For each international employee, you must also learn how to obtain a work visa in Japan. According to the Immigration Authority’s laws, foreign workers who wish to work in Japan must have a valid Japan work visa. Furthermore, work permits are only valid if they are sponsored by a locally licensed and incorporated organization and are secured for the employees by the firm.
Types of work visas
Depending on an expatriate’s career and reason for migrating to Japan, this country offers almost 30 different work permits and long-term visas. Artists, educators, journalists, professors, skilled laborers, and others can apply for particular work visas based on their occupation. The length of time an employee can stay in Japan is determined by the type of permission they apply for. The duration usually spans from three to five years.
In addition to occupation-specific work permits, Japan has lately issued specific skills visas, such as:
Specified Skilled Worker
This visa is for foreign employees who are coming to Japan to fill job openings in specific industries. By 2025, Japan wants to have brought in around 500,000 new foreign workers.
Specified Skills Visa 1SSV1
This visa is only available to skilled employees in certain areas, such as shipbuilding, agriculture, nursing care, and others. It necessitates the completion of Japanese language and technical exams. The visa is good for one year and can be renewed up to five times. If a visitor wishes to stay for more than five years, they must apply for visa 2-SSV2.
Specified Skills Visa 2SSV2
This visa can be renewed indefinitely, and applicants can bring their family members to Japan. Individuals with a Visa 1-SSV1 who are presently living and working in Japan can apply for this specific visa only after gaining a higher degree of specialization in their area.
Requirements to obtain Japanese work visas
Before getting a work permit or visa, individuals going to Japan for any reason other than tourism must obtain a Certificate of Eligibility (COE). The COE will say that the applicant is lawfully permitted to enter Japan for a job, family, or other reasons. This certificate is required for the visa application procedure, thus employees must have it before proceeding.
Keep in mind that particular requirements can differ from one visa to the next. To get a work visa in the country, for example, individuals may be required to provide a CV as well as a genuine university degree or certificate. Aside from that, there are a few more common requirements:
- A job offer from a Japanese company
- Passport
- Visa application form
- Photograph
Application Process
Finding a sponsor, which is usually an employer, is the first step in applying for a work permit in Japan. To obtain a COE, an individual or a local sponsoring organization must apply to the Regional Immigration Bureau. The COE application procedure entails the following steps:
- Submitting a completed application form
- Submitting a 4cm x 3cm photograph
- Provide a return mail envelope with a 392yen stamp
- Putting together all supporting documents
- Submitting a letter of guarantee
If your employee is applying for a visa based on specific talents, they must also submit a points computation. The points system will assign applicants a score based on their abilities, with applicants needing at least 70 points to be considered for a visa. You must additionally prepare specific documentation as an employer for the visa application process, including:
- Letter of guarantee
- Invitation letter
- List of visa applicants
- Details of your company or organization
- Itinerary in Japan
Other Important Points to Consider
Applicants must pay a fee depending on the type of Japanese working visa they want. The cost of a visa is determined by the type of visa, the applicant’s nationality, and whether they desire a single-entry or multiple-entry process. A single-entry visa costs around 3,000 JPY ($30) and a multiple-entry visa costs around 6,000 JPY ($60).