staying in/moving to Japan
 

I am looking to one day live in Japan.

But would have to just visit first right?

I apologize if there's already a thread similar to this.

I am wondering what the maximum amount of time is that a person can stay in Japan, before having to leave, and how much time I'd have to wait, til I could go back again. for starters.

No, you do not need to visit first. You can apply through one of the English teaching programs like JET AEON Interac ECC... and do not need to have gone to Japan prior to obtaining your work visa.

Oh visas depend on nationality. What type of citizenship do you have? I have Irish dual cit, but I travel as an American.

You can stay in Japan for 90 days on a tourist visa, and then you have to leave. If you're from the USA, you need to get a work visa to live in Japan. Getting a work visa means you must have a bachelor's degree from a 4-year university. If you are a citizen of another country, one that has a working holiday agreement with Japan, you can get a working holiday visa which will allow you to work without a degree (for a limited amount of time).

But first and foremost, I'd still highly recommend visiting Japan first. I mean, how do you know you want to live there if you've never been there? Many foreigners who come to live in Japan find out that the country isn't exactly what they expected.

I agree with Hatred, if I had 10 yen for every person who thought Japan was this amazing wonderland where nothing can ever go wrong I would be a rich man, these people who come here and realise the truth that alot of the sterio types good and bad are not all correct, for example visiting japan for a few days even would show that the Japanese don't eat sushi but a few times a month ect, I would highly rcomend a visit.

I was just pointing out that you don't have to. I do agree though, it's a good idea. Plenty of people don't visit before accepting a position though.

Many people probably can't afford to visit before accepting the position, though.

Not saying otherwise. Usually one accepts such a position because they can't afford to do much of anything, and have student debt to pay off.

Yeah, that too.:p

boy.. ok. but I am not licensed to be a teacher. And I have no way to pay for four years of college. Also, I'm 35 now, and waiting for years to be able to live there is a long time to wait, keeping that in mind.

Well if you actually want to live there for a long period of time, you may be out of luck. Your only real options now are to go to a university or else marry a Japanese citizen. Marrying will allow you to get a spousal visa to stay in Japan. Otherwise, 35 is the age limit for the working holiday visa, so I'm afraid that won't work either.

You can still experience Japan for a decent amount of time though if you stay there for 90 days - there are temporary housing options as well as hostels available.

huh.

I of course don't know for 100%. But if I decide to live there, it can't just be temporary.

....ok whour 13...and you want to get away from your parents and your house...
and move to japan when your about 15 or 16...?
im not sure how this works...but i want to get to japan as soon as possible...

away from here!!!!!!!!!!!!

Best hold off on that thought. I don't know how many times I've said this in various threads, but you can't just decide to go over there and live there, especially if you're trying to get away from something you dont like in your home country. First and foremost you need to finish high school in the US, then you need to go to a university. You CANNOT move there until you're into your 20s. The only other way to stay there at a younger age is if you're doing an exchange there, which is very expensive, and you need to be a top notch student with good grades and a willingness to learn Japanese.

And once again... VISIT BEFORE MOVING THERE! I can't stress this enough. Let me tell you that at your young age, Japan is a lot different than you probably expect it to be.

I request a sticky or FAQ for this reason. Moving to and Living in a foreign country is a big decision. It usually cannot be done on a whim.

As much as it frustrates me to have to say this.... Especially as most of the things people on here are trying to get away from are incredibly shallow and childish (A reoccurring theme of; Parents who interfere in your life - Who care enough to give you limits that you don`t like? Or the all encompassing "I wish my life were like an anime!")

Yes, you can. I didn`t do an exchange, nor had I graduated from university. Multiple things fell into place in very lucky ways, and I ended up living here from 17 with some hopping due to visa issues in the beginning. To say that it isn`t possible would sort of be negating my own life experience.

But that doesn`t mean I support idiocy - which a *13* year old deciding their life sucks and wanting to make the leap to Japan is. Unless your parents are selling you on the street to buy drugs, your life is NOT that bad. I`m going to guess that they were even nice enough buy you a computer.

Lack of rules, limits, and freedom is NOT as good as it sounds. Trust me. It may sound cool to "do whatever you want" without parental interference... It isn`t. It means that your parents don`t care at all what happens to you.

I do know that it is certainly POSSIBLE to do so, and I did read your story in the stickied thread you have, and there's a reason why I tell people like the OP that they can't go to Japan.

I, just like you, don't think its a good idea to encourage people to just run off to Japan, which is why I usually tell people that they can't live in Japan unless they follow the proper steps (education, japanese language proficiency, getting a real job, etc). It's not worth setting people up for a huge disappointment, or even worse, something stupid like overstaying their visa and getting booted out of the country.

