How can I get a working visa...?

Question

How can I get a working visa in Japan for teaching english without doing university or college?
can i get sponsered??
Also, i heard of TESL classes, could i do that and then teach english?
Also, I heard that these TESL classes are short like 6 days long or so...is that right?
As much information you coul give would be grand.

Answer 1

Below is a reprise of my answer to your previous question of the same title. But in addition to the below answer, if you did go through the TEFL/TESL/TESOL classes, you could get a job at a private English school. But that would be dependent on each respective school. Some will accept, some won't. It really is hit or miss. You would really have to just go out there and hit the streets, knocking on the doors of all the private English school. Educational institutions like universities and colleges, would not accept just a certificate.

There are different lengths of the seminars offered. Some are over a long holiday weekend, the most common are five days to a week, and some last as long as a month. Plus, at the completion, you receive a "Certificate of Completion", not a teaching certificate. That is why it won't work at regular universities and colleges. I have known people to get jobs at trade schools (Senmon gakko) with that type of certificate.

If you have any other more specific questions, please feel free to message them to me.

The issue of sponsorship is still a little tougher now. In order for a school to be able to sponsor you, they have to promise to pay you at least 250,000 to 300,000 a month in salary. Most schools are not willing to pay that much anymore. But, like I mention below, if you are willing to accept a terminal contract, they might. I lost my working visa once because my sponsor told me he would pay me 200,000 a month while he told immigration he was paying me 300,000 a month. When immigration found out, his sponsoring privileges were revoked, along with my visa. I has to scramble to find another sponsor.

As I said, your best bet, if you qualify, would be the working holiday visa. It is sort of a cultural learning visa.

Good luck.

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Bad news. Without some sort of qualification you cannot be sponsored for a working visa. In order to qualify for a working visa for teaching English, you have to show some sort of qualification, either a teaching certificate, or some sort of degree from an educational institution. There is an option though. If you came to Japan on a tourist visa, attended a TEFL teaching certificate seminar, a school might sponsor your with that. I will tell you though, the competition is tough for visa sponsorship. There are people with MA's and PhD's out there looking for sponsorship as well. If you are willing to accept a terminal contract, you may be in luck. Most people with the higher degrees and qualifications want more permanent work, but recently, due to the demand for variety, a lot of the jobs only offer terminal contracts. Some as long as three years. But during that time, you can look for more permanent work. Do you have any experience teaching? Or are you at least part way finished a degree? That would work in your favor.

Good luck.

Additional information: I just noticed that you are from Canada. Canada is part of the common-wealth, so that means you can apply for a working holiday visa. The Visa itself is renewable, but there is an age limit. Check it out! I think that would be your best bet for now.

Answer 2

"Looking for the truth" has a lot of good info. Read that.

In addition, although it has gotten a lot easier to get visas and even to self-sponsor, it is very difficult to get a job teaching English without a college/university degree. All schools and almost all reputable companies require a minimum of a 4-year degree from an accredited school in your home country before they will even give you an interview, let alone a job.

ESL certificates are not so difficult to get, but they would be considered in addition to a degree, not instead of one. google "esl certificates" for more info and try these:
http://www.esl-jobs-forum.com/
http://www.eslinusa.com/TESOL_education.html

You can also find more info about Japanese visas at the Japanese government's Ministry of Foreign Affairs website (in English):
http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/

Like "Looking...", I've lived in Japan a long time (since 1986), taught almost every kind of ESL course at every level, and have seen many changes in the way visas are administered. Get a degree and come on over!

Answer 3

You will NOT get a visa unless you have a job first. Get an offer and the company will send you paperwork to take to the embassy. Good luck.

Answer 4

I think you need to apply with immigration they have a site just gooogle immigration and see if something comes up. I hope this helps.