Applying to YIS
Yokohama International School serves the educational needs of the international community in Yokohama and the nearby Tokyo metropolitan area, in particular the children of foreign nationals here on temporary assignment for whom the local Japanese education system is not a viable option. We welcome children of all nationalities whose families are committed to an international educational curriculum in English, including children of Japanese nationals who have been educated exclusively or primarily in non-Japanese schools overseas or at other accredited international schools in Japan.
To get started with your application, review the Admissions Policy, Application Guide, and Application Timing tabs below. Our streamlined online application process provides a seamless experience for families applying to YIS.
If you have any questions about eligibility or other matters, please contact admissions@yis.ac.jp.
Admissions Policy
Admissions Policy
Yokohama International School is committed to the principle of equal opportunity in education and employment. The school does not discriminate against individuals on the basis of race, color, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, religion, disability, age, or national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational, admissions or employment policies. We may take into account factors including an applicant's prior educational and linguistic background for purposes of admission in order to fulfill the school's mission of providing education in the English language to the international community.
Furthermore, as an international school founded in 1924 and arising out of the spirit of internationalism that prevailed following the formation of the League of Nations, Yokohama International School supports the principles of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
See below for further details regarding our admissions policy.
- Eligibility
- Class Balance
- Grade Placement
- Screening, Documentation and Interviews
- Places Reserved for Students Newly Arriving in Japan
- Wait Pools
- Admissions Decisions
- Confirmation of Offer and Enrollment
Eligibility
English Language Ability
English is the language of instruction in all grades, and the ability to successfully access the curriculum within a reasonable time and to thrive in our English-language learning environment are the guiding principles for admission to the school. All YIS teachers are trained to support language acquisition and learning for non-native English speakers, and specialist English as an Additional Language (EAL) teachers provide additional support and instruction. We do not offer a separate ESL track within our academic program.
Early Learning Center and Elementary School: In the ELC and Elementary school children are admitted regardless of their level of English language proficiency, providing there are no other additional learning needs. However, we do not advise mid-year admission for Grade 5 students with minimal English ability. If we have some concerns regarding an applicant’s ability to access the curriculum, we may require the applicant to attend school on a trial basis without obligation. In the case of Grade 5 applicants applying mid-year, we may also request an EAL assessment.
Middle School: Students entering grades 6 – 8 must generally have sufficient competency in English in order to benefit from our learning programs. If we have some concern regarding an applicant’s ability to access the curriculum, we may administer a competency test. We may also ask parents to provide supplementary English tutoring at their own expense as a condition for admission.
High School: We offer a challenging learning program in grades 9 - 12 geared toward students planning to go on to college or university in North America, Europe and other areas of the world. Applicants must therefore have a fairly high degree of competency in English. Moreover, in order to obtain a YIS graduation diploma, students must have credits equivalent to four full years of high school English. (See Graduation Requirements.) If we have some concern regarding an applicant’s ability to access the curriculum, we may administer an academic assessment test. Assessment tests for Japan-resident applicants, if required, will be administered at YIS prior to the school year for which they are applying. Assessment tests for overseas applicants, if required, may be administered at the applicant’s current school if the school is able to monitor the test and return the results directly to YIS.
Learning Needs
We uphold the principles of a balanced education rooted in the firm belief in inclusion. Academic excellence is reflected in our philosophy of supporting and celebrating the diversity of learning needs within the school community. We endeavor to accommodate students with diverse learning needs to achieve their highest potential while celebrating their unique learning strengths and needs. Applicants with mild social/emotional issues, learning differences or other learning needs are referred to our learning support staff for review. Admissions decisions are made by the relevant principal based on the recommendation of the learning support staff and in consideration of available learning support resources. If we determine that we are unable to accommodate a candidate’s learning needs, we will endeavor to direct parents to more suitable options. However, it should be noted that there are limited English language-based resources to support children with additional learning needs in the Tokyo-Yokohama area.