A lot of my posts on this forum are in regards to people trying to live in Japan. My goal is to show people the steps they need to take to truly LIVE in Japan, and not just run off there because they want to.

I wish to move to Japan later on in life, but I do not want to go to a college for 4 years, I do not plan on going to college. But I Do plan on learning japanese. So I do not know how I will be able to get over there without going to a college for 4 years...

After being here for a while, and reading tons and tons of these threads... All by the same sort of people... I have come a conclusion.

99% of them could not and will not make it to Japan, regardless of how much they may post that they`re going to. Some things are feasible, and some things just aren`t. I highly doubt most posters have the actual planning skills or money to pull it off. (Or even the skills needed to gather that money.)

Cruel as it may be - if they are stupid enough to overstay their visa, oh well, it`s their own fault. If they do make it to Japan and think it`s horrible, they should have given things more thought. Sometimes I think it`s better to let people find their own limitations rather than tossing reality in their face... Because I`m almost 100% certain that they`ll just keep thinking there is a way around things, that they can do it somehow, etc.

I didn`t mean to criticize your post, and jumping in to say that it is technically possible made me cringe... But if you give someone the tools and knowledge to pull something off and they are incapable of doing so, they can only blame them self. Tell someone it isn`t possible, and in the rare rare case that they DO manage it, well, you lose all credibility.

To put this in perspective, I am taking a job in Japan. I have experience in my field. I have a four year degree from a respected American university. And yet, I am still bringing about $3000 with me to Japan, because otherwise, I'd never survive until my first paycheck between the travel arrangements, the fees, the apartment costs (key money MUST DIE), food costs, etc. Even someone with enough tenacity to try still has to make sure they have a safety net. I'm not that tenacious, so my safety net has to be pretty large.

Just wanted to add my two cents here if yall don't mind. There are other ways to get into Japan without having a 4 degree. You can study in Japan on a student visa, receive a culture visa by studying a form of Japanese culture in Japan.(for example learning how to create bonsai, studying martial arts, etc...) You can qualify for a skilled labor visa by having 10 or more years experience in a certain field. (This is how I am going to Japan). But in the end no matter what way you choose to come to Japan, it's going to take work. But if you really want to visit/live in Japan, it's worth it.

If you are young, take advantage of opportunities that your school may offer, such as exchange programs. And cherish the time you have with your families. I know things may seem bad now but like Nyororin said, if your parents care about you and they're taking care of you, you're one of the lucky kids. There are ALOT of children who wish they were in your position. Plus when you get older, and start to spend less time with your family, you will start to miss them. PLEASE take advantage of the free time that you have and study Japanese. If you have a good grasp of the language it will increase your chances of making to Japan 10 fold. If you are older, like Miyavifan, definitely take a look into the skilled labor visa to see if you qualify.

I'm saying all of this because no one told me about these options and I had to find out on my own, and I REALLY wish someone had told me. Would've made life a lot easier.

Sorry double post.

The big problem with recommending the skilled labor visa is that they are very rarely granted without having a degree. In fact, almost none of the working visa actually list a 4 year degree as a requirement - it`s not necessarily the legal requirement that we speak of here. In order to get any of the working visas (skilled labor not excluded) you have to have a position lined up. Most employers require certain levels of education. And if they don`t, then there is no reason to look abroad in the first place.
It`s not the visa laws themselves as much as the "finding somewhere to hire you" bit.

The only people I have heard of getting skilled labor visas are those with VERY specialized skills. Specialized skills aren`t really something you can just casually suggest someone do - In the end, it may be easier to just do a 4 year degree than stack up more than 10 years of a skill that requires talent to begin with.

In the end, you`re still going to have to find somewhere that will hire you - and 99 times out of 100, they`ll choose the person with a degree plus experience over the guy with no degree and experience. Even if the law says you are eligible for that visa, without a job placement you can`t even apply.

skilled labor visa... that would entail actual college training, right?

help
 

:confused: in still very confused about how to move there cuz im 16 and i really want to live in japan by the time im 18:confused:

In short what you're saying is that just because you qualify for a visa doesn't mean a company will hire you correct? I agree with that but the reason why I suggested that Miyavifan look into this is that she mentioned she's 35, which means that there's a chance she might have 10+ years experience in a certain field. She also said she doesn't have the money to pay for a college so this maybe her only viable option. I'm not saying that she's going to automatically get a visa because of this, but it will allow her to apply for a job in Japan. Are her skills in demand in Japan? I don't know. But if you don't qualify for a visa, there is nothing a Japanese company can do to help you. But if you do qualify for a visa, whether by having a degree or having experience, and the company likes you and hires you, they will sponsor you for a visa to live and work in Japan.

