Highly skilled professional visa for a visiting professor

My spouse and I are hoping to spend his sabbatical in Japan.

I’m a software engineer my company has several offices in Japan and is owned my a Japanese company. My company won’t sponsor my visa for a self-initiated move, but they might allow me to work from Japan if I’m able to secure a work authorization on my own.

One option would be getting a Highly skilled professional visa for my husband, as this would allow me to get a full time work visa as the accompanying spouse.

However, I’m wondering whether the Highly skilled professional visa can even be used for a visiting professor. Especially wondering due to the predeterminated length of the position (9 to 12 months), and because I’m unsure whether such academic visits fall under employment or not.

Does anyone have any experience about applying for the Highly skilled professional visa under similar circumstances?

Or know any specifics about this visa that indicate it wouldn’t be granted for a visiting professor?

Also, am I correct that I can’t apply for the Highly skilled professional visa for myself without a company’s sponsorship?

PS: we are looking for a Japanese immigration lawyer to help us navigate the specifics, but I’m hoping that someone here might have some good info to share in the meantime.

1 comment
  1. This is a copy of your post for archive/search purposes.

    **Highly skilled professional visa for a visiting professor**

    My spouse and I are hoping to spend his sabbatical in Japan.

    I’m a software engineer my company has several offices in Japan and is owned my a Japanese company. My company won’t sponsor my visa for a self-initiated move, but they might allow me to work from Japan if I’m able to secure a work authorization on my own.

    One option would be getting a Highly skilled professional visa for my husband, as this would allow me to get a full time work visa as the accompanying spouse.

    However, I’m wondering whether the Highly skilled professional visa can even be used for a visiting professor. Especially wondering due to the predeterminated length of the position (9 to 12 months), and because I’m unsure whether such academic visits fall under employment or not.

    Does anyone have any experience about applying for the Highly skilled professional visa under similar circumstances?

    Or know any specifics about this visa that indicate it wouldn’t be granted for a visiting professor?

    Also, am I correct that I can’t apply for the Highly skilled professional visa for myself without a company’s sponsorship?

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