Job Discussion Forums

Photini1967 · Joined: 14 Jun 2011 Posts: 16

Does Japan require any particular health screenings (i.e. if blood tests, what do they check for specifically?) in order to obtain a work visa? Believe it or not, it's hard to get a straight answer to this, even from the Japanese embassy although I got the impression from them that medical issues which don't prohibit maximum job performance aren't an issue.

THANKS!!

oneokbunny · Joined: 21 Feb 2011 Posts: 11 Location: California

I believe the correct answer for this is for the work visa itself there are no health checks. Though some companies want you to do some sort of checlk for them.

I know for interac I have to do a pre-japan TB test for them and then during training will be a full check done by interac. JET wants a health check before departure as well.

Anyone feel free to add or correct ^^

G Cthulhu · Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2011 8:38 pm Post subject:

There is no legal requirement for a health check for a visa, although Japan (like every other country) reserves the right to deny entry based on health at any port of entry.

There is, however, a requirement in many (most?) prefectures that anyone working with the public must undergo an annual health check. I don't know of any prefecture that imposes penalties for refusing the check, although the employer can require them as part of the employment contract and then lawfully sanction from there.

seklarwia · Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2011 8:47 pm Post subject:

Oneokbunny is right. There is no health check required for the visa itself but some companies or jobs will require you to have one.

Teachers in public schools are required to have an annual health check. So many ALTs have to have annual health checks, too.

For other jobs, it's up to the company in question.

I've had 3 annual health checks throughout my stay. And this year I was "asked" for a blood sample for the first time. When I asked the helper about it, she was surprised that I had never needed a blood test before. So perhaps the specifics of the healthcheck vary depending on the BOE.

Photini1967 · Joined: 14 Jun 2011 Posts: 16

I appreciate your answers, but I guess what I'm asking is, is there any medical condition that they can deport you for (short of something like SARS or Mad Cow or something). For example, China won't allow for ANY medical condition whatsoever, no matter how minor or how unrelated it is to your teaching job.

seklarwia

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

If you look at the immigration guidebook page, you will see a table of documents that you are required to submit for all visa types:
http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/english/tetuduki/kanri/shyorui/Table3-1.html

Here is the page for the certificate of eligibility, which is required for most visas, too. It shows what you have to submit.
http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/english/tetuduki/kanri/shyorui/01.html

As you will see, no medical checks are required for visa processing.

What sort of medical problem do you have that you are so worried about?

Photini1967 · Joined: 14 Jun 2011 Posts: 16

To be perfectly blunt - no other way to say it - although I was recently tested for HIV and came up negative, I did show up positive for Herpes 2. I know for a fact China screens you out for that & will not issue a work visa. South Korea is "if-y" on the subject so I'm not going to risk it. I think Japan, however, is okay. But I want to be sure before I uproot my life and go over there to live.

seklarwia · Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2011 9:38 pm Post subject:

Actually you can have the health check done in your home country and the form only asks for Syphilis, AIDs and a general health screening (including TB test)... That's all one of my German collegues had done and she got her Z visa just fine.

No, doubt if you get your medical check done at a facility in China you'll get a few extra tests performed without your permission. I know I was tested for Hep B and had the results added on my medical results even though it was not required Evil or Very Mad

G Cthulhu · Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2011 10:46 pm Post subject: Re: Your answer, Glenski

Photini1967 · Joined: 14 Jun 2011 Posts: 16

Thank you all for your responses. I feel better now. Smile

yamanote senbei · Joined: 28 Jun 2005 Posts: 435

Employers have the legal responsibility to give their employees a free comprehensive health checkup at least once a year. The comprehensiveness of the checkup depends on what industry they're employed in.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Where is that legal responsibility written, yamanote senbei? Many don't get it. I never did while working in eikaiwa.

yamanote senbei · Joined: 28 Jun 2005 Posts: 435

It's written in the Industrial Safety and Health Law and in the Ordinance on Industrial Safety.

There are penal provisions including fines of up to 500,000 yen, but as teachers don't even know of their rights and their employer's responsibilities no one complains to the authorities. With no complaints there are no investigations, and employers continue to save money at the expense of the health of their employees.

When teachers get sick all they get is a sayonara, and in some cases they get screwed out of their final pay.

Metacchi · Joined: 01 Jun 2011 Posts: 17 Location: Tokyo, Japan

My previous employer never asked for any medical check, although I later found it was a clause of the contract they'd signed with the BOE that they would.

My current employer recently demanded that all teachers have a medical check, and that teachers in their first year must pay for it themselves. They also issue a letter for the ALT to give to the hospital demanding the results to be sent directly to them (this document almost had me laughed out of the hospital).

How many other ALTs know about this?