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Working Holiday Visa or Tourist visa? - Japan Forums
Hello there,
I am a long time reader first time poster.
I would just like to start out by saying a big thanks to PaulH for sharing his invaluable wisdom and knowledge both on this site and daveseslcafe.
It has been extremely helpful, and has given me a good insight into the ESL scene in Japan.
Im 27 years old and have been working in Korea for 2 and a half years now.
I have been teaching mostly in Hagwons (Ekaiwas) during this time.
While living in Korea I met my Japanese girlfriend.
We have been together for over a year now and have decided that we will move to Tokyo in July this year.
I interviewed for JET earlier this year, but was unfortuantely placed as an alternate.
Therefore, I am currently making alternative plans to come to Japan.
At first I thought that perhaps I should study Japanese full-time and work part-time, but am now thinking that i would like to work full-time and study Japanese part-time.
Recently, I have been considering whether I should arrive in Japan on a tourist visa and then look for work and visa sponsorship, or make a trip back to New Zealand and arrive in Japan on a working holiday visa.
Any suggestions regarding this would be great!!
I plan to be in japan for the long-term, so I figure visa sponsorship would be ideal.
I have also noticed that WHV holders are taxed at a flat rate of 20%!
As far as my credentials are concerned I have a non-teaching related degree, a TESOL certificate, and two and a half years experience in Korea (I suspect that this experience wont count for too much).
I also plan to start a masters within the next couple of years.
Possibly at Temple University in Tokyo.
At first however, I wish to concentrate on learning Japanese.
If I arrived on a tourist visa, would I have a hard time finding a job as well as visa sponsorship?
Is it worth making the trip back to New Zealand so that I can arrive in Japan on a working holiday visa?
If you have any advice regarding which visa I should arrive in Japan on it would be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance for your help.
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Just wondering if anyone has any suggestions as to what I should do?
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Well I guess your career move is to move from Korea, which makes it a Korea move as well as a career move.
If you have a degree you can find someone to sponsor you, but why not go back to NZ, shag some sheep and get your WHV?
Either way you'll be fine I'm sure, but I have heard that your Korea experience probably won't count for much in Japan.
Good luck.
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Thanks for your advice and humorous wit, JT.
Much appreciated!!
Dont really want to go back to NZ if I can help it.
Ive already been back this year and would rather save my money for another time.
Ive heard that the job market is a lot more competitive in Japan, so was thinking perhaps I should obtain a working holiday visa first.
Has anybody had any experience looking for work in Japan on a tourist visa??
Any replies are welcomed.
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I would say get the WHV first.
It makes hiring you that much more attractive to an employer because you're already set.
Plus if something goes wrong you can find another job without too much stress.
I like the Korea/career joke.
It doesn't work for me because I have a Canadian accent but I still appreciate it because I don't hear too many accent-based jokes.
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Yeah, youve got a point there.
I guess it might be worth flying home just so that I can land in Japan with a WHV.
However, considering the set up costs in Japan I could do with every cent (or yen) I can get my hands on.
If anybody out there has any experience regarding finding work on a tourist visa or WHV feel free to post.
Thanks for the suggestions so far guys.
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Quote: : Yeah, youve got a point there.
I guess it might be worth flying home just so that I can land in Japan with a WHV.
However, considering the set up costs in Japan I could do with every cent (or yen) I can get my hands on.
If anybody out there has any experience regarding finding work on a tourist visa or WHV feel free to post.
Thanks for the suggestions so far guys.
From the MOFA website
http://www.nz.emb-japan.go.jp/consul...iday_visa.html
ELIGIBILITY
To be eligible for the grant of a Working Holiday Visa you must:
Be a New Zealand passport holder residing in New Zealand.
New Zealand citizens who are travelling or living abroad will not be eligible.
Be aged between 18 and 30 years at the time of application
Have no dependent children
Be in good health and character
Possess a reasonable amount of funds for one’s maintenance during the initial period of stay (Refer to Step 2 after your visa application has been approved in principle)
Have not previously entered Japan on a Working Holiday visa (on a passport of any country) You must also agree that your main reason for visiting is to holiday (any work should be casual/temporary to supplement funds).
If your main purpose is to engage in activities for income/remuneration you will be asked to apply for a Work Visa.
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Thanks for the link PaulH, I appreciate it.
I had already looked into this and thought that if I went back to NZ then I would become eligible for the working holiday visa.
Because I am a non-resident for tax purposes would that make me ineligible for the WHV even if I were to return to NZ to apply for it?
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Quote: : Thanks for the link PaulH, I appreciate it.
I had already looked into this and thought that if I went back to NZ then I would become eligible for the working holiday visa.
Because I am a non-resident for tax purposes would that make me ineligible for the WHV even if I were to return to NZ to apply for it?
Before you fly back and be told "no, you cant" I suggest you contact the Japanese embassy either in Korea or in New Zealand and see about whether you are eligible fro WHV.
All you will get from me is an educated guess and I wouldnt want you to fly to New Zealand on my behalf.
These things are decided on a case by case basis and I have no way of knowing your eligibility except what it says on the website.
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OK, thanks PaulH.
I will send an email to the embassy in Wellington and see what they have to say.
I will keep everyone posted as there may be others in a similar situation to mine.
Once again guys, thanks for your time.
By the way PaulH, youre up very early for a Sunday morning.
You know what they say, the early bird catches the worm and all that.
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I just got an email from the Japanese consulate and apparently so long as I return to NZ and stay within NZ while my visa is being processed there should be no problem.
I now have two options.
The first option is I could buy a return ticket between Korea and Japan and look for work on a tourist visa.
Option two is I could buy a one-way ticket to NZ, stay in NZ while my visa is being processed, and then due to visa requirements purchase a return ticket between NZ and Japan.
This seems like a very expensive option.
Is it worth it?
In Korea I would just take option one, as it is not difficult to find work on a tourist visa.
Its also easy to find someone to sponsor your visa here.
However, Im not so sure about Japan.
Those that have experience in Japan, what would you do in my situation?
Thanks for your time.
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Quote: : The first option is I could buy a return ticket between Korea and Japan and look for work on a tourist visa.
If you look for work on a tourist visa you have to have a degree so they can sponsor a work visa.
Most employers here now want you to have a degree (for the work visa), have a valid work visa and be resident in Japan.
Many dont want to sponsor a visa and look for part timers.
Working in Japan on a tourist visa is ILLEGAL.
Best idea is contact some schools line up some interviews from Korea, tell them when you will be in Japan and then come over with some leads.
If you take option one you cant apply for WHV as they dont issue WHV in Japan but only from NZ.
You will need to get a sponsored work visa.
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By looking at the jobs advertised on this website and others I have noticed that most employers want applicants to have a valid working visa.
If this is so, then how does one go about getting someone to sponsor a visa?
I have a degree, TESOL certificate, as well as almost three years experience in Korea.
If I were to arrive in Japan on a tourist visa, would I have trouble finding work and someone to sponsor my visa?
I have no intention of working in Japan on a tourist visa.
PaulH, I will take your advice and try and line up some interviews closer to my arrival in Japan.
I will be arriving in Japan at the beginning of July.
If I decide to return to NZ to obtain a WHV then i will arrive around the beginning of August.
At this stage I am thinking I will probably try my luck arriving on a tourist visa.
Thanks for your help so far.
By the way, how do I Quote: what someone said?
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Quote: : By the way, how do I Quote: what someone said?
Hit the Quote: button and then type your comment outside the boxes
If you want to make a multiple Quote: you cut and paste the persons post and then add in Quote: s at each section.
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