Japan Visas

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JAPAN VISAS

To teach English in Japan you will need a work visa. Before you apply for your visa, however, you will need to obtain a Certificate of Eligibility (CoE). Your employer will apply for the CoE on your behalf. It takes four–six weeks for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs/Japanese immigration to issue a CoE. Once your employer mails you your CoE, you can apply for your visa at the nearest Japanese consulate or embassy in your home country.

To be eligible for a visa to Japan, you must have:

a) Completed a university degree

b) Twelve years of study in an English language setting (or be a native English speaker)

c) A valid passport, with at least one year of validity left on it

d) A criminal background check

You will need the following items when you apply for a visa:

1. “VISA APPLICATION FORM TO ENTER JAPAN” (Form No. 1-C)
One recent passport photograph (If you don’t have a passport, you will need immigration documents showing your legal status in your home country
[e.g. Permanent Resident Card, Employment Authorization, Student
Authorization, etc.])
Original “Certificate of Eligibility” from the Ministry of Justice in Japan
One photocopy of “Certificate of Eligibility”

It usually takes five–ten days for the Japanese embassy to issue your visa. The entire process (from application to visa) can take approximately eight–ten weeks. To teach in Japan, you should apply for a visa in person in your home country. (There is apparently no system by which a proxy can carry out the application procedures in Japan.)

2. Find a teaching job in Japan. This may be done online, posting your resume on a job board, such as our website, post your resume here, geared towards teaching jobs in Japan. You may also try utilizing the Japan Teaching & Exchange (JET) program to secure employment in Japan. (Please note that first time teachers in Japan may require the work visa processed from their home country. Please check with your recruiter or school.)

3. After hiring you, the company or school that wants to employ you will submit a request for a Certificate of Eligibility on your behalf to an immigration office in Japan. Once approved, the certificate will be mailed to you in your home country.

4. (You may have to visit in person or mail documents) to a Japanese consulate or embassy in your home country and apply for a working visa. If you gain employment as a teacher, this is the type of visa required. Be sure to bring the Certificate of Eligibility, passport photos and money to pay the processing fee.

5. Once you receive a working visa in the mail, your last few steps in the approval process occur when you arrive in Japan. Upon entering Japan, you must go through immigration and receive landing authority by an immigration office.

6. Finally, apply for your Alien Registration Card (ARC).
Japanese law requires foreign residents to carry a valid Alien Registration Card (ARC) at all times, so make sure you bring along your ARC whenever you leave your apartment. An ARC is also required when you open a bank account, apply for a cell phone, or need official identification. You must register for your ARC at your local town or city office within the first 90 days of arriving in Japan. You will need to bring your passport and two photographs when you apply. You must also keep the details of your card current, including your name, address, and passport number.

More here from MOFA, Japan Visa Info

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