Working in Japan | HDR Japan | Japan Guide

Working in Japan

There are seven types of visa, three of which allow you to work, two of which don't, one of which might (depending on the visa's specifications) and one of which allows you to work (okay, learn - it's mainly for students/trainees), but doesn't let you get paid. Two of the first three - Diplomatic and Official visas - are for, wait for it, diplomats and (government) officials. Otherwise, almost everyone else working legally in Japan is on a japan work visa (you might be able to spot a theme to these titles).

There are 14 kinds of working visa:

artist
investor/business manager
professor
religious activities
medical services
journalist
researcher
instructor
legal/accounting services
engineer, entertainer
skilled labor
intra-company transferee
specialist in humanities and international services

Another visa which usually allows you to work is the Specified visa, which is used by, among others, some consular staff, students doing internships, people on working holiday programs (from France, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Korea and the UK), refugees and spouses/children of Japanese nationals/permanent residents/long-term residents. With this visa, what work you can do, and how much, depends on the visa specifications in your particular case.

Most dependents of foreign nationals and almost all full-time learners - college students, pre-college students, trainees, and people studying how to pour tea (sado) etc. - are on a General visa. This does not allow you to work unless you can get permission to engage in such a 'secondary activity' from Immigration.

Japan Travel Visa

Other than Diplomatic and Official visas, the two kinds of visa which don't allow you to do paid work are the Transit visa and the Temporary Visitor's visa, often referred to as the 'tourist' visa. The former is particularly strict about what you might do here - basically just leisure - and only allows you into the country for 15 days as a stop off on your way to a third country. The latter, much more common, is still usually just for sightseeing but can also be used for business trips to fix equipment, liaise with a Japanese company, sign a contract etc. This visa lasts three months in most cases (e.g. Canadians) or 30 days (e.g. US nationals), but can be up to six months (e.g. the UK). However, Japan has visa-waiver agreements with over 63 countries (the more 'developed' the country and the warmer the diplomatic relations the more likely they are to have this arrangement) that make formal 'tourist visas' unnecessary for these time periods. If you are from one of these countries, just show up at Narita, fill out your landing card (technically an application form for landing permission) and be nice to the Immigration official.

If you are from somewhere with less than cozy relations with Japan, you will need to get the paperwork done before you leave your home country. A general rule of thumb: the more 'poor' and 'dangerous' your country is perceived to be, the more paperwork and hassle it is to apply. If you are from a 'poor' or 'dangerous' country, you may not only need the usual forms (in English), valid passport, air ticket, wallet-full of money etc. but also to provide confirmation of hotel reservations (with addresses, phone numbers etc.), your bank details, a letter/guarantee from any friends/family you'll stay with (with full contact details and a copy of their Alien Residence card if they are from said 'dangerous' country) saying how long you'll be here, a schedule of what exactly you will be doing on every day of your stay and a letter from your boss saying you've been given time off, or a company certificate if you are your own boss -'unemployed' is not, it seems, an option. All that is just for a tourist visa. Bear that in mind the next time you are having a bad day at the Immigration office and it will make your headaches seem minor.

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