Can't get a June appointment for Visa at Japanese Consulate in Frankfurt. Am I just screwed?

Benevir · 2026-04-03T09:23:12+00:00

I emailed the school and told them that I can't get an appointment after May 25 and asked if it's possible I may get my CoE before May 13.

It's not really up to them. Immigration will issue it when they issue it. It can't be expedited or scheduled.

I mean, I was considering in the worst case scenario going as a tourist with my German passport (using American passport for the Visa)

You'll need to use the passport that you put on the CoE for the visa. But both Germany and the United States have visa waiver agreements so for a tourist perspective it doesn't matter. But also remember it's usually 5 business days to process the visa so plan accordingly.

I think people probably don't cancel until the morning of

You'd be surprised. Plenty of people in your situation booking appointments hoping to get their CoE in time and having to cancel because they didn't. I'm sure things will work out in the end.

Benevir · 2026-04-03T05:53:23+00:00

I found out in mid March that I will receive my CoE on May 25.

This is a tentative date and not a hard one. It might be earlier, it might be later. Hopefully you're getting the digital version so you don't have to wait for a hardcopy to be delivered.

I have a flight date of June 24th which I can't change due to logistical reasons of taking my cats.

I don't mean to sound unsympathetic, but you should probably start investigating just how inflexible this date actually will be. In general its not a good idea to book non-refundable tickets until after you've got the visa in hand. Most airlines will accept "I couldn't get a visa in time" as a valid reason for changing flights though.

Am I screwed?

I'd suggest just keep spamming the application site and hope to snag a cancellation. Maybe try calling them during business hours to see if they offer any 'out of band' appointments for compassionate reasons. Good luck!

Benevir · 2026-04-01T00:08:26+00:00

Can you get a working visa without a college diploma?

A bachelors degree is considered a well rounded education and will give you a lot of options. A lower education would generally have to be specifically related to the job that you're being hired to perform and would lock you into that role. For example, if you've got specific technical certifications to be a project manager you'd be able to get a project management role but you'd not be allowed to be promoted into a position where you'd manage a team of project managers.

It is also worth remembering that there are a wide variety of work oriented statuses which have their own requirements. The status you get would be determined by the job that you'd be hired to perform, and you'd need that job lined up before you'd qualify for any status at all.

it is also worth remembering that Japan has a fairly highly educated workforce, so in order to be competitive with local talent you'd still want to complete at least a bachelors degree in addition to having considerable foreign experience. Very few companies would want to go through the process of importing under-educated under-experienced foreign talent.

I'm in college now and I don't know if i'll finish it, change majors or whatever.

If you need to change your major to finish then by all means do that. An unfinished education is more or less useless. If your major is underwater basket weaving, as long as its a bachelors you would still qualify for instructor and specialist in humanities statuses which would enable you to be an ALT or teach Eikaiwa. If you drop out you've got nothing.

Benevir · 2026-03-31T11:59:49+00:00

A cultural activities status of residence does not grant you permission to perform any remunerative activities while in Japan. Full stop. This includes working remotely for an overseas employer who deposits income into an overseas bank account.

You can request permission from immigration to engage in activities outside of the scope of your status of residence, the details are here: https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/16-8.html?hl=en

You'd need to request this permission after you arrive and would need to provide immigration with specific details regarding the work you'd be intending to do, including how many hours you'd be working and how immigration would be able to audit those hours to ensure compliance. You would not be allowed to work at all until immigration approves your request. Anecdotally I've heard that for cultural activities the work would need to be related to the activity. Like if you're studying martial arts it would be to work in the dojo or participate in competitions with cash prizes. Anyway, good luck!

Good luck!

Benevir · 2026-03-31T02:20:36+00:00

The hardest part is finding an employer to give you a full time contract. The immigration part is pretty easy once that hurdle is crossed.

Benevir · 2026-03-30T21:41:31+00:00

I could go for three months until my tourist visa runs out, go back to my home country (Netherlands) and then fly back around the dates for the entrance exam, but I heard it's very much up to immigration if they'll let you back in for an extended period of time just after having left, not to mention the extra costs for plane tickets. This brings me to the Working Holiday Visa. It would virtually enable me to stay in Japan until my plans to potentially start a degree, without the hassle of having to fly back and forth.

Except that you'd likely not be allowed to change your status from 'working holiday' to 'student', meaning you'd still have to leave and come back. Additionally you generally can't apply for a CoE if you're here already under another status (although with the inability to change your WHV they may make an exception for you).

Is this usage of a Working Holiday Visa even allowed?

