Job Discussion Forums

[tuff gong]

Hello,

I'm a Canadian and I have a contact in Japan who owns a hotel and would be willing to help me obtain a work visa to teach english in Japan. I was hoping somebody out there could fill me in as to what steps I/we would need to secure the visa.

Cheers, James

[Apsara]

Hi,

I'm afraid that it's not very likely a hotel owner could sponsor you to teach English in Japan. Your contact may be able to sponsor you for a visa to work in a hotel, but you need an English school to sponsor a visa that allows you to teach English as far as I know.

If you have a look at some older posts you will probably find more info and links to websites which outline the requirements for visa sponsorship.

[Tottori-Dood]

www.mofa.go.jp

[JimDunlop2]

The key to obtaining a job overseas (in ANY country) and that includes Canada, the United States, and thus far, pretty much every country in which I've considered working, is filling a niche in the labour market that could not normally be filled by a local worker...

This usually means, that the employer is forced to look outside the local labour market because the position requires someone who posesses a special talent, skill, education or attribute that makes him viable and thus not stealing work away from someone else.

In Japan, a native-English speaker usually fits such a bill -- it's a job that very few Japanese nationals could easily fill -- hence the need to hire from abroad. Now to prevent employers from bringing in just Joe-Blow-Anybody off the streets of New York or L.A., the Japanese government requests that prospective English teachers prove that they are indeed "qualified" to teach English -- which means, in most cases, having a university degree.

So, having said all this, if you visit the website that has been posted in this thread, you will find all the possible TYPES of working visa available, as well as the requirements needed in order to qualify for them. If you think you can qualify for one of these based on your experience and education, combined with the favour that your friend the hotel owner wants to do you, then by all means, give it a whirl.

Professor
3 years or 1 year
Activities for research, research guidance, or education as professor, assistant professor, or assistant, etc. at universities, equivalent educational institutions, or technical colleges (koto senmon gakko).

Artist
3 years or 1 year
Activities for the arts that provide income, including those carried out by composers, songwriters, artists, sculptors, craftspeople, photographers, etc.

Religious Activities
3 years or 1 year
Missionary and other religious activities conducted by members of foreign religious organizations.

Journalist
3 years or 1 year
News coverage and other journalistic activities conducted on the basis of a contract with a foreign journalistic organization, such as a foreign newspaper company, news agency, broadcasting station, documentary movie company, etc. (Specifically, activities carried out by newspaper journalists, magazine journalists, report writers, editorial chiefs, editors, media photographers, television and radio announcers, etc., including freelancers.)

Investor/Business Manager*
3 years or 1 year
Activities to commence the operation of international trade or other business, to invest in international trade or other business and to operate or manage that business, or to operate or manage international trade or other business on behalf of foreign nationals (including foreign corporations) who have begun such an operation or have invested in such a business. The business in question must meet certain conditions of scale. Applicants who wish to engage in business management must fulfill certain conditions concerning work status and personal history.

Legal/Accounting Services *
3 years or 1 year
Activities to engage in legal or accounting business. Applicants must be attorneys or public accountants certified to perform their duties in Japan, or those with other legal qualifications recognized by Japan.

Medical Services *
3 years or 1 year
Activities to engage in medical treatment service. Applicants must be physicians, dentists, or those with other medical qualifications, and must be qualified under Japanese law and fulfill certain conditions concerning work status, etc.

Researcher *
3 years or 1 year
Activities to engage in examinations, surveys, research, etc. on the basis of a contract with a public or private organization in Japan. Applicants must fulfill certain conditions concerning personal history and work status.

Instructor *
3 years or 1 year
Activities to engage in language instruction and other education at elementary schools, junior high schools, senior high schools, schools for the blind, handicapped children's schools, miscellaneous schools (kakushu gakko and senshu gakko), or other educational institutions equivalent to kakushu gakko in facilities and curriculum.

Engineer *
3 years or 1 year
Activities to engage in service that requires technological skill and/or knowledge pertinent to physical science, engineering, or other natural science fields, on the basis of a contract with a public or private organization in Japan. Applicants must fulfill certain conditions concerning personal history and work status.

Specialist in Humanities/International Services *
3 years or 1 year
Activities to engage in service that requires knowledge pertinent to jurisprudence, economics, sociology, or other human science fields. Activities to engage in service that requires specific ways of thought or sensitivity based on experience with foreign culture, such as interpreting, translation, copywriting, fashion design, interior design, sales, overseas business, information processing, international finance, design, or public relations and advertising based on a contract with a public or private organization in Japan. Applicants must fulfill certain conditions concerning personal history and work status.

Intracompany Transferee *
3 years or 1 year
Activities on the part of personnel who are transferred to business offices in Japan for a limited period of time from business offices that are established in foreign countries by public or private organizations with head offices, branch offices, or other business offices in Japan and who engage at these business offices in the activities described in the "Engineer" or "Specialist in Humanities/International Services" sections of this table. Applicants must fulfill certain conditions concerning personal history and work status.

Entertainer
1 year, 6 months, or 3 months
Activities to engage in theatrical performances, arts, song, dance, musical performances, sports, or any other show business. Applicants must fulfill certain conditions concerning personal history, work status, and form of entertainment. Activities such as the production of television programs or movies, the photographing of models, etc. Applicants must fulfill certain conditions concerning work status.

Skilled Labor *
3 years or 1 year Activities to engage in service that requires industrial techniques or skills belonging to special fields on the basis of a contract with a public or private organization in Japan. Applicants must fulfill certain conditions concerning personal history and work status.
Skilled Labor