I cannot work with a tourist visa! When is it possible to work in Japan?
Have you ever imagined working in the country you are traveling to?
There may be many reasons, such as to learn about a country's society and lifestyle, or to earn money for travel expenses. Visitors to Japan may possibly think in such a way, and some may actually come for a part-time job interview.
This article describes how a foreigner with a Japanese tourist visa can apply for work if he/she wishes to do so.
If you want to know more about applying for a work visa, check out the following articles!
▶︎ Required documents when applying for a Japanese work visa
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It is impossible to work on a Japanese tourist visa, even part-time.
As mentioned in the title, first of all, it is impossible under any circumstances for a foreigner to work with a temporary visitor visa that he/she obtains for sightseeing. The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has a page titled "When hiring a foreigner, please confirm whether or not he/she is allowed to work. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare classifies a temporary visitor visa as a status of residence under which, in principle, work is not permitted.
In addition, the Q&A on visas published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan states that some nationalities (regions) do not require a visa if the period of stay in Japan is 90 days or less and if the visitor does not engage in remunerative activities.
Nevertheless, there are cases where a foreigner with a temporary visitor visa is hired and then asked to switch to a work visa. There are also people who obtain a temporary visitor visa, which allows them to stay in Japan for up to 90 days, or extend their period of stay while they are looking for a job, and then have a work visa issued after receiving a job offer.
If you are also interested in knowing the length of stay for a work visa, we also recommend the following article.
▶︎ How long can I stay in Japan on each work visa?
Hiring with a Temporary Visitor Visa
What can you do if you still want to hire a foreigner with a temporary visitor visa, or if such a foreigner wishes to work?
Changing from a Temporary Visitor Visa to other work-enabled visas is not allowed except in unavoidable circumstances. Please refer to Article 20-3 of the Immigration Law.
The following cases apply to this unavoidable situation.
- When applying for the issuance of a "Certificate of Eligibility" while staying in Japan for a short-term stay and then applying for a change of status of residence to the one you wish to change (if the period of stay for a short-term stay ends during the application, you must return to Japan temporarily).
- Spouse with Japanese nationality or permanent resident status
If the above case applies to you, you may be able to pass if you prepare the necessary documents and apply for it. In particular, some people may be thinking about applying for a "Certificate of Eligibility" during their stay in Japan. Please check with a specialist as needed before proceeding with the application.
Other statuses of residence that do not permit work in principle
In addition to the tourist visa, there are four visas for which work is not permitted in principle: cultural activities, study abroad, training, and family stay.
Foreigners holding student and family visas who wish to engage in employment activities such as part-time work are required to apply for an activity other than that permitted under the status of residence at the regional immigration bureaus. In both cases, as a general rule, working hours are limited to 28 hours per week, and working longer than that will result in penalties.
In recent years, there have been many unscrupulous agents for studying in Japan, and there are some students who obtain a student visa for the purpose of studying Japanese and try to cover the cost of studying in Japan by working part-time.
Countries with many similar cases, such as Vietnam, seem to have their own counseling services, so if you see an international student in the above situation, please assist him/her by showing him or her where to go for counseling.
Corona influence
The Immigration and Immigration Control Agency has also announced a response to the case of a foreigner who has visited Japan on a tourist visa but is now unable to return home due to the current corona disaster.
According to the "Handling of various residence applications from mid- to long-term residents and former mid- to long-term residents who have difficulty returning home due to the effects of the new type of coronavirus infection" announced by the Agency in May 2020, after a specific period of time, the status of residence will be changed and the applicant can stay in Japan as follows.
- If you are or have been in Japan on a college student visa and wish to work (90 days of short-term stay) → Specially Designated Activities (part-time work of up to 28 hours per week is allowed, 6 months of stay is possible)
- If you have the status of residence for technical internship or specified activities and wish to work (specified activities are limited to Internship No. 9, Foreign Construction Worker No. 32, Foreign Shipbuilding Worker No. 35, and Foreign Employee in the Manufacturing Industry No. 42. Possible to work, 3 months) → Specially Designated Activities (Possible to work and stay for 6 months)
- Other status of residence (including those who do not wish to work with the above status of residence) Short-term stay of 90 days → Designated Activities (not permitted to work), 6-month stay possible
If you know someone in your area who is having trouble changing their status of residence, please let them know.
For foreigners who want to work in Japan
Nowadays, foreigners who are looking for a job in Japan may be asking themselves, "I want to work in Japan, but where do I start? Which company is right for me? How can I find a job? How can I find a job?
We will do our best to support your job search in Japan! If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us using the contact form below.
In order to help you achieve the career path you seek, we will provide you with the best support regarding not only employment, but also part-time work and other opportunities. We sincerely hope that you will find your ideal workplace and that this will be the first step toward a successful career in Japan.
summary
In this article, we have reviewed the cases in which it is possible to work in Japan on a tourist visa.
A tourist visa does not allow working, and changing to another visa while on a tourist visa is only possible if you have a spouse or if you have changed your status of residence to another visa. The procedures for changing status of residence are complicated, so it is advisable to consult a specialist or other professional.
