Job Discussion Forums

unchi pants · Joined: 20 Dec 2003 Posts: 64

Merry Christmas Exclamation

I did a search and couldn't find exactly what I was looking for ... Excuse me if this has been covered before.

I just needed some clarification regarding Working Holiday Visas:

If you have a job already lined up before you come to Japan, you are not eligible for a Working Holiday visa... Right? If you did have a Working Holiday visa and were to accept a full-time position, you would need to have your visa converted to a regular work visa ... Right? If you had a pre-arranged job on a WHV and mentioned this to the immigration official at Narita, he would most likely deny you entry. Is that right?

Sorry if this has been covered before... I just need some clarification.

Thank you.

Unchi Pants

BenJ · Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 209 Location: Nagoya

Working Holiday Visas are tricky - basically you are able to work part-time once you arrive in Japan. To get the visa itself, opinions differ, but my experience has been you don't mention any pre-arranged work when applying for one. In fact, I was advised that I should imply I don't need to work at all...

If you already have a job lined up, the company should be sponsoring you for a full work visa prior to arriving. If you have to arrive before it is finalised, you can come in on a tourist visa which is ok for 3 months. Don't mention you have work to the immigration official.

WHV is not officially for full-time work, although you can potentially find employers willing to hire you on it. If you have a WHV, find work in Japan and are eligible for a work visa (3-4 year Bachelor degree) you can change it over.

Ask away if I am not being clear.

unchi pants · Joined: 20 Dec 2003 Posts: 64

Thanks for the response BenJ...

If you do enter on a WHV and then take on a full-time job, do you HAVE TO change over? Or is it OK then to just work full time on your WHV?

Thanks again.

Unchi Pants

BenJ · Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 209 Location: Nagoya

assuming your workplace doesnt require you to, if you are able to change over, then it is desirable as you are no longer breaking the law. additionally there may be tax issues - my partner is currently being taxed 20% as she is on a WHV as opposed to the approx. 5% on a work visa.

Working full-time on a WHV is, as far as I am aware, illegal. But like everything in Japan there are two or more answers depending on who you speak to.

quai · Joined: 21 Oct 2003 Posts: 12 Location: Japan

unchi pants

When you apply for your working holiday visa you CAN mention that you already have prearranged work. As long as the work does not involved more than 25 hours (i think) per week.

On the WHV application form there is a section for it... and it asked how many hours per day you will work with the company.

From the advice i have recieved it is good to have prearranged work as that way they know that you will be able to survive etc once in Japan.

You are now able to change over from a WHV to a sponsored visa without leaving the country - so if you get full time work then i would look at changing - cause you will be breaking the WHV rules.