Requirements for Admission

To be admitted to the NDA, an applicant must

Be a citizen of Japan between the age of 18 and 20, or between 18 and 22 if he or she is on active duty in JSDF, on April 1 of the year of matriculation.
Be in good health and of good character.
Have graduated from high school when admitted to the academy, or have completed the equivalent of a high- school diploma that is recognized by the Ministry of Education and Science, or have completed the third year of a higher technical school.

The entrance examination consists of (1) a written examination, (2) a personal interview, and (3) a physical examination.

Entrance Ceremony

Foreign applicants may be admitted by agreement between Japan and the country of origin. Foreign applicants must have a high-school or secondary-school diploma equivalent to that from a Japanese high school certified by the School Education Law of Japan.

Foreign cadets can take the Japanese language course on campus for one year should they require it. Foreign applicants must be under the age of 22on April 1 of the year of their matriculation, and those enrolling in the Japanese-language course must be under age 21 on that date.