From Student Visa to Work Visa in Japan: Experience and Practical Guide
For people who want to obtain permanent residence or naturalization in Japan, two common routes are often mentioned:
- The Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services status of residence, often shortened in Chinese communities as the “gijinkoku” work visa.
- The Business Manager status of residence.
People with more capital who also want to bring family members to Japan often consider the Business Manager route, because it can allow the whole family to come together.
Most people, however, still take the work-visa route. Some may also qualify as highly skilled professionals, in which case it may take only two or three years from entering Japan to obtaining permanent residence.
I do not claim to know this field comprehensively, so I will not over-explain. Below is what I know and what I personally experienced, for reference only.
Starting with Study in Japan
Many people who eventually change to an Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services work visa first enter Japan as students. Because of the language barrier, finding a job in Japan directly from overseas can be difficult.
Of course, some people study Japanese well while still in their home country and come to Japan directly on a work visa. There are also people who come directly on a work visa with very little Japanese ability, but I do not recommend this path. I have met people in Japan who later switched to a language school after one year, and others who returned home after one year.
Choosing a Language School
I only know the basics about studying in Japan or using a language school as a transition, but there are a few points I am now fairly sure about. If anything is inaccurate, feel free to email me. This topic should be handled carefully.
- If you are under 30 and have a bachelor’s degree, you may try applying to a language school by yourself. After receiving the COE, you can pay a small amount to an agency to submit the visa materials to the consulate, since Japanese consulates generally do not accept direct individual submissions.
- Reliable agencies usually do not charge language-school agency fees, because schools may pay them referral commissions. However, good agencies often have many clients and limited slots. If your background is weak, they may not be very responsive.
- Anyone who charges under various excuses or simply tells you what you want to hear is likely risky.
If You Are Over 30
Based on my own experience and what I have seen around me, if you are over 30 and can come directly on a work visa, that is usually the better route. There are two main reasons:
- For people over 30, it is often difficult to get into a strong language school. In Japan, “excellent school” status seems to be evaluated heavily by students’ post-graduation paths and illegal overstay rates. A school with few or no overstays is more likely to receive a good rating. Also, Japanese language schools usually have three terms per year and only half-day classes, four periods a day. What looks like one year of study may not include that many actual class hours. If you study hard at home for three or four months, the result may be more efficient.
- If you have no foundation, learning entirely in Japanese can be less effective. A Chinese-speaking teacher who understands Japanese may explain the basics better at the beginning.
There is an old saying: good medicine tastes bitter, and honest advice is hard to hear.
Luck exists, and sometimes people do get away with low-probability outcomes. But as adults, we should not assume the world will make an exception for us. I increasingly feel that doing more certain and generally valid things creates more chances for luck, not the other way around.
Changing from Student Visa to Work Visa
Below are my notes from changing from a student visa to a work visa. A work visa may be granted for up to five years at a time, but common periods are one year, three years, or five years.
Submitted Documents
The documents can be divided into three parts:
- Documents from the employer
These are prepared by the company hiring you, so you usually do not need to worry too much. - Documents from the school
The school may provide a certificate of enrollment, attendance certificate, transcript, and expected graduation certificate. Requirements may vary depending on immigration instructions. - Documents prepared by yourself
Documents You Prepare Yourself
The main items are:
- Two documents need to be filled in or prepared: the application for change of status and your resume.
If you live near the immigration office, you can pick up the application form there. You can also download it from the Immigration Services Agency website in PDF or Excel format. Be careful: the application usually has four pages, two filled in by you and two by the employer. Printing can be done at a convenience store for around 10 yen per page. Convenience store printers may not support Excel directly, so convert the file to PDF first if needed. The resume can be made by yourself; there is no strict fixed format. - Download your education verification report from CHSI. The Chinese version is free, while the English version costs around RMB 30.
- Make a copy of your employment contract.
- Prepare a recent photo, 3 cm wide by 4 cm high, with a white background.
For detailed photo requirements, see the Immigration Services Agency page on submitted photo standards: 提出写真の規格. Convenience stores can also print ID photos, usually four photos for around 250 yen. - Bring your passport, graduation certificate, and residence card originals to immigration.
- If you have professional certificates related to your field, submit one or two copies if useful.
Receiving the New Residence Card
After the initial submission, the next step is waiting. Additional documents may be requested during the review. If that happens, they can usually be mailed in; you do not necessarily need to go to immigration again.
The waiting time for the notice varies. It may take one month or three months. Some people say that if immigration does not contact you within two weeks after the initial submission, you can generally wait with more peace of mind.
After receiving the notice, buy a 6,000 yen revenue stamp at the post office. When I first wrote this article, it was 4,000 yen. Then bring the original and a copy of your language school graduation certificate to immigration and receive your new residence card.
At present, many residence procedures for foreign residents can be handled online. Online procedures are usually 500 yen cheaper than in-person procedures. The student-to-work-visa change mentioned above can also be handled online.