Visas

[akatsuka]

I did a search for this query but couldnt find anything that was related so apologies in advance if you've answered all this before.

I've found a company in Japan that is willing to employ me for a max of 3 months as an intern/trainee (approx 90 days) during summer. Its the companies first time to employ a gaijin.

I'm a British citizen and when I called the Japanese Embassy in London they said I would require a working visa in order to work in Japan. However, on the IAESTE website it mentions that British citizens can enter Japan and work as an intern for a max of 90 days under a normal (tourist) visa as long as they put that there purpose of visit is 'TRAINEE' or 'INTERNSHIP'. Anybody heard of this?
I'm going to be paid during my internship, so maybe this rules out this option.

For a working visa, how long does it take for the company to obtain a certificate of eligibility and what does it involve?

thanks

[GomiGirl]

How old are you? If under 30 the best and quickest way is for you to get a WHV.

You can do unpaid work on a tourist visa. Am thinking there is even a Trainee/intern visa but I wasn't sure.

Sorry but sounds like you are really going to have to ask somebody that specialises in this sort of thing. What is IAESTE?

[Ghost]

Hes already had one WHV and cant apply for another (thanks to the stupid fucking rules at the British embassy).

Do you have a uni degree?

[akatsuka]

Yep,already had a whv

Im currently in 2nd year of my degree.

Sorry for not explaining,iaeste is a company in the uk that helps university students get interns abroad. They didn't help me get mine though,so they say they can't help.

As for intern visas,i asked when i called the japanese embassy but the woman was very unhelpful and ignored my questions and kept talking about the certificate of eligibility...so maybe you need that whatever. Im going to call again,hopefully someone else answers. A working visa for only 90 days seems like a lot if hassle...?

Thanks

[Gilligan]

but the woman was very unhelpful and ignored my questions and kept talking about the certificate of eligibility

I find it extremely hard to believe that someone working at a Japanese government office would act in such a manner

[ttjereth]

As mentioned above, your best bet is contacting the embassy directly, but as far as I read it, for visa purposes you are not considered an intern/trainee if you are paid.

http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/03.html#categories

General Visa
Cultural Activities*
College Student*
Precollege Student*
Trainee*
Dependent*


Specified Visa
Designated Activities+
Spouse or Child of Japanese National
Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident
Long-Term Resident

* Statuses of residence not permitting work.
+ Whether work is permitted or not depends on the content of individual permits.

So you could probably swing something with the "designated activities" visa.