Job Discussion Forums

anna07 · Joined: 28 Jun 2008 Posts: 5

hi,

I am in Hokkaido now with no visa and would like to get a working holiday visa...but am not sure how to go about it. Is it true that I may have to leave the country and come back?? How long will it take to process?? Any help would be much appreciated.

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

You cannot get a working holiday visa when you are outside your home country. Read the web site.

http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/w_holiday/index.html

Takes about 2 weeks on average.

anna07 · Joined: 28 Jun 2008 Posts: 5

I was afraid that was true. thanks for your help. I may go home and get one, then come back on my way to Australia.

I thought i had heard it was possible to leave the country--maybe fly to Korea--and return and get a visa. Do you know if this is possible.

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

You can't just pick up a work visa. You need an employer to sponsor you for it.

If you are in Japan and find an employer who is willing to sponsor a work visa, you don't have to leave the country anymore to do that. Make sure immigration officers realize this because some of them are still operating under the old ways which changed about 2-3 years ago.

If you are outside Japan, you can still get work visa sponsorship.

anna07 · Joined: 28 Jun 2008 Posts: 5

alright. thanks.

I've heard that getting sponsorship and a visa while in the country is a slow process and can take 2 to 3 months! Do you know if it's possible to have it sorted more quickly??

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

Finding an employer could happen tomorrow if one is extremely lucky. Probably still lucky within a week or two under normal circumstances. December to January is the slowest time of year because of the New Year holiday and the fact that most employers don't want to hire anew until April for the beginning of the fiscal year.

Slow? Under normal circumstances, yes. Right now at this very moment, count on it being the slowest.

At most other times, figure that it'll take you a month or so to find an employer. Then, the visa paperwork could take 4-8 weeks on average. It could be less, but there is very little to nothing you or your employer can do to speed up the process.