Basically I currently work at a school but I have qualified skills in video editing and videography. The school supplied my apartment for me.
I am getting tired of the job and want to quit soon but want to stay in Japan. I’ve got a few people both in Japan and outside who are interested in hiring me on a freelance basis.
I recently renewed my residence card and visa for another year (humanities/special skills visa).
Will I be able to rent a new apartment and work freelance etc? Make this change?
7 comments
It’s a tough call, because Japan doesn’t have a freelance visa. You either have to register as a business owner and get a visa that way, or you need a registered business to sponsor you.
Of course, there are some shell companies that you can go through, but that’s technically illegal…
That can be a problem if I’m not mistaken.
You could only do that if you had Japanese ancestry, or were spouse of Japanese, or had PR.
you simply can’t do that.
How exactly did you go about this? I was considering the exact same thing considering my degree is video editing and graphic design but have no idea where to start
Technically you shouldn’t be in country without a job for a company that can sponsor your visa. 3 month rules and such in principal. Freelance won’t get you a visa renewal.
As for rental, almost no-one is going to rent you on a visa with less than a year and unemployed (which is what they will see your freelance as).
I have a self-sponsor visa and work freelance, but as others have commented, there isn’t really such a thing. It’s basically a work visa that gives you freedom to do other jobs. However, you still need a main job that provides the bulk of your income, and you need that company to provide paperwork to show that they are financially stable. You can make the switch from an ordinary work visa at any time, but it is a bit of a tricky visa to get. I am now on my third renewal and got 3 years 3 times in a row, but my main job, although part-time, is provided by a sturdy company with good sales figures.
Update: the visa described on this website is the one I have: https://www.juridique.jp/visa/sponsor.php
I don’t think there is anyway you can swing that video editing falls under the humanities / engineering category.. so unlikely you’ll be able to sponsor your own visa. If all you want to do is stay until your visa expires – it’s unlikely they will follow up on your job hunting if you mark yourself as unemployed.
If you are working for Japanese companies, you’ll need to declare your income or else it’ll be tax fraud. This would also highlight the fact your working illegally..
Lastly, I highly doubt you’ll be able to rent an apartment without a job contract and proof of local income (well maybe through one of those dodgy foreign agencies that help students find overpriced old buildings).