Introduction

The Work Visa is not intended for study, and is not really within the scope of this guide. However, it is possible to study briefly on the work visa if you secure a break from your job.

Applications:

If you want to get a work visa, then you need to find a company that will sponsor you for the visa. New companies (less than one year old) cannot sponsor visas for foreigners, and they need to show sufficient turnover to provide the salary - which is generally at least 3 million yen. There also needs to be demonstrable proof that the job requires a foreigner, and cannot be done by a local worker.

You will have to submit a range of forms, which your company will obtain for you from the immigration office. You will also have to include a curriculum vitae (resume) in Japanese. Generally companies will handle such details for you.

Getting the visa:

It used to be necessary to leave the country in order to get the visa, but it is now usually possible to change in Japan from a tourist or other visa to a work visa, provided you complete the work visa application as usual. There is no easy way to get a work visa - getting a tourist visa and being in Japan will not make the application any easier for you (see note below). The visa will be issued either at the Japanese Consulate if you are outside Japan, or at the nearest Immigration Office if in Japan.

Categories of work visa available are listed below:

Professor
Artist
Religious Activities
Journalist
Investor/Business Manager
Legal/Accounting Services
Medical Services
Researcher
Instructor
Engineer
Specialist in Humanities/
International Services
Intracompany Transferee
Entertainer
Skilled Labor

Study on a work visa:

It is not normally possible to study for a prolonged period on a work visa, but for short studies of up to about one month, you can usually get permission to study with a letter from your employer stating that they release you to study for the defined period of a course and that you will be returning to work for that company after the course is completed.

Assistance with finding work:

Education Japan is unable to offer advice or assistance on finding work in Japan.

Note regarding changing to a work visa:

Sometimes, people think that it will be easier to get a work visa when they are in Japan. It is easier in the sense that it will be easier to search for a job when you can go to companies in person. However, it makes absolutely no difference to the actual application. Just because you got a tourist visa does not mean that you will get a work visa more easily. You still need to complete all the same documents.

The same is true for student visas: just because you are in Japan on a tourist visa does not make it easier to get the student visa. You still need to complete all the same documents, and submit applications by the same deadlines.