Job Discussion Forums

[NaveR]

Im a Canadian taking a TEFL course online and am really hoping when I finish this course I could go to japan to teach. However I keep hearing a few things and am not sure which is right.

Is it possible to get a work visa for japan if I dont have a BA??? Heres what I do have:

For me I have completed 2 years of college for tourism marketing and operations and have a diploma

Will also finish the TEFL course.

Would that be enough to be able to get a working visa to teach english in japan>??????

Ive been looking and looking and was wondering if anyone has any detailed information for me and not just a guess.

Thanks!

[Apsara]

You will find the answer to your question, and more, in the Sticky above which says "FAQ for Japan teaching positions (revised January 27 2007)". #2 of the FAQ deals with visa issues. You will see there that as a Canadian (assuming you are between 18 and 30) you can get a working holiday visa.

Without a Bachelor's degree or 3 years EFL teaching experience you are not eligible for a full working visa- there is no way around this.

Have a look at those FAQs- they are truly very useful- and then get back to us.

[canuck]

[Glenski]

[sethness]

You're doing a TEFL online, which is better than nothing, but not nearly as valuable as teaching experience nor as respected as a tefl or CELTA done in person. TEFL isn't as standardized as CELTA, so quality varies-- and learnign to teach online is a bit like learning how to dance by looking at a picture-book.

Being a Canadian, and presumably being under 30, I believe you could come to Japan under the "workingholiday" program, and the TEFL will help a little--but if we look beyond the shining hope of a Working Holiday visa, then your chances rapidly descend into the toilet and do the swirly-death-dive thang, because you don't have a 4-year-college-degree yet.

Outside Japan, though, you may find work as an English teacher in Asia despite the lack of a 4-year degree-- Thailand and Viet Nam come to mind.

[ShapeSphere]

Hi NaveR. I came here without a B.A. As indicated in my signature it is possible but you must have a minimum of three years teaching experience: Hard Evidence: Teaching in Japan without a degree

It's not a loophole, as that would indicate a means or opportunity of evading a rule, law, etc. If you were to check out the link it will take you through questions, a discussion, speculation, and eventually to the facts. Within that thread there are links to MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan) where the law is clearly explained.

For you it could be difficult and I am not sure of the chances. If you are very determined to get here (like I was) then you will need to search extensively for the facts and bypass people who spread misinformation and smokescreens.

Good luck.

[Glenski]

ShapeSphere,
Perhaps you don't like my wording, but that's your prerogative.

MOFA states that a college degree or a minimum of 3 years of related work experience will qualify one for a Humanities Specialist work visa. Yup. True. I would not disagree with you on that. It's pretty much what I meant when I used that word "loophole", which you don't seem to care for. However, reread the way I used it -- loophole for degrees, not loophole to get around a rule or law.

NaveR does not seem to have those requisite 3 years of experience. At least, that's how I read it.

If immigration sees it the same way, then perhaps (a big perhaps, mind you) they might look at his TEFL certificate and 2-year tourism diploma and consider the diploma sufficient to the education necessary (that is, equivalent to a bachelor's degree). Personally, I doubt it, but as I wrote earlier, some people have reported (if you can believe them) success, so who knows?

[ShapeSphere]

Glenski - my post was not a go at you. Far from it. Your posts are helpful and on the "Hard Evidence" thread you actually congratulated me on getting a job and visa, so it would be absurd for me to attack you.

I am only letting people know that a visa without a B.A. is possible and lawful. Dave's ESL Cafe is used by many teachers around the world as a source of knowledge. Any information taken from a forum should of course be independently checked, but this site prides itself on being highly valuable across the globe. That's why facts are important.

I suppose you are right to say it's a loophole around a degree. I have to accept that.

[canuck]

[ShapeSphere]

Canuck - it's a nice surprise to see your comment. Didn't expect that. I'd love to apologise but I got the impression on the "Hard Evidence" thread that you believed it was a loophole in the law. Which goes against MOFA's information: