I just got a job offer from my company, and I will be moving to our Japanese branch in Tokyo in a few months and will spend there at least a year.
Currently I’m in a phase, when I will be discussing the specifics of the “expat package”.
While doing my research, eg. I found out, that landlords are quite hesitant to rent to foreigners. Because of that, I would like my company to help me find and be a gurantor for my rent (if they won’t be willing to rent a palce for me directly).
I was wondering if there are more similar things, and I would like to ask you, who moved to Japan on a work visa – what kind of “benefits” did you receive from your company and helped you a lot? Or what kind of benefits/help do you wish you have received from your employer?
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This is a copy of your post for archive/search purposes.
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**Expat benefits – moving on work visa**
I just got a job offer from my company, and I will be moving to our Japanese branch in Tokyo in a few months and will spend there at least a year.
Currently I’m in a phase, when I will be discussing the specifics of the “expat package”.
While doing my research, eg. I found out, that landlords are quite hesitant to rent to foreigners. Because of that, I would like my company to help me find and be a gurantor for my rent (if they won’t be willing to rent a palce for me directly).
I was wondering if there are more similar things, and I would like to ask you, who moved to Japan on a work visa – what kind of “benefits” did you receive from your company and helped you a lot? Or what kind of benefits/help do you wish you have received from your employer?
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Get someone to help you with registering at the ward office, making a bank account, getting a phone contract etc.
if they have a choice, landlords would always prefer renting to a local vs foreigner for several reasons, such as language, etc..but for expensive places that are far above the average for locals, they will be open to anyone with the money
Benefits that I received:
* Moving my stuff to Japan
* Flight to Japan to “look around” for myself and SO
* Flight to Japan for moving (of course)
* Cash bonus to help take care of moving expenses and buy food
* Furnished apartment for two months until I get get my own apartment and wait for my stuff to arrive
* Culture coach to teach me about living in Japan
* Japanese lessons for a year
* Agent to find an apartment. My company doesn’t guarantee my rent since I have no end date. For people with a fixed, they will guarantee rent. I didn’t have a problem finding a place in Tokyo that would rent to me. However, I do pay significantly more in rent than my Japanese counterparts, but I also live in central Tokyo.
* Driving lessons
* Extra payment for transit to and from work (they calculated how much its costs to ride the subway to and from work and I receive that in my monthly paycheck)
* On top of my salary, I’m given a “Position Allowance” that’s tax free
* Cell phone that I’m allowed to use for personal use
After I negotiated my monthly salary I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Japan is on a 14 month salary schedule, to I get two extra months as a bonus on top of my performance bonus!
Wish I had or others in my office received:
* Moving your stuff from Japan if your employment ends in Japan and you are unable to secure employment at another branch in another country
* Similar to above, a flight home when my job ends
* Car with parking space (my boss got a car, but he is nice enough to let me borrow it since it’s ridiculous to have a car in Tokyo)
* Furnished apartment
* Private school for kids
* Yearly flight back to home country (one guy in my office actually negotiated one round trip to his home country for him and his family in business class)