural and Multidisciplinary Studies at Kumamoto University” offers to be the guarantor for those international students who are not able to find a guarantor on their own.

Those who would like to take advantage of this system should come to the International Students Office (2nd floor of General Education Building) and apply for an institutional endorsement.

Not available to part-time students (research students and researchers)
Also, please note that an institutional endorsement for municipal houses are not acceptable.

If you ask your supervisor to be your guarantor for your apartment, you can buy the “Comprehensive Renter’s Insurance for Foreign Students Studying in Japan.” You can buy this insurance at the International Students office (2nd floor of general Education Building).

Q１３　I would like to know about the mobile phones in Japan.

There are 4 options (mobile phones from big telecom companies, prepaid cell-phone, wallet-friendly SIM, wallet-friendly smart phone) for international students who have their residence cards.It would be the best for you to decide which one is the most suitable for you at a consumer electronics store. You can ask the staff about the pros and cons of each device at an electronics store. Here is some information on each device for your information.

【Big Telecom Company in Japan】
These 3 companies (SoftBank, au, NTT docomo) are the most famous and poplar in Japan.
You need to pay a cancellation fee if you cancel the contract of your phone within 2 years because these companies minimum contract period is 2 years.
Please be remember that you need to pay the cancellation fee when you go back to your country if you sign a contract with these companies and your period of stay is less than 2 years.

【Prepaid Cell-Phone】
Even though most mobile phones in Japan are basically postpaid, there are a few prepaid cell-phones, too. However, call charges are relatively more expensive than with other plans. Softbank and au offer prepaid cell phones.

【Wallet-friendly SIM card】
You should check the size of SIM cards because they are several sizes for each types of smartphone terminal. Also, you should check that your smartphone is SIM unlocked. (*Some smartphone (brought to Japan from other country)’s terminals are not available for using SIM cards.)

【Wallet-friendly Smartphone】
This service is offering both a SIM-free smartphone terminal and SIM card. Good points about the wallet-friendly service are that the contract period is short and there is no need to pay a cancellation fee when you cancel the contract. Although you need a one-year contract if you wish to have a calling plan, it seems like most data communication plans do not have a minimum limited period of contract so that you do not have to pay a cancellation fee.

※Generally speaking, the disadvantages of using Wallet-friendly smartphones are as follows.

Since there are not so many stores for wallet-friendly smartphones, it is inconvenient when you apply or have some a problem.
You need to do the setting for it by yourself.
Data transmission speed is slow.
There is no unlimited-call plan.
There is a case you cannot sign a contract if you do not have a credit card.

→It is very difficult for a foreigner as well as takes a lot of time to get a credit card in Japan. Those who did not bring a credit card from their home country may have difficulty in signing a contract.

※reference website
http://japanlifesupport.com/internet/all.html
https://blogdajapan.blogspot.jp/2016/10/blog-post_5.html

Q１４　What should I do when I want to have a part-time job?

Even though you can look for part-time jobs at CO-OP, most of those jobs require a certain level of Japanese skills. Although part-time jobs are designed to help students support themselves financially while studying at the university, please make sure that working a part-time job does not interfere with your studies.
Please be reminded that some international students such as MEXT scholarship students and government sent students are not allowed to do part time job.

You must get “Permit for Part-Time Employment” before you work. You can apply for it at the International Students Office (2^nd floor of General Education Building).
Maximum hours of working are determined as below. You cannot work more hours than that.
During School Time →　28 hours/week
During Vacations →　8 hours/ day, 40 hours/week

You do not need “Permit for Part-Time Employment” when you work as TA, RA or a tutor (the time when you make a job contract with Kumamoto University)

Q１５　Even though I would like to work in Japan, it seems like I cannot find a job by the time I graduate. What can I do?

You are allowed to go job-hunting for a year (maximum) even after graduation.
In this case, your status of residence will be changed to “Designated Activities” and the period of stay will be 6 months. You can renew the period of stay only one time with this status. Also, if you would like to have a part-time job after you change the status of residence, you need to get permission for part-time employment. Please note that you cannot work for 28 hours a week as maximum. This procedure can be done at International Students Office (2^nd floor of General Education Building).

Q１６　Is there any office/department at Kumamoto University that helps/supports international students who would like to work in Japan?

Kumamoto University has established a program called “CDP+K” (Kumamoto University Career Development Program) and this program offers various support as follows.
・Providing business Japanese study program
・Providing Career education program
・Offering internship opportunities
・Compassionate instruction from CDP office

For details, please feel free to ask CDP office or Career Service Division (1^st floor of General Education Building).

Q１７　What should I do when I receive a bicycle from my friend?

When your friend gives you a bicycle, please register “Theft Prevention Registration” with your name.
If the person who gave you the bike has not completed “deregistration of theft prevention registration,” ask him/her to do so. If the person who gave you the bike cannot take this procedure, you can take this procedure. Please bring①the bicycle, ② the card of “Theft Prevention Registration” and ③ ID card to the closest police station.
※If you do not have ②, you might have to call the person who gave the bike to you at the police station.

Please take the procedure “Theft Prevention Registration” with your name, otherwise you might be suspected of stealing the bicycle by the police.

Also, when you register it, you need
① registration fee, ②the bicycle, ③ID card and ④ certificate (something that says vehicle identification number)
※Please refer to the following website for the details. (It is written in Japanese)
http://www.k-bouhan.sakura.ne.jp/services/bike.html