Job Discussion Forums

eclectic · Joined: 09 Nov 2006 Posts: 1122

Im in Korea now completing my 2nd year teaching English and wondered how easy it would be paper-work-wise as well as logistically (i.e. hopefully NOT having to return to my home country to get the visa, etc.) to just slide on over to Japan from here, a mere 5 hour ferry ride, and start teaching English?

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

Let's assume you have a bachelor's degree in something. That's all you need to be qualified for a work visa.

When exactly did you intend to just "slide over"? Timing is very important here, and you're missing the prime hiring time. Most teaching jobs start in April.

You will need an employer to sponsor your work visa initially, and if they already have their complement of teachers for the term, you are out of luck.

Paperwork needed:

To get a visa you have to show your diploma (usually the original, but a certified copy plus transcripts will suffice), copy of passport contact page, and papers from your employer to prove he is a real entity. That usually means his tax records and something resembling your contract.

Wait 4-8 weeks, and you usually get the visa issued if there are no major problems.

What other paperwork is needed by your employer will vary, but essentially just a signature on a contract.

You will then have to get an alien registration card, and most employers seem to set up their employees with a bank account, so you'll need to buy a hanko (official seal).

Read this for starters.
http://www.thejapanfaq.com/
Some is dated, but most is still on the money.

Shiggy · Joined: 27 Jan 2004 Posts: 86

What's an "official seal?"

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

http://www.city.atsugi.kanagawa.jp/helpsite/english/appli/appli3.html
http://www.soken.ac.jp/en/currentstudent/hanko.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seal_%28East_Asia%29#Japanese_usage

It's briefly described in the earlier link I provided, too. Didn't read it, did you?

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

Some employers may require medical tests, but Japan Immigration itself doesn't. I have lived and worked in Japan for 12 years and never been required to take a medical test of any kind.

Bread · Joined: 24 May 2009 Posts: 318

As someone who worked in Korea in the past, I can confirm that Japanese immigration is a DREAM compared to Korean immigration. You don't feel like a diseased, drug-ridden piece of meat at all. No peeing into cups or blood tests or anything! No layers upon layers of nonsense paperwork and apostilled criminal record checks! You're a free person, not owned by your employer! Actually, the worst part about all that in Korea was that foreigners with Korean blood could bypass all of that with their special visa.

In Korea, I had to pee into a paper cup and then pour it into 3 small test tubes. Didn't spill a drop!

eclectic · Joined: 09 Nov 2006 Posts: 1122

Good 2 hear than Japan is more lenient with all that ruine/blood/apostille stuff. That WAS quite a royal pain in the butt getting it all notarized then apostilled, etc. People in NJ wherever I went didnt even know what an apostille WAS, and neither did I.

SO anyways, thanks for all that good news. Question: Ill be completing my 2nd year here in September 2010, and wish to head on over to Japan perhaps in December after a short visit to India and Turkey during October/November. Is that abad time to come looking for work? Does one have to obtain all the stuff before entering Japan? LIke the offer itself, etc.? Finally, Im here with my wife who is a citizen of Guyana, and she is on a spouse visa f-3. Does Japan grant spouse visas as easily as Korea did for my wife?

Shiggy · Joined: 27 Jan 2004 Posts: 86

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

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

eclectic · Joined: 09 Nov 2006 Posts: 1122

thx to all........... Smile