How to Obtain GIJINKOKU Visa

Following are four major ways.

Finished studying in Japan and employed in Japan

This is the most common method. There are often cases of people who have graduated from high school in their home country, and after graduating from a vocational school/university in Japan, they obtain a Status of Residence, GIJINKOKU Visa and work as full-time employee.

Hired in your home country and employed in Japan (specialist such as engineer, etc.)

They search for job offer by Japanese company in their home country, apply for it, and come to Japan after they are hired. Many of them are engineers.

Hired in your home country and employed in Japan (general staff)

Some students participate in job fairs held overseas by Japanese companies looking for non-Japanese with a high level of foreign language skills, and get a job at a Japanese company as a full-time employee. 

Technical intern training in Japan → return home → study in Japan → full time employee

In some cases, after completing technical intern training and returning to their home country, they come back to Japan to study further. After that, they will find a job in Japan.

If You Want to Remain and Find a Job after Studying in Japan

You can consult with study abroad agency for your study plan in Japan.
In such case, the most common plan is as follow:

1. Study Japanese at Japanese language classes in home country (6 months to 1 year)
   　　↓
2. Study at a Japanese language school in Japan
   　　↓
3. Vocational school
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4. Graduate from a vocational school and get a job in Japan, or go to a university or junior college and then get a job

Here is another possible plan:

1. Study Japanese in home country (1 to 2 years)
   　　↓
2. Japanese language school in Japan (only 1 year)
   　　↓
3. Vocational school / Junior college / University
   　　↓
4. Get a job in Japan
   
   *Reducing the length of your study in Japan can save you a lot of money.

Various Ways to Find a Job after Studying in Japan

Here are various cases of our seniors studying and finding a job in Japan.

In case of university graduates (university in home country)

• University in home country (Studied Japanese) → Vocational School in Japan (2 years) → Employment in Japan
• University in home country (without Japanese class) → Japanese language school in home country → Japanese language school in Japan (1.5 years) → Vocational school (2 years) → Employment in Japan

A Story of an International Student #3: Interacting with Many Japanese People While Studying in Japan

In case of high school graduates (high school in home country)

• High school + Japanese language school (1 year) in home country → Japanese language school in Japan (1.5 years) → University (4 years) → Employment in Japan　
• High school in home country → University in Japan (4 years) → Employment in Japan
  *Studied Japanese for the first time at university. All classes at the university were in Japanese.

A Story of an International Student #1: “Obtained N2 and Directly Entered University”

If You are Planning to Remain and Work after Studying in Japan, Beware of Your Major!

Here are some tips for those who want to work in Japan directly after studying in Japan.

What is the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services (ESI) Status? What are the requirements?

For those who are interested in working full-time in Japan and want to know how they can start working, we would like to introduce the status of residence called Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services (ESI) (generally called “gijinkoku” in Japanese).

[Reference] Check here if you wish to learn more!

Open for Professionals｜Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO)

Job Hunting Guide for International Students | JASSO

Employment Service for foreigners | Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare