To get a work visa in Japan you need to find a sponsoring company. In most cases this requires an undergraduate degree as it is much harder for companies to sponsor workers without higher education. (There are exceptions for those with ten years professional working experience in the trade you are looking to work).

Once you have found an employer to hire you (well done!) then you will receive a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) from your local Japanese Embassy, which will give you a time window within which to come to Japan before it is invalidated. Once you arrive in Japan you will present this COE to immigration officers at the airport, at which point they will get your details and issue you with your very own Zairyuu Card (Residence Card, colloquially called a Gaijin card).

You can find employers who sponsor working visas on our board at JobsinJapan.com/jobs and checking the box for “Overseas Applicants Allowed” to filter out jobs that are only available to people with a current working visa.