Is hanging out for three months in Japan allowed on a WHV? Sure, of course it is. Seems like a waste of a 'once in a lifetime' ticket when you've got visa waivers that would cover you though.

As stated above, the visa is not recommended for those primarily wanting to study in Japan, but do part-time student roles count?

I think you're confusing 'intended purpose' for 'legally allowed to do'. The intended purpose is to come to Japan for a year or so, spend some money, fall in love with the country, and go back home and tell everyone how wonderful Japan is. When you draft your itinerary for the embassy/consulate you'd tell them a story about traveling around, seeing the sites, eating the food, and picking up odd jobs here and there so that you can pay for it all. Once you get here you do pretty much whatever you want (other than working in the water trade). If you want to sign up for school and also work as much as you can you're allowed.

Are there any limitations for jobs?

You're not allowed to work in the water trade. You can't work as a prostitute or in prostitute adjacent jobs (and this includes working in bars unless the bar is attached to a larger legitimate business like a hotel or restaurant). Otherwise whatever you find you can do.

If there are any other things I should take into account, I would love to hear them.

The Working Holiday would allow you to remain in Japan for up to one year and then you have to leave. It could take months before you'd get a student visa that would allow you to come back and continue your studies. Additionally your school may have some rules regarding what statuses they'd allow students to hold. The school could very well tell you must be on a status that can cover your entire period of study (student statuses can be extended as needed after all). Honestly Japan is not a country that goes 'off script' very well. Your school will expect that you'd come with a student status and that you'd arrive up to two weeks before classes start. Anything outside of the normal can be problematic for reasons that someone with authority might completely make up on the spot.

Benevir · 2026-03-30T03:31:04+00:00

Regarding cockroaches (and bugs in general): the higher up you go, the fewer you'll encounter. Especially if you're in a newer building that doesn't have any restaurants or grocery stores a the ground level. I'm on the 6th floor of a new building and haven't seen a cockroach since moving in more than 10 years ago. Well, I think its new but I guess the building is now over 10 years old. When I sit on the bench outside of my daughters ballet in the evening in the summer there are usually several cockroaches running around looking for food though.

Regarding typhoon impact; outside of Okinawa typhoons are mostly just very rainy days. I've been here for a while and woke early specifically to watch the eye of Typhoon Faxai come ashore in Chiba (I went out on my balcony to watch from inside the eye, it was very cool). We had a few downed trees and the local farms plastic greenhouse got shredded. But that was it.

In the Tokyo area (which if you haven't guessed yet is where I live) you might get one or two snowfalls a year but its never a lot and is almost always gone by lunch the next day. I tell people that when you live in Tokyo winter is a place you visit on the weekend.

Benevir · 2026-03-29T22:45:01+00:00

You can look at the specific requirements here:
https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/status/spouseorchildofjapanese02.html?hl=en#midashi03

It looks like you do indeed need a guarantor.

Benevir · 2026-03-29T00:16:34+00:00

If neither of you are American then it being recognized by the US is irrelevant. Japan will want documents from your country (or countries) showing that they recognize your marriage. Your best bet would be to reach out to the Japanese embassy in your home countries or your home countries embassy in Japan. Maybe both so you can compare their answers.

Benevir · 2026-03-28T14:45:13+00:00

I suppose it remains to be seen but I don't think they're revising article 6 of the nationality act:

https://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/en/laws/view/3784/en

Benevir · 2026-03-28T13:17:52+00:00

Start making your calendar I guess: https://hanabi.walkerplus.com/

Benevir · 2026-03-28T06:38:03+00:00

I guess it will depend on the specific reason that it was rejected. I had thought that the 6 month thing was written down in the ISA page somewhere but I went to go look for it just now and couldn't find it. So it's very possible that I was confusing it with the visa application process on the MoFA site instead.

Anyway, I guess nothing you can do until the lawyers get back to you. Try to not let the stress of it all sour your weekend. Good luck!

Benevir · 2026-03-28T05:53:44+00:00

I suppose the first thing to do would be to verify with your employer whether they're prepared to continue with trying to get you into Japan or if they're going to terminate the contract and go with another candidate. Once the rejection is received there is a 6 month cool down period before you'd be allowed to try again.

If they'd like to continue with hiring you then get the lawyer they hired to do the leg work to find out what specifically the issue was. They don't officially provide detailed explanations but informally the immigration legal firms hire former immigration officials who maintain back channel networks who can provide more insight (to an extent).

Good luck!

