Unless you have around 10 years experience within a targeted job sector, then you might find it difficult to work full-time in Japan.
Having said that, there are other ways to live in Japan that may help you get work.
In this article we will take a look at several options to get work in Japan without a degree, but do remember that the route will not be easy. So, let’s get to it!
Using Your 10 Years Work Experience
One of the most common ways to work in Japan without a degree is to prove that you have been working in a specific job field for ten years or more.
To do this, you will need to apply for a Specified Skilled Worker visa. While that may sound simple, unfortunately it is not.
Not only will you need proof of certification from every job from the past ten years, but you will also need to pass a skills exam.
You will then also need to take a Japanese language test, and then sign your new employment contract.
So with that being said, you cannot just apply for the visa and then hope to find work (see also ‘How Long Does Getting A Work Visa Take In Japan?‘). You must already have the job ready and waiting for you.
If you are not looking to move to Japan on a more permanent or long-term basis, then a working holiday visa may be just what you are looking for. This allows you to stay in Japan for a particular amount of time, as well as take on part-time work.
However, requirements are different for each country with many wanting degrees. If you have a U.S. passport, you cannot apply for a working holiday visa for Japan. You can apply to work in South Korea.
Getting a Degree in Japan to Find a Job
If you don’t have a degree, then you could consider getting your degree in Japan itself. While it isn’t an easy process, there will be Japanese companies who will consider you on this basis alone.
To apply for a Japanese University, you will have to pass an exam titled the Japanese University Admission for International Students (EJU).
However, you also need to make sure you have at least 12 years of education already.
While this may be a good option, you will need to be fluent in Japanese, or at least be able to have an understanding of what is being said. If you do not, then you will most certainly not be considered for the university.
Take a TEFL Course to Teach English
If you really, really want to work in Japan, as well as enjoy lots of sociable time, then taking a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) course might be for you. However, it normally requires a degree.
So, why have we added it to the list?
That is because there is a way to do a TEFL and work in Japan without a degree. Firstly, let’s take a look at what a TEFL even is?
TEFL is a short course aimed at those who want to teach English as a foreign language.
Many people do this to work abroad in countries such as Japan, China and South Korea. However, you still need to have a degree to use your TEFL certification abroad.
To get around this, you can instead apply for a Working Holiday visa which most countries allow for people to get without the need for a degree (though please check your local information first).
Having a Working Holiday Visa will allow you to use your TEFL legally in Japan, yay. However, there are some restrictions. These are:
You must be between the ages of 18 and 35 to be eligible, and the passport you have must be from a partner company to Japan. U.S. passport holders are not eligible.
You may have to undergo a medical to show that you are fit and healthy, and you must not have already had a Working Holiday Visa.
Once you have been deemed okay to have the visa, then there are a few other things you will need to provide. These are:
A passport which is said to be from a partner country but also a passport sized photograph. That will be for the visa itself.
An application form filled in for the visa, along with your resume and some writing on your job history and why you want to work in Japan.
You will also need to outline your itinerary of what you will be getting up to in Japan. This will show the type of work you are looking for or have applied for.
And lastly, around $3,000 or half that and a return ticket.
Spousal Visa
If you are about to get married to a Japanese national, or you have already done so (congratulations), then your next step might be having to apply for a job.
Fortunately, due to being married to somebody who lives in Japan, you will be able to apply for a spousal visa which will allow you to both live and work in Japan without needing a degree.
Obviously, this only works if you have already fallen in love and have both chosen to get married!
Investor Visa
If you are to undertake an important business role within a company, or are looking to invest, you can apply for an investor visa.
It is also the visa that would need to be applied for if you are taking on the job of a housekeeper or nanny – or other forms of personal help – in Japan.
Also, if you are launching a business within Japan, you can use this visa to ‘self-sponsorship’ as an entrepreneur.
Final Thoughts on Working in Japan Without a Degree
It can be frustrating to have a dream of working in Japan, only to find out that for 99% of cases, you will need a degree.
Despite this, there are a few ways to work in Japan without obtaining a degree.
While you can prove that you have at least ten years experience working in a chosen field to obtain a job, there are other ways to try and get a visa without a degree to work in Japan.
The above are sure fire ways to work in Japan, but you could also spend time in your birth country getting a degree!
Hi, I’m Jason Patrick, and for as long as I have been alive, I have been obsessed with Japanese culture. From the sights and sounds of Japan’s many cities to its culinary delights that have become famous worldwide, I simply cannot get enough of this wonderful nation!
I hope that, by exploring this website, you all will develop a much deeper appreciation for Japan, and that it may even influence you to pay it a visit yourself eventually! It is definitely a trip of a lifetime, and whether you experience it firsthand, or through my own website, I’m sure you will become just as passionate as I always have been!
