Hey!
I have a remote position with a German company (which pays around 3k euros a month). I want to move to Japan to improve my language skills, but not sure if I want to go for a student visa.
I’m under the impression I’d need a Japanese company to sponsor a working holiday visa. Is that correct? If so, does that effectively close off this type of visa to me right now?
And secondly, is there a minimum number of hours per week you have to be in classes to qualify for a student visa? Is there any chance I could switch the plan a little, negotiate 4 days a week with my employer, and go for a student visa instead?
Thanks, all
Edit: Always amusing to see the downvote culture lives on in Japan centric subreddits.
6 comments
a Japanese company needs to apply for the ERFS on your behalf, which you need to apply for the working holiday visa. technically there’s no requirement to ever work for the company that applied for the ERFS and there’s services such as world-unite that get you an ERFS for a relatively high fee. if you can get the ERFS however or the requirement for the ERFS is removed eventually, then no, you don’t need a Japanese company at all. one tip though, never mention that you work remotely to the embassy when you apply for the WHV because they don’t want you to be working full-time for the whole year, and if they suspect you’ll just keep working at your current company they’ll almost definitely deny the visa.
as for a student visa, yes I believe there’s a minimum amount of hours you need to actually study, but there’s many different programs and some are quite flexible, like being on the weekend or only being a couple hours a day. language schools can also apply for the ERFS, so one thing you can do is book, e.g., a 1 month language school package, get the ERFS, and use that to apply for a WHV. then you’d take classes for one month and afterwards enjoy the rest of the WHV.
Short answer is no. But why are you trying to move to Japan when you’re in the UK working for a German company? Wouldn’t working in Germany be better?
You don’t need a sponsor for a working holiday visa. The primary use for that visa is travelling with working being secondary. I’d say your bigger concern is managing your tax obligations, but for that I’d point you towards an accountant.
I did a working holiday visa and I’m pretty sure I just needed a semi-detailed travel itinerary and a certain amount of cash in my bank account to prove I could support myself.
Chances are though you could get your working holiday visa and not inform Japan about your gig based out of Germany.
>And secondly, is there a minimum number of hours per week you have to be in classes to qualify for a student visa? Is there any chance I could switch the plan a little, negotiate 4 days a week with my employer, and go for a student visa instead?
There *is* a minimum, and “weekend classes” wouldn’t meet that minimum.
There is also a *maximum* number of hours you can work on a student visa: 28 hours a week.
Do ***not*** try to pull this sort of shenanigans with a student visa. It is one of the most abused visas in Japan, so it student visa applicants are under a lot of scrutiny by immigration. Anything that looks remotely like an attempt to game the system (Which, frankly: This plan does) is going to get you rejected.
OP, just try applying for WHV and see how it goes. I dont have personal experience with WHV but I believe WHV is intended mainly for holiday ( as in you dont work full 1 year in Japan for Japanese company).
I dont recommend student visa. I had friend in language school working full time remotely and it was really terrible. and not to mention attendance requirement to keep the student visa. you might hate japan sooner than you think. The school I went to need 80% attendance minimum if I remember correctly.
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