Hello! I am about to be in college and I’m really wanting to study abroad for a while, so I’ll probably move to Japan in a couple of years. I think I’ll be fine to enter with a student visa, but if I want to continue living there until I can apply for citizenship, what options would I have?
I am planning on being a freelance graphic designer with my own business but I don’t know how I could stay in japan without either a student or work visa. I could probably save my goals for later and get a work visa but I am definitely afraid of the work culture in Japan and I am super stress prone. But if anyone has recommendations for less stressful jobs I could do or maybe just to start working for an American company, or something like that, that would be extremely appreciated.
(And also can I keep renewing a student visa until I am no longer a student?)
Thanks for the help!
1 comment
In principle for immigration to grant you permission to live and work in Japan you need to have a specific reason. A primary purpose.
This primary purpose needs to be specific. To attend a specific school. To work for a specific employer. To live with a specific spouse. Etc.
If you graduate from a Japanese university and you haven’t gotten a domestic employer, immigration will sometimes grant folks a “designated activities” status to allow them to either continue looking or make their preparations to leave.
There is no such accomodation afforded to graduates of language schools.
There is no visa for freelance work, and while it would be possible to renew a status of residence with freelance work (by having a domestic customer act as your sponsor) you cannot use freelance work as the basis for requesting a change of your residence status.
It’s also worth noting that without a status of residence permitting you to work, you are not allowed to work. This includes freelancing for overseas customers, even if the revenue never enters Japan. Work is work.