Work Visa In Japan Requirements

Japan’s employment laws heavily favor employees, so it’s essential to understand every regulation to stay compliant. And, because firing employees in Japan can be incredibly challenging, the initial recruiting and hiring process becomes even more critical.

Recruiting in Japan

It’s essential to have an understanding of typical workplace culture and general etiquette before you begin the process of recruiting talent in Japan. Keeping the following guidelines in mind will help ensure that the recruitment process is as smooth as possible for you and your international staff.

1. Give Formal Greetings

When you meet a prospective candidate for the first time, they’ll most likely bow and wait for you to shake their hand. Be sure to use formal titles during conversation rather than referring to the candidate by their first name.

2. Respect Privacy

Privacy is very important in Japan, so avoid asking overly personal questions during your initial meetings with prospective hires. Inquiries about family, relationships, and even work history may be seen as pushy and overbearing.

3. Be Punctual

Punctuality is essential in a Japanese workplace. Candidates will probably arrive to meetings and appointments with you a few minutes early to ensure that they are ready to begin at the scheduled time. You should plan to do the same. If you do end up running late, let the candidate know ahead of time.

4. Appreciate the Value of Collectivism

In most Western countries, employees place a high value on their individual achievements. This is not the case in Japanese workplaces. Employees in Japan put more emphasis on the contributions of the team as a whole. Don’t be surprised by this mindset, and don’t write off a potential hire who doesn’t seem to sell their skills very well.

In Japan, staffing can be a challenge. The labor force isn’t growing significantly, and there isn’t much fluidity in the job market. Even so, there are plenty of talented employees to fill out your international team — you just need to know where to look for them.

Many companies in Japan hire through a traditional process known as shinsotsu. These companies recruit candidates for specialized jobs at the graduate level, hiring them based on ambition, character, and communication skills as soon as they leave prestigious universities. However, new graduates tend to lack specific job skills, experience, and technical knowledge. As a result, shinsotsu may not be the approach you want to take for your company.

Recruiting on social media can also pose a challenge in Japan due to the private nature of Japanese people as a whole. Very few companies choose to invest in recruiting on social media because the engagement is so low.

Online job boards, on the other hand, can be a helpful avenue for companies trying to recruit talent in Japan. You can also choose to work with a local hiring agency. If you do so, make sure the agency has the proper qualifications to help you get the results you want.

One of the most important things to remember as you recruit and staff in Japan is that your potential hires have a lot of opportunities to choose from. You’ll need to act fast and provide a competitive offer if you want to hire the best employees and put your business in a position to thrive overseas.

Opening a business location in Japan will help you establish new relationships and enter a previously untapped market. However, an expansion also means you need to hire a full staff or transfer some of your parent company’s employees to Japan. You also need to learn how to get a work visa in Japan for every single foreign employee.

Types of Work Visas in Japan

Japan has close to 30 different work permits and long-term visas based on an expatriates’ job and reason for moving to Japan. There are specific work visas for occupation, including options for artists, instructors, journalists, professors, skilled laborers, and more. The type of permit an employee applies for will determine how long they can remain in Japan. Typically, the length ranges from three months to five years.

In addition to the work permits for occupations, Japan recently introduced specific skills visas, including:

• Specified Skilled Worker Visa: This visa is for foreign workers coming to Japan to fill employment gaps in certain labor sectors. Japan hopes it will bring approximately 500,000 new foreign workers to the country by 2025.
• Specified Skills Visa 1-SSV1: Only skilled workers in specific industries, such as shipbuilding, agriculture, nursing care, and some others, can apply for this visa. It requires Japanese language tests and technical exams. The visa is valid for one year and renewable for up to five years. If an applicant wants to stay longer than five years, they will need to apply for the visa 2-SSV2.
• Specified Skills Visa 2-SSV2: Applicants can renew this visa indefinitely and bring their family members to Japan. Individuals currently living and working in Japan under a Visa 1-SSV1 can apply for this specific visa only after they get a higher level of specialization in their field.

Requirements to Obtain Japan Work Visas

Individuals coming to Japan for any other reason besides tourism must get a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) before obtaining a work permit or visa. The COE will state that an applicant is legally able to come to Japan for work, family, or another qualifying reason. The visa application process requires this certificate, so employees must have it before taking any further steps.

Remember that specific requirements can vary from visa to visa. For example, individuals may need to provide a CV and original university degree or certificate to obtain a work visa in Japan. Other common requirements include a:

• Job offer from a Japanese company
• Passport
• Visa application form
• Photograph

Application Process

The first step to applying for a work permit in Japan is finding a sponsor, which is typically an employer. The individual or local sponsoring organization must apply to the Regional Immigration Bureau to get the COE. The application process for the COE includes:

• Submitting a completed application form
• Submitting a 4cm x 3cm photograph
• Providing a return mail envelope with a 392-yen stamp
• Putting together all supporting documents
• Submitting a letter of guarantee

If your employee is applying for a specified skills visa, they must submit a points calculation as well. The points system will rate applicants based on their skills, and they’ll need more than 70 points to be considered for a visa. As an employer, you also need to prepare certain documents for the visa application process, including:

• Letter of guarantee
• Invitation letter
• List of visa applicants
• Details of your company or organization
• Itinerary in Japan

Conclusion: Other Important Considerations

Applicants must pay a fee for the type of Japanese working visa they’re applying for. The fee depends on the type of visa, the applicant’s nationality, and whether they want a single- or multiple-entry process. Usually, a single-entry visa is about 3,000 JPY, or $30, and a multiple-entry visa is 6,000 JPY, or about $60.