Due to strict immigration regulations and complex application process, we would like to redirect you to our school partners. If you meet all their requirements, they will help you with your application. To proceed with getting in touch with our school partners, please use the following link: https://gogonihon.com/en/school-partner-contact-form/
If you have dual citizenship and hold another passport, please try filling in our form again using those passport details. We thank you for your interest and we wish you all the best with finding a way to study in Japan.
If you are interested in learning Japanese online, please check our other service here: japaneseonline.gogonihon.com.
Nationality Notice
Due to the strict immigration regulations and the complexity of the application process, we regret that we cannot assist students of your nationality as we do not have familiarity with the process for people from your country.
If you do have dual citizenship and hold another passport, please enter those details and try again. We thank you for your interest in our business and wish you luck in finding a way to come to Japan.
If you are interested in learning Japanese online, please check our other service here: japaneseonline.gogonihon.com.
Whether you’re looking for a full-time job, or already found one after studying, you might be wondering how to change from a Student Visa to a Work Visa in Japan. It’s a fairly common process and we’ll give you all the information you need right here in this article! Read on to learn more.
What kind of Work Visas are there?
There are a variety of Work Visas in Japan and it’s helpful for you to understand what they are, and which one would apply in your situation.
Work Visa
This visa is based on individual industries and is probably the one you’re most familiar with. You typically need to have at least a Bachelor’s degree, or at least 10 years of work experience, in order to be eligible for this visa.
There are different visa lengths: 3 months, 4 months (only for Business Managers), 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years. It’s most common to be offered this visa for 1 year or 3 years.
The Work Visa is split into the following categories:
Professor
Artist
Investor/Business Manager
Journalist
Legal/Accounting Services
Medical Services
Researcher
Instructor
Engineer
Skilled Labourer (chef, sommelier etc)
Specialist in Humanities/International Services
Intra-Company Transferee
Entertainer
Highly Skilled Professional Visa
This visa is a lot more complex to obtain than other visas, requiring more background checks and a significant amount of working experience in a particular field.
It also is based on a points system, which requires you to have 70 points or more to potentially receive this visa. The Highly Skilled Professional Visa pertains to three areas of employment only:
Advanced specialized/technical activities
Advanced business management activities
Advanced academic research activities
The benefit of this visa category is that if you get it, you receive a 5-year visa right away. Moreover, it is a fast track to permanent residency depending on your amount of points.
Working Holiday Visa
This category of visa is only available to those who are from countries that have a Working Holiday agreement with Japan. It’s available to those between 18 and 30 years old at the time of application, although some countries may have a lower age limit so make sure to check with your local embassy.
Additionally, this visa’s primary intention is for people outside of Japan to travel around Japan, rather than to work. It’s best to keep that in mind when you’re looking at how to change from a Student Visa to a Work Visa in Japan. We recommend consulting with an experienced immigration lawyer if you require more details about the Working Holiday Visa and how it might help you obtain a Work Visa in Japan.
Specified Skills Visa
In April 2019, Japan established this new type of visa with the goal of overcoming Japan’s labor shortage in certain fields. It is important to note that the Specified Skills visa has two different types: Specified Skilled Worker (i) and Specified Skilled Worker (ii).
For both of them, you do not need to have a degree or 10 years of working experience. However, they will make you take an exam to assess your skills and abilities in the field you’re applying to. For Specified Skilled Worker (i) you will also have to have at least the equivalent of JLPT N4 in Japanese language skills.
Here are the fields covered by Specified Skilled Worker (i):
Nursing Care
Building Cleaning Management
Machine Parts and Tooling Industries
Industrial Machinery Industry
Electric, Electronics and Information Industries
Construction Industry
Shipbuilding and Ship Machinery Industry
Automobile Repair and Maintenance
Aviation Industry
Accommodation Industry
Agriculture
Fishery and Aquaculture Industries
Manufacture of Food and Beverages
Food Service Industry
The Specified Skilled Worker (ii) covers the two following fields:
Construction Industry
Shipbuilding and Ship Machinery Industry
An important difference to note between the two types of Specified Skilled Visa is that the first type is only available for 5 years, after those 5 years you would have to go back to your home country. On the other hand, the second type allows you to stay longer and you can bring your family with you to Japan.
What you need to change from a Student Visa to a Work Visa in Japan
To make your visit to the Immigration Office as smooth as possible, we’ve made a list of the documents you will be required to provide in order to change from a Student Visa to a Work Visa in Japan.
In order to successfully change residence status, you need an offer of employment from your employer. You will need this before starting the application process.
Remember also: in order to even be considered for a Work Visa by the Immigration Office, you will need either at least a Bachelor’s Degree or at least 10 years of working experience in a certain field.
To switch to a Work Visa, you will need:
The application form for a change of residence status (online or on paper, you can find it here)
Certificates of Degree, certified transcripts, or certificates of diploma
Proof of your Japanese proficiency (JLPT N2 or above is recommended)
Documents that prove your employment, salary, and period of time you need to be in Japan. This can be your contract with your employer, your invitation letter, or any documents that prove your employment.
There are also documents you need that your employer will provide you with:
The company’s most recent financial statement
The company’s withholding tax report
Description of the company’s activities
Many employers will help you with the application process and might even do it for you. But this isn’t always the case, so it’s best to always be prepared in case you have to handle it on your own.
Keep in mind that you should apply for a Work Visa as soon as possible after signing your contract with a Japanese employer in order to not be working under the wrong residence status. When in doubt as to what your options are or how to handle the application process, we recommend consulting an immigration lawyer.
Our 5-year plan gives you an overview of how to achieve your goals of living in Japan long-term, from learning the language to achieving permanent residency.
How long does it take to process the application?
Each application is unique and depends on the individual office that’s processing your application. Therefore, it’s difficult to say for certain how long you will need to wait for your application to be processed.
The best guideline we can offer is that when you apply for a change in residence status, your current visa is automatically extended for 2 months while your application is being reviewed by the Immigration Office. You can assume you’ll receive a response within that period of time.
What happens if you get denied?
Unfortunately, your application to change your residence status could be rejected. In that case, you will be given a temporary status to allow you time to leave.
There are various reasons that could explain a rejection. Some of them are as follows:
Your qualifications
Your work experience
Your employer’s financial records
Incomplete forms or errors in the documents provided
You can go to the Immigration Office to ask for explanations and it is possible for you to re-apply. In that case, you will need extra documents based on the reason behind your rejection.
Go! Go! Nihon is always here to help!
While we can’t help you extend your Student Visa or change residence status, we can still advise you if you wish to extend your Student Visa, or change to a Student Visa in order to become a full-time student!
Contact us for more information, our team is more than happy to help you!
