Changing Visa from tourist to Working while in Japan?

[jjaappaa]

Hello Everyone I was looking back at some earlier posts about changing visa status while in country. Do they still allow it? Or is a quick trip to Korea still necessary? I am an Aus. with a BA degree and 10 months eikaiwa teaching experience (working holi. visa in 2002). I will come to Japan and live with my girlfriend so accommodation will be fine, it is just that I am a little worried about being able to get an eikaiwa job in a short time in Tokyo. Any advice and ideas would be appreciated. This is my first post so excuse any daftness please.(long time lurker first time poster) :P

[FG Lurker]

Hello Everyone I was looking back at some earlier posts about changing visa status while in country. Do they still allow it? Or is a quick trip to Korea still necessary? I am an Aus. with a BA degree and 10 months eikaiwa teaching experience (working holi. visa in 2002). I will come to Japan and live with my girlfriend so accommodation will be fine, it is just that I am a little worried about being able to get an eikaiwa job in a short time in Tokyo. Any advice and ideas would be appreciated. This is my first post so excuse any daftness please.(long time lurker first time poster) :P

Google is your friend. A quick search will give you all the answers you need. In short, the answer to your visa change question is "No".

Google Search
One Result

[FG Lurker]

Hello Everyone I was looking back at some earlier posts about changing visa status while in country. Do they still allow it? Or is a quick trip to Korea still necessary? I am an Aus. with a BA degree and 10 months eikaiwa teaching experience (working holi. visa in 2002). I will come to Japan and live with my girlfriend so accommodation will be fine, it is just that I am a little worried about being able to get an eikaiwa job in a short time in Tokyo. Any advice and ideas would be appreciated. This is my first post so excuse any daftness please.(long time lurker first time poster) :P

A couple of other points:

- You should contact your previous employer to see if they will hire you back. If so get your work visa before you go.

- I had two Working Holiday Visas. This was in 93 and 95 though, and I have heard from some that it is no longer possible. A quick call to the Japanese embassy or consulate wouldn't be a bad idea. Be sure to have a set of plans about what you want to do in Japan though -- traveling to here, here, here, and here. Doing this at this time. "I want to go back and live with my gf while working part time" won't cut it.

- If nothing else get a job with a big school like ECC or Nova before you come here. Yah, I know they are hated by all, but it's a job and you will have an income when you arrive. Once you get settled you can look around for what you really want to do.

[jjaappaa]

Hello Everyone I was looking back at some earlier posts about changing visa status while in country. Do they still allow it? Or is a quick trip to Korea still necessary? I am an Aus. with a BA degree and 10 months eikaiwa teaching experience (working holi. visa in 2002). I will come to Japan and live with my girlfriend so accommodation will be fine, it is just that I am a little worried about being able to get an eikaiwa job in a short time in Tokyo. Any advice and ideas would be appreciated. This is my first post so excuse any daftness please.(long time lurker first time poster) :P

A couple of other points:

- You should contact your previous employer to see if they will hire you back. If so get your work visa before you go.

- I had two Working Holiday Visas. This was in 93 and 95 though, and I have heard from some that it is no longer possible. A quick call to the Japanese embassy or consulate wouldn't be a bad idea. Be sure to have a set of plans about what you want to do in Japan though -- traveling to here, here, here, and here. Doing this at this time. "I want to go back and live with my gf while working part time" won't cut it.

- If nothing else get a job with a big school like ECC or Nova before you come here. Yah, I know they are hated by all, but it's a job and you will have an income when you arrive. Once you get settled you can look around for what you really want to do.

Thanks for the advice mate I appreciate it. I worked for Nova and I don't want to go that route again if I can help it. I will call the Embassy but as far as I know they only give one working visa (which i have already had) and I am over 30 (which is the cut off age for being eligible).

[FG Lurker]

Thanks for the advice mate I appreciate it. I worked for Nova and I don't want to go that route again if I can help it. I will call the Embassy but as far as I know they only give one working visa (which i have already had) and I am over 30 (which is the cut off age for being eligible).

If you're past 30 then definitely no-go. When I did it 10 years ago they would give you a 2nd visa if you were still within the age limits and wrote a special letter of request.

Even though it is Nova I would suggest going back to them if you can. It will give you a job to come back to and a working visa from the very start. Once you've settled in it will be possible to jump from Nova to a more desirable place of work.

