AV Guide Logo
AV Guide
AI Visa OfficerNewWait TimesApproval Rates
Blog
Practice With AI OfficerPractice

Practice with the AI Visa Officer

A live voice interview for F-1, B1/B2, F-2, J-1 and H-1B, with a verdict, a readiness score, and every answer reviewed. Your first one is free.

Start Free Interview

AV Guide

Get US Visa Approved in 1st Try

Interview practice and real visa data for applicants from 30+ countries.

AI Visa Officer

  • OverviewNew
  • How it works
  • Pricing
  • My interviews

F-1 · B1/B2 · F-2 · J-1 · H-1B

Free Tools

  • Interview questions
  • Document checklistNew
  • Visa approval rates
  • Visa wait times
  • Approval calculator
  • Study cost calculator

Company

  • Blog
  • Interview questions
  • About us
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms & conditions
hello@afnovisaguide.com
PartnersCalqoraAfno GuideMyDocsGenerator

AI Visa Officer is an interview practice tool. AV Guide is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of State, any embassy or consulate, and nothing here is legal or immigration advice.

© 2026 AV Guide · Made for visa dreamers worldwide

Advertisement
Back to F-1 Visa Countries
Flag of Japan

F-1 Visa Approvals in Japan

How many F-1 visa applications U.S. Embassies and Consulates in Japan approved, by fiscal year and by post. Every visa issued is an approved application.

The State Department publishes issuance counts for this visa class but not refusals, so there is no approval rate to report and none is shown. Figures run from March 2017 to September 2025.

Visas approved per year: Japan

Totals by U.S. fiscal year, which runs October to September, so FY2025 covers October 2024 to September 2025. Refusals are not published for this visa class, so an approval rate cannot be shown.

04K7K11K15KVisas approvedFiscal yearFY2017: 11,371 approved11KFY17FY2018: 14,832 approved15KFY18FY2019: 14,061 approved14KFY19FY2020: 5,445 approved5KFY20FY2021: 6,102 approved6KFY21FY2022: 11,998 approved12KFY22FY2023: 10,367 approved10KFY23FY2024: 9,419 approved9KFY24FY2025: 7,307 approved7KFY25

7,307

FY2025

14,832

Peak (FY2018)

-22.4%

vs FY2024

Advertisement

How Japan compares for F-1 visas

Against every country that received a F-1 visa in FY2025.

#7

of 197 countries

6,913

Approved in FY2025

2.4%

Of the world total

287,678

Issued worldwide

Fewest (197th)Most (1st)
Advertisement

Which consulate in Japan approves the most

F-1 visas issued at each post in FY2025, as a share of the 7,307 issued across Japan.

  • Tokyo4,68264.1%
  • Osaka/Kobe2,54134.8%
  • Naha841.1%

How each Japan consulate has changed

F-1 visas approved per fiscal year, by post. The share chart shows who is largest today; this shows who is rising.

TokyoOsaka/KobeNaha
02K5K7K9KVisas approvedFiscal yearTokyo, FY2017: 7,316 approvedTokyo, FY2018: 9,460 approvedTokyo, FY2019: 9,104 approvedTokyo, FY2020: 3,330 approvedTokyo, FY2021: 4,535 approvedTokyo, FY2022: 7,507 approvedTokyo, FY2023: 6,779 approvedTokyo, FY2024: 6,259 approvedTokyo, FY2025: 4,682 approvedOsaka/Kobe, FY2017: 3,947 approvedOsaka/Kobe, FY2018: 5,251 approvedOsaka/Kobe, FY2019: 4,819 approvedOsaka/Kobe, FY2020: 2,073 approvedOsaka/Kobe, FY2021: 1,530 approvedOsaka/Kobe, FY2022: 4,408 approvedOsaka/Kobe, FY2023: 3,535 approvedOsaka/Kobe, FY2024: 3,094 approvedOsaka/Kobe, FY2025: 2,541 approvedNaha, FY2017: 108 approvedNaha, FY2018: 121 approvedNaha, FY2019: 138 approvedNaha, FY2020: 42 approvedNaha, FY2021: 37 approvedNaha, FY2022: 83 approvedNaha, FY2023: 53 approvedNaha, FY2024: 66 approvedNaha, FY2025: 84 approvedFY17FY18FY19FY20FY21FY22FY23FY24FY25
Advertisement

When F-1 visas are approved in Japan

Average approvals per calendar month across 4 complete years. Busiest month is Jul, quietest is Oct.

897
868
563
628
948
2k
2k
1k
228
184
451
783
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Calendar months, not fiscal. A busy month means more applications competing for the same interview slots, not a better chance of approval.

Advertisement

Monthly Visa Issuance Data

Month201720182019202020212022202320242025
Jan-1,1801,2501,092114-642517580
Feb-1,2611,167934204482543500452
Mar951780670395293540446357259
Apr9238108491348621419432426
May1,2101,0289477-876956859523
Jun2,2562,3072,029161,2721,8951,9061,7021,162
Jul3,2973,0233,0024191,5602,9622,0221,843622
Aug2,0831,6731,6525739421,3281,3461,1681,543
Sep330282254-246218165209415
Oct246226242238191134134132-
Nov606615537253462308359294-
Dec1,2169251,002373-810700505-

Fiscal Year Visa Issuance

Fiscal YearVisas ApprovedChange on YearRelative to peak
FY20257,307▼22.4%
FY20249,419▼9.1%
FY202310,367▼13.6%
FY202211,998▲96.6%
FY20216,102▲12.1%
FY20205,445▼61.3%
FY201914,061▼5.2%
FY201814,832▲30.4%
FY201711,371—

Consulate-Specific Data

Naha
View detailed approval data →
Osaka/Kobe
View detailed approval data →
Tokyo
View detailed approval data →

F-1 interview prep

The numbers are history. Your interview is not.

Nothing on this page changes your odds. What happens in the two minutes at the window does. Face a live AI visa officer for the F-1 as applicants in Japan face it, answer out loud under follow-up pressure, and get a readiness score with feedback on every answer.

Practise your F-1 interviewFirst session free. No card required.

How do your own odds compare?

The figures above count everyone who was approved for a F-1 in Japan. They say nothing about your case. Answer a few questions and get an assessment of your own profile, the areas most likely to cost you the interview, and what to do about each one.

US Visa Approval Calculator

Answer the questions below to get a read on your profile, grouped into short steps.

Your result opens after a free Google sign-in at the end. We ask so your evaluation is saved and you can compare it after you have made changes.

Evaluating for F1 - Student Visa in Japan.

Step 1 of 7

Questions 1–5 of 28

Prefer to practise instead of measure? Face a live AI visa officer. The first interview is free.

View F-1 Visa Issuance Trends for Other Countries

Flag of Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Flag of Albania
Albania
Flag of Algeria
Algeria
Flag of Andorra
Andorra
Flag of Angola
Angola
🏳️
Anguilla
🏳️
Antigua And Barbuda
Flag of Argentina
Argentina
Flag of Armenia
Armenia
Flag of Australia
Australia
Flag of Austria
Austria
Flag of Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Advertisement
Advertisement

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the approval rate for F-1 visas in Japan?
There is no published approval rate for F-1 visas. The State Department reports how many visas it issued but not how many it refused, and a rate needs both. This page shows the issuance counts that genuinely exist for Japan.
How many F-1 visas does Japan get?
The tables and charts above show issuances by U.S. fiscal year, which runs October to September, and where the data allows, by individual consulate. These counts come directly from the State Department's monthly issuance tables.
What factors affect F-1 visa approval in Japan?
Factors include the completeness and accuracy of your application, supporting documents, interview performance, and the specific consulate's workload and policies. Common reasons for refusal include missing documents, insufficient ties to home country, or unclear travel purpose.
How can I improve my chances of getting a F-1 visa in Japan?
Prepare thoroughly for your interview, provide honest and complete information, and ensure all documents are in order. Review common mistakes and tips provided above, and consider seeking professional guidance if you have a complex case.
Where does this visa data come from?
All figures are sourced from published U.S. Department of State statistics. We update them as new monthly and annual tables are released.

Related Services

  • Visa Interview Preparation Paid Service – Get US Visa Interview preparation tips and personalized advice from our experts.
  • Visa Approval Calculator – Estimate your approval chances with our AI-powered tool.
  • Visa Interview Wait Times – Check current wait times for US consulates worldwide.
  • Visa Interview Tips & Guides – Read expert advice and articles.
Advertisement

Data Source & Transparency

Data Source: All visa approval statistics are compiled from the official U.S. Department of State’s annual visa statistics reports. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, visit the U.S. Department of State Visa Statistics.

Methodology: These are counts of visas issued, taken from the State Department’s monthly issuance tables. No approval rate is shown because refusals are not published per country or per post, and a rate cannot be calculated without them. Figures exclude cases under administrative processing and are subject to reporting delays.

Disclaimer: This website is not affiliated with the U.S. government. All data is provided for informational purposes only. For official guidance, always refer to the U.S. Department of State or your local U.S. embassy/consulate.

Advertisement