Planning to move Okinawa.

8 comments

1. There are no residential permits. The only paths to permanent residency are local business sponsoring you as part of hiring you, or starting your own business with enough cash flow to pay 2 locals full time. Have a look at the sidebar of /r/movingtojapan for details on the visa system. Questions there once you’ve worked out which visa types you want to aim for are useful.

   Around us military bases it’s also possible to get a job working around the base and be allowed to live here as part of that, but then your ability to stay is conditional on holding that job.

2. Visiting here and living here are two contrasting perspectives of Okinawa. Unless you have something constantly stable as foreigner you’ll find it pretty difficult to live here. It doesn’t matter if you’re European, American, Korean.

3. Moving to Okinawa is no different than moving to a different part of Japan (except for the lack of jobs and cheap wages), so it’s better to check the movingtojapan reddit.
   Also, Okinawa/Japan has its own political issues.

4. Are you young enough for working holiday visas?

5. For Okinawa specifically:
   Being employed by the US Military or contractors to obtain SOFA Status is one way. If youve worked with the US Military then that’s a plus.

   A new way that’s emerged is the “Startup Visa”.
   Which is kind of promising to start a company in the future in Japan; a data scientist should be adaquate.

   Another less known is registering a corporation here with atleast 5,000,000JPY of combined capital.
   *Note that the capital isn’t frozen and can be used for related expenses after proof-of-deposit. Such as legal, own salary, home office, and transportation.
   Requires some research on Japanese Legal/Finance and professional help is highly recommended.

   Combining aspects of the above is beneficial and the governments are your friend here.

6. Why Okinawa specifically?

   It’s a pretty small place and it’s an island so after a couple years you’ll have seen all there is to see on the island.

   As someone mentioned earlier good jobs are hard to come by and for foreigners even more so. I would suggest looking into the Japanese mainland unless you really love Okinawa and don’t have any worries about finding employment.

7. Very bad place to choose to live when seeking an improved political climate. This island is deeply embedded in the periphery of high-conflict territorial disputes between China, Taiwan, and the East China Sea.

   Military families have all been planned to evacuate the island in the event of increased conflict.

   The bases, which are the economic powerhouses of the island, are also a contentious topic for local Okinawans, who can be seen protesting often outside the fences.

   In the event of WW3, the majority of the island will be wiped off the face of the earth in minutes. Expect no warning. 

   I would recommend somewhere a bit better located. 

8. azt nemtudom, de vigyetek engem is pls