Visa Eligibility

Foreigners are not allowed to work in Japan unless they have an appropriate Japanese work visa. There are a few ways to get one. Some of the more common ways to get the work visa are as follows.

Live and Work in Japan

  • Marry a Japanese citizen. If you can find that special someone, then he or she should be able to help you with all the paperwork for your work permit.
  • Get a working holiday visa. Depends on your age and country of citizenship. (E.g. New Zealanders under 30 can get these visas.) Contact your Japanese embassy for details.
  • Get an employer-sponsored visa. This is what I did. There’s more information on this website.

In general, if you have a dependent visa (for example, if you are married to a work visa holder), you are not allowed to work. After all, if you can work then you are not really dependent on the other person. However, it is possible for dependent visa holders to get a part-time work permit — see the Dependent Visa page on this website for more.

Related reading

Dependent Visa

There has been some discussion in the Visa eligibility section about whether you are allowed to work if you have...

Embassies

Your first point of contact regarding Japanese visa eligibility is your local Japanese embassy. If you are already in Japan,...

Japan Rail Pass

The Japan Rail Pass can be a good deal for visitors who plan on doing a lot of sightseeing in...

Work visa process

When you enter Japan, you will probably be on a 90 day tourist visa exemption. Holders of certain passports (e.g....

Sponsored visa

To get a work visa, you need to find a company willing to give you a job. You will also...

316 comments on “Visa Eligibility”

Comment pages: « 16 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 [16]

  1. 297
    Napoleon said (28 June 2011 at 7:38 pm)

    dear sir or madam
    i am a zimbabwean citizen and i was deported from japan in 2007 for overstay.i had a japanese girlfriend at that time but she was a student.Now she finished school and she is working and we want to get married.i was given 5years barn from entering japan.i want to come back to japan this year but can you help me on how to get SPECIAL LANDING PERMISSION. we need to apply for marriage visa but pliz help me how. thank you. napochan12000@yahoo.com

  2. 298
    Nhorie said (8 July 2011 at 12:58 pm)

    Hi, goodmorning, I am a Philippine national who got married to a Japanese last year of July 14. My problem is that the Tokyo immigration is so strict that they did not grant my certificate of eligibility approval after 1st and 2nd apply. And it took 3 months before they send back the unapproved COE in every application. What I hate about it is I know other Filipina who entered a fake marriage with Japanese national but they had got an approved COE so fast and easy! Me and my husband are so depress on what happening. We had a true relationship and real marriage but why they don`t believe? I know my husband is 21 years older than me, but for us, as long as we really love each other, age doesn`t matter at all. I am so worried now because my husband is alone in his house. Thankful that we had internet, everyday we can always talk via video chat. But still not satisfied because I want to take care of him especially when he is sick. Not just look at him! Last month, we re-apply my COE for the 3rd time, and we wish and hope that the immigration will finally grant me my COE approved so I can live with my husband soon. Please tell to the Tokyo immigration officer to approved our COE application. My husband name is Hideo Abekawa and my name is Normita Villareal Abekawa. I hope somebody could help me here…..Thank you! and God Bless to all of you.

  3. 299
    Khem Raj Puri said (2 August 2011 at 9:22 pm)

    Hi
    I am Khem Raj Puri from Jhapa, Nepal. I want to go Japan and work their people. Because I like speed of Life. I am Computer Literate Person but I can do any job for stay in Japan. IF anybody can give me Sponsored ten i will come in Visit Visa also. Cell +977-9842640388, krajpuri@yahoo.com

  4. 300
    michael Lee said (8 August 2011 at 12:24 pm)

    Good day!

    I’m Michael Lee, a Philippine national. There is a company who wants to sponsor me in Japan, can you please help me by stating all necessary requirements they need to send me in order for me to apply in my country for a working visa? I’m currently herein Philippines. hope to here from you soon. Thanks a lot! God Bless!

  5. 301
    michael Lee said (8 August 2011 at 12:26 pm)

    Good day!

    I’m Michael Lee, a Philippine national. There is a company who wants to sponsor me in Japan, can you please help me by stating all necessary requirements they need to send me in order for me to apply in my country for a working visa? I’m currently herein Philippines. hope to here from you soon. Anyone who can email me today is very much appreciated. Thanks a lot! God Bless!

    miclee_666@yahoo.com

  6. 302
    Rommel talavera said (10 August 2011 at 3:03 pm)

    Good Day Mam/Sir,

    I Would like to know where we can get the working visa in japan? i have posible employer but she did’nt know where to get a working visa! i ask some of travel agency and they told me to get a eligibility visa
    Please kindly advise where we can get a working visa in japan?

