Job Discussion Forums

HLJHLJ · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 1218 Location: Ecuador

I'll be relocating to Japan later this year on a dependent visa (husband will have a work visa). I understand that initially I can apply for permission to work part time (Permission to Engage in an Activity Other Than That Permitted by the Status of Residence Previously Granted).

Does anyone have a link to comprehensive information about this in English?

If not, how many hours would I be able to work? I have seen, 14, 20 and 28hrs a week mentioned, is it variable, or have the rules changed? Are the permitted hours actually calculated weekly (Monday-Sunday?) or can they average over a month, year, etc?

Do I need to already have a position lined up before I apply, or can I ask for the permission when I apply for my visa? Would I be allowed to teach private students?

I have read that there are tax implications if I earn over 1.1 million yen a year. What exactly does that mean? Would I not pay tax if I earn less than that? Are the tax costs so high that it's not worth earning more than that? Is the year calculated according to my visa/arrival, or the Japanese tax year (Jan-Dec I believe)?

I'm trying to decide whether in the long term I will be better off looking for a job that will sponsor a work visa for me, or whether just to stick with the dependent visa.

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

HLJHLJ · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 1218 Location: Ecuador

Thanks Glenski,

So could I line up a private student and then apply for permission to work based on that? Or would I need to have a 'proper' job first and would then be able to have private students as well? (Keeping within the 28hr limit overall of course).

Having read through the tax info, as I understand it, if I earn less than 759,999 yen a year, my husband can claim a tax rebate on a sliding scale (up to 380,000 yen, if I earn LESS than 380,000 yen). Over that, he cannot claim a tax rebate for me.

Regardless of rebates, I would pay 5% tax on anything I earn up to 1.95m yen.

If I earn over 1.3m yen I would have to pay my own social security (which is 14.09% I think), if I earn less than that, I will be covered by my husband's social security payments. So I would need to earn 1,483,170 in order to break even. That's 183,170 extra, or in the approximate region of 1 month's part time wages.

Does that all seem about right?

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

Private lessons are one of those things that people don't talk too heavily about. Most people that I know don't claim the income on their taxes, for example, but they are reluctant to talk about that. For a dependent visa, I wouldn't consider asking for special permission to work, especially if you have only a very small number of clients. You could ask, of course, and be 100% on the up and up, but I suspect immigration would either smile and pass you by, or they would want to ask for some sort of contract between you and the private customer(s). Special permission to work is IMO something they consider more for doing company work.

As for taxes and social security, you seem to be more well informed than me.