Which Visa do you Need for Japan?
Born and raised in Europe, I’ve always been used to the fact that I can travel to different countries without thinking about visa’s and general administration. Thanks to the Schengen Agreement signed in 1985, you can travel almost freely to about 29 countries in Europe without even needing a passport. For me, it felt completely normal to go for a weekend trip to Paris by train, crossing the border to both Belgium and France without even noticing.
Japan, however, is a completely different story. Although Japan offers a (usually) ninety-day tourist visa for most passports, staying here for the long term turns out to be an administrative fever dream I am still struggling with up until this very day. Without diving too deep in the various visa’s Japan has to offer, let’s look at the most basic ones, at beginner’s level, let’s say.
Tourist Visa
A tourist visa is probably the simplest way to explore Japan for a short-term stay, usually up to 90 days. Depending on your nationality, you do not even need to apply in advance. You simply book a flight, fill out a small document on the plane with information about your stay, and receive a sticker or stamp when you go through immigration at your arrival. Citizens of the US, Canada, and most European countries can visit Japan without having to go through a bunch of preparation before, while others might need to do some sort of application at the Japanese Embassy in their country. The length of stay also depends on certain agreements between Japan and your home country. Most tourist visa’s are valid for up to ninety days. If you’re from a country that allows extensions, you might be able to stay an additional 90 days, but always double-check before making plans.
Instead of going through the process of extending their visa at the immigration office, some people decide to go for the infamous “visa run”. This means that you go for a quick trip out of Japan an re-enter to “reset” your tourist visa. However, good to mention here is that this is generally not really approved of. While you could probably get away with it once, once immigration notices a pattern in long-term stays on a tourist visa and short trips out of the country, they may decide to not let you back into the country, so better to avoid this particular option altogether.
The tourist visa is ideal for casual travellers and people who just want to explore the surface of Japan with no strings attached. However, there are some downsides of this visa. For example, you’re not allowed to work in Japan on a tourist visa, so you’ll need to rely on savings or other funding if you decide to stay for an extended period of time.
Working Holiday Visa
After I spent approximately five months in Japan, I realised I wasn’t ready to leave yet. Luckily, I heard about a so-called working holiday visa. A working holiday visa is a special option for people below the age of 31, from select countries like Australia, New Zealand, Canada, most European countries and the UK. This visa allows you to stay in Japan for up to a year, combining work and leisure. Unfortunately, not all nationalities are eligible, so it’s essential to confirm if your passport qualifies. Luckily for me, Japan introduced the option for a working holiday visa to The Netherlands in 2020. While France citizens have access to a working holiday visa since 2000! Recent countries that were added to the list are Finland, Uruguay and Latvia in 2023, and Luxembourg in 2024.
The working holiday visa is perfect for backpackers and people who want to have a taste of living in Japan for a while. While the flexibility to work is a significant advantage and a great way to generate some income to afford life in Japan, jobs are often limited to part-time positions, and it’s forbidden to work in bars and clubs and other jobs in adult industries. Also good to know is that a working holiday visa is only available once in a lifetime and up to a maximum age of 31. So make sure to use it while you can!
Applying for a working holiday visa might seem a bit overwhelming, but overall the process is quite straightforward. Check the website of the Japanese Embassy in your homecountry to see what documents you need to provide. Usually it’s a document with information about where you are going to stay and what you’re planning to do, a paper with an itinerary
Student Visa
As I am writing this, I am in Japan on a student visa. After spending a year in Tokyo on a working holiday visa, I realised that I had actually established an amazing group of friends here. I was starting to feel at home and accidentally somewhat trapped myself in Japanese society. Apparently, this happens to a lot of people: they come to Japan on a tourist visa, extend their stay with a working holiday visa, and then realise they’re in too deep to just go back to their own country again. In that case, that leaves you to two (most straightforward) options: a student visa or work visa.
A student visa is usually an easier option than a work visa, as your school can be your visa sponsor as long as you pay for the admission. For a work visa, you’ll need to find a company that is willing to hire you and sponsor your visa, which is a tough one if you don’t speak much Japanese yet. That’s why me and many others decide to enter one or two years of Japanese language school before switching to a work visa. A student visa can last from six months to several years, depending on your program and what level of Japanese you want to achieve before starting the hunt for a job.
Most people can apply for a student visa after securing admission to a Japanese institution and proving financial stability. However, the application process and requirements can vary based on your nationality. A student visa also allows part-time work up to 28 hours per week. Good to keep in mind is the fact that tuition fees can be pricy, and balancing studies with work and travelling might be challenging on the long term.
Work Visa
A work visa is the typical way to go for people who want to stay in Japan on the long term. It’s basically a golden ticket, especially when you manage to obtain a work visa for a few years. A work visa in Japan is designed for so-called “skilled professionals” who have found a job in Japan. Either you managed to find a job at a company in Japan that is willing to sponsor your visa, or you work for an international company that wants to outsource you to their branch in Japan. The work visa covers categories like teaching, IT, engineering, etcetera. Your employer typically sponsors your application, and the duration depends on your contract.
This visa is ideal for those ready to embrace Japan’s work culture and build a life there. While it offers long-term stability and benefits like health insurance, it also comes with challenges. Losing your job could mean losing your visa, and navigating Japanese work culture can be tricky, especially working for a company of Japanese origin. Japanese work culture is widely known as tough, with long work hours, unpaid overtime and a very strict hierarchy.
Visa Sponsoring and Certificates of Eligibility
As I mentioned before, in order to obtain a long-term visa like a student or work visa, you’ll need someone to “sponsor” you. This could be your employer or the school you study at. Student-, work- and other long-term visas require a so-called Certificate of Eligibility (COE). This document, issued by Japanese immigration authorities, confirms that you meet the requirements for your intended visa. It’s usually prepared and submitted by your sponsor—whether that’s your employer, school, or other organization—and is a prerequisite for your visa application.
The COE process can be complex and time-consuming and often take several weeks or even months to complete. However, it’s an important part of the system to ensure that all applicants have legitimate reasons to stay in Japan. Be sure to maintain clear communication with your sponsor and provide all necessary documentation in time to avoid delays. Once you have your COE, applying for the visa itself is typically a straightforward process at your local Japanese consulate or embassy.
Which Visa is the Right one for You?
Typically, your passport plays a crucial role in determining your visa options. Some countries have agreements with Japan that allow for visa-free entry for up to 90 days, while others require detailed applications. Similarly, the ease of obtaining working holiday or student visas often depends on these agreements. Always check your specific eligibility and requirements before making plans.
Which Visa Should You Choose?
Here’s a quick cheat sheet to help you decide:
Planning to travel around for a couple of days or weeks? Go for the Tourist Visa.
Are you below 31 years old, got some spare time and the option to stay longer? Then a Working Holiday Visa would be a great option.
Are you interested in learning Japanese, perhaps to prepare for a long-term stay in Japan? Apply for a language school and get your Student Visa.
Want to settle down in Japan and become part of Japanese society? Go job hunting and give the Work Visa a shot.
Keep in mind that these are just four of the many visa’s Japan hands out. There are many other options, one more tricky to obtain than the other. If you are serious when it comes to moving to Japan, I’d recommend getting in touch with your local Japanese embassy to find out about your options and the things you need to do to prepare.