Please note that any learning needs or social/emotional, physical or behavioral issues must be fully disclosed and described in detail in the application for admission. Reports of professional assessments, along with details of extra support the applicant is receiving, must also be provided at the time of application. Failure to fully disclose such information at this time may result in revocation of admission or, if discovered after enrollment, require withdrawal from school, and any school fees paid will not be refunded Should significant social/emotional/behavioral issues or learning differences become apparent following enrollment in the school, we reserve the right to review a student’s progress and determine the appropriateness of their continued enrollment in the school within the context of our learning support resources and capabilities and in consideration of the overall classroom environment. This review will include close consultation with parents but may also involve requiring parents to obtain external assessments as described in our Learning Support Policy. If we determine that we are unable to accommodate a student's learning needs, or if parents are unwilling to obtain requested external assessments, the student will not be able to continue enrollment at YIS.
Children of Japanese Nationals
Children whose parents are both Japanese nationals may be eligible for admission if the student has been educated exclusively or primarily at international or non-Japanese schools overseas or at other accredited international schools in Japan where English is the primary language of instruction. A limited number of spaces for Japanese nationals is also available in our ELC. Parents should understand that YIS is not a 'language school' for learning English but rather an international school with a distinct pedagogy in which the language of instruction is English. Admission of Japanese nationals, as is the case of nationals of any country, is also subject to our class balance policy.
Residence
YIS is a day school and does not have boarding facilities. Students must therefore reside with their parent(s) in a location within commuting distance to the school.
Parent Communication
At YIS we believe that partnership and close communication between parents, teachers and other school personnel is essential to student success and well-being. Because English is both the language of instruction at YIS and the primary language for communicating with parents, we require as a condition of admission and continuing enrollment that at least one parent who is residing with the student be able to speak and understand spoken English with school personnel without difficulty or assistance from others. In addition, the parent/legal guardian must be able to access and understand written communications from the school (e.g., email and web-based platforms including the parent portal).
Please note that the school reserves the right to rescind offers of admission or terminate enrollment without refund of fees if it is found that parents have misled the school regarding their English communications ability.
Early Learning Center
All ELC students must be able to use the toilet independently.
Class Balance
Grade Placement
YIS students come from a wide variety of educational backgrounds, including international and national school systems from around the world, and a complex range of circumstances. Our grade placement policy is based on many years of experience, the need to ensure the quality and consistency of our academic programs, and the ultimate aim to place students in the most appropriate grade for their academic and social development. In almost all cases, placement is determined by age as of September 1st in the academic year of entry. However, in considering grade placement we may make rare exceptions to this age-based protocol to ensure there is a continuity of the student’s education and that they have completed a grade before entering the next grade. In all cases, the final decision on grade placement lies with the school.
Early Learning Center – Early Learning Center is a mixed-age program comprised of children who have turned three years of age by September 1st in the year of entry and children who have turned four years of age by September 1st in the year of entry. The 3-year-olds enroll initially for a half-day program, which may be extended to a full-day program after the October break with the teacher’s recommendation and on parents' request. The 4-year-old children generally come for the full-day program, depending on parental choice.
Elementary School - Placement in all grades is determined by age as of September 1st in the academic year of entry as follows:
Entering Grade |
Age by September 1 |
Kindergarten | 5 |
Grade 1 | 6 |
Grade 2 | 7 |
Grade 3 | 8 |
Grade 4 | 9 |
Grade 5 | 10 |
Our September 1st cutoff date and grade placement protocol reflect what we believe to be the most appropriate classification for the social, emotional and academic well-being of children attending the school. Therefore, to ensure the most appropriate learning environment for all students in the elementary school, as noted earlier we rarely allow exceptions to the above grade placement protocol. The only exceptions that may be made are 1) when a student may be age appropriate for a certain grade level at YIS but has only completed a short term in the preceding grade, in which case the student will normally be expected to continue at that grade level, and 2) when a student may be age appropriate for a certain grade level at YIS but has already completed that grade level at another international school offering the Primary Years Program or a program closely aligned to the PYP philosophy, in which case the student would not normally be expected to repeat that grade if their portfolio suggests success at that completed grade level and depending on the date of entry.
