Obtaining Working Visa in Japan

[judz02]

Hi,

I am an Australian Citizen and qualified electrical engineer and wanting to work in Japan.
Is the only way to obtain a working visa is by sponsorship from a company in Japan.
i would have thought this would prove rather difficult obtaining while in Australia, as they would want to physically meet the prospective employee before signing them up.

Would my best approach be go to Japan on a working holiday visa (i currently meet all the criterias)
Once i find suitable work. Request for sponsorship and change my working holiday visa to a work visa.

Is that possible.

Any help or advice will be greatly appreciated

Thankyou

[KansaiBen]

Possibly, though theoretically an interview using Skype is doable as well. Most will want you to attend an interview first.

best idea is contact a company, tell them when you can be in Japan, and come on a working holiday visa (seems a waste to use WHV just so you can attend an interview) and contact them in Japan.

You can change your visa status easily at an immigration office in Japan.

Hi,

I am an Australian Citizen and qualified electrical engineer and wanting to work in Japan.
Is the only way to obtain a working visa is by sponsorship from a company in Japan.
i would have thought this would prove rather difficult obtaining while in Australia, as they would want to physically meet the prospective employee before signing them up.

Would my best approach be go to Japan on a working holiday visa (i currently meet all the criterias)
Once i find suitable work. Request for sponsorship and change my working holiday visa to a work visa.

Is that possible.

Any help or advice will be greatly appreciated

Thankyou

[judz02]

Thanks for the advice Kansai Ben.

i know it seems like a waste to use WHV. but isnt that the only way, as from what ive read you cant change a tourist visa to a working visa.

But you can change working holiday visa to working visa.

is that correct.

might be better that way as well.. as will give me a few months or so to settle in get apartment and do some tourist activities before getting my work organised, as i wont be restricted to 90 days on a tourist visa.

Possibly, though theoretically an interview using Skype is doable as well. Most will want you to attend an interview first.

best idea is contact a company, tell them when you can be in Japan, and come on a working holiday visa (seems a waste to use WHV just so you can attend an interview) and contact them in Japan.

You can change your visa status easily at an immigration office in Japan.

[KansaiBen]

Thanks for the advice Kansai Ben.

i know it seems like a waste to use WHV. but isnt that the only way, as from what ive read you cant change a tourist visa to a working visa.

You can change a tourist visa to a working visa and you don't even have to leave the country.


If you are Australian you in fact get a "tourist waiver" which means you can turn up as the airport at Narita or Kansai and they give you an automatic 90 day tourist stamp without having to visit a consulate first. Once you enter the country your "visa" is cancelled and replaced by a valid Status of Period of Stay. When you find an employer you change your resident status to a working visa once your employer agrees to sponsor you. If you dont get a job then you go home empty-handed. Do NOT tell immigration at the airport you have come to look for work on a tourist visa status (say you are sightseeing) as technically its illegal and you risk violating your non-work visa status.

might be better that way as well.. as will give me a few months or so to settle in get apartment and do some tourist activities before getting my work organised, as i wont be restricted to 90 days on a tourist visa.

You have 90 days to find a job but no one will rent you an apartment on a tourist visa unless you stay at a hostel or a gaijin dorm. You can also get one extension of a tourist visa so you can get up to 180-day MAXIMUM stay at one time. In the old days Aussies could get TWO consecutive extensions but I think the rules have changed now and you need to prove also you can support yourself for six months with no visible means of income.

[Glenski]

Hi,

I am an Australian Citizen and qualified electrical engineer and wanting to work in Japan.

Likely as not, you will need a lot of Japanese language ability including speaking, reading, and writing. What sort of work did you want to pursue?

And, by "qualified", do you mean you have a bachelor's degree? That would make you eligible for a work visa. If you don't have the degree, you'll need 10 years of experience.
http://www.japaneselawtranslation.go...w/detail_print

[judz02]

Likely as not, you will need a lot of Japanese language ability including speaking, reading, and writing. What sort of work did you want to pursue?

And, by "qualified", do you mean you have a bachelor's degree? That would make you eligible for a work visa. If you don't have the degree, you'll need 10 years of experience.
http://www.japaneselawtranslation.go...w/detail_print

Want to focus within the communications industry within electrical engineering..
Mostly towards international based companies where English will be more prominent..
I am able to speak basic Japanese

Yes I have a bachelors degree in electronic and electrical engineering.. With 5 years of experience ..
Yes I will therefore qualify for a work visa but since I don't have sponsorship from a Japanese company I am unable to apply for it..
Is that correct?

Hence my reasoning to initially come on working holiday visa to settle in and find work once in Japan and then change that to a working visa once I find sponsoship from a Japanese company

[Glenski]

Want to focus within the communications industry within electrical engineering..
Mostly towards international based companies where English will be more prominent..

Sounds like a reasonable plan. You could look for places already here and apply directly, or you could work for a year for one in your home country, then get an intracompany transfer visa (the 1-year work is a requirement) unless they are willing to take a risk and send you here with a work visa without putting in any time in Oz.

I am able to speak basic Japanese

Reading and writing ability?

Yes I have a bachelors degree in electronic and electrical engineering.. With 5 years of experience ..
Yes I will therefore qualify for a work visa but since I don't have sponsorship from a Japanese company I am unable to apply for it..
Is that correct?

Yes, you need to be hired first, then apply for the visa in that order.