Working for a US company while living in Japan and telecommuting

[Tim0thy]

I currently work a full time job as a Web/Mobile app developer in the US. All of my work is done via telecommute so I believe I would be perfectly capable of continuing to work the same job from Japan. As of right now either my wife or myself will be getting a student visa to study at a language school (we may both do it if we can make it work). Does anyone know if the US or Japan have any rules or regulations that would prevent me from being able to do this?

I do plan on trying to get a job in Japan once I feel more comfortable with the language itself. Everything I've read suggests it is much easier to get a job there once you live in Japan and have some knowledge of the language.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Mike Cash]

Same reply as in the other thread. Are you going to be eligible for a visa? If your plan is to telecommute for an overseas employer, you probably will not be. If you plan to work for a Japanese employer, you will need a college degree or ten years work experience In your field (as a general thing). Qualifications vary according to visa status. Japan is a country whose immigration policy is based on fulfilling the needs of Japanese companies and not on satisfying the whims of people who would like to just pick up and move here for their own personal reasons.

 

[Tim0thy]

As stated in the original post: I would be obtaining either a student visa or a spouse visa while either my wife or myself are attending school. During the duration of which I would like to find employment in Japan.

 

[Mike Cash]

Trust me; I got that. Did you understand what I said in my post?

 

[Tim0thy]

Yes sorry, do you have any knowledge as to if working in this manner would be an issue? I haven't heard or seen anything to suggest it would be a problem.

 

[Mike Cash]

If you find a Japanese employer to sponsor you for a visa, no problem.

If you plan to work for a company outside Japan (telecommuting) while just residing in Japan....I have my doubts about that. I can't imagine what category of visa you could get for that. Maybe if your wife was employed by a Japanese company you could piggyback on a spouse visa and continue working as you are now. As I said, Japanese immigration policy is designed to fulfill the needs of Japanese industry. If you're just working for an overseas company, there is no need or practical benefit to Japan for you to be physically present in Japan.

 

[Tim0thy]

Well, either my wife or I (possibly both) would actually be in the country on a student visa. Really I guess my question should be rephrased. I only really plan to work this job until I'm nearly finished with language school. At which point I would be applying for jobs in Japan in order to obtain a proper work visa. So I guess what I'm asking is if this would be okay while I'm attending language school.

 

[Mike Cash]

Shouldn't be a problem.

 

[Glenski]

If your wife is Japanese, you could get a spouse visa.
If she's not, then you would seek a dependent visa (if she's the one who gets the student visa, that is).
If you are the one with the student visa, she can be on a dependent visa (or if I understood you, she may also get a student visa).

In any of those situations, telecommuting is possible. In fact, I suspect people who are merely visitors here do some telecommuting, and they don't have any visa!

 

[Petaris]

Something to keep in mind about telecommuting from Japan is that you will either have to work the night shift in the US or the night shift in Japan.

 

[Tim0thy]

Something to keep in mind about telecommuting from Japan is that you will either have to work the night shift in the US or the night shift in Japan.

This shouldn't be a problem as most of my work is task oriented and it doesn't require a bunch of back and forth communication.

 

[Majestic]

Watch out for the tax implications of working for overseas clients and getting paid overseas while living in Japan. You will be considered a resident for tax purposes if you are in Japan over a year. Your income with then be subject to Japanese income tax treatment depending on where you get paid, or how much you remit to Japan.

See the income tax guide (page 5) for more info.
国税庁ホームページリニューアルのお知らせ｜国税庁

Regarding your visa, if I'm not mistaken I think you might not be able to work in Japan on a student visa unless you have your school's permission. But this is a minor problem compared to the tax situation, I think.

 

[Tim0thy]

Watch out for the tax implications of working for overseas clients and getting paid overseas while living in Japan. You will be considered a resident for tax purposes if you are in Japan over a year. Your income with then be subject to Japanese income tax treatment depending on where you get paid, or how much you remit to Japan.
See the income tax guide (page 5) for more info.
国税庁ホームページリニューアルのお知らせ｜国税庁
Regarding your visa, if I'm not mistaken I think you might not be able to work in Japan on a student visa unless you have your school's permission. But this is a minor problem compared to the tax situation, I think.

What I've seen has appeared to state that you are only responsible for paying income tax on earnings, from companies overseas, that occur after the 5 year mark. Anyone know the answer to this for certain?

As for the visa, there is a requirement which restricts students to 28 hours of work within Japan. The law does not include work that occurs outside of Japan itself. At least this is what I have seen and what the folks at gogonihon.com told me.

I would like to contact something more official in order to know for certain what the answers to these two questions are. What would be the appropriate place to ask such questions? Perhaps the Japanese Embassy?

 

[Majestic]

The answer for certain, old son, is in the official tax guide I linked to (page 3 - not page 5). The tax guide is produced by the National Tax Agency (NTA), and is updated every year. Five years marks the distinction between permanent and non-permanent resident. But even non-permanent residents are subject to income tax. The key phrase is

"Among residents, any individual of non Japanese nationality having domicile or residence in Japan for an aggregate period of five years or less within the last ten years is classified as a non-permanent resident . Non-permanent residents are obliged to pay income tax and special income tax for reconstruction with respect to any income which has its sources in Japan, any income which has its sources abroad and is paid in this country and remitted from abroad."

Its a fairly unambiguous policy. Depending upon how much you earn, your tax liability in Japan may be very low, and possibly may even be zero, as there are some hefty deductions in Japan.

The embassy may be able to help you, but my guess is that they will point you to the same guide that I pointed you to. Its a pretty useful thing.

 

[Tim0thy]

Ill have to look more thoroughly through that document. I'm horrible with tax lingo so that's not going to be fun.... I really don't mind having to pay Japanese income tax on what I make from the states. I just want to make sure that doesn't get me kicked out of the country because I'm on a student visa.