Middle and High School – Grade placement for grades 6 – 12 is likewise made according to a September 1st cutoff date. The age and grade placement categories are as follows:
Entering Grade |
Age by September 1 |
Grade 6 | 11 |
Grade 7 | 12 |
Grade 8 | 13 |
Grade 9 | 14 |
Grade 10 | 15 |
Grade 11 | 16 |
Grade 12 | 17 |
For the same reasons mentioned above, grade placement for middle school and high school is almost always according to the above protocol. At the discretion of the principal, exceptions may be made if a student is already established in an equivalent class in another school system (for example, students transferring from schools in the Southern Hemisphere) and is considered able to access the relevant YIS curriculum for the grade. However, students under these circumstances who have completed grade 10 by February, will normally be placed in grade 10 until the end of the academic year. This will ensure the student has two full years in the IB Diploma Program in grades 11 and 12.
Screening, Documentation and Interviews
Early Learning Center – After initial screening of submitted pre-application information to confirm eligibility, we interview parents of all applicants to ELC, either in person for applicants already residing in Japan or online via Zoom for those living overseas. We then ask applicants to come into school for an informal play session and interview before formal acceptance can be offered.
ELC Applicants Residing Overseas: We accept and review overseas applications throughout the year. After reviewing application materials and interviewing parents, we may issue a provisional acceptance. We then invite the applicant to come into school after arriving in Japan for an informal play session and interview before formal acceptance can be offered. For those newly arriving in Japan, we make every effort to schedule the play session/interview and to review and decide upon applications as quickly as possible. The play session/interview, which enables applicants and teachers to meet and interact with each other in the actual school environment, helps to identify any issues that may affect the applicant’s ability to comfortably access the program, while also serving as an informal orientation for the children who are accepted to the ELC.
ELC Applicants Already Residing in Japan: Local applications for August entry are screened in bulk in the spring, and applicants already residing in Japan should apply by April 14th. After initial screening, parents may be invited to an in-person interview and applicants invited to a play session/interview, after which an offer of admission may be made.
Elementary School (Kindergarten) – After initial screening of submitted pre-application information to confirm eligibility, we interview parents of all applicants to Kindergarten either in person for applicants already residing in Japan or online via Zoom for those living overseas.
Kindergarten Applicants Residing Overseas: We accept and review overseas applications throughout the year. Following screening of all application materials and completion of online interview with parents, we may make an offer of admission.
Kindergarten Applicants Already Residing in Japan: Local applications for August entry are screened in bulk in the spring, and applicants already residing in Japan are advised to apply by late March. After initial screening, parents may be invited to an in-person interview and applicants invited to a play session/interview, after which an offer of admission may be made.
Elementary School (Grades 1 - 5) - Applicants for grades 1 – 5 are not required to have a formal interview, although we encourage families to visit the school either remotely or in person if possible. In reviewing an applicant’s suitability for admission we look at current/prior school records and confidential recommendations from a classroom teacher and another faculty member who knows the student well. Without obligation, we may also invite applicants to attend school on a trial basis to assess their ability to access the curriculum.
Middle School – Applicants for admission to grades 6 – 8 are not normally required to have a formal interview, although we encourage families to visit the school either remotely or in person if possible. In reviewing an applicant’s suitability for admission we look at their school records as well as two confidential recommendations, one from a current English teacher and the second from a faculty member who knows the student well. In instances in which we have some question regarding the applicant’s ability to access the curriculum, we may also require the applicant to take an assessment test. Prior to or after completion of the test, the student will normally be interviewed.