    Thank you,

  7. 303
    Maricel O. said (26 August 2011 at 3:27 am)

    Gud am..
    Ask ko lang po Pa anu po Ba ako makakasali sa
    Kulom ninyu?!
    Gusto ko po masabi angmga publema ko
    Kasal po ako sa hapon gusto kong ibahagi ang mga karabasan
    Ko Dto sa japan.. At humingin ng mga advise
    Wait ko po reply ninyu mam,sir

  8. 304
    kamran said (29 August 2011 at 9:39 am)

    dear sir my name is kamran i want come to japan and also want work visa. plz helpe in this matter, and issue the great country visa thanks and regards

  9. 305
    Ivy said (1 September 2011 at 10:20 am)

    I am a Filipino married to a US Navy stationed in Japan, I have my Military ID card and updated passport. Am I good to go to Japan even without the Japan Visa and just have the ticket, then the ID and passport and my husbands order?

  10. 306
    Roshan,k said (2 September 2011 at 2:10 am)

    Hi,,it,s me krishna from dubai belong to nepal kathmandu well, i would like to say i could see there so many comment well.acuthlly i am employe in 5 star hotel i have 5 year experince in hospitalaty induistry if possible to get a job in japan could you please give me advice it will be very kind of you also i would like to share that in dubai companey web side apply for job,

    Thank you
    roshan

  11. 307
    Ravinder Chauhan said (5 September 2011 at 7:07 pm)

    Hi,I am ravinder chauhan & 31yrs old.I am working with UAEEXChange & Financial services ltd for past 7 yrs. I am as an branch head here.Can i get the job in japan,if yes plz suggest me How?

  12. 308
    Bataar Mike said (9 September 2011 at 10:16 pm)

    I am a permanent resident in Japan and have taught in junior high school for 6 years and receiving an average of 260,000 yen per month. I have 4 dependants so my annual income tax for 2010 shows a zero yen after getting tax relief. This year I re-married and applied for eligibility to enable my wife to join me in Japan. The Japanese immigration has asked me to submit my tax certificate for 2010 which shows a zero yen for taxes. How will this affect the success of my application?

  13. 309
    sujan said (14 October 2011 at 4:53 pm)

    Dear sir;
    i want to get a working visa in japan but how to it possible? Now i am 22 year old and i do not know how to get work permit in japan. please Sir could you give me suggestion. I am from pokhara in Nepal my cell number is +9779846268488.

  14. 310
    Roger said (19 October 2011 at 4:29 pm)

    To whom it may concern:
    I am an American citizen who wish to marry my fiance, who live in Japan. She’s been in Japan for 30 years. She is a pilipina and hold a permanent visa. What type of document do i need in order to apply for marriage? Please advised,

    Roger..

  15. 311
    vivian said (2 November 2011 at 5:12 pm)

    hello gud pm .. i just want to ask if we can grant us my son a certficate of eligibility.. last month my filipino husband who hold 3 years working visa under specialtist in humanistist international service [wer not yet married] applied us his dependent he want to get us my son an eligibility and the immigration inspector reviewed our documents and accept it all .. did you think we can get eligibility eventhough wer not yet married but my son is under my husband family name. did you think my son only can get eligibility? pls help…

  16. 312
    Nerak said (2 November 2011 at 9:16 pm)

    Dear Sir

    My brother -in -law is in japan for 15 yrs now. He just opened a restuarant with some partners. He has a working visa. My queries to you are :
    1. what is the requirement(documentation) needed to open a business in japan by a foreigner?
    2.what is the visa formalities for him to take his wife and two sons over to Japan?
    3. since he now runs a business there, can his family also travel to Japan and be with him? under what visa application can there apply for?

    Would appreciate it if you could reply to my concern. Thank you for your attention

  17. 313
    amina said (11 November 2011 at 3:37 am)

    i m girl from tunisia and i want to finish my lessons at japan and leave there when i will have 21 years now i have just 15 years , to will be a translator .now i can just speak arabic ;french and english!!! what should i do ??? i want to learn japanese languges but i don t know how ?!
    please help me …

  18. 314
    amina said (11 November 2011 at 8:28 am)

    my phone number is 26378979 PLEASE call me because my email is bloqued i can t recive any thing!!!!!

  19. 315
    irshad said (5 December 2011 at 1:47 am)

    i’m working in malaysia since 1999 but still cnt be stand on my foot. it’s my wish to go japan but there’s no body who show me the best way,i’ve 5 years electrical and air/cond exp……..can i find job in japan?

  20. 316
    zainab said (2 January 2012 at 3:45 am)

    i really like japan and iwish if som day iwille be a jappanesse

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