Common questions

I want to work in Japan

If you wish to work in Japan in any capacity, you will need a work visa. Work visas are divided in several categories, and each specific working visa subset generally requires its own unique requirements to be issued. Work visas require the applicant to have a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) issued by the applicant's prospective employer. You will not be able to obtain a work visa without the COE. A COE is essentially equivalent to a job offer; you can't have one without the other. No job offer? No COE and no work visa. You can obtain a job offer (and thus, a COE) by applying for jobs with Japanese employers while overseas. This also includes teaching positions as an ALT or eikawa English instructor. With the exception of a few very unique working visas or very unique exceptions, almost all work visas require the applicant to have a four-year college degree.