Hi all,

I have read recently about a type of working visa that a foreigner could get for Japan, if a Japanese person applies on their behalf in Japan.

Please could experienced Japan-hands tell me how much of an obligation does this entail if someone does it for me. That is, how big a favour is it? I know everything has to be repaid!!

I haven't even made enquiries to a Japanese person, as I think it sounds like I'm already asking them to do it! So you are the first ones (Now I'm obliged to you, argh!)

PS I don't know what is really involved in this application, other than what I told you above.

Let me know if you have any ideas about it, thanks!

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There often isn't an answer to my questions, so feel free to say anything you like^^

In general all work visas are sponsored by your employer.
You can't just get some random person to sponsor it.

According to the Embassy, the sponsor could be your employer, but they give a variety of other options. I assume they are right.

Thanks for your reply~

The only other option is self sponsorship, which is usually for the self-employed, but normally employed people can also get it after working for a few years to establish proof of income.

There are no other ways to get a work visa.

There are other statuses which allow work such as PR, work holiday, marriage visa, student visa w/work permit, etc though.

Looking at the topic, perhaps you are talking about a cultural visa? Those are VERY hard to get and you are only allowed to work a small number of hours per week. You need to find a recognized expert in a field of Japanese art/culture who will take you in as a journeyman. They become completely financially responsible for you. You also need to have already been studying whatever field back in your home country.

If an applicant wishes to work, study, or live in Japan, he/she should in principle first obtain a Certificate of Eligibility. The Certificate of Eligibility is issued by the Ministry of Justice in Japan. To obtain a Certificate of Eligibility, the applicant must ask a sponsor in Japan (an employer, spouse, school, etc.) to contact the local immigration office and make an application on his/her behalf. The application must be made by a sponsor in Japan. It cannot be made by the applicant himself.
From UK Japan Embassy - re: the visa I mentioned.

That's interesting about self-sponsorship. I hadn't seen that anywhere. Obviously it's something I could go for! Hmm, thanks for the information.

PS Oh you've edited!!

PPS This all needs more research from me...I was just looking for something that gives me some possibility of work (since obviously it helps pay for things), on a self-employed basis (mostly an artistic basis). Thanks for your guidance!

mizunooto Wrote:(an employer, spouse, school, etc.)

Is this the variety of options you were talking about?
A Japanese employer can sponsor you if you are going to be working for them.
Your Japanese or PR spouse can sponsor you if you have one living in Japan.
A Japanese school can sponsor you if you will be attending their school.

Do you fit into any of these categories?

In the case of spousal, school, dependant or cultural sponsorship, those would not be work visas, though some allow varying degrees of work.

That's self sponsorship.

tokyostyle Wrote:As far as the 入国管理局 is concerned there is no such thing.

If you have a work visa your company is not sponsoring it. They are only providing proof of income. This distinction is actually really important because it means your employer cannot terminate your visa. Only the 入国管理局 has that power.

Huh???

Providing proof of employment (or marriage, or enrollment, or whatever) to the immigration office is what constitutes sponsoring a visa. That's the term for it and it's widely used when talking about visas.

The last two sentences of your post make my brain hurt. Why would saying an employer sponsors a visa imply that they have the power to terminate it? Huh?

JimmySeal Wrote:The last two sentences of your post make my brain hurt. Why would saying an employer sponsors a visa imply that they have the power to terminate it? Huh?

Because that's how it works in the most of the world. You are sponsored by your employer and you may only work for that employer. If you lose your job, your visa is no longer valid and you must leave the country. Usually you get a grace period of a month or so to find another job, and you may reapply for another work visa sponsored by your new employer.

Edit: I should make it clear that your employer can't terminate your visa, but they can fire you which effectively does cancel it. In Japan, the way I understand it, is your visa is not tied directly to the company. If you're fired/lose your job you may remain until your current visa expires (time wise).

travis Wrote:Because that's how it works in the most of the world. You are sponsored by your employer and you may only work for that employer. If you lose your job, your visa is no longer valid and you must leave the country. Usually you get a grace period of a month or so to find another job, and you may reapply for another work visa sponsored by your new employer.

I've heard from various sources that if you lose your lob and are on a work visa in Japan, you have three months to find a job before your visa becomes invalid:
http://forum.gaijinpot.com/showthread.ph...post419161

I don't have anything substantial to back that up though.

Quote:if you lose your lob and are on a work visa in Japan, you have three months to find a job before your visa becomes invalid

I've heard from different Italian teachers in Tokyo quite the opposite but:
1)I've heard it through the grapevine
2) Maybe the professor visa (or is it the specialist in humanities visa? I can't remember) works differentely.

Basically they said that once you have your professor visa you can resign the day after without any problem with the immigration office. In fact, they also said, there are some fake schools that use this trick for money: about ２０万円 for 1 year visa.

tokyostyle Wrote:You visa only becomes invalid if there is a hearing to revoke it.

I think you're misinterpreting the word 聴取. All it says is that they have to listen to your opinion before revoking your visa. They don't have to hold a hearing.

Quote:Also, the wording is that you have three months after you no longer have a reason to be in Japan.

No, actually the wording is that it can be revoked three months after you've stopped doing the activity specified by your visa, unless you have a valid reason to not be doing that activity. It doesn't say three months after you no longer have a reason to be in Japan.