Guide to Getting into Japan

Coming to Japan as a teacher or student
So you have always dreamed of coming to Japan. Ever since you can remember you have been fascinated with everything Japanese and you know that you are destined to live in Japan. If this is you then this guide is just what you have been looking for. Here are the most effective strategies for getting into Japan and starting a new life in Japan.

Work Visa
First, to come to Japan to live you need a good reason. Just because you like Dragon Ball Z and might have picked up some Japanese phrases from the last Miyazaki film doesn't give you the legal right to come to Japan and start a new life. Instead, to come to Japan you are going to need a good reason to come. The two easiest and valid reasons are to come as a student or to come for work. To come as a student you are probably going to need some financial help. Don't worry, there are plenty of ways. Refer to the Coming to Japan as a Student or Coming to Japan as a graduate student guides for more information on different scholarships for study in Japan. Like mentioned before, the other reason is to come to Japan for work. Unfortunately, you can't just fly over to Japan and start working (at least, legally you can't). Instead, you are going to need a work visa.

To obtain a work visa you will need sponsorship by a Japanese company or a foreign company operating in Japan. Basically, the company signs some forms for you, the local Japanese embassy or consulate in your country looks over the forms, and if everything is valid you receive a work visa. The catch is that it is difficult to obtain work visas outside of Japan. Depending on the Immigration office you go to you might be able to change your visa within Japan. For example, if you have a certificate of eligibility then you can change your visa to a work visa at the Immigration office in Tokyo. So you might be asking yourself, if I'm not in an area where the local Immigration office will change my visa will it be impossible for me to get a work visa? No, it's not impossible. Technically, it is illegal to work in Japan without a work visa but technically, thousands of people do it every year. If someone comes to Japan on a tourist visa and is able to find a company to sponsor them all the person has to do is take a one-hour flight to Seoul, South Korea and they can apply for the work visa there. They must also stay the night because the rule is that they cannot return to Japan on the same day. There are plenty of foreigners who have taken this route and were successful. If you are unable to find a school to sponsor you for a work visa and you are desperate to stay in Japan your last option would be to leave and re-enter Japan on multiple tourist visas. This is illegal and a bit unethical but it happens every year.

So before you make the decision to skip the return flight and or overextend your tourist visa you might want to consider some of the other options for obtaining a visa into Japan. Most expats who obtain visas and come to Japan come as language instructors. The pay is decent depending on the school, the job is relatively easy (although there are numerous stories of poor working conditions) and you get international work experience. Within Japan there are numerous companies and programs that can will bring you into Japan and then will support you for several years while you live the life you had always dreamed of living. To find out more information on schools that will sponsor you outside of Japan see our article Coming to Japan as a Teacher.

Work Visa Requirements
So that you don't waste your time and money applying for several jobs or flying to Japan for nothing it's best to look over the rules for obtaining a work visa. First of all, you need to have a college degree from a 4-year college. Work visas are very rare for those without college degrees. Second, you need to have a valid passport that has been valid for at least 15 months. Third, you will need all of the paperwork filled out by a sponsoring company and have it filed at the nearest immigration office. After those forms are approved then they must be taken to a consulate (outside of Japan) for the visa to be issued.

If you are interested in coming to Japan on a tourist visa and looking for a job then see our article Finding a Job in Japan.
If you are interested in finding a job as an English teacher before you come to Japan then see our article Coming to Japan as a Teacher

Need more help then check out these helpful articles
Preparation before coming to Japan
Finding a Job in Japan
Coming to Japan as a Student
Coming to Japan as a Graduate Student


Did we leave something out? Is there something you think we should add? If so then please tell us by contacting us at Contact Chibabeat