A visa stands for Verified International Stay Approval. If you have recently managed to gain employment in Japan and are not a resident there, more than likely you will need to undergo the process of applying and acquiring a work visa. It can be an intimidating prospect with a lot of different information required. Fortunately, you have found a place where you can find the steps you need to successfully complete your Japanese work visa and start your new job!
Do I Need a Work Visa For Japan?
You may be eligible to enter the country on a visitor pass without a visa, but if you want to engage in paid work in Japan, and are not a long-term resident of Japan, you are required to have one. Furthermore, you have to be one of a select spectrum of professional jobs in order to get a job there. Here are those options:
- Investor
- Instructor
- Legal Services
- Business Managers
- Intra-company Transferee
- Entertainer
- Specific Religious Positions
- Artists
- Researcher
- Engineer
- Humanities/International Services Specialist
- Medical Services
- Highly Skilled Laborer
- Journalist
Check Also: Available Programs for International Students
What Are the Requirements To Apply For a Work Visa In Japan?
You will need to contact the Japanese consulate in your country of residence to get an application or download one online. Next, you will need to accumulate a wide variety of documents to submit with this application to provide verification of specific information. Here is what you need:
- A Certificate of Eligibility
- A Curriculum Vitae and graduation certificates
- Employer job validation letter
- A recent photograph
- A valid passport
- Job Specific Documentation
Steps For Applying For a Work Visa in Japan
Here is the process to acquire your Japanese work visa and information on each of the documents that you need to have for your application. Note: You will more than likely have to submit a lot of this documentation to your employer or sponsor in Japan in order to apply for the Certificate of Eligibility.
1. Pandemic Restrictions
Before you begin the process of visa acquisition, it is in your best interest to make sure that travel restrictions due to the pandemic have not slowed or halted visa acceptance. Fortunately, you can check here to get the latest information on any guidelines created to prevent its spread and to protect the health of the country’s citizens.
2. Complete Your Visa Application And Sign It
Fill out all the personal information requested on the document and make sure you have the required documentation before you submit the application. Below are instructions on how to handle each of the required items.
3. Certificate of Eligibility
Immigration Services offers Certificates of Eligibility, which is a prerequisite for getting a work visa. Your employer will have to do this since it has to be done from within the country itself, so you will have to send your documents to your job to initiate this process for Japanese work visa. This document will verify that you have been approved by Immigration Services and have fulfilled the entry requirements of the Japanese government.
4. Curriculum Vitae and Graduation Requirements
Providing your educational paperwork verifies your skillset and that you are fulfilling one of the required professional roles that are needed for the visa. It should list your education from primary school to the present and your entire work history, yet keep the entries concise and neat for easy readability. Any other documents that demonstrate your professional history and credibility will be necessary, as well.
5. Employer Job Validation
As well as the original job offer you received as evidence of your employment status, you will need a considerable amount of other documents related to your occupation. All documents that explain your position in the company need to be present, and those that discuss your rate of pay, the type of work you will be doing, and how long you will be working in the country.
Paperwork on your employer and the company’s registration, statement of profit and loss, and other fundamentals may be required as well and can be provided by your employer.
There are even specific requirements for additional documentation based on the specific skill you will be performing. Credentials, licensure, or examples of your work may be necessary depending on the job in which you are employed. Before you complete your collection of these items for your work visa in Japan, make sure you investigate what requirements the Embassy or Consulate require in regards to your specific academic area of expertise.
6. Passport and Photograph
Your passport must be valid beyond the time in which you will be staying and you should have photocopies of it as well. For further identification, you will need at least two passport-sized color photos made to the following specifications:
- 4 cm X 3 cm
- Plain white background
- Neutral facial expression
- Staring straight ahead
- Fully visible face
- Good quality and clear
- Recent within the past three months
- No distracting clothing or objects that obscure features such as hats or glasses
7. Payment Receipts
Any payments you make throughout your Japanese work visa process should be maintained in your records as evidence of completion in the event that any dispute arises over any fees.
8. Final Procedures
Once you have submitted your documents to your employer and have received the Certificate of Eligibility, it is time to officially submit all of your paperwork and the application to the embassy or consulate in your country. Once you have received approval, you will need to go back for your passport and the visa and then you will have the ability to enter the country for work purposes.
9. Visa Processing
The actual Japanese work visa can be processed in five to ten business days, although that time may vary from country to country. The major time sink is waiting for the Certificate of Eligibility, which can sometimes take up to three months. Because of that long delay, it is crucial to ensure that you have provided all of the proper documents to your employer so that the application on your behalf will succeed. If you are uncertain whether a document is required, it is always better to have more than you need than need more than you have.
I hope this article on how to get a work visa in Japan was informative and insightful. Make sure to also check out the Available Programs in Europe!
