Financial Aid Application Process

While the application for financial aid is online, it is still best for newly applying families to contact the Admissions & Development Office prior to completing the form to ensure that general information or help with questions can be provided if needed and to confirm that the student could be a viable candidate for admissions. Applying families must be aware of the Application Window Periods as application reviews will only happen during those times.  All matters concerning scholarships (inquiries, communication, applications, and decisions) will be handled confidentially

Newly applying students must be recognized as viable candidates for admission before beginning the financial aid application process, and the Application Fee must be paid in full. You will need to upload all financial aid supporting documentation online to the folder you are directed to, and this entire process must be done at the same time as the application for admissions process and within one of the four Application Windows for financial aid.

Applications will only be reviewed during an Application Window period, and the application will not be considered by the Financial Aid Committee until all required documentation has been uploaded.

Please note that it is strongly recommended that you have a gmail account in order to upload documents to your private folder within our Google Drive. If you do not have a gmail account, we recommend that you create one just for this. If you wish not to, please read HERE for an alternative method. 

You will need to digitally upload all supporting documents directly into your folder within our private Google Drive using this link.

 

Please see below for a list of required documents:

The type of documents that are required to submit vary depending on (1) your family’s employment status, (2) the origin of your income/assets, and (3) the status of any dependents. For further information, please follow the directions below. In addition, you may be requested to provide additional documentation based on your application. 

(1) Employment Status

• If the parent/guardian is an employee of a company or organization, a Kazeishoumeisho is required to submit (official income statement issued from city office in Japan). Note: Gensen choshuhyo (annual income statement issued by employer) is not an acceptable document to submit.
• If the parent/guardian is self-employed/run a business, both a Kazeishoumeisho (official income statement issued from the city office in Japan) AND Profit/Loss documentation from the past three years is required to upload. Please also note that the business must have been registered in Japan for three years, and also show proof of tax filing with the Japanese National Tax Agency for the past three years. 

(2) Origin of income/assets

• If the parent/guardian has income/assets only in Japan, a bank balance certificate from ALL  banks that are issued 1 month from the date the application was submitted must also be uploaded.
• If the parent/guardian has income/assets inside AND/OR outside Japan, similar documents from ALL banks based inside AND outside of Japan must be submitted. Please note that translation is required if the information is not provided in either Japanese or English (self-translation is acceptable). 

(3) Dependents (non-working adults/children residing with the student or receiving support)

• If you have other dependents within Japan only, you need to submit documents to validate relationships with the family. In Japan, dependents are recognized in the Kazeishoumeisho. If your Financial Aid application is identifying someone as a dependent but who is not recognized in your Kazeishoumeisho, then their individual Kazeishoumesho must also be submitted (if they are over 18 years old).
• If you are supporting dependents/family members outside of Japan, you must submit proof of support payments and proof of a relationship (birth certificate, marriage certificate, etc.)

Efforts will be made to schedule both admissions and financial aid interviews on the same day. Admissions interviews are conducted with the Principals; financial aid interviews are with the Head of School and, where possible, members of the Financial Aid Committee.

Notification regarding aid will be sent to applicants via email as soon as possible. Any appeal of a decision should be immediate and should follow these steps:

• Clarify and confirm the decision by contacting the Financial Aid Committee;
• If the concern is not resolved, submit a written request to the Financial Aid Committee via the Financial Aid office (financialaid@nis.ac.jp) for reconsideration of the application.

The application windows for Financial Aid happen four times a year. Applications are only reviewed during these periods. Current NIS families wishing to apply for financial aid for the first time for the next academic year must initiate the application process within the March application window to coincide with the re-enrollment process. All other window periods are reserved for newly incoming/newly applying families. However, current families can apply during other application window periods in the event of sudden need for support due to an unforeseen exceptional case. Applications will not be considered until all required documentation has been submitted within the application window, including tax documents.

Please see below for a list of required documents:

The type of documents that are required to submit vary depending on (1) your family’s employment status, (2) the origin of your income/assets, and (3) the status of any dependents. For further information, please follow the directions below. In addition, you may be requested to provide additional documentation based on your application. 

(1) Employment Status

• If the parent/guardian is an employee of a company or organization, a Kazeishoumeisho is required to submit (official income statement issued from city office in Japan). Note: Gensen choshuhyo (annual income statement issued by employer) is not an acceptable document to submit.
• If the parent/guardian is self-employed/run a business, both a Kazeishoumeisho (official income statement issued from the city office in Japan) AND Profit/Loss documentation from the past three years is required to upload. Please also note that the business must have been registered in Japan for three years, and also show proof of tax filing with the Japanese National Tax Agency for the past three years. 

(2) Origin of income/assets

• If the parent/guardian has income/assets only in Japan, a bank balance certificate from ALL  banks that are issued 1 month from the date the application was submitted must also be uploaded.
• If the parent/guardian has income/assets inside AND/OR outside Japan, similar documents from ALL banks based inside AND outside of Japan must be submitted. Please note that translation is required if the information is not provided in either Japanese or English (self-translation is acceptable). 

(3) Dependents (non-working adults/children residing with the student or receiving support)

• If you have other dependents within Japan only, you need to submit documents to validate relationships with the family. In Japan, dependents are recognized in the Kazeishoumeisho. If your Financial Aid application is identifying someone as a dependent but who is not recognized in your Kazeishoumeisho, then their individual Kazeishoumesho must also be submitted (if they are over 18 years old).
• If you are supporting dependents/family members outside of Japan, you must submit proof of support payments and proof of a relationship (birth certificate, marriage certificate, etc.)

The Financial Aid Committee will determine if an interview is needed.

Notification regarding aid will be sent to applicants as soon as possible from the Financial Aid Office. Any appeal of a decision should be immediate and should follow these steps:

• Clarify and confirm the decision by contacting the Financial Aid Committee;
• If the concern is not resolved, submit a written request to the Financial Aid Committee via the Financial Aid office (financialaid@nis.ac.jp) for reconsideration of the application.