kalmesh Bhavi
Nov 8 · 4 min read

An year before, me and my wife shifted to Japan. It was really difficult for both of us when we came, as we both are attached to our families. We missed food, family, our previous office and everything almost. I shifted on job which was little relaxing for me but my wife left her well paying job and she was all in tense whether she gonna get job here or not. Initial 2 to 3 months were strugglesome for her.

So I thought I will share our experiences, which might help my friends know little bit about the process before they come.

Below are the things we need to take care when you travel to Japan.

1. Get a sponsor, CoE, visa, tickets
2. As soon as you arrive
3. Finding a job in Japan — technical / non-technical
4. Difference between contract/permanent jobs in japan
5. Work permit for dependent visa holders in Japan

1. Get a sponsor, CoE, visa, tickets

There is a process you should follow to get into Japan. You can come here on a dependent visa or sponsored visa by a company. Its important to know below terms well so Its easy to understand the VISA process,
a. CoE(Certificate of Elibility), which means you are eligible for travelling to Japan.
b. VISA — Once you receive the CoE, you are eligible to apply for VISA.
c. Tickets — Now that you have your VISA, book your flight tickets.

Basically If a company is sponsoring your VISA, they definitely help you with complete VISA process. For instance, your spouse have received an offer from a Japanese company, they will send an offer letter and they will apply for CoE for both of you. When you get CoE for both, you go to Japanese Embassy in your country for further process. You need to submit few documents to start the visa process. If everything goes well with verification, then you receive the visa.

2. As soon as you arrive

The first thing, you get your residence card in the airport when you enter Japan for the first time. This is very important to stay here so never lose.

Second thing, you have to update your address in both post office for postal cards and ward office(of the area you are staying).

In between, if you change the address then you should make sure to update in post office and ward office both.

Third thing, you should open a bank account. You can get it done in the post office for few banks. it depends on which bank account you want to open.


3. Finding a job in Japan — Technical / Non-Technical

This is mainly for those people who have dependent visa.

If you are a non-technical person then Japanese Language is compulsory in almost all non-technical jobs.

If it is technical and if you don’t know Japanese, its fine because not all IT companies need Japanese. Many companies are open for foreign people.
First thing — update your Linkedin account properly so recruiters can notice your profile.
Create account in Daijob, Gaijinpot, Linkedin.
Register in recruiting agencies — you can search and find many recruiting agencies in japan from google.
Keep applying for jobs on all these job sites. Also when you get opportunity, prepare well and go for interview. Since the opportunities are less you cant risk your chances.
Keep checking your emails on timely basis. Along with this don’t panic, you will definitely get job if you genuinely try. But it will take some time. Just relax and enjoy doing nothing.


4. Difference between contract/permanent jobs in Japan

Contract — Many recruiting agencies will hire you on contract basis for 3 or 6 months. The clients will see your performance and they might convert you to a permanent employee based on your performance and other criteria.
There are few tax benefits of contract. You can choose not to pay for few tax slabs of japan government if you want more in hand every month. You can check with HR in your recruiting company. Otherwise almost everything remains same as in permanent position.
Leave policy depends completely on company to company. I don’t think it depends on contract or permanent. You first need to clearly ask all these to recruiters than assuming.
Another best part is — contract jobs pay more compared to permanent.

Permanent — Good thing about permanent jobs is that it's no contract.
Tax slab — you should pay all the tax that Japan govt has. No escape from that.
Leave policy, again you should check with recruiters.


5. Work permit for dependent visa holders in Japan

If you are shifting on-job, then the organisation will help you with Work Permit VISA and other stuff.

You can get 28 hours/ week work permit from immigration — they will stamp on your residence card. If you want a full-time work permit then some company should sponsor your work permit. The company will give eligibility certificate which you have to submit to immigration and you will get a full-time work permit. It will usually take 3 to 4 weeks to receive your work permit. Immigration will send a post after everything is done, then you can go and get your new residence card which is a full-time work permit. Old one they will punch to show its no longer valid.

Lastly, One friendly advice, If you receive more than two offers then its good to join the company which sponsored your visa to avoid visa-related confusion. In Japan, once the visa is issued, It remains valid for that issued period no matter how many companies you change. But Whenever you change the company, you should notify the immigration office about quitting the last job and joining new job.

Please comment your questions and I will be happy to help.

    kalmesh Bhavi

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