Will there be competition for the jobs? Most definitely. But that's the same not matter what country you go to. Will she be competing with people who have degrees? Most certainly. But is there a chance she could get hired? Indeed there is. I'm not saying this to pick a fight or trying to contradict you. I'm just saying this because it is possible. I know because I am in the middle of a series of interviews with a company in Japan. Nothing is set in stone and I might not get the job but they were more than willing to interview with me and they tell me they are pressing forward to have me hired. I don't have a degree, just 10 years experience in the IT field. What I've realized is that looking for a job in japan is like anywhere else. You have to qualify for the position, you have to sell yourself and make a really good impression on the employers. Does having a degree help? Sure. But not having one doesn't mean you shouldn't apply for a position.

Miyavifan The experience included in the skilled labor visa includes any schooling, whether college or vocational school, that applies to the field you are working in. For example I went to a technical school here in the US. The time I spent there counts towards the 10 years experience. Have you been in certain field of work for sometime?

Just because a company will hire you doesn't mean you qualify for a visa.

And if you are competing with people with degrees, 99 times out of 100 that will trump you. Japanese companies value 4-year-degrees VERY highly in the hiring process. At my old company my Japanese boss would ask that the very first thing when a resume came in. "What school did he graduate from?"

MMM is definitely right. Your company sponsors you, but it does not, I repeat, does not get to make the decision. Immigration is very picky, and sometimes it's up to the individual immigration officer and whether or not he likes you! In my own case (I'm in the middle of obtaining my visa right now), I have to get a pile of documents together Immigration may... or may not actually need/want to see. There's as good a chance I'll only have to show my diploma as there is that I'll have to show them transcripts, letters of graduation, recommendations, resume, AND diploma, or any combo therein. Your company can help you by writing a nice long letter to Immigration explaining why you fit their qualifications, but it's no guarantee. The best thing to do is to shower, and I do mean shower, Immigration with paperwork declaring how qualified you are. If you dump a stack of papers on their desk, especially before they ask for it, that screams, "I'M QUALIFIED," Immigration is much more likely to grant your visa. Act like you know that visa is already yours (politely of course) and your self-confidence will help a lot.

And yeah, in Japan, a bachelors is cruise control for cool. Especially if your degree is from a known university. I'm fairly lucky, University of Texas is known worldwide.

In Japan - having a bachelors is something akin to having a high school diploma in the US. I think that there was a 95% high school graduation rate, with 85% of the graduates going to to a 4 year university. Even those who don`t go on to a 4 year university usually go to a 2 year (mostly women) or enroll in some sort of higher education.
So we`re talking about more than 90% of the current job seekers having a university degree.

Also keep in mind - Japan also PREFERS to hire people with little or no experience. Companies all have their own extensive education and training programs. It`s easier to teach someone from scratch than to try to change habits that are already set.
A fresh university graduate has considerably more appeal than someone with 10 or 15 years of experience.
Unless you have a VERY specialized skill that is in high demand and that can`t be filled via the university graduate route (Think very exotic things, like someone who can repair and rebuild antique clockworks, or who has developed a new and unique manufacturing process that is in very high demand... etc) they will almost ALWAYS choose the graduate over you.

While you may be technically eligible for the visa - you have quite a few hurdles. The first is finding somewhere that will hire you over the huge selection of fresh graduates and university graduates with experience (Remember, even farmers out in the middle of nowhere here usually have degrees). And then, if you do find a place willing to go through all the paperwork and costs involved in sponsoring a foreign employee... You have to prove to immigration that you are more qualified for the limited visa spots than , say, someone with visible qualifications.

Both of these are VERY difficult. Unless you`re one of the only 5 people in the world capable of doing something, it`s worse than an uphill battle. It`s like trying to walk up the side of a wall.

There is no advantage in a Japanese company hiring someone from outside Japan who has fewer skills and qualifications than someone in Japan, who they can talk to 100% from day one. It costs a lot of money, takes a lot of time in paperwork, and involves a lot of legal responsibility. Where is the appeal for the company?

I should have been clearer. I was talking about foreigners, working in jobs where foreigners are desired.

You can get in without a 4 year degree, as I say, but it's the first thing they look for, and if you don't have it, you have to present all these substitutions for it.

Do you agree this is accurate?

99% of jobs were foreigners are desired are in language teaching. There are so many people with degrees that apply, resumes of people without degrees would probably not make it far in the process.

Think about this...and this goes back the the "pride in one's work" category.