[jjaappaa]

Thanks for the advice mate I appreciate it. I worked for Nova and I don't want to go that route again if I can help it. I will call the Embassy but as far as I know they only give one working visa (which i have already had) and I am over 30 (which is the cut off age for being eligible).

If you're past 30 then definitely no-go. When I did it 10 years ago they would give you a 2nd visa if you were still within the age limits and wrote a special letter of request.

Even though it is Nova I would suggest going back to them if you can. It will give you a job to come back to and a working visa from the very start. Once you've settled in it will be possible to jump from Nova to a more desirable place of work.

Anyway I know it is a risk but still I am planning to come jobless and look for work when I arrive. I can live with my girlfriend and she will have a job so it should be ok. I can't see myself not being able to be sponsored and secure a job in Japan. In Aus. the difficulty is not being able to be interviewed face to face. Again thanks for that link. I did search google about changing visas in Japan but I didn't find the link that you showed me. I still am quite an arse at using the internet.

[FG Lurker]

Anyway I know it is a risk but still I am planning to come jobless and look for work when I arrive. I can live with my girlfriend and she will have a job so it should be ok. I can't see myself not being able to be sponsored and secure a job in Japan. In Aus. the difficulty is not being able to be interviewed face to face.

I hope everything goes smoothly and you find work quickly upon arrival. Where abouts in Japan are you heading?

Again thanks for that link. I did search google about changing visas in Japan but I didn't find the link that you showed me. I still am quite an arse at using the internet.

Google is incredibly powerful, if you know some of the tricks to using it. You can see the search I used by clicking on the "Google Search" link I provided. The trick is to reduce what you want into several key words. You want to find information about changing from a tourist visa to a working visa in Japan. The key words in that thought are:

Japan visa tourist work change

The order is not important really, but you have to get rid of the words you don't need, and make sure to include the words that cover the key points of what you want to know.

That search by itself produces quite a list of sites, many of which are just people spouting off about what they *think* is possible, or how they think the Japanese government should change the rules, etc. So you need a way to make the search return more authoritative results. All Japanese government agencies with web sites use addresses that end with ".go.jp". Pretty clear that it means "government japan". Google has a collection of useful features, one of them is the "site" limiter. If you search like this:

Japan visa tourist work change site:go.jp

Google will return *only* hits from Japanese government web sites. Cool huh? You can use it to limit searches to only one site too. If you wanted to search fuckedgaijin.com for the same information you would do this:

Japan visa tourist work change site:fuckedgaijin.com

If you wanted to exclude all Japanese government sites you could do this:

Japan visa tourist work change -site:go.jp

The minus sign flips the site command into an exclusion mode.

With a bit of time you will get better at choosing keywords to search with. Once you manage that you will be able to find just about anything you want.

Good luck!

[Taro Toporific]

Google is incredibly powerful, if you know some of the tricks to using it. You can see the search I used by clicking on the "Google Search" link I provided. The trick is to reduce what you want into several key words. ....
So you need a way to make the search return more authoritative results. All Japanese government agencies with web sites use addresses that end with ".go.jp". Pretty clear that it means "government japan".

Another finding Google trick for finding any Japanese technical term in English that you can't find in any translation dictionary is:

Get better results by Googling in the following way:

1. Access the Google site, either Japanese version or select Japanese-only in the Google preferences.
2. Enter each compound term delimited with double quotations.
3. Either select "Japanese sites" or add a Japanese term in kanji/kana.
4. Out of the output references, select any document that includes both the English original and a seemingly synonymous term.

[RealTronic]

It is DEFINATELY possible to change your Tourist Visa to a Working Visa. I did it myself just just one and a half years ago.

What you need is the so-called "Certificate of Eligibility" - normally this is acquired before you come to Japan; but I had no difficulties in getting it approved whilst in Japan on a tourist visa. Of course, to get this certificate you need proof that you have received a firm job. (The exact additional things you need can be found on a variety of web sites; just do a search on the above phrase and you'll find it probably - otherwise just head down to the Immigration Office in Shinagawa)

After getting the Certificate of Eligibility; you need to submit an application to change "status of stay" (not sure of the exact wording) - there are application forms for this at the Immigration Office, make sure you choose the one for Working Visa. Now, you to attach basically the same things as in your certificate application, so don't throw those away...

If you need more info, and cannot find it on the web, let me know and I'll see if I have some things left from when I did it.

[FG Lurker]

[quote="RealTronic"]It is DEFINATELY possible to change your Tourist Visa to a Working Visa. I did it myself just just one and a half years ago.

What you need is the so-called "Certificate of Eligibility" - normally this is acquired before you come to Japan]
You changed from a temporary visitors visa (aka tourist visa) to a standard working visa without leaving and reentering Japan?

If so then something major has changed because this used to be impossible. It is still written up as being impossible on every site I can find.

I'd be curious to hear what your nationality is. It may be that some countries have entered into a reciprocal agreement with Japan to make this possible for their citizens.

[RealTronic]

You changed from a temporary visitors visa (aka tourist visa) to a standard working visa without leaving and reentering Japan?

If so then something major has changed because this used to be impossible. It is still written up as being impossible on every site I can find.

I'd be curious to hear what your nationality is. It may be that some countries have entered into a reciprocal agreement with Japan to make this possible for their citizens.

First off, I'm from Sweden. As far as I know, no special bilateral agreements in this matter have been struck.

And yes, when doing searches on the government websites about this, you generally get the answer "no it is not possible." However, I did find this on a JETRO site:

* If a foreign national who has applied for a Certificate of Eligibility is already in Japan on a temporary visitor status of residence when the Certificate of Eligibility is issued, that foreign national may be able to change his/her temporary visitor status of residence to the working status approved in the Certificate of Eligibility while still in Japan, without the need to apply and receive a visa at a Japanese diplomatic mission outside Japan.

http://www.jetro.go.jp/en/invest/setting_up/section2.html

As I am living example of, it is possible, but not generally accepted. Since all applications are screened individually, I guess it's a matter of having all your papers and records straight, and that your job is with a respectable company.

[jjaappaa]

Anyway I know it is a risk but still I am planning to come jobless and look for work when I arrive. I can live with my girlfriend and she will have a job so it should be ok. I can't see myself not being able to be sponsored and secure a job in Japan. In Aus. the difficulty is not being able to be interviewed face to face.

I hope everything goes smoothly and you find work quickly upon arrival. Where abouts in Japan are you heading?

Again thanks for that link. I did search google about changing visas in Japan but I didn't find the link that you showed me. I still am quite an arse at using the internet.

Google is incredibly powerful, if you know some of the tricks to using it. You can see the search I used by clicking on the "Google Search" link I provided. The trick is to reduce what you want into several key words. You want to find information about changing from a tourist visa to a working visa in Japan. The key words in that thought are:

Japan visa tourist work change

The order is not important really, but you have to get rid of the words you don't need, and make sure to include the words that cover the key points of what you want to know.

That search by itself produces quite a list of sites, many of which are just people spouting off about what they *think* is possible, or how they think the Japanese government should change the rules, etc. So you need a way to make the search return more authoritative results. All Japanese government agencies with web sites use addresses that end with ".go.jp". Pretty clear that it means "government japan". Google has a collection of useful features, one of them is the "site" limiter. If you search like this:

Japan visa tourist work change site:go.jp

Google will return *only* hits from Japanese government web sites. Cool huh? You can use it to limit searches to only one site too. If you wanted to search fuckedgaijin.com for the same information you would do this:

Japan visa tourist work change site:fuckedgaijin.com

If you wanted to exclude all Japanese government sites you could do this:

Japan visa tourist work change -site:go.jp

The minus sign flips the site command into an exclusion mode.

With a bit of time you will get better at choosing keywords to search with. Once you manage that you will be able to find just about anything you want.

Good luck!

I am heading to Tokyo. I have lived there before and enjoyed it. I also think that the chances of finding work there are also very good as well. Thanks for all the hints on searching google. I know the info is out there on the net it is just the means of finding it. So with this help I should become a little more adept! Cheers

[jjaappaa]

You changed from a temporary visitors visa (aka tourist visa) to a standard working visa without leaving and reentering Japan?

If so then something major has changed because this used to be impossible. It is still written up as being impossible on every site I can find.

I'd be curious to hear what your nationality is. It may be that some countries have entered into a reciprocal agreement with Japan to make this possible for their citizens.

