| So, you're thinking you'd like to travel abroad, but | | | | only to travel for 3 months, not work, and in |
| you don't want to just go backpacking, because you | | | | addition, the conditions of my Visa state that I can |
| don't have that much cash. You want to be able to | | | | only work for that company for up to 3-4 months... |
| travel, experience new things, have a great time, and | | | | right? No. Surprisingly, I called the consulate to check, |
| also make a bit of cash while you're at it. Sounds like | | | | and in fact, the answer is YES, YOU CAN TAKE THE |
| a Working Holiday is perfect for you! | | | | JOB. Why? There are 2 reasons. |
| The Working Holiday programs are relatively new | | | | Firstly, according to the Japanese Consulate |
| agreements between countries, enabling youths | | | | themselves, you are permitted to change your plans |
| between the age of 18-30 to travel to one of the | | | | at ANY time during your stay - therefore, your |
| participating countries for a designated period, and | | | | original intention to travel around Japan is not binding |
| entitling them to work in that country for a specified | | | | at all, and you are free to work if you wish.* |
| period. In general, Working Holiday Visas are issued | | | | *It should be mentioned here that there are in fact |
| for a period of 6-12 months, with the option to | | | | limits to what kind of jobs you can do. Ie. You can't |
| extend the visa up to a total of 18 months for some | | | | work in the "entertainment" industry, etc... you can |
| countries (like Australia, for example). If you overstay | | | | find out more from your local Japanese consulate. |
| your Visa, you might possibly end up being deported, | | | | Secondly, while the Consulate tells you at the time of |
| or at least fined. This is a very clear condition of the | | | | your Visa application that you can "only work up to |
| Visa: Don't overstay. | | | | 28 hours per week", in fact once you arrive, they |
| In contrast, however, the "specified working period" I | | | | don't mind at all how much you work. And, to top it |
| mentioned is actually rather ambiguous: for example, | | | | all off, as one Consulate official told me, "they don't |
| when traveling to Japan for a Working Holiday | | | | check that sort of thing"... as you can imagine, I was |
| program, I inquired as to the duration of work that I | | | | a little confused. Out of all people, you would expect |
| was permitted to do. At the time of application, you | | | | the Consulate to give you a straight answer, but |
| must declare that you are traveling to Japan primarily | | | | when I asked if it's ok to go over with a Working |
| as a vacation, but with the intention to work along | | | | Holiday Visa, and work full-time, she said, albeit in a |
| the way to supplement your travel funds. Some | | | | roundabout way (if you know the Japanese, you'll |
| officials told me the permitted length of work was | | | | know what I mean!) that it was fine. Which is the |
| approximately 20-28 hours per week. Others told me | | | | reason why there are so many thousands of |
| you can work up to 3-4 months of your total stay. | | | | foreigners in Japan, right now, working full-time in |
| But the most interesting thing is that the declaration | | | | English schools, on Working Holiday Visas... just like I |
| of your plans you make at the time of Visa | | | | did! And every 6 months, when I went to the |
| application, is in no way binding, and you are | | | | Immigration office to extend my Visa, and stated |
| permitted to change your plans at any time. | | | | clearly that I was working full-time in an English |
| So, let's say I plan to travel around Japan for 3 | | | | school, and would like to continue, they would smile, |
| months - sight-seeing, snowboarding, and having fun. | | | | extend the Visa, and wave me goodbye! |
| So, I apply for, and receive my Working Holiday Visa, | | | | So if you're thinking of going to Japan to work, but |
| declaring that I'm going over to travel, and then I | | | | are unsure about the conditions of your Working |
| head over to Japan. The next day, I meet someone | | | | Holiday Visa, remember that you're not the first |
| at a bar, and it turns out they own an English school, | | | | person to be confused. Just remember that you're |
| and are desperately seeking new teachers. So, they | | | | permitted to change your plans at any time, and it |
| offer me a full-time job... can I take it? Surely not, as | | | | will make things a whole lot easier. |
| I stated on my Visa application that I was coming | | | | |