日本・シリア日本語学校パスウェイズ2027年度募集
Application is open from Thursday, 23rd July to Friday, 14th August, 2026.
If you are interested in applying, please read this web page carefully and apply.
Before you make your application, please refer to Programme Guidance 2027 for JSLP to understand the details of the program.
Also, please check Frequently Asked Questions when preparing your application.
What is Japan-Syria Japanese Language School Pathways?
Japan-Syria Japanese Language School Pathways offers an opportunity for Syrian youth in refugee situations to study Japanese in private language schools across Japan for two years and build a career in Japan. From 2017 to 2026, 58 Syrian youth were admitted to Japan through this program with the support from private educational institutions, faith-based organizations, supporting companies, NGOs, individuals and local communities. Recruited students can study Japanese with tuition-free for two years, the minimum length required to reach a level to enter university or find employment in Japan.
For April 2027 recruitment, we will offer around 5 scholarship opportunities for Syrian applicants to this program.
What the Program Provides
・Support for visa issuance and residence permit
・Pre-departure Japanese language classes before traveling to Japan
・Airfare to Japan
・Two years of Japanese language education offered by one of the partner Japanese language schools of PJ (worth USD15,000)
・Stipend for the first six months
・Introduction of part-time job opportunities and housing
・Educational and career consultation every three months to enter university or find employment
*Please note that students are expected to work part-time to cover their rent and living expenses.
*After completion of the program, students are expected to enter universities or find employment and extend their legal status in Japan.
Program Facebook Page
Please follow our page on Facebook for the latest information.
We will organize online Info Sessions on the dates below
2 (Sun) Aug 11:00-12:30 (Turkiye time)
If you are interested in taking part, please register here.
Eligibility
1. Must be a Syrian national
2. Must live outside of Syria as a refugee, or in a refugee-like situation with reasonable grounds of being unable to return to Syria
3.Must be single without accompanying families (The Japanese government does not issue visas for accompanying family members for language students.)
4.Must have completed 12 years of school education, or be expected to complete 12 years of school education by March 2027 (This is a requirement to obtain a student visa in Japan.)
5. If you are a high school graduate, you must be 26 years old or younger; if you are a university graduate, you must be 33 years old or younger.
6. Must have studied or been studying Japanese.
7. Must agree to work part-time at an entry-level job to cover your own living expenses in Japan.
8. Must NOT have a financial obligation to support family members (Students should expect part-time work to cover only their own living expenses, and not to support their families.)
9. Must be able to submit the required documents
a) Document describing your refugee background (e.g. letter explaining the reason for the difficulty of returning to your home country, issued by an NGO or an expert. If this cannot be obtained, the candidate can write his/her own statement.)
b) Either of the document to indicate your refugee background
a. UNHCR Protection Card issued in the country of residence
b. Temporary Protection Card or equivalent ID document issued by the country of residence
c) Passport copy (If you do not currently have a valid passport, you must renew it by January 2027 or obtain one newly by October 2026)
d) High school graduate certificate or equivalent document
e) High school transcript for grades 10-12 or equivalent document
f) (If you are a university student or graduate) University certificate and transcript for registered terms
g) Recommendation letter (*A letter should not be written by anyone who is your family members, relatives or friends. Someone who knows your personality, and/or academic and life background will be appropriate.)
*Please check Frequently Asked Questions when preparing your application.
Supporting Organizations
Pathways Japan – Implementing Organization
It is a Japanese non-governmental and non-profit organization, supporting people with refugee experience abroad to be admitted to Japan and get higher education and employment. PJ succeeded Language School Pathways Programme from Japan Association for Refugees (JAR) on 1st July 2021.
Japanese Language Schools – Host Educational Institution
In 2027, around ten language schools are planning to admit youth with refugee backgrounds to learn Japanese language for 2 years from April 2027 to March 2029. You can refer to the website of one of the partner schools.
Japan ICU Foundation – Funding and Host Organization
The Japan ICU Foundation (JICUF) is a US non-profit organization based in New York. Since 2016, JICUF has partnered with JAR, and later with PJ, to administer the Syrian Scholars Initiative (SSI), a scholarship program for Syrian students to study at International Christian University (ICU) in Tokyo, Japan. JICUF currently provides funding to administer Language School Programs for Syrians, Afghans and Ukrainians. It also manages Japan Education Pathways for refugee-background youth living in Japan to access a scholarship to study at universities in Japan.
Application Timeline
| 2 (Sun) Aug 17:00-18:30 JST,(11:00-12:30 Turkiye time) | Online Info Session |
| 22(Wed)Jul –14(Thu)Aug | Application Period |
| 28 (Fri) Aug – 10 (Thu) Sep 2026 | Document screening |
| 11 (Fri) Sep 2026 (Planned) | Announcement of Document screening result (first screening) |
| 13 (Sun) Sep,19 (Sat), 20(Sun) | Trial Japanese language classes (online) |
| 14(Mon) Sep – 25(Fri)Sep 2026 | Interview (online) by Pathways Japan (second screening) |
| 8 (Thu) Oct 2026 (Planned) | Announcement of second screening result |
| 23(Fri)Oct – 30(Fri) Oct | Interview (online) by Japanese language schools (third screening) |
| 6 (Fri) Nov 2026 or later | Announcement of final results |
Note: Policy Change Regarding the Required Japanese Language Proficiency
The Government of Japan has recently introduced a new requirement for students enrolling in Japanese language schools from October 2026 onward.
However, if you have a university certificate issued in the countries designated by the Government of Japan in the list here, including Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and UAE, the A1 certificate described below will not be required.
So, for those of you who do not possess a university certificate issued in the countries listed above, please follow the instructions below.
Under this policy, applicants must demonstrate Japanese language proficiency equivalent to CEFR A1 or higher at the time of the entrance assessment. This requirement also applies to applicants for the Pathways Japan program.
The assessment will be conducted by the Japanese language school during the admission interview. Applicants who are assessed as not yet having reached the required A1 level will need to continue studying Japanese and may be asked to postpone their enrollment until July 2027 or April 2028.
Steps After Selection
| Between 8 Oct and mid Nov 2026 | Application for a school and residence status in Japan |
| Mid Nov 2026 – Mar 2027 | Preparatory Japanese online classes |
| Last week of Mar 2027 | Travel to Japan |
| Second week of Apr 2027 | School starts |
How to Apply
Application Period: Application is open from Thursday, 23rd July to Friday, 14th August, 2026.
▶ Application Form
For more details, you can refer to Program Guidance 2027 for JSLP.
Also, please check Frequently Asked Questions when preparing your application.