In order to work in Japan, you need to obtain an appropriate visa status for the work.
Basically, you are allowed to work full-time in Japan if you hold a visa status in the following categories on LIST of VISA STATUS;
RESIDENTIAL STATUS and PERMANENT RESIDENT
These visa status allow you to work in Japan without limit. So, we don’t include these visa status in discussion here.
ACTIVITY BASED STATUS
Visa status listed on FOR WORK and DESIGNATED ACTIVITIES category allows you to engage in a particular work activity with pay. To obtain visa status in FOR WORK category, you should find out whether there is a particular visa status for your intend work/job. In addition, your background/career and employer-to-be (company/organization in Japan) also need to satisfy the criteria and requirements of the visa status.
| For those who have graduated from a distinguished university in the last 5 years… There is a possibility you would be applicable to J-FIND visa which allows you to come to Japan for job-hunting (6 months/extendable, 2 years in maximum). J-FIND visa can be processed at the Japan Embassy/Consulate-General in your resident country. >> DESIGNATED ACTIVITIES for J-FIND |
IF YOU ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH VISA PROCEDURES IN JAPAN, JUMP TO INTRODUCTORY PAGES BELOW FIRST:
TO WORK FULL-TIME in JAPAN
In order to work full-time in Japan, you should investigate whether there is any particular visa status to engage in your intended job in Japan first. Next, you need to check the criteria and requirements for the visa status and whether your background/career and other circumstances satisfy the basic requirements. You cannot obtain any work visa for a job not listed in FOR WORK visa category >> ACTIVITY BASED VISA STATUS
After you find out an appropriate visa status for your circumstances, you need to look for a company which is willing to hire you in Japan.
Remember, any visa application (both COE Application and Application for Change of Visa Status) for FOR WORK type visa status, you need to find a job to work in Japan and make at least an agreement for the employment before the application.
In case you don’t have any VISA STATUS yet
If you find a company which is willing to hire you and to be your visa sponsor/proxy for your COE application in Japan, you may now process for COE APPLICATION through the company to be your visa sponsor/proxy. You cannot apply for COE before you find a company to work in Japan and at least make an mutual written agreement for the employment >> COE APPLICATION
If you have graduated from a distinguish university in the last 5 years, you would be applicable to J-FIND visa status which allows you to come to Japan to look for a job for 6 months (2 years in maximum) >> J-FIND
In case you are currently living in Japan under a VISA STATUS
In case you are currently staying in Japan under visa status like STUDENT, CULTURAL ACTIVITIES or DEPENDENT etc., you will need to apply for CHANGE of VISA STATUS to obtain relevant work visa after finding a job and an employer who agrees to hire you and to be your visa sponsor >> CHANGE of VISA STATUS
In case you obtain STUDENT visa status, and you wish to continue to look for a job since you couldn’t find any job until the time of graduation, you need to apply for CHANGE of VISA STATUS to DESIGNATED ACTIVITIES to look for a job after graduation >> Job-hunting/Start Business after graduation in Japan
If you have graduated from a distinguish university in the last 5 years, you would be applicable to J-FIND visa status which allows you to stay in Japan to look for a job for 6 months (2 years in maximum) >> J-FIND
In case you wishes to work as a freelance in Japan
Some people might heard of so called “self-sponsored” visa. However, there is no such a visa status in Japan. Most of case, it indicates a visa obtained as a freelance, being a proxy/visa sponsor of your own visa application. You should check which type of visa status your situation is applicable to first and how you can self-sponsor your visa for the visa status.
Please remind the principle of visa application in Japan once – your job/mission must be listed in work visa category which allows you work in Japan. In addition, you need to satisfy the requirements for the visa status.
For more details, please jump to our webpage below >> TO WORK as a FREELANCE
IF YOU WISH TO ENGAGE IN A PART-TIME JOB
If your current visa status allows to obtain PERMISSION to ENGAGE in OTHER ACTIVITY (e.g. STUDENT, DEPENDENT, CULTURAL ACTIVITIES), you can engage in a part-time job within the limit of the permit by applying for the permit >> PERMISSION to ENGAGE in OTHER ACTIVITY
WORKING HOLIDAY PROGRAMMES
Those who are from the country participating WORKING HOLIDAY PROGRAMMES can stay and take a holiday in Japan for maximum of one year under DESIGNATED ACTIVITIES for WORKING HOLIDAYS. During your stay in Japan under this visa status, you can engage in a part time job to make up for living expenses.
To get more information and join in WORKING HOLIDAY PROGRAMMES, you should contact the Japan Embassy or Consulate-General in your country directly. You need to apply for it through the Japan Embassy or Consulate-General outside Japan.
>> WORKING HOLIDAY PROGRAMMES (jump to webpage of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan)