No one knows, and people who tell you they do are lying.
A stable job that pays above minimum wage.
Some people never received a one year visa. Who knows.
I was an ALT on a 3 year visa. When I got a full-time position (seishain, not yearly contract) at a well-known company, I was bumped to 5 years. I think type of job, salary, company, among other details (origin country, industry, etc.) play a huge role.
Before PR I used to get 3 years consistently. Then one year randomly, they gave me a one year visa. Decided to get PR after that.
Just some random dude in an office somewhere making random decisions.
There is a lot of variation but generally, the more info you can provide to immigration and the more financially solid the company you work for will increase the likelihood of a longer visa. Anecdotally, the immigration guy at Tachikawa said, the sponsoring company’s 給与所得の源泉徴収票の法定調書の合計表 is the most important document to getting a 5 year.
Just one data point, but we found that if we give teachers one year contracts they get one year visas but if we give them longer contracts they get three year visas.
It’s random.
My first ever working visa, for an entry-level position at a medium-sized Japanese company, was for 3 years. The company hired an immigration consultant to do all the work, so maybe he did something special.
On the other hand, a good friend of mine who has been in Japan for about 3 years longer than me and earns a lot more than I do in a similar field, has only ever been given 1 year visas, despite working for a larger company and having a bigger salary.
I’m British and my friend is American. We both have degrees. I have passed JLPT at a higher level than him, but we speak Japanese at around the same level.
The only thing I can think of that got me a longer visa than him on the first attempt was the fact that my company used a consultant. But it’s anyone’s guess. Salary, job history, job type etc don’t seem to mean anything.
My experience seemingly has been directly correlated with the length of my work contracts. JET 3 years, Eikaiwa 1 year, Office job 2 1-year visas and then a 5-year visa when they switched me off the contracts to a permanent employee
I got 3 one year, then 2 five year.
Some folks had like 3 years then 1 year…5 year.
Nobody know
Job industry/type. high paying skill job. – all gaijin in my company got 5 years easily due to my industry. even with just bachelor.
I always take issue with the idea that it’s “random”; there’s no silver bullet, but things that show stability may improve your chances such as working continually for a big and reputable organization and earning a high income. Proper documentation from you and your employer may help, as may going to a different office.
1. Get a good job
2. Get a stable job
3. Get a high paying job
4. Get a job with a famous Japanese company
5. Buy a more than 1 year visa charm at the temple. May require multiple visits/purchases.
6. Buy cow
7. Sacrifice said cow to the gods and pray for more than 1 year.
This is just one very specific example, but I got the HSFP visa which is based on a point system for application. If you qualify for the visa within the point system and you are accepted, it is a 5 year visa; there is no 3 year nor 1 year version. Furthermore, if you get 70 points or more, you can apply for PR after 3 years of living in the country, and if you get 80 points or more, you can apply for PR after 1 year of living in the country.
In terms of reapplication and other visa types, there is definitely some dice rolling involved, but I just wanted to call out that there are other routes that, while difficult, are more of a sure bet in terms of visa length. Thus, one answer to your initial question could be “job type” if you consider that the HSFP visa is only available to those in a specialized field like medicine, engineering, or technology.
When I renewed my residence permit last month (got 5 years for the second time), the staff member asked for my reason for renewing despite it being written on the form. I answered truthfully and my reason is tied to certifications (which I have a national one for). He seemed impressed with it and voila, second 5 year. Maybe generic reasons like “I want to live in Japan”, “I want to see Japan” aren’t a good enough reason (if you’re single). Maybe it’s all really random as many are saying but making yourself as “sellable” as possible can’t hurt your chances.
It’s up to your visa sponsor. When I moved from teaching English to working for an international trading company they took over sponsorship of my visa and I started applying for three-year extensions rather than one-year extensions until I finally got PR.
I went – 5year (changed after 2), 3 year, 1year, 1year, 3 year.
Been here for around 5 years and always get a 1 year visa. I’m pretty sure that this is due to the fact that I’m always changing jobs and working on 1 year contracts. Therefore, stay in a reputable company for multiple years on a long contract.
I started with a three year visa and now just extended it to get only one year. I work for a big company with a high salary. Granted I was late in renewing my visa, maybe they punished me for that.
I asked for a 3 year when I had gotten a full-time job once and they gave it to me. 🤷♀️. That job was shit and ended up quitting. Found some part time jobs that I really like. Worked for them for a few years and got 3 years again.
I’m going to say it’s because you’re an ALT. I remember someone saying their friend kept getting one year visas. For 10 years. They were an ALT working at the same school.
Also not all immigration centers are the same apparently. Some seem much more strict. I remember someone complaining about how they kept getting one year visas despite having a full-time non English teaching job. Lived in Tokyo. Someone told them to go to some other place and try or something. They weren’t as picky.
If you ‘just’ went from alt to full time… there’s your answer.
I got three years at my first renewal when I was on JET. Then, I got hired as a teacher at a private high school. When I renewed my visa for the second time, they gave me one year. I asked why and was told that my contract ends next march. I was on a yearly renewal contract with my current school. My vice principal was shocked. Next, I went to the administrator, and even they were surprised. In the end, we agreed to meet again next summer to do the renewal visa application.
22 comments
No one knows, and people who tell you they do are lying.
A stable job that pays above minimum wage.
Some people never received a one year visa. Who knows.
I was an ALT on a 3 year visa. When I got a full-time position (seishain, not yearly contract) at a well-known company, I was bumped to 5 years. I think type of job, salary, company, among other details (origin country, industry, etc.) play a huge role.
Before PR I used to get 3 years consistently. Then one year randomly, they gave me a one year visa. Decided to get PR after that.
Just some random dude in an office somewhere making random decisions.
There is a lot of variation but generally, the more info you can provide to immigration and the more financially solid the company you work for will increase the likelihood of a longer visa. Anecdotally, the immigration guy at Tachikawa said, the sponsoring company’s 給与所得の源泉徴収票の法定調書の合計表 is the most important document to getting a 5 year.
Just one data point, but we found that if we give teachers one year contracts they get one year visas but if we give them longer contracts they get three year visas.
It’s random.
My first ever working visa, for an entry-level position at a medium-sized Japanese company, was for 3 years. The company hired an immigration consultant to do all the work, so maybe he did something special.
On the other hand, a good friend of mine who has been in Japan for about 3 years longer than me and earns a lot more than I do in a similar field, has only ever been given 1 year visas, despite working for a larger company and having a bigger salary.
I’m British and my friend is American. We both have degrees. I have passed JLPT at a higher level than him, but we speak Japanese at around the same level.
The only thing I can think of that got me a longer visa than him on the first attempt was the fact that my company used a consultant. But it’s anyone’s guess. Salary, job history, job type etc don’t seem to mean anything.
My experience seemingly has been directly correlated with the length of my work contracts. JET 3 years, Eikaiwa 1 year, Office job 2 1-year visas and then a 5-year visa when they switched me off the contracts to a permanent employee
I got 3 one year, then 2 five year.
Some folks had like 3 years then 1 year…5 year.
Nobody know
Job industry/type. high paying skill job. – all gaijin in my company got 5 years easily due to my industry. even with just bachelor.
I always take issue with the idea that it’s “random”; there’s no silver bullet, but things that show stability may improve your chances such as working continually for a big and reputable organization and earning a high income. Proper documentation from you and your employer may help, as may going to a different office.
1. Get a good job
2. Get a stable job
3. Get a high paying job
4. Get a job with a famous Japanese company
5. Buy a more than 1 year visa charm at the temple. May require multiple visits/purchases.
6. Buy cow
7. Sacrifice said cow to the gods and pray for more than 1 year.
This is just one very specific example, but I got the HSFP visa which is based on a point system for application. If you qualify for the visa within the point system and you are accepted, it is a 5 year visa; there is no 3 year nor 1 year version. Furthermore, if you get 70 points or more, you can apply for PR after 3 years of living in the country, and if you get 80 points or more, you can apply for PR after 1 year of living in the country.
In terms of reapplication and other visa types, there is definitely some dice rolling involved, but I just wanted to call out that there are other routes that, while difficult, are more of a sure bet in terms of visa length. Thus, one answer to your initial question could be “job type” if you consider that the HSFP visa is only available to those in a specialized field like medicine, engineering, or technology.
When I renewed my residence permit last month (got 5 years for the second time), the staff member asked for my reason for renewing despite it being written on the form. I answered truthfully and my reason is tied to certifications (which I have a national one for). He seemed impressed with it and voila, second 5 year. Maybe generic reasons like “I want to live in Japan”, “I want to see Japan” aren’t a good enough reason (if you’re single). Maybe it’s all really random as many are saying but making yourself as “sellable” as possible can’t hurt your chances.
It’s up to your visa sponsor. When I moved from teaching English to working for an international trading company they took over sponsorship of my visa and I started applying for three-year extensions rather than one-year extensions until I finally got PR.
I went – 5year (changed after 2), 3 year, 1year, 1year, 3 year.
Been here for around 5 years and always get a 1 year visa. I’m pretty sure that this is due to the fact that I’m always changing jobs and working on 1 year contracts. Therefore, stay in a reputable company for multiple years on a long contract.
I started with a three year visa and now just extended it to get only one year. I work for a big company with a high salary. Granted I was late in renewing my visa, maybe they punished me for that.
I asked for a 3 year when I had gotten a full-time job once and they gave it to me. 🤷♀️. That job was shit and ended up quitting. Found some part time jobs that I really like. Worked for them for a few years and got 3 years again.
I’m going to say it’s because you’re an ALT. I remember someone saying their friend kept getting one year visas. For 10 years. They were an ALT working at the same school.
Also not all immigration centers are the same apparently. Some seem much more strict. I remember someone complaining about how they kept getting one year visas despite having a full-time non English teaching job. Lived in Tokyo. Someone told them to go to some other place and try or something. They weren’t as picky.
If you ‘just’ went from alt to full time… there’s your answer.
I got three years at my first renewal when I was on JET. Then, I got hired as a teacher at a private high school. When I renewed my visa for the second time, they gave me one year. I asked why and was told that my contract ends next march. I was on a yearly renewal contract with my current school. My vice principal was shocked. Next, I went to the administrator, and even they were surprised. In the end, we agreed to meet again next summer to do the renewal visa application.