Self-sponsorship Visa in Japan

[auck1and]

Hi
I was just wondering what are the requirements to apply for the 'self sponsorship' visa? Any help would be great.
Thanks

[gfell]

You need to be able to prove when applying for your visa that you have enough teaching work and deriving a sufficient salary in order to support your stay in Japan. Of course, you will need to hold a minimum Bachelor's degree and a passport from a native English speaking country.

I self-sponsored myself a few years back and basically presented along with my visa application, a letter from the students I was teaching and anticipated monthly income.

It was easier for me as I was already on a working visa, and merely applying a new work visa. It's always harder when going from a tourist visa to a work visa though.

I'm not too sure of the exact figure now, but then it was a minimum salary of just under 200,000 yen / month - very achieveable for any teacher.

[auck1and]

Thanks for the quick reply!!
Unfortunately i dont have a degree or diploma What do you recommend is the best type of visa to apply for? I read about a 'designated activities' visa or a work permit? Do you know what the prerequisites are for the designated visa?

Thanks very much once again for your help!! How can I repay you?

[gfell]

All you ever want to know about visas to Japan can be found at MOFA: A Guide to Japanese Visas - Types and Categories of Visa.

Designated activites would be things like:

• athletes participating in contests
• personal help privately employed by diplomats, consular representatives
• university students engaged in internship activities
• bilateral working holiday agreements (eg: Working Holiday Visa)
• foreign lawyers engaged in international arbitration affairs

Do you fit in one of these activities? You may also consider a cultural visa or working holiday visa depending on your age and nationality.

[burroniku]

Hi there, I was searching through the internet about self-sponsored visas and I found this thread to be the most informative so far. I would much appreciate your advice as you seem to be familiar with the subject. I am looking to self-sponsor myself as I work freelance in Tokyo doing a variety of things including teaching. I was on a student visa until end of last month but have now rentered on a tourist visa.

So my question is, how do I go about getting a self-sponsored visa from here? I can get companies to write letters saying that I am a consultant to them and that I will receive a salary.
I am a native English speaker but hold a French passport.

The work I am engaged in ranges from event design, teaching (private students), modelling, graphic design... I work with big and well established companies that can provide me letters.
Would it be easier to first get a working visa with an English school then try to switch??

You mentioned that I can consult the immigration office about this.. would it be wise going there now on a tourist visa asking them how to self-sponsor myself?

I know its alot of questions but would appreciate your help. Thanks!

[gfell]

Originally Posted by burroniku

Would it be easier to first get a working visa with an English school then try to switch??

Really, applying for a visa is done either by having a company arrange it all for you, or you put in the leg work and arrange it yourself. The latter is often called self-sponsoring yourself, but in reality, it's the same as getting a company to prepare the application. Many think that a work visa and a self-sponsored visa are different things, but they are not. It just depends on who will go through the efforts of lodging all the documentation.

You mentioned that I can consult the immigration office about this.. would it be wise going there now on a tourist visa asking them how to self-sponsor myself?

Certainly would be. Nothing wrong with doing this at all. Just give them a call, it will be faster.

At a high level view, basically all immigration wants to see is that you have work lined up and are required in Japan to work and provide a service. For that they will issue you a work visa.

[Nel15]

Dear admin.

Re. self-sponsorship - I currently hold a specialist in humanities visa [which I've held for two years, sponsored by the same small language school in Tokyo] it will expire in March 2008.

I recently quit my regular job and began freelance English teaching - I made a little over 200,000 in my first month, so it looks promising.

I'd be very grateful if you could provide me with any further details regarding how you sponsored yourself as a freelancer? I can provide immigration with the visa renewal form, my contract from my last employment and pay slips up to September. I haven't got a certificate of retirement from the last job and am unlikely to [they were not honoring their contract and we fell out over it]. Any suggestions on proving my income from my private students and will immigration need to see evidence of tax paid on it [as I've only just started, I haven't got around to figuring out how to pay it yet]?

Any thoughts on getting the visa next year [as a self sponsored, freelance English teacher] would be appreciated.

[gfell]

They are only going to give you a visa if they can be sure you are earning enough and paying all your taxes on your earnings. If the majority of your privates is cash in hand, then you will need to declare this along with names of your students and contact details. You need to then present all this in support of your application to renew your visa.

It's not as easy as just relying on the 1 school to look after all this for you. You should try getting some business classes 2 or 3 nights a week and then use these "hopefully famous" companies to write you a letter of employment on their company letterhead. That's what I did and it worked fine.

[Nel15]

Thanks v. much for the swift reply - seems like sound advice which I'll try to follow. If I'm able to get a few more students/business classes, then it all seems do-able.

Just one more thing - have you any idea how I go about declaring my income for tax purposes/where I go to get the forms etc., as it was all taken out at source by my previous employer? All of my income is cash-in-hand at the moment.

Cheers
N.

[gfell]

Sorry, can't help you with this. Would be best to speak to someone that runs their own business as a sole trader or speak with a support group in your local area.