Visas for Illustrators in Japan

Hello Creatives!

This has been a long awaited post and a big question on many creative's mind when taking the big plunge in moving to Japan.
I used to have another blog where I would post any information I think would help other illustrators and artists navigate the industry here but, the blog has been taken down since *cries*.

In this post I will walk you through all the visa options best suited for you as a creative working in Japan. There are 27 types of visa for Japan. The requirements to obtain these visas and the authorised activities vary for each of them.
After much research, drafting and editing, I've compiled a list of visa categories most helpful for the average artist/ illustrator.

*If there are any updates or anything I've missed please let me know so I can update the information below. Also bare in mind that I'm not a lawyer or an embassy, so please use this as a reference and go to your nearest embassy for more up-to-date information. 

Tourist Visa

  This visa category is mainly for travellers and tourist on a short term stay. Depending on your nationality you can qualify for the 90 day tourist visa which you get stamped into your passport upon arrival into Japan. However, this is limited to certain nationalities for example, USA, EU passport holders and others. But, I know for some, the limited time of stay could only be up to 14 days or even not permitted this visa type at all. So definitely look up the requirements for your passport.

  This Visa is most common for artists doing a short-term artist residency, or if you are doing an event. Note that legally you are not allowed to work or accept any type of Japanese Yen in the country for your work on this type of visa.

Instructor Visa 

This visa is mainly for those you are teaching in government schools or universities. Not to be mistaken with "eikaiwas" which are mainly privately owned English conversational schools. With this visa you can work as a professor teaching an art related subject at a university to even teaching English as an ALT (Assistant Language Teacher) at a Japanese public school.


Please note that on this type of visa you are technically not permitted to engage in paid activities that are outside of teaching. This may not be too much of a problem. But, it might a problem if you are teaching a subject which isn't related to design (i.e. English as a second language) and you take up freelance jobs on the side. This wouldn't be permitted on this visa!
For this same reason, I actually don't advise artists to come to Japan on this visa if they can help it. Unless if you are coming to teach Art or something related.
There are still upsides to this visa since you can see what life is like for working and living in Japan while having a guaranteed salary each month.

Specialist in Humanities Visa

(a.k.a general working visa)

This type of visa is very broad and covers a wide array of different industries including the design and creative industry. To an extent, it works as a catch for types of industries that weren't specifically specified in other visa categories.
Normally to obtain this type of visa you would need to find a local company in Japan to sponsor your visa as well as offer employment. On this visa you are able to work as many jobs on the side unless specified otherwise on your contract. To see if you can qualify for this visa type (and others) you would need to fill out an application for a COE, which stands for Certificate of Eligibility. This basically confirms that you are eligible to live and work in Japan.

Self-Sponsored Working visa

This visa category is the most common amongst illustrators and artists that I've met it Japan. In your passport it would look like the same stamp/sticker you would have gotten for your "Specialist in Humaties" visa that was mentioned earlier. It provides the most flexibility in regards to the type of work you can doing whether it be painting, illustration or web design just to name a few. But, it can be the hardest to get if you have just landed in Japan due to the list of requirements. It's not impossible to obtain but it does require a lot of time and leg work to acquire all the documents needed.
You would need:

• An accumulation of job long-term job contracts (I suggest of up to 1 year, at least).
• Able to make the equivalent or over ¥230,000 (around $2,000 USD) per month, especially if you are planning to stay in the bigger cities like Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto. You might be able to get away with less if you live in the rural areas or further out into the countryside. 
• Recommendation letters from your employers stating in Japanese how good you are of a worker and an asset to them.
• Get your employers to provide you with a "Zaishokushoumeisho"(在職証明書)which is a 'proof of employment' certificate. 
• Bring your Residency Certificate ("Jyuminhyo" 住民票) and copies of your Tax Certificates form your local Ward Office to show you have been a tax-paying law-abiding citizen for the past 2-3 years. 
• Copies of bank statements proving you have at least ¥JPY 500,000 (around $USD 4,600 at the time of writing) in your bank account. 
• Filled out application form for typical work visa extension, with an attached passport photo taken within the last 3 months.
• Copy of your "Zairyou Card" (Foreigner Card), Drivers license (if you have one), and passport.

The process of getting your visa could take months, so please don't leave it until the last minute! You want to leave plenty of time to get your documents in just incase immigration needs more documents from you, and you'll have buffer to get them handed in. I suggest do it at least 2-3 months before your visa expires.

On a side note, you have to let immigration know that you've quit or changed jobs two weeks after you've handed in your notice to your employer. If you fail to do this it could cause problems for you down the road. If you're really running out of time you can apply for a visa extension to show you are still looking for a job (I think at Hello Work?). You'll also need to have some proof that you are actually going to these interviews as they often check.