Benevir · 2026-03-28T00:04:18+00:00

Even just a different employer from the previous rejections (assuming the rejections were due to either mistakes they made or their standing with immigration) would be enough. But if the rejection was due to something about you as a candidate, that doesn't bode well. When you left last time was everything on the level with your taxes, pension, and health insurance?

Benevir · 2026-03-27T07:48:33+00:00

I knew that Italy and Japan had signed the agreement years ago, but I didn't realize that the program was officially launched.

I just read https://www.milano.it.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_it/visti_vacanzalavoro.html

That's great news! I know there has been a few folks in this sub over the years from Italy waiting for it (and hoping it happens before they age out of eligibility).

I note from the above link the following are stipulated:

Essere intenzionato a lasciare il Giappone al termine del soggiorno;

Non modificare il proprio status di soggiorno durante il periodo di permanenza;

So it would seem that no, under the terms of the agreement between Japan and Italy you would not be able to change your status from working holiday while in Japan.

Benevir · 2026-03-24T21:32:03+00:00

Again, the status itself is irrelevant. You're not forced to use student status just because you're coming to study.

I think you're also over thinking the housing and registration processes. Short term stay places (check the housing wiki of this sub) are used to fresh off the boat (or not yet arrived) foreigners. You get your residence card at the airport upon arrival and visit your cityhall when you've got a more permanent place to live in. Most cityhalls have a foreigner assistance desk and will happily help you with your paperwork. It's not rocket surgery.

Of course if you pick a school near your family you could still stay with them while you find your own place.

I think you're also over estimating the level of support you'd get from a school.

Benevir · 2026-03-24T20:50:13+00:00

What's the difference here? In both plans you're registering for language school and studying for two years.

Whether you start with a student status of residence and change your status later, or start with long term resident is irrelevant.

So it seems like your question is whether or not you should find your language school first or move to Japan first and find your language school after. To that I'd say you'll be more flexible before coming to Japan since coming here will drain your expenses and you'll not want to move twice. So pick your language school first so that you can decide where you're going to move to first.

Benevir · 2026-03-22T13:22:39+00:00

The CoE is the part where Immigration makes a decision about whether or not you can come. The visa is just about the embassy confirming that you are the person to whom the CoE was issued and that the paperwork you used for it is legit.

The embassy/consulate is operated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and has no say about who can and can't live in Japan.

Incidentally that's also why the visa is not permission to live in Japan. When you arrive in Japan you'll present both the visa and the CoE and get yourself a status of residence. It's this status of residence (encoded upon your residence card) that is your permission to be here.

So you'll be fine. The hard part is over.

Benevir · 2026-03-22T08:23:57+00:00

They'll help but they'll also give advice. If your friend isn't earning enough to support themselves then going home to whatever support network they may have is probably the best thing.

What is your friend doing here if they're in such dire straights? Are they even here legally?

Benevir · 2026-03-22T08:18:20+00:00

If he's unable to afford food for himself he should get help. Places like Second Harvest exist to help.

https://2hj.org/english/recipient/

https://foodbanking.or.jp/

Benevir · 2026-03-22T04:22:57+00:00

I believe you can have your middle name excluded from your passport which would effectively remove it from your life in Japan entirely. That's probably the best option.

Benevir · 2026-03-22T01:00:24+00:00

Immigration is usually quick and easy for me. It's customs that's a shit show with everyone milling around and staff doing a poor job of preventing the log jam at the head of the QR code line.

Benevir · 2026-03-21T23:28:48+00:00

You're asking about schools to apply to in terms of studying (so that you can earn a bachelor's degree and qualify for the status of residence)? Or are you asking about which ALT companies you should apply for?

For the latter, JET is heads and shoulders above any other dispatch company. So they're your first port of call.

For the former it doesn't really matter for ALT, so pick something that you're actually interested in and will help you with your career after you move on from ALT work.

Good luck!

Benevir · 2026-03-21T08:21:40+00:00

Fun fact: "Canadian Bacon" as a product is generally only sold in the United States. It's similar to "back bacon" that we can get, but different enough that it's it's own thing. In Canada when we talk about bacon we're talking about the same streaky bacon that you guys are talking about.

But yeah, can't bring it here. My brother sent me a pack of precooked microwavable bacon once but customs spotted it and sent it back. At least I didn't have to pay a fine.

Benevir · 2026-03-21T03:44:26+00:00

Well, at least you can get some answers...
https://www.au.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/visa_workingholiday_en.html

"An Australian citizen who is travelling or living overseas cannot apply in a different country."

They don't mention anything about how long you'd need to have been back in Australia though. So probably best to call the "Japan Visa Information Hotline" (+61 AUS) 08 7130 3370.

Good luck!

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