Job Discussion Forums

[uticsperkins2004]

Hey..

I will be coming to Japan on a working-holiday visa and understand that the validity of the visa is for a period of 6 months. After this time, my school will sponsor me for a full work visa if I decide to stay for another year. I am wondering if it is Japanese law that you must have unniversity bachelor degree to be eligible for a work visa or whether a college diploma will be sufficient. I thank any posters in advance for any insight/answers you can offer me. Thanks!

[Glenski]

If that diploma is from a 3-year program, you are probably ok. Just call it a degree to avoid confusion.

[shmooj]

To encourage you, a school I once worked for got someone a work visa based on a photography diploma the guy had done 20 years previously. He didn't have a degree. It can be done and will depend largely on the determination of your sponsor and the immigration office they apply to.

[PAULH]

US 4 year degree is OK

3 year degree from Australian, Canadian or New Zealand University are acceptable. Generally speaking a 2 year associate degree, a non-degree undergraduate diploma (even a diploma in teaching) does not qualify for a work visa.

Not sure whether its Japanese law or not, but its what Japanese immigration requires for a work visa, and what they (or the official who processes your paperwork) say goes.

[PAULH]

In cases where the applicant is to engage in instruction at a vocational school ("Kakushugakko") or an educational institution equivalent to it in facilities and curriculum or in cases where the applicant is to engage in instruction at other school with a capacity other than a "teacher", the following conditions are to be fulfilled.
However (a) is to be fulfilled in cases where the applicant is to engage in instruction at a vocational school or an educational institution equivalent to it in facilities and curriculum which is established to give the children with the status of residence "Diplomat" or "Official" mentioned in Annexed Table 1 (1) or "Dependent" mentioned in Annexed Table 1 (4) education of primary, junior and senior high school in foreign language.

a. The applicant must have graduated from or completed a college or acquired equivalent education, or must hold a license to teach the subject that he or she intends to teach in Japan.
b. When the applicant is planning on teaching a foreign language, he or she must have acquired education in that language for at least 12 years. When the applicant is going to teach other subjects, he or she must have at least 5 years' teaching experience in that subject.

2. The applicant should receive no less salary than a Japanese national would receive for comparable work.

[GambateBingBangBOOM]