I’m from the UK and moved to live in Japan on working holiday visa after finishing my degree.
I work for myself and really enjoy my life here, however I have only 6 months left on my visa thus need to figure out how to return.
I work for myself currently, I enjoy it alot and earn more than I would otherwise from most cooperate jobs here, thus would rather not work a full time job to aquire a visa.
I have a bachelors degree in maths from a very prestigious British University. Therefore believe my best option is to study again here, but again would rather not study something to intensive as I wish to continue working.
Studying something along the lines of Art, Japanese Language or some other interesting course would be ideal.
I know Language schools are an option however they seem to me to be somewhat extortionate in pricing, money is not a huge issue but I don’t want to waste any.
I’m asking reddit incase anyone has some experience, advice or just opinions.
I’m open to most anything, but effectively wish to stay in Tokyo without having to do too much work or spend too much money.
Thank you for reading:)
P.s. I’m also a very athletic person, I’ve trained with England youth national teams for 2 different sports. If there was an option to get a scholarship for sports this could also be an option. Most likely rugby.
16 comments
Think about it this way—what does Japan get out of you staying here?
Not saying you’re worthless or I’m worth more than you, but that is just how immigration works in general.
> not study something to intensive as I wish to continue working.
Not possible. You either get a student visa (being accepted into an accredited university / language school ) and ask immigration for permission to engage in activities outside of the scope of your SoR (which is a max 28 hours a week, part-time) OR you get a working visa.
A working visa would mean that you need to have a full-time job at a Japanese firm.
If you go the student route, and immigration thinks you are actually here to work instead of study than you can kiss your SoR goodbye and say hello the next airplane heading back to the UK.
There generally aren’t universities that would give you a scholarship for sports, and even if you did get one, you’d be on a student visa and the above would still apply.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to get your first working visa without a company to sponsor you, which generally means joining one full time. You could get a visa for a part-time contract, but you would not be able to really freelance. There is a separate visa for freelancing that you can later switch to.
>thus would rather not work a full time job to aquire a visa
Unfortunately there’s only 2 ways for you to stay long-term: do a full degree at an accredited university, or get a full-time work visa. Japan doesn’t really do athletic scholarships for foreigners. If you do decide to do a degree, you’re limited to 28 hours a week; keep in mind that if immigration thinks that you’re using the student visa as a way in just to work, they’ll sniff that out real quick.
>effectively wish to stay in Tokyo without having to do too much work or spend too much money
There’s no Bum Visa, sorry. You gotta do something while you’re here. Also: “stay in Tokyo” and “not spend too much” are two ideas that just don’t quite go together.
>I’m open to most anything, but effectively wish to stay in Tokyo without having to do too much work or spend too much money.
That’s…. not how moving to another country works at all.
Spouse visa. Not recommended.
This reads like “how can I stay here but offer nothing in return?”
Pretty much all visa types are “activity based”, as such, it might be quite difficult for you to remain here “without working (doing?) too much.”
[Student](https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/long/visa6.html) visas are for full time study, regardless if it’s language school, or postgraduate studies. IMO, language school fees are pretty reasonable for the number of contact hours. You would also be limited to working only up to 28h per week.
An alternative you could look into is “[cultural activities](https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/long/visa5.html)”, but even then, my understanding is you need to be pursuing that activity “full time” under the guidance of an expert, with similar contact hours as a full-time student; and it may also be harder to get permission to work (compared to a student visa).
If you’re really working on your own, and raking in enough to get by, and money is not a problem; perhaps consult with an “immigration lawyer” and see if it would be possible for you to start-up a business here, doing what you do, under a [Business Manager](https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/long/visa1.html) visa.
If [getting married](https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/long/visa10.html) is an option open to you, you could look into that, although some might say it’s more demanding than full time work.
There is also the [long Stay for sightseeing and recreation](https://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/fna/page22e_000738.html) visa. This is probably the only visa that will let you stay here without doing much at all – but you do need to have cash in the bank, and your own health insurance. I don’ t think you’re allowed to work while you’re on this however.
Hate to say it but with everything you’ve said, marry someone with a stable job and hop on a spousal visa. Only problem is you’ll have to live with them to renew.
I can’t think of any other way with the conditions you’ve set.
If OP has enough capital to found a company here, could that not be a means toward self-sponsorship? I have a vague recollection of some crack down on this though, after people were effectively using shell companies to buy their way into the country.
Language school can cost about 150k-170k per 3 months. Not that bad. Thats your best bet.
Lol at all the snarky replies. So typical.
Your only other option would be work visa sponsorship or spousal visa. Japan is not a a particularly easy country to get a visa unless its a spouse one.
You can also just consider tourist visa. You can stay 180 days year visa free. There are options for housing etc but you’ll have to dive into tax residency and insurance. You’ll likely remain UK for both but technically you are not allowed to earn money on a tourist visa free stay, so be careful and consider options.
As pointed by other, see with an immigraion lawyer if slf sponsporship / ower of business sponsorship is an option.
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If not, student seems a good option as long as you can cap your working hour at 28. Be it unversity or language which one you find the most useful for the future. -> You just have a bachelor so going for a master is not bad. If you socialize around japanese you can improve the language.
-> Going to languageschool will allow you to focus on it and give you more option to look for a job later or go back to university to achieve master, potentially in japanese wich would be good for emplyment option
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If for some reason you are against studying, but like kid/youngster, you can try english language teaching. As you were talking about rugby, you can try to apply to school/univerity/… whoever could be interested in having an assistant english teacher + assistant rugby coach. After, the number of hours will have to be negociated with them. And if not full time, you will have to add any information about your, now officially side job which will complement said revenu and pray hard.
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There is not easy way out. Welcome to migrant world. Enjoy.
You are asking how not to pay tax in Japan essentially? Something which you should be doing already.
Work as a high-end escort. Few hours a day of getting your ass pounded and then you are free to play the new Diablo and slip into alcoholism at the Hub.
With a degree from a good British university I’d recommend to go back to Europe.
Unfortunately in Japanese companies your degree is next to worthless, but it would be a strong card in your sachet where people know that universities exist outside of Japan too.
Well a spouse visa doesn’t require you to do anything, so you just have to convince someone to marry you.
Or, if you have money to blow but just don’t want to spend much time working, you can set up a company and use an investment visa.