You will need a bachelor’s degree (not an associate’s degree) in any subject and possibly a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) or TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages) certification. You can get certified as an English language teacher in about three months. [1] X Research source Get certified via online or in-person courses. Visit the TESOL or TEFL websites to find accredited classrooms near you. You will need to pass a criminal background check and possibly a drug test. [2] X Research source
Participants sign a 1-year contract and can spend a maximum of 5 consecutive years in the program. You can apply for the program through an online portal during the fall. Your application will need to include the application form, a medical form indicating that you’re in good health, your university transcripts, proof of degree, a 2-page essay explaining why you want to participate in the program, two letters of reference, and proof of American citizenship. It is a very competitive program so not all applicants will be accepted. [3] X Research source
Search online for private schools and visit their websites to see if they’re hiring. You can also check for job advertisements on Japanese job sites like Gaijinpot. [5] X Research source Make sure the school is legitimate by doing online searches to turn up any negative stories about it. Watch out for red flags. For example, if the school asks you to come over on a tourist visa, promising proper credentials later, do not accept the position. Don’t agree to do any ‘volunteering’ work before your visa is approved either. [6] X Research source
You can find the nearest Japanese embassy by searching online or consulting this guide to Japanese consular office locations if you live in the United States: https://www. us. emb-japan. go. jp/jicc/consulate-guide. html. Once you’ve been hired, your employer will apply for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) for you and mail it to you. Take the COE, your passport, a visa application form, and a photograph of yourself to your local Japanese embassy to submit your application. When your visa is ready, which could take about 5 days, you can pick it up at the embassy. [7] X Research source
If you arrive at one of the major airports, you’ll receive your residence card there when you land. If you arrive at a smaller airport, you’ll have to go to the local city hall to get it there. You’ll be fingerprinted and have your photo taken, and receive a laminated card. Take your residence card and passport to your nearest government office, which you can find by searching online. You’ll receive a form there on which you’ll fill out your personal details and your new address. You’ll turn over your passport, residence card, and the form, and in about 30 or 40 minutes, your residence card will be returned to you with your address on the back. Later, you’ll receive a social security and tax number by mail. Some government offices have interpreters but it’s a good idea to bring somebody who speaks Japanese with you if you don’t know the language, since you’ll be asked some questions. [9] X Research source
Once you’ve been accepted to a school, they’ll send you a COE, student visa application form, 2 passport-sized photographs, and your valid passport to your nearest Japanese embassy or consulate. You’ll receive your passport, stamped with your student visa, in about 3 to 7 days. [11] X Research source Submit your application for a work permit at your local application bureau. The application will take about 3 weeks to process. Your work permit expires at the same time as your student visa. [12] X Research source Students are not allowed to work more than 28 hours per week or more than 8 hours on holidays. Foreign students are not allowed to work in places that “affect public morals,” such as bars, nightclubs, or establishments that allow gambling. [13] X Research source
In order to qualify for this visa, you must demonstrate that you have reasonable funds for the duration of your travel and enough money to purchase a return ticket home. You cannot bring any dependents with you. You also have to prove that you’re in good health with medical certificates. As with a student visa, a working holiday visa does not permit you to work at establishments “affecting public morals” such as bars, cabarets, and casinos. [14] X Research source Apply for this visa the way you would apply for a work visa, by submitting an application form and the necessary accompanying documents (passport, proof of funds, medical certificate, resume, written statement on the reasons you want the visa, and an outline of your planned activities in Japan) at the nearest Japanese embassy. [15] X Research source There is no limit to the number of hours you can work on a working holiday visa. [16] X Research source
Restaurants, supermarkets, and convenience stores are all examples of places that offer baito (part-time jobs) to both Japanese citizens and foreigners. Remember that many of these jobs involve customer service, so you’ll need some proficiency in Japanese in order to get hired. [18] X Research source If you don’t speak Japanese, you can also look for work in customer service at tourism bureaus and department stores providing language support in languages other than Japanese. You could also search for a job in the popular new Eikaiwa Cafes (English Conversation Cafes), where you serve drinks and food and chat with the customers in English to help them improve their proficiency in that language. [19] X Research source
It’s a good idea to bring your passport with your visa stamped in it or your work permit to prove that you’re eligible to work.
The JLPT is a standardized test that all companies use to gauge the abilities of potential employees. The test has five levels, with Level 1 being the highest, so the minimum acceptable level of 2 indicates that you will need to be very proficient in Japanese to get hired at most jobs. [22] X Research source You can take Japanese classes at schools in your home country or in Japan if you’re already there on a student or working holiday visa, or as an English teacher. Being immersed in the culture and language will also help you pick it up faster. [23] X Research source
If you’re applying for a sales position, for instance, you could title your resume something like “Experienced_Bilingual_Sales_Resume” and your name. This gives you a leg up on your competition before the potential employer even opens your file. [25] X Research source
Make sure your photograph looks professional. You could try getting a professional headshot taken. Don’t use a selfie or a cell phone picture, or any picture in which you’re wearing casual clothing, flashing a peace sign, or looking unkempt. [26] X Research source
Join a professional association in the industry you are interested in, for example, the Japan Auto Manufacturers’ Association (JAPA) or the Japan Electronics and Information Technologies Industries Association (JEITA). These associations offer industry news and publications that often include job listings. They are also a great way to network with people in your field. [28] X Research source The after-work drinking culture is very important in Japan, so go out to bars with professionals and industry groups in your field of interest in order to get valuable face-to-face time with people who can help you find employment in your field. [29] X Research source
You can search for internships online. The website Kopra specializes in East Asian companies offering internships. You can also draw on your university or professional association connections to help you find an internship. Some Japanese companies advertise for foreign interns on platforms such as Craigslist. To apply for an internship, you’ll need a resume and, in some cases, a cover letter. You can do a non-paid internship under 90 days on a tourist visa, or a longer internship on a student or working holiday visa. [31] X Research source
Be extremely polite. Use correct Japanese body language – bow, rather than shaking hands, if the interview is in person. Avoid smiling too much, especially a broad, toothy smile, which seems fake or like a mask for embarrassment or anger to the Japanese. Keep your hands out of your pockets, since this pose signals insubordination and arrogance in Japan. [32] X Research source Don’t slouch, guzzle a drink, arrive late or too early, complain, or ask the interviewer any personal questions. [33] X Research source
If all your documents are in order, average processing times are fewer than 5 days. There are several types of work visa divided by profession. Apply for the one that fits the job you’ve been hired for. [36] X Research source
