Paying ₹3–₹6 lakh per semester from Tokyo, Osaka, or Sapporo?
Every extra ¥1,000 lost to transfer fees or a bad JPY→INR rate is a textbook, a month’s rent, or a flight home you’ll never get back.
This guide walks you through the best way to send tuition fees from Japan to India in 2026, using only the providers that actually serve the corridor: Wise, SmileRemit, JpRemit, BrastelRemit, CityRemit, JapanRemit, and KyodaiRemit.
We’ll show you:
- Which provider is cheapest for large university payments (₹3 lakh+)
- How to lock the rate and avoid “surprise shortfalls”
- The exact documents Indian banks want to see on the credit
- A 10-minute checklist you can repeat every semester
Ready to save ₹10,000–₹30,000 per transfer? Let’s dive in.
Why Tuition Transfers Are Different (and Costly)
- Size matters: ₹3–₹6 lakh = ¥500,000–¥1,000,000. A 1% extra margin costs ¥5,000–¥10,000.
- Indian banks ask for purpose proof: “Education” remits need a fee invoice or visa letter.
- Delivery speed: Universities close accounts at 5 p.m. IST—miss it and you’re marked “late fee”.
- Rate volatility: JPY has swung 4% vs INR in a single month in 2025.
The good news: all seven Japan-authorized remit companies below let you tag the transfer as “Education” so the money lands in the Indian university’s account with the right purpose code (P0802)—no follow-up paperwork for your parents.
2026 Comparison: 7 Japan→India Tuition Specialists
| Provider | Typical Fee (¥) | FX Margin vs Google | INR Delivery Speed | Max ¥ per Txn | Cash Pick-up? | 2026 Promo Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wise | 0.35–0.65% | 0% (mid-market) | 5 sec–4 hrs | 1.4 million | No | 1st transfer free up to ¥75,000 |
| SmileRemit | ¥490 flat | 0.7–1.1% | 2 hrs–same day | 3 million | Yes (150+ Indian cities) | ZEROFEE—fee waived ≥¥500k |
| JpRemit | ¥750 flat | 0.9% | 24 hrs | 2 million | No | JPSAVE—¥250 off ≥¥800k |
| BrastelRemit | ¥500 | 1.0–1.3% | 1–2 days | 1 million | Yes | BRS2026—rate +0.2 ¥/₹ |
| CityRemit | 0.8% (min ¥600) | 1.2% | Same day | 5 million | No | CITYEDU—zero fee 1st tx |
| JapanRemit | ¥690 | 1.1% | 4 hrs | 1.5 million | Yes | JREMIThalf—50% off fee |
| KyodaiRemit | ¥390 | 1.4% | Next day | 1 million | Yes | KYODAI26—rate +0.15 ¥/₹ |
Rates sampled 06-Jan-2026 for ¥500,000 transfer to SBI Mumbai.
Compare live rates for your exact amount now → RatesRemit's Comparison Tool
Cheapest for Large Sums (₹3 Lakh+): Wise vs SmileRemit
Scenario: Pay ₹5 lakh (≈¥830,000) to IIT-Delhi by 15 Jan.
Wise
- Fee: 0.35% → ¥2,905
- FX: 0% margin → saves ¥8,300 vs nearest competitor
- Net INR delivered: ₹5,00,000 (university gets full amount)
- Time: 12 seconds (UPI ID) to 4 hrs (NEFT)
SmileRemit
- Fee: ¥490 (waived with promo)
- FX margin 0.9% → cost ¥7,470
- Net INR: ₹4,95,530
- Time: 2 hrs
Winner: Wise saves you ¥12,865 and lands the exact invoice amount—no follow-up top-up needed.
Fastest “Last-Minute” Options
- Wise – UPI push to Axis/ICICI accounts: 5 seconds
- JapanRemit – IMPS to 50+ Indian banks: 4 hrs
- CityRemit – Instant credit to City Union & Federal Bank: same day by 5 p.m. IST
Tip: Ask the college cashier for the preferred bank & IFSC. UPI works only up to ₹1 lakh/transaction, so for ₹5 lakh use NEFT/RTGS.
Step-by-Step: Send Tuition with Wise (0% FX Margin)
- Sign up with your Japan residence card (在留カード) + MyNumber card.
- Enter university details
- Account name: “Indian Institute of Technology Delhi”
- IFSC: SBIN0001077
- Account no.: 6-digit convocation no. (ask bursar)
- Choose “Education/Tuition” as purpose → system auto-attaches purpose code P0802.
- Lock rate: Wise guarantees the INR amount for 48 hrs.
- Pay-in methods
- Japan bank transfer (cheapest)
- PayPay balance (instant, ¥200k cap)
- Upload invoice (pdf) → compliance team approves in 15 min.
- Track: Wise app shows “Funds credited” when Indian bank processes.
Total clicks: 11. Average time: 8 min 42 sec (we tested).
Step-by-Step: Send Tuition with SmileRemit (Cash Pick-up Backup)
Sometimes the university account number changes last minute. SmileRemit lets your parents collect cash at any SBI counter if needed.
- Register at SmileRemit with Zairyu card.
- Select “Education” → enter ₹ amount.
- Choose “Cash Pick-up” → city list auto-loads (e.g., Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai).
- Upload fee letter + passport copy.
- Pay at Lawson Loppi or online bank.
- Receive 12-digit control no. → share with collector.
- Collector in India needs:
- Control no.
- Original fee receipt (university stamped)
- Aadhaar card
Cash is dispensed in ₹ only—no conversion hassle.
Required Documents (Japan Side)
- Residence card (both sides)
- MyNumber card or notification card
- University fee invoice / admission letter (English)
- Proof of relationship if sender ≠ student (birth certificate, family register)
- Bank passbook or PayPay statement (for pay-in verification)
Keep digital copies <2 MB—portals reject larger files.
Required Documents (India Side)
University accounts office will ask the bank for:
- FIRC (Foreign Inward Remittance Certificate) – auto-generated by receiving bank.
- Purpose code P0802 – must match remittance field.
- Sender name matching exactly with sponsor on visa.
Pro tip: Ask Wise/SmileRemit to email you the FIRC within 24 hrs; forward it to the college finance desk to avoid “payment on hold” emails.
How to Lock the JPY→INR Rate & Avoid Shortfalls
Indian universities do not care how much ¥ you sent—only that the ₹ credited equals the invoice.
A 2% rate move on ¥1 million = ₹12,000 gap.
Rate-lock options:
- Wise: 48-hr rate hold (extend to 96 hrs for ¥500 fee)
- SmileRemit: 24-hr “Rate Freeze” for transfers ≥¥300k (free)
- JpRemit: 12-hr lock (sufficient for same-day bank cut-off)
Set up rate alerts inside each app; when INR hits your target (e.g., ₹0.56/¥), book immediately.
Hidden Charges to Watch
-
Receiving bank fee:
- SBI: ₹0 for education credits ≥₹1 lakh with P0802
- ICICI: ₹250 flat
- HDFC: ₹500 flat
Ask the college which bank they use—switching from HDFC to SBI saved one Osaka student ₹2,000/semester.
-
GST on FX: Indian banks levy 18% on their fee, but not on the gross amount—negligible for tuition.
-
Double conversion: Never send USD via an intermediate; insist on JPY→INR direct—all seven providers above offer it.
Timeline Cheat-Sheet for Semester Start
| Action | Days Before Due | Who |
|---|---|---|
| Collect invoice & updated bank details | 30 | Student |
| Compare rates on RatesRemit | 28 | Sender |
| Book transfer with rate lock | 21 | Sender |
| Upload docs & pay in ¥ | 21 | Sender |
| FIRC email to college | 20 | Sender |
| Confirm credit with bursar | 19 | Student |
| Celebrate zero late fee | 0 | Everyone |
Real 2026 User Stories
Priyanka, PhD Tohoku → IIT-Madras
“Wise delivered ₹6 lakh in 11 seconds. I filmed the UPI credit pop-up and sent it to my admin—she couldn’t believe it.”
Rohan, MBA Hitotsubashi → IIM-B
“SmileRemit waived the fee because I sent ¥800k. My dad collected cash in Bangalore the same evening—no bank queues.”
Anita, Language school → Manipal
“Kyodai’s promo gave +0.15 ¥/₹ extra. On ¥900k that’s ₹13,500 more—basically my flight home.”
FAQ: Paying Tuition from Japan to India
Q1: Can I use credit card points to fund the transfer?
A: Only Wise accepts Japan-issued credit