Didn't I say the same thing in post #26?

That you did, my friend. But I wasn't too sure what you meant by "pass their hiring procedure"

I meant "go through their hiring procedure and be accepted (hired)"

Yes, that's how it works, and that's why so few people are able to do it. You need to convince a Japanese firm (which is right now in massive economic turmoil) to hire you over all the possible other candidates, both Japanese and any other foreigners that apply, and prove to them that you are worth the extra hassle and headache for THEM to sponsor your visa. See, you don't get the visa yourself, they do. You just send them a photo and some info, and they do the paperwork, including guaranteeing that you won't get into any legal trouble, etc, or else they, as your sponsor, could be punished as well. THAT'S why there is no simple, step by step "here's how to apply for a visa to come to Japan", because it's not something you, as a foreigner, are able to do. The company that hires you does it.

Let see its been answered by MMM and the others already but let me summarize it again.

1. Get a Bachelors Degree
2. Find a Company in Japan, and get Hired
3. Company will apply for you COE ( Certificate Of Employment ), all necessary documents will be provided both by the company and you
4. Receive CEO and apply for Working Visa
5. If No Problem, Get Working Visa

was that clear enough??:vsign:

It totally isn't that easy.

If you're already in Japan and you need to switch from a tourist visa, you're not even allowed to wait in the country for your COE. They won't send it to the company until they have given immigration dates certain you will be outside of Japan. If you're slick, you can manage to work the dates so the CoE arrives "at the company" around the same time you leave. Then you take it with you, hit Korea, come back. I had to do that. It was a serious hassle.

And they nearly didn't let me back into the country because while I had a work visa, now, I wasn't coming into the country with any baggage, which was a pretty strong point I had been residing in Japan on a tourist visa, which isn't illegal as long as you're not working, but Is Not The Intended Purpose of Your Visit. And Immigration can deny you entry for any reason they want.

Make sure your ducks are in a row.

Interesting, no one working for my current employer has ever had a work visa when they've arrived and hasn't had to leave the country. A lot of the time people have even been working for a month before they get the visa. Not necessarily the company's fault though. The city doesn't award contracts until a 7 or 8 weeks before the new term which gives them little time to hire and file.

New modification.

They made the change literally days before my CoE was to be sent. Very annoying.

Oh that is just fantastic. Next thing you know they will have teachers going to immigration for permission to quit their jobs like in S. Korea.