First off, I'm from Sweden. As far as I know, no special bilateral agreements in this matter have been struck.

And yes, when doing searches on the government websites about this, you generally get the answer "no it is not possible." However, I did find this on a JETRO site:

* If a foreign national who has applied for a Certificate of Eligibility is already in Japan on a temporary visitor status of residence when the Certificate of Eligibility is issued, that foreign national may be able to change his/her temporary visitor status of residence to the working status approved in the Certificate of Eligibility while still in Japan, without the need to apply and receive a visa at a Japanese diplomatic mission outside Japan.

http://www.jetro.go.jp/en/invest/setting_up/section2.html

As I am living example of, it is possible, but not generally accepted. Since all applications are screened individually, I guess it's a matter of having all your papers and records straight, and that your job is with a respectable company.

Hey FG Lurker I also read as well that some other FGers also were able to change their visa status without having to leave the country. It was on an earlier thread that I researched on FG. The only thing was that the thread was 2 years old and they also stated that this change was a trial that might only last one year. I wasn't sure if it was a possibility still but it seems as if it is.

[RealTronic]

I also found this:

Question:Under what circumstances will I be allowed to change my temporary visitor visa to a longer visa?

Answer:Article 20-3 of the Immigration Control Act stipulates that temporary visitors are permitted to change to other status of residence only under extraordinary and inevitable circumstances. If you wish to obtain a longer visa, you will have to leave Japan after obtaining a certificate of eligibility for a status of residence and apply for the visa to a Japanese diplomatic establishment in a foreign country. However, there are exceptions to this. For instance, a temporary visitor to Japan who came to marry a Japanese may sometimes be granted, after the marriage registration, for the change of the status of residence to the spouse of a Japanese national.

http://www.pref.osaka.jp/kokusai/OIS_web/english/immigration/04_2.html

[Taro Toporific]

...
You changed from a temporary visitors visa (aka tourist visa) to a standard working visa without leaving and reentering Japan?

If so then something major has changed because this used to be impossible. ...

I've been hearing scattered claims about this no-need-to-leave-for-work-visa for a few years...and figured it was caused by a combination of the phase of the moon and a planetary alignment in our solar system.
If I were you, I would be sure to have a money for the visa run to Korea.

Speaking of Korea, Caustic Saint just made a visa run to Korea to change his tourist visa to a standard working visa:

IT'S OFFICIAL
I got my Certificate of Eligibility for my work visa today! That means I have official government approval to stay in Japan.

YAY!!!!! ^.^
...Next up is a quick trip to Korea to go to the Embassy and get my visa entered into my passport. Yes, I know it's possible to do it without leaving Japan in some cases, but it'll give me a chance to take a little [[paid]] trip, hang out with some old friends and do a little shopping. So why not go?

"I went into Seoul yesterday to drop off my visa paperwork at the Japanese consulate ..."...."... the visaonly takes one day to process. Since I'm arriving on a Thursday, I'll have to drop it off on Friday, which means I can't get it back until Monday. ..."

[jjaappaa]

...
You changed from a temporary visitors visa (aka tourist visa) to a standard working visa without leaving and reentering Japan?

If so then something major has changed because this used to be impossible. ...

I've been hearing scattered claims about this no-need-to-leave-for-work-visa for a few years...and figured it was caused by a combination of the phase of the moon and a planetary alignment in our solar system.
If I were you, I would be sure to have a money for the visa run to Korea.

Speaking of Korea, Caustic Saint just made a visa run to Korea to change his tourist visa to a standard working visa:

IT'S OFFICIAL
I got my Certificate of Eligibility for my work visa today! That means I have official government approval to stay in Japan.

YAY!!!!! ^.^
...Next up is a quick trip to Korea to go to the Embassy and get my visa entered into my passport. Yes, I know it's possible to do it without leaving Japan in some cases, but it'll give me a chance to take a little [[paid]] trip, hang out with some old friends and do a little shopping. So why not go?

"I went into Seoul yesterday to drop off my visa paperwork at the Japanese consulate ..."...."... the visaonly takes one day to process. Since I'm arriving on a Thursday, I'll have to drop it off on Friday, which means I can't get it back until Monday. ..."

I can change my return ticket to home and get some credit back to use for the korean leg if neccessary.(through STA) It worries me a little the amount of time to get the COE. 2 months?