High School – We encourage all those applying for admission to grades 9 – 12 to visit the school either remotely or in person if possible. Japan-resident applicants seeking to transfer from other accredited international schools in Japan are invited to group tours in the fall. To ensure that candidates will be able to meet academic requirements for graduation from YIS, they may also be referred to our academic advisor, and the IBDP coordinator may wish to meet students applying for grade 11. In reviewing an applicant’s suitability for admission we look at their school records for the last three years (including official transcript(s) for any other high schools attended), as well as two confidential recommendations, one from a current English teacher and the second from a faculty member who knows the student well, and a math placement recommendation from a current mathematics teacher.
Places Reserved for Students Newly Arriving in Japan
Wait Pools
When placing an applicant in a wait pool, we try to provide the candidate with a realistic assessment of the chances and possible timing for admittance. However, candidates should be aware that, like most international schools, the enrollment situation at YIS is dynamic and often unpredictable. Parents of applicants in the wait pool are asked to submit updated school reports as they become available to confirm their wish to remain in the wait pool. We will of course notify applicants at the earliest opportunity if space does become available.
Admissions Decisions
Admissions staff and the principal of the school section for which the candidate is applying carefully review all applications. Other school personnel, such as learning and language support staff, counselors and vice principals, may also be involved in the review process as appropriate. Admissions decisions are made by the relevant principal.
Once the application is complete, including receipt of school records, confidential recommendations and payment of the application fee, we usually issue a decision within a few weeks for applicants applying from overseas. Decisions for applicants already residing in Japan are usually announced as follows:
- Late May for Japan-resident ELC applicants.
- On a rolling basis for Japan-resident elementary and middle school applicants when there is ample space in a grade, but late as April in grades where space is limited.
- Between late February and April for Japan-resident high school applicants.
When the admissions decision is available, we will notify parents by email and directly on the Admissions Portal. In the case of applicants accepted for admission, parents may indicate acceptance of the admission offer directly on the portal.
Admissions decisions are carefully considered based on a thorough and comprehensive review of all application materials. This includes close review of confidential recommendations provided by applicants’ current teachers and/or principals, and may also involve direct follow-up with the school for clarification or further information that could help us determine whether we are able to meet a candidate's range of needs in order for them to access our programs successfully within available support resources. Please understand that we are not able to disclose any information that is provided to us in confidence. As such, in cases where we decline an application for admission, we may not be able to provide details regarding our decision. Please note that admissions decisions are final and not subject to appeal.
Confirmation of Offer and Enrollment
Parents of accepted applicants are asked to accept or decline the offer of admission within one week of receiving notice. This should be done directly on the Admissions Portal (applicants accepted for entry in the 2023-24 school year) or by contacting our Admissions Office (applicants entering in the remainder of the 2022-23 school year). Once the offer has been accepted, we will send an invoice for the one-time, non-refundable Registration Fee, which is due within two weeks of receipt of invoice or two days before the student’s first day of attendance, whichever comes first, in order to reserve space for the applicant. We will also direct you to the online enrollment process, which must be completed within the indicated time period to formally confirm enrollment. These commitments must be made on a timely basis so that 1) we may ensure that places are held for accepted applicants who indeed wish to enroll and 2) in instances where accepted applicants choose other options, we may allocate places to other deserving candidates in the wait pool.
Application Guide
Application Guide
Our application process is managed through our Admissions Portal, which provides a centralized resource and seamless online experience for applicants, from the initial pre-application stage through completion of the application, notification of admission decision and, if accepted, on through online enrollment. If you have more than one child applying for admission, you will be able to manage all applications via your single portal account. The portal is structured as a series of checklist items for each applicant, which includes forms to be completed and reports and other documentation to upload. See below for a list of materials to prepare and our Frequently Asked Questions page for additional information and clarification regarding the Admissions Portal.
Admissions Process
- 1. Review Our Admissions Policy
- 2. FILL IN THE PRE-APPLICATION AND SET UP YOUR ADMISSIONS PORTAL ACCOUNT
- 3. OUR ADMISSIONS TEAM REVIEWS YOUR PRE-APPLICATION
- 4. COMPLETE APPLICATION IN THE ADMISSIONS PORTAL AND PAY APPLICATION FEE
- 5. WE REVIEW YOUR APPLICATION AND NOTIFY YOU OF OUR ADMISSION DECISION
- 6. RESPOND TO ADMISSIONS DECISION
- 7. COMPLETE ONLINE ENROLLMENT AND PAY REGISTRATION FEE
1. Review Our Admissions Policy
Before starting the application process, please make sure to review our Admissions Policy, in particular the sections on Eligibility, and review the Application Timing tab. If you are unsure about whether your child is eligible for admission or have questions regarding any other aspect of the admissions process, please contact our Admissions Office at admissions@yis.ac.jp or +81(0)45-622-5590.
2. FILL IN THE PRE-APPLICATION AND SET UP YOUR ADMISSIONS PORTAL ACCOUNT
Application process for the 2024 - 2025 and 2025 - 2026 school year
If you do not have any children enrolled at YIS, when you are ready to start the applications process, go to our Pre-application Form to provide some basic information regarding your child(ren) who wish to apply, your family and to create an account for the Admissions Portal. After setting up your account, you will return to the portal to complete a few additional steps and submit the pre-application.
For families that already have a child(ren) enrolled at YIS and wish to apply for another child, please log into your Veracross Parent Portal, click on the "Change Portal" tab at the top-center of your screen (displayed beside the "Parent Portal" logo), then click on the "Admissions" icon in the dropdown menu that appears. Your application process will then begin in the Veracross Admissions Portal.
The school year runs from August to June.
The application process for the 2026 - 2027 school year will open in early November 2025.
3. OUR ADMISSIONS TEAM REVIEWS YOUR PRE-APPLICATION
Once you have completed all the requested information for the pre-application, our Admissions Team will review your submission to confirm eligibility to apply and any additional information that may be required. Should we have any questions regarding eligibility, we will follow up with you by email. If there are no issues regarding eligibility, we will notify you to return to the Admissions Portal to complete your application.
4. COMPLETE APPLICATION IN THE ADMISSIONS PORTAL AND PAY APPLICATION FEE
When you return to the Admissions Portal, you will see a further checklist of forms to fill out and documents to upload. This may take some time to complete, as we wish to get as full a picture as possible about your child(ren) to ensure their suitability for our learning program and our ability to support and help them thrive at YIS. You will also be guided in this process to provide names and email contact information for the teachers and/or other school staff at your child(ren)’s current schools who will be providing confidential recommendations directly to us via online forms. In order to complete the application stage so that we may begin screening your application, you will also need to pay the non-refundable ¥35,000 Application Fee via secure online payment by credit card.
5. WE REVIEW YOUR APPLICATION AND NOTIFY YOU OF OUR ADMISSION DECISION
Once you have completed all application checklist items and paid the Application Fee, our Admissions Team will review your application and notify you of our admission decision via email and the Admissions Portal. See the Application Timing tab for details regarding notification timing, which varies based on location and grade level of applicants, entry date and other factors. Decisions may include an offer of admission, denial of application, placement in a wait pool or request for additional screening.
6. RESPOND TO ADMISSIONS DECISION
Our decision letter will be posted in your Admissions Portal. If you receive an offer of admission from us, you will see a link there asking you to confirm acceptance of the offer. Depending on the time of the year, once you accept the offer you may also be directed right away to a link to begin our online enrollment process. We normally open up online enrollment in mid-March for children entering in the succeeding school year. If you receive an offer of admission before that time, we will notify you by email when online enrollment is ready to be accessed.
7. COMPLETE ONLINE ENROLLMENT AND PAY REGISTRATION FEE
For the online enrollment process, you will be asked to view and confirm household information, including emergency contacts; acknowledge various school policies and indicate permissions; and complete an enrollment agreement. You will also receive an invoice and information for paying the non-refundable Registration Fee. After completing the online enrollment process and paying the one-time, non-refundable Registration Fee, enrollment will be complete.
