Job Discussion Forums

Kano · Joined: 25 Apr 2004 Posts: 6 Location: Yamagata

Hi.

Can anyone tell me about entering Japan on a one-way ticket? I have a Canadian passport and will be flying from Vancouver to Narita.

I'd prefer not to buy a return ticket, since the latest possible return date available is 12 months and I expect to stay longer.

I don't have a work visa yet, but I'm told it will arrive before I depart (mid-May). I trust my employer to arrange the visa, but I also trust the bureaucracy to process things very slowly.

So - if I buy a one-way ticket and the work visa doesn't arrive in time, will I be hassled by the airline/customs? If I have the work visa, will I be fine? (If it matters, I'm also half-Japanese and can use the "visiting family" excuse someone suggested).

Thanks
Kano

Eric · Joined: 08 Apr 2004 Posts: 44 Location: Hawaii

When I last went to Japan I bought a one-way ticket, but in order to buy that ticket I had to show my work visa. Is it possible for you to buy your ticket without showing your visa? It is definately cheaper to buy a oneway ticket, so this is the way to go but you must have a working visa or it will be impossible for you to travel.

Good luck,
Eric

joncharles · Joined: 09 Apr 2004 Posts: 132 Location: Beijing

If you are going to work for one of the big schools, many of them have agreements with a travel agent that will offer a discount. Anyway, I did not have to show a visa because I bought tickets over the internet. You can buy tickets, but it is your responsibility to have all your travel documents in order. I can't imagine the people at Hotwire.com or Priceline.com would ask you to show them your visa before they sell tickets, one way or round trip. Sometimes you can find a round trip fare less than a one-way. The one place they are sure to check is at customs at Narita.

Kano · Joined: 25 Apr 2004 Posts: 6 Location: Yamagata

Thanks for the responses. They were sort of what I expected to hear, although not what I'd hoped for.

Does anybody know how long it might take to process a work visa application? The employer is in Yamagata, so it might have been applied for there. I know they take a long time here in Canada...

Laura C · Joined: 14 Oct 2003 Posts: 211 Location: Saitama

Hi,

I came into Japan on a one way ticket and without a work visa. Was pretty panicked about it too...I emailed my employer to ask for advice, as I had been told by some on this site that some companies will try and ask employees to lie to customs or to work illegally. I had also heard that you can't enter Japan on a one way ticket without a proper visa.

My company told me that my visa would be being processed when I entered Japan, so if immigration/customs checked their records they would see it was processing, hence I wasn't intending to work illegally. I was still pretty apprehensive though, especially since I got some hassle at Korea on the stopover for not having a Japanese visa. But it was fine. I filled in the landing card with reason for visit 'Tourist/waiting for visa' and length of stay 3 months (this was true as it was the length of time on the tourist visa). I got landing permission for 3 months, and changed my visa status about 3 weeks later when my certificate of eligibilty was approved.

I posted a question about this titled 'Visa -- please help!' and there was lots of good advice given to me -- do a search and it should help you. I would definitely advise you to do what I was advised to - check with your company. If they are asking you to lie to immigation then of course you should look elsewhere.

Good luck!

L