Translation guide
How to express 'apply for' in Japanese, covering job applications, school admissions, visa applications, and more.
To submit an application for employment or a specific position.
The most common and general verb for applying for a job or position. Used with the particle に.
I applied for that company.
I plan to apply for a part-time job.
A versatile verb meaning 'to apply' or 'to sign up'. Can be used for jobs, but also for courses, events, etc. Uses に.
Loanword from English 'entry', often used in the context of job hunting for new graduates (就活). Sounds slightly more casual/modern.
I applied to a major corporation.
To submit an application for admission to an educational institution or course.
The standard formal verb for applying to a school or university. Uses に.
To submit an application for a government-issued permit or document.
The standard verb for official applications (visa, passport, permit, etc.). Uses を.
To request a financial product from a bank or institution.
To submit a proposal or request for financial support.
To sign up to become a member of an organization or service.
応募する (oubo suru) is used when there is a selection process, like job applications or contests. 申し込む (moushikomu) is a general 'apply/sign up' for services, courses, memberships. 申請する (shinsei suru) is for official applications to authorities (visas, permits).
I applied for an internship.
I applied to the University of Tokyo.
To apply for graduate school, you need letters of recommendation.
Means 'to take an entrance exam', but often used to mean 'apply for' in the context of schools, as application and exam are closely linked. Uses を.
I plan to apply to that high school (and take the exam).
Can also be used for applying to courses or programs, especially non-degree or short-term ones. Uses に.
I applied for a Japanese language school.
You need to apply for a visa.
I applied for a passport renewal.
Can be used for some official applications, but 申請する is more precise for legal documents.
Apply for a certificate of residence.
The most common verb for applying for financial products. Uses に.
I applied for a credit card.
Apply for a home loan.
Also possible, but 申し込む is more natural for consumer financial products.
Apply for a loan.
Apply for a scholarship.
Also common, especially for research grants or more formal funding. Uses を.
Apply for research funding.
The standard verb for applying for membership or subscriptions. Uses に.
I applied for a gym membership.
Sign up for Netflix.
Means 'to register', often used for online services or memberships. Uses に or を.
Register on the site.
Sign up for a course.
Apply for a passport.
While 申し込む can technically be used for jobs, 応募する is much more natural and common. Using 申し込む for a job might sound like you're signing up for a service rather than applying for a position.