Job Discussion Forums

[tokyo10]

Much of the info in the FAQ is dated so I wanted to update people who are interested with information for how to process your visa from within Japan. For all of these steps, you must have your passport.

This was my experience in Tokyo changing from a Temporary(90 day) Visa to Specialist in Humanities/International Services:

Step 1 Gaikokujin Card

Before beginning the Visa process, I strongly encourage you to process your Gaikokujin Card. It takes about 2 weeks to receive it from your local ward office. In the meantime you will be issued with a temporary paper stapled to your passport.


Part 2 Sponsorship:

Once you have secured a sponsor they must issue you paperwork for you to bring to the government. The paperwork shows their financial status as well as the amount of money they expect to pay you. This is essential for the later stages of application.

Part 3 Certificate of Eligibility

At this point, you will have to apply for a Certificate of Eligibility which will expedite your Visa request. You can apply for the Visa without this certificate but it is not recommended as the CoE is essentially a "show of good faith" that you have a sponsor and intend to work here. It is brought to the Immigration office by either you or a company representative. The CoE takes the longest to receive, for me it was approximately 2.5 weeks but on the Application for it states it can take up to 2 months.


Part 3 Change of Visa Status Application Process

Upon receipt of your CoE by mail, you need to fill out the Change of Visa Status Application that can be printed out or picked up at Immigration. With this form, you need to submit your company's financial information. All of this must be brought to the immigration office. Once there, you will fill out a postcard that will be mailed to you for when you can pick up your stamp if you are approved. Wait time for this can be up to one month, however I received my status change in less than one week.

Part 4 Visa Stamp Pickup

After receiving your postcard in the mail, you must go to officially update your passport with your new stamp. Again at the immigration office, you will be asked for your passport and gaikokujin card and given a list of payment stamps you must purchase for your specific Visa change. On the page with the listing you must affix the stamp.

The price for the Visa change is 4,000 � as of 10/2010.

Drop off your payment receipt with the stamp attached and your documents back in the office. My wait time for this was about 30 minutes, but again it varies. After this, you will officially have your Visa stamp and be allowed to work legally in Japan.

Step 5 Update Gaikokujin card visa status at the ward office.

Again, you will be given a temporary paper stapled to your passport and your new card will be mailed to you within a few weeks.


Based on my own experience, I recommend you do not go to the Immigration office at peak times on Monday or Tuesday after a long holiday. Wait times will be longer. Also, bring a book or something to read...it gets really tedious waiting.

[Glenski]

Although your details are quite good here, what is it about the FAQs that are "dated"? That statement implies that they are out of date, which I believe is incorrect.

Also, how does one get an alien registration card without having been here for a certain amount of time? It is my understanding that you cannot get one as a tourist. You are supposed to apply for it within 90 days upon arrival...
http://www.moj.go.jp/ENGLISH/information/tarl-02.html
...but that implies you are going to stay here, and tourists cannot do that. Your Temporary Visitor Visa status is different than that, so I presume that is why they let you apply for one.

[tokyo10]

[Glenski]

That still doesn't mean any of the information in the FAQs is "dates" (as in out of date).