Get the right visa
Let's start with the most important thing — is your visa sorted?
Do you have a job lined up?
Your best visa path depends on whether an employer is ready to sponsor you.
Your employer handles the visa
If you've got a job offer in Japan, your employer will sponsor your work visa. You mostly just need to hand over documents and wait.
- Your employer files the Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) on your behalf — takes ~1–3 months
- Once approved, you take the CoE to a Japanese embassy/consulate for the visa stamp
- Expect to provide: passport, degree certificate, CV, and a few photos
- No action needed from you beyond sending documents and booking flights
Pick the right visa for you
Without an employer lined up, you'll need to match a visa category to your situation. Here are the main paths.
- Student visa — enrol in a Japanese school or university
- Working Holiday — under 30 and from one of ~30 eligible countries
- Digital Nomad visa (2024) — 6-month stay for remote workers earning ¥10M+/yr
- Spouse / dependent visa — requires a Japanese national or resident partner
- Most visas require a Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) first
Typical cost
Visa stamp: ¥3,000–¥6,000 at the Japanese embassy or consulate (single vs multiple-entry). The Certificate of Eligibility itself is free to apply for — your employer or school usually handles the filing. An immigration lawyer or scrivener to help with complex cases typically runs ¥50,000–¥150,000.
Figure out your visa type
Read the visa guide
Or dig deeper