Materials To Prepare
In addition to completing various online forms in the Admissions Portal as part of the pre-application and application process, you will be asked to upload a range of documents. Details will be provided in the portal, but the key materials that you will need to prepare include the following:
Pre-Application Stage
- Digital photo of the applicant
Application Stage
Early Learning Center (ELC) Applicants
- Digital copy of passport photo page
- Contact name and school email address for nursery/pre-school faculty member who will be completing a confidential recommendation for the applicant (if applicant is attending nursery/pre-school)
- Certificate of physical examination (signed by a physician)
Elementary School Applicants
- Digital copy of passport photo page
- Digital copies of official school grade reports for one academic year
- Contact name and school email address for classroom teacher and other faculty member who will be completing the confidential recommendations for the applicant
- Certificate of physical examination (signed by a physician)
Middle School Applicants
- Digital copy of passport photo page
- Digital copies of official school grade reports for one academic year
- Contact names and school email addresses for English teacher and other faculty member who will be completing the confidential recommendations for the applicant
- Certificate of physical examination (signed by a physician)
High School Applicants
- Digital copy of passport photo page
- Digital copies of official school grade reports for the three most recent academic years
- Digital copy of official transcript from any current or previous high school(s) attended in grade 9 and above
- Contact names and school email addresses for English teacher and other faculty member who will be completing the confidential recommendations for the applicant
- Contact name and school email address for mathematics teacher who will be completing a math placement recommendation for the applicant
- Certificate of physical examination (signed by a physician)
Applicants with Learning Support Needs
- Digital copy of IEP or similar learning support plan if available
- Other relevant documentation as may be requested
Japanese Applicants
- If applicant and both parents are Japanese citizens, a letter from parents stating reasons for applying to international school
Application Timing
Application Timing
Applicants Residing Outside Japan - Rolling Admissions
We accept and review overseas applications throughout the year on an as-received basis. Once the application is complete, including receipt of all required documents and payment of the application fee, we usually notify applicants of our admission decision within a few weeks. Although we do not have set application deadlines for applicants coming from outside Japan, because of high demand for spaces we encourage you to apply by early March (early February for high school applicants) for entry at the beginning of the school year in August. If you wish to start in January (all grades except Grade 11 and 12), we advise you to apply by early November. For those considering Grade 11 and 12, please contact our Admissions Department for further information.
Applicants Already Residing in Japan - Admission Periods
Applicants already residing in Japan may apply to enroll at the beginning of the school year. Under special circumstances (such as transfer from schools running on a Japanese school calendar), and at the discretion of the relevant principal, mid-year enrollment may also be allowed. Japan-resident applications for certain grades (ELC and high school) are reviewed in bulk and decisions announced per the table below.
Key Dates for Applicants Already Residing in Japan (for August 2025 Entry)
ELC | Elementary | Middle School | High School | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Application Deadline* | April 18, 2025 | No deadline (advised by March 31, 2025) | No deadline (advised by March 31, 2025) | Jan. 24, 2025 |
Decision Notification | Early May 2025 | Rolling notification for grades with ample space availability; early May 2025 for grades with limited spaces. | Rolling notification for grades with ample space availability; early May 2025 for grades with limited spaces. | End of February 2025 for initial notification. |
* Applications submitted after the dates above will still be considered, but space availability is likely to be limited.
Contact Admissions
Our admissions office is located on the second floor of the North Building and is open from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm when school is in session. We are open from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm during the summer break, but are closed during the fall, winter and spring breaks.
Susan Chen Admissions & Student Affairs Manager |
Sophie Kitayama Admissions Assistant |
Eileen Ward Admissions Assistant |
Phone: +81 (0) 45 622 5590 | admissions@yis.ac.jp |