I dont have a degree, can i still work in Japan

[Exidez]

Let me give you a little background first
I had lived in Japan for a year as a Rotary Youth Exchange Student and had attended a Japanese technical high school in Japan for that whole year.

After the exchange i had completed a two year Diploma in Laboratory Technology (in my home country) which landed me a job with the Australia Government Research Oranization, CSIRO.

I have always been intrigued by Japan and my interesting in working in Japan is just getting bigger.
Is there a program that enables me to teach English in Japan without the need of a Degree? I have a Diploma but that isn't good enough for the nova and jet programs is it?
Or better yet, am i able to land a job in the same field that i am in now?

All information will be helpful.
Thanks.

 

[Ewok85]

Immigration is the one who decides that, and they tend to say that a degree is required for teaching

 

[Mike Cash]

He is probably eligible for a Working Holiday Visa, on which he is permitted to teach.

The likelihood of getting a lab tech job is not good.

 

[Homerduff]

what's the difference between a diploma and a degree ?

 

[Exidez]

well, here in Australia a Diploma is usually only a 2 year course and is done in a specialized school. A Degree is usually four and is done at a university.
So A Diploma is in the middle of a high school graduate and a university graduate.

 

[Homerduff]

I see. So degrees are like being bachelor or master in something right..

 

[ArmandV]

A Bachelor In Arts or a Bachelor Of Science is generally what they're looking for.

 

[sawman2008]

I was employed at Geos with a Diploma. As long as it is a 3yr diploma you should be fine. They wont usually check the length of study any way.

 

[Glenski]

Please read the FAQs. This has been answered there (by me).

No, you do not need a degree to work here. It is the most common way, of course, but you don't need a degree for the following situations:

1) student visa. With special permission, you can work part-time.
2) cultural visa. With special permission, you can work part-time.
3) working holiday visa. No sponsor needed. Aussies can get this for 18 months.
4) dependent visa. With special permission, you can work part-time. You must be married to a non-Japanese who has a proper visa.
5) spouse visa. No sponsor needed, other than your Japanese spouse.
6) regular work visa. SURPRISE! Yes, you can get this with no degree whatsoever, but you must prove a certain number of years of related work experience. 3 years for teaching. An employer is needed to sponsor the visa.

 

[Ewok85]

Please read the FAQs. This has been answered there (by me).
No, you do not need a degree to work here. It is the most common way, of course, but you don't need a degree for the following situations:
1) student visa. With special permission, you can work part-time.
2) cultural visa. With special permission, you can work part-time.
3) working holiday visa. No sponsor needed. Aussies can get this for 18 months.
4) dependent visa. With special permission, you can work part-time. You must be married to a non-Japanese who has a proper visa.
5) spouse visa. No sponsor needed, other than your Japanese spouse.
6) regular work visa. SURPRISE! Yes, you can get this with no degree whatsoever, but you must prove a certain number of years of related work experience. 3 years for teaching. An employer is needed to sponsor the visa.

Vaaaague.
1 is OK

2) Is very rare for anyone to get this, I wouldn't count on it unless you have already spent time here. The cases I have seen are people who have been working here for some time, and gained an interest in something (workmanship, arts/dance/theater, etc) and changed to the cultural visa since they no longer are "working".

3 is OK

4 and 5 have their obvious problems.

6) Degree or equivalent. A 3 year diploma would suffice, a 2 year would not. Work experience for teaching is 3 years, for some others it can be up to 10 years.

 

[Glenski]

Ewok,
My reply is not vague. Just because there are a multitude of visas or visa situations that permit work, why is this vague? What each person wants is up to them and their qualifications.

Yes, you have to be married to certain people for some visas. That doesn't mean you need a degree, though.

As for cultural visas, it doesn't matter whether 1 or 10,000 people per year try to get them. They are available. Period.

And, since Exidez inquired about teaching positions, I didn't feel it necessary to mention how much experience is needed for a work visa other than 3 years. You are right in saying it can require 5 or 10 years, but not for what Exidez is interested in.

 

[Ewok85]

When talking about visas all the information is available on the Mofa site, its not complex but its not short. Theres no such thing as a "regular work visa", [for teaching] there's an Instructor or Specialist in Humanities, which have slightly different requirements. He wants to move to a foreign country and work, its the fine details where you win or lose.

As for cultural visas, you are right, but I'd be interested in the numbers. I'll have a look when I get home