Job Discussion Forums

Ignore What I · Joined: 12 May 2005 Posts: 16

When coming to Japan on a tourist visa to look for work, is it wise to have a departure ticket as well?

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

Not wise... Necessary.

Plenty of posts about that here. Wink

Ignore What I · Joined: 12 May 2005 Posts: 16

OK, that's what I figured. I looked through 7 pages of posts but couldn't find anything, gave up and posted this. Thanks for the quick reply I really appreciate it.

wyclef32 · Joined: 13 Feb 2006 Posts: 7

Let me put it this way : immigration likes you to have one.

Ai · Joined: 02 Jun 2006 Posts: 154 Location: Chile

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

Actually the airlines can be fined for letting people on a plane to Japan without a return/onward ticket. Possibly you would not be allowed to even board the plane with a one-way ticket. I am often asked at check-in at the airport on my way back to Japan to show my visa to prove that I am allowed to enter Japan without a ticket out again.

Ignore What I · Joined: 12 May 2005 Posts: 16

I have a three year working visa and I'm only fourth months in. I'm escaping the island for a little break and then coming back.
I seriously doubt they are going to hassel me for not having another ticket out when I've still got two years and eight months left to finalize my next destination. But I've got people relying on me and I just wanted to be a hundred percent sure.

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

You can be 100% sure. They have no reason to hassle you, and won't. If you have a valid working visa and re-entry permit then you're fine, you live here, so you don't need a ticket back out.

You can even go in the line with the Japanese people at immigration on the way back in and get through faster than the other foreigners (make sure you have your alien registration card with you, and re-entry permit in your passport though).

I go in and out of Japan 3 or 4 times a year, but as I said I am usually asked to show my visa to the people at check in, to prove that I can enter Japan without a ticket out.

canuck · Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 1921 Location: Japan

Big John Stud · Joined: 07 Oct 2004 Posts: 513

wyclef32 wrote:

Let me put it this way : immigration likes you to have one.

To say the least. Most likely immigration will not let you out of the airport if you don't have a return flight and only have a tourist visa.

One time years ago, immigration did let me pass through with a tourist visa but only because officer saw from my passport that I had lived in Japan for many years and had an expired spouse visa.

whatthefunk · Joined: 05 Aug 2003 Posts: 130 Location: Japan

ive entered japan about 25 times, about 5 of the times i had no on going ticket or proper work visa. i never once had a problem with immigration. i have only been checked for an ongoing ticket once or twice. as others have mentioned, you WILL have a huge problem with your airline. the company can get fined and the person who checked you in can get fined and they almost never let you on without an ongoing ticket. you can get around this by taking a boat cause boat companies are a bit more lax, by buying a return ticket, which wont cost you much more anyways, or by becoming a very good talker and spending about an hour convincing the airline guys that you should definately be allowed on the flight. another option is to buy your airline ticket, then by a one way boat ticket to korea which will only cost about $125 US. be sure to get a print out of your confirmation to show the airline/immigration guys.

Bozo Yoroshiku · Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 12:13 am Post subject:

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan