Switching from a Short-Term Visa to a Working Visa
- What is a short-term visa?
- [General Rule] Switching from a short-term visa to a working visa is impossible.
- [Exceptions] In some cases, it is possible to switch from a short-term visa to a working visa.
- Note that it may take some time after you submit an application to receive the Certificate of Eligibility for Resident Status.
What is a short-term visa?
A short-term visa is the visa type used to enter Japan for sightseeing, visiting friends, acquaintances, and family, or for business purposes. These visas allow stays of 90 days, 30 days, or 15 days.
Business purposes such as attending meetings, visiting factories for study tours, and conducting negotiations are allowed, but sales of goods and services and receiving remuneration are not permitted.
[General Rule] Switching from a short-term visa to a working visa is impossible.
With a short-term visa, even if you find work during your stay, switching to a working visa is generally not approved.
For a foreign national to work in Japan, they must first acquire a certification of resident status which allows work from the Minister of Justice. The process of applying for this document is called “applying for a Certificate of Eligibility for Resident Status.”
Overseas Japanese embassies issue working visas to individuals who have received this document prior to their entry into Japan.
For this reason, acquiring a working visa typically requires you to return to your home country, apply for a Certificate of Eligibility for Resident Status, and return to Japan after receiving this document.
[Exceptions] In some cases, it is possible to switch from a short-term visa to a working visa.
As explained above, you are not permitted to work during your stay in Japan on a short-term visa. However, job hunting is not prohibited.
In addition, if you find a job during your stay and want to remain in Japan by switching to a working visa, this will generally not be approved. However, there is a method which is an exception to this rule.
To do this, you will need to fulfill all of the following conditions to receive a Certificate of Eligibility for Resident Status during your stay in Japan.
- Sign an employment contract with your employer.
- Prepare the required materials (both the employer and the applicant) and submit an application for a Certificate of Eligibility for Resident Status.
- Receive your Certificate of Eligibility for Resident Status while in Japan prior to the expiration of your short-term visa.
However, even if you follow the procedure above, there is no guarantee you will receive the certificate during your period of stay. Remember that returning to your home country in between is the norm.
Note that it may take some time after you submit an application to receive the Certificate of Eligibility for Resident Status.
If you are considering the procedure indicated above as an exception, be aware of the following two points.
- The preparation and inspection of the required documents for the application process takes a lot of time. (More than three months is not uncommon.)
- Even if you complete the application, there is no guarantee it will be approved, and the timing for your certificate’s issuance is impossible to predict.
As discussed above, although there is a way to switch from a short-term visa to a working visa as an exception to the general rule, it’s also quite possible that your short-term visa will expire before you know the results of your application. Please keep these points in mind when considering this method.
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