I am in charge of hiring in a Japanese company. I get 10 resumes from foreigners for job X. Among those 8 have degrees and 2 don't. I may think one of those 2 is really qualified, but I am not going to hire her. Why? Because when I tell my boss I hired a degree-less candidate, he'll say "What did you do that for?" If she makes ANY mistake, it will be MY fault, because I am the one who hired an under-qualified candidate. I must think about what's best for the company, and Japanese companies aren't in the business of taking risks or going out on a limb for the people they hire.

Wow, it's really as high as 20%? That kind of amazes me. Unless you're getting resumes from foreigners staying in Japan on tourist or spousal visas, or do you accept overseas applications?

I totally get the "shit rolls down hill" paradigm.

I'm curious, what is it that your company does?

English teachers?

It would be more accurate to say that the only case they will choose someone without a degree is when there is no one with a degree available who fits their requirements.
I was pointing out that this is a VERY rare scenario. Sure, it could happen, but counting on it is sort of like deciding to base your finances around winning the lottery.

And in the end, just because the company agrees to hire you, there is no assurance that you`ll be granted a visa. Trust me on this. My husband`s father has been trying to get a number of 10+ years experience workers from overseas to come to his company for YEARS, but has been turned down every time. And these ARE very specialized workers whose skills aren`t even available in Japan.

I had assumed it was a hypothetical example...
Correct me if I`m wrong, MMM.

Including, yes, but not only. I applied for other positions I was qualified for, although I am primarily a teacher. I am an experienced journalist, my degree was obtained with a journalism emphasis. I applied to a few English publications and a few copy editing positions. It's probably more accurate to say "language" or "communications" in general.

Preaching to the choir, I said this myself in an earlier post:

Since MMM is involved in this directly, I'd like to know what his estimated numbers/percentages are. It would shed light. I realised that it was a hypthetical example, but it must be based on something...

My posts weren`t really specifically directed toward you. :P
I was just stating general information and adding on to what you said.

I`d say the general hiring practices and work ethic in most Japanese companies.
I didn`t see any direct percentages - just a hypothetical example saying 8 with and 2 without. The thing is, you don`t have to give percentages. The issue being discussed isn`t the percentage of applicants without degrees.

Direct personal experience - Once long ago, when I worked for a company that did indeed hire foreigners from outside of Japan (in contrast to those already inside the country).... Any application without a degree was tossed. It wasn`t even looked over. It never got to the stage of "They seem qualified." because once they checked the educational listing, it was over. Just one company, but I can bet that it is pretty much a reflection of how most companies are.

That was a hypothetical. But we manufacture latex. Hypothetically.

My experience is working on the hiring committees at a Japanese bank and at a translation company hiring translators and marketing people. In both situations the bosses were Japanese, and I was being kind, and Nyororin is right.

Most jobs I have seen in Japan that are directed towards hiring foreigners say "4-year degree required". Of the dozens of resumes I have read, only once did I see one that was someone without a degree. We actually did hire that person because she was three weeks from graduation, and we needed someone immediately. (She had her degree three weeks later, but I would say the boss felt like he was going out on a limb for her.)

Let's focus on what are the options for Miyavifan.

What is your work experience Miyavifan?

And where do you exactly live?

I was about to say the same thing.

MMM, Tsuwabuki, Nyororin, I actually agree with a lot of what you're saying. In my previous post I never said a company will give you a Visa but that they would sponsor you for one. There's a difference as you already know. Would a degree make things easier. Heck Yeah! But as I said before Miyavifan doesn't really have that option so that's why I mentioned the skilled labor visa. All the information that I posted is what I was told at Japanese consulate that I visited. It's funny Tsuwabuki, you sounded exactly like the guy behind the counter. He told me find anything and everything that proves you are qualified and throw it at them and hope that the shower of documents impresses them like the falling Sakura and pray that they give you the visa. It was his funny way of saying that they are super picky.

You mentioned about providing substitutes, I agree with that. I have two friends who are working in the IT industry in Japan, no degree. They both have several certifications and because of those certifications and their experience they were able to get the position they applied for.

Is it harder without a degree? YES! Can it be done without one? YES!

For Miyavifan it may be a long shot...but it's a shot nonetheless. Why not help her to take it? Why quote hypothetical statistics to scare her off? The worse that can happen is that she's unable to live in Japan. The best thing that can happen is that she will be able to live and work where she wants to. I'm not saying it's not going to be difficult, but the things you want in life never usually come easy. You just gotta go for it and see where the chips fall.

Of course we want to help Miyavifan, and for a forum where drifting off topic appears to be required, I would say we have stayed pretty well on topic.

I think we are sharing valuble information. If you want to take that as discouraging, well, the outlook is a bit meager. Impossible? No. But I don't post to make a long-shot sound like anything more than what it is.