Japan Work Visa - Definitive Guide

When you are planning on working in Japan, you will need a work visa to Japan, also called Japan work permit. It is provided to the applicant who has been employed by a company in Japan. There are two kinds of work permit, one is issued for a temporary purpose while the other one is issued for a longer period of time. They can be classified as follows:

• Japan Work Permit: Short-term

On this permit, you will be allowed to work only for a limited time span. It is generally issued for contract works. Doctors, engineers, researchers, instructors and lecturers, business managers, and other services like legal, accounting, medical, nursing care issue this type of visa. The validity is generally for 3 months (4 months for business manager) permitting a stay of 30 days per visit. It is a short-term multiple-entry visa.

• Japan Work Permit: Long-term

This is a kind of work visa to Japan that allows Japan employed applicant to work for a particular period of time. To get this kind of permit, the applicant must have an assured job offer in the country. It is issued to the employees who are intra-company transferees, entertainers, skilled labour, trainees and interns, etc. the validity of this kind of visa varies from 6 months to 1 year up to 5 years as well.

Before going ahead with the process of visa application, you need to make sure that you have all the requirements to match the eligibility criteria. The criteria are put forth by the Japan Embassy to differentiate the applicants as per their preferred visas. The process is mainly carried out offline and can be done by applying to the visa application centre or the Japan Embassy directly. The step by step process for the visa is given as follows:

1. Download the Japan work visa application form from the official website of the visa application centre.
2. Fill out all the required information on the form and go through the checklist provided.
3. Fulfil all the requirements that are asked by the authorities.
4. Attach all the supporting documents along with the photographs as per the specifications.
5. Submit the application form to your nearest branch of the visa application centre.
6. Pay the fee at the time of submission.
7. Collect your passport after the processing of the visa.

When you have filled out the application form for your preferred visa type, there are a few things to take care of. You need to make sure that you provide only the correct information on the application form. The information provided must match the details on the passport and other documents. If in case, any issues are found with the application, there are chances that your visa may get refused. A visa refusal can affect applications for your further Japan work permit applications or any other visa to any country. To avoid the same, it is safe to acquire a professional visa consultation.

The eligibility criteria are important as they specify what kind of permit you need. The criteria may differ for the two types of Japan work visa. The parameters are listed as follows:

• You must meet the health requirements

1. You must be healthy enough to travel to Japan.
2. You must perform a medical test before travelling to the country and provide a relevant documentary proof.
3. You must be within the age limit to be able to apply for a work permit.
• You must meet the character requirements

1. You must be of good character and have genuine intentions behind working in Japan.
2. You need to provide a relevant documentary proof for the same as well in the form of a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC).
• You must have sufficient funds

1. You must possess or have access to sufficient funds to be able to cover your stay and other expenses in Japan.
2. Bank statement or any equivalent document is to be submitted as well as proof of the same.
• You must have confirmed employment in Japan

1. You need to have a job and a letter from the organisation confirming your employment to be able to apply for the Japan work permit.
2. The visa application must be provided given considerable time for processing.

There are different types of documents required as per the type of Japan work permit. The common Japan work visa requirements for Indian citizens are listed as follows:

• Original passport with validity at least 6 months ahead of the date of travel
• Completely filled visa application form
• Two photos as per the photo specifications
• Cover letter from the hiring company
• Certificate of Eligibility from the employer
• Proof of identification and nationality
1. PAN card
2. Adhaar card
• Proof of confirmed travel dates 
1. Confirmation slip 
2. Air tickets
• Proof of sufficient funds to support your stay in Japan
1. Travel requisition by employer
2. Letter of remittance
3. Certificate of income or tax payment issued by a public agency
4. Certificate of deposit balance
• Proof of accommodation
1. Invitation letter
2. Hotel reservation

The Japan work visa photo specifications are as follows -

• Two copies must be provided
• Photo size: 50mm x 50 mm.
• Coloured copy must be provided.
• The face must cover about 60-70% of the frame - 32mm x 36mm.
• Head should well-centred.
• A gap of 2mm to 6mm must be kept between the top of the head and the frame.
• The picture must not be older than 6 months.
• The background must be white
• Neutral expressions
• Glasses are not permitted.
• Headgears are not allowed except for religious reasons.
• Clothing shouldn’t match the background.

The processing time required for the issuance of the work visa to Japan is about 5 to 7 days. The time will still vary depending on certain factors like the workload at the embassy office, the staff availability, whether the documents are complete or the rest of the documents are yet to be submitted and others. The time increases and decreases affected by these parameters. 

The fee for Japan work visa is estimated based on several parameters and it will vary as per the type of visa too. It is to be paid to the visa application centres along with the service charges. Also, you must pay the fee only in cash, else if you do not have access to a visa application centre branch, you can send in the fee with a demand draft.

When the submission of the Japan work visa application form is done along with your passport and other documents -

• You can then wait for the processing before you can collect your passport. 
• You can choose any feasible branch of the visa application centre as per your reach.
• Meet the checklist that is provided by the centre in order to get the visa sooner. 
• If the documents are missing, it will only take time for the processing and verification of the same.
• If there are any other requirements to be fulfilled or if there are any mistakes in the application, the embassy or the agency must be informed.
• If there are any changes related to the application, for instance, change in marital status or birth of a child, you must inform the embassy/agency.
• You can even check the status of the application and the processing in the meantime. 
• If there is a change of plans, you can withdraw the application.
• The visa fee is generally not refundable.

The status of your work visa to Japan can be tracked online. To check the status, you can visit the official website of the visa application centre. You will need to enter your reference number and your date of birth to check the processing of the visa. Alternatively, you can call the helpline number provided by the visa application centre to know the status of your visa.

After the submission, the processing will take place and you will then receive the permit. There are certain things that you need to know once you have the visa -

• Before you travel

1. Note the visa expiry date as well as the number of entries permitted. You must not stay in the country beyond this period.
2. You should travel to Japan within the validity of your visa.
3. Make sure to carry a copy of your passport and other travel documents while you are in the country.
4. Issue health insurance and travel Insurance from a certified company.
• At the Border
1. Once you enter the country, make sure that you fill out the landing card.
2. Get your documents checked and your passport verified.
3. Obtain the entry stamp on your passport.
4. Consult the airport authorities for any kind of assistance required.
5. Check your visa copy for other guidelines and rules to be followed.
• When you enter Japan
1. Ensure not to get involved in any kind of activities that are not permitted to a foreign resident. You may get into trouble otherwise.
2. You can work as well as tour the country on this permit.
3. You can later invite and sponsor your family to the country as well.
4. The tourist prohibited areas must be stayed out of.
5. Make sure you don’t overstay and apply for a visa extension in time.