Artist/Cultural activities Visa

Ah.. the illusive Artist Visa.
From what I've heard, researched and talked about with friends who have had experience in obtaining one. It is one of the most hardest visas to get. Reason being, there are so many hoops you have to jump through in order to get one. It's a really great visa to have once you do get it, as it allows you to earn income through teaching, selling your art, getting involved in different art events/performances and more.

If I could refer you to a page or give you a list of what you need exactly like I did for the 'self-sponsored visa', I would but I can't sadly. If you visit the Japanese immigration website you'll see that all you need to do is to first fill in the Artist COE (Artist Certificate of Eligibility) to see if you qualify along with submitting enough evidence showing the artist activities you intend to do, not forgetting proof of past achievements in your art career. For example, any awards you've won, exhibitions you've had, critical reviews or newspaper articles and/or your resume. The more extensive and detailed as possible, the better.

But, with knowing all of this, it still doesn't guarantee your application will be accepted. As a lot of applications are taken case-by-case. There are a lot "extra" requirements that aren't published on the immigration website and possibly on any other site. A lot of these requirements are very specific to one's career and how much money they are going to make during their time in Japan. You need to be able to prove you can sustain yourself through that 'artistic activity' you are trying to get a visa for.

If you are really dead-set on getting the artist visa, the best thing I can recommend is to hire a visa lawyer that can help you with preparing the right documents if you are able to afford it.

Helpful links to steps of getting an Artist Visa
http://www.japanvisa.com/visas/japan-artist-visa

http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/english/tetuduki/kanri/shyorui/01.html

Link to ArtistCOE http://www.moj.go.jp/content/000103458.pdf

http://www.moj.go.jp/ONLINE/IMMIGRATION/16-1-1.pdf

Spousal/Dependent Visa

Whether you are a spouse of a Japanese national or a Foreign national with a valid work visa, you can qualify for a spouse/Dependent visa. This is great as the only loop hole you'll need to jump through is to actually be legally married. If not, this might take some time and a lot on coffee dates (..or tinder).

Another good point is that you'll be able to work on a spouse visa. For those married to foreign nationals that have a valid work visa in Japan you can qualify for the Dependent Visa. The main constraint on this visa is that you'll only be able to work up to 28 hours per week (around 4-5 hours a day Monday to Friday) with the valid work permit attached. Make sure to fill in the application form for this as it can easily get missed out.

However, if you are married to a Japanese National, you would qualify for the Spouse Visa which doesn't have any time constraints or limitations on however many jobs you can do.

Bare in mind that you'll need to pay income tax, health insurance and residence tax yourself depending on how much you earn. But, it's definitely possible to work as a freelance artist or illustrator on a Spouse/Dependent Visa.

In order to apply, you would have need to have done all the paperwork required for a Dependent/Spouse visa status. After that you'll need to file in a form called the "Eligibility to engage in other activites" such as paid work. Once, everything has been handed in you'll get a stamp on your "Foreigners Card" and you'll now be eligible to work.

Holiday working visa 

For this visa, only certain nationalities (Australia, New Zealand, Canada, U.K. just to name a few) can apply for this visa so double check with your embassy. This visa enables you to engage in employment to support yourself during your travels in Japan during the duration of your visa. Working Holiday Visas are issued according to the conditions agreed upon bilaterally by the governments involved, and so visa conditions may vary slightly because of this.

Many creatives from Holiday Working Visa eligible countries come to Japan on this type of visa first and then switch to a Self-sponsored visa or a generic Working Visa once, they've built a substantial client base or manage to become employed by a company.

To apply for this type of visa you would need to apply at your nearest Japanese embassy or consulate within your home country. The application requirements vary from country to country but generally you would need to provide your passport, a resume, an outline of what you intend to do in Japan and proof you have enough savings to support yourself while in Japan. Make sure you apply for a re-entry permit into Japan if you do intend to leave and return to Japan during the duration of your Holiday Work Visa. You would also need to be under 31 years in order to apply.



So what do you do if you are applying form outside Japan? It kind of turns into the chicken or the egg situation where you need a visa to be in the country but you need to be in the country in order to get the visa. My best advice is to prepare well in advance and to keep trying. You basically have 4 best options:

• Come in through company transfer or sponsorship like a dispatch company for English teaching, or on the JET program. 
• Holiday Working Visa if you are eligible.
• Arrive on a Tourist Visa and apply for jobs the minute you land. (This is a little risky but it's still an option).
• Marry a Japanese National.

Link to all application forms
http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/english/tetuduki/kanri/shyorui/01-format.html


Good Luck!

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