Changing from a work to temporary visa in Japan

Hi there,

Yes, if you are currently in Japan under the "Temporary Visitor" visa, then you will be able to use the Japan Rail Pass.

Hope this helps!

Hi Mari,

I am in the exact situation as Althokkaido.

This website is a bit unclear.

I will have a temporary Visitor visa because I will no longer be working and I will no longer have a working visa. So I wouldn't have entered Japan as a Temporary Visitor but I wll be leaving and travelling around as one. If my sister buys an extra pass, can I use it?

Thanks!

Hi Spidey,

As long as your passport has the "Temporary Visitor" stamp in it, you will be fine to use a Japan Rail Pass. Here is an example of the stamp.

In your case, you will need to get such a stamp in your passport once your working visa expires in order to qualify for a Japan Rail Pass.

Hope this helps!

M

Hi,

My boyfriend is currently on a work travel visa in Japan and I am going to meet him at the end of the ski season so we can travel around for three weeks. I understand from what I have read that you have to have a Temp Visitor stamp to be able to use the JR Pass. Is there anyway that he can change his visa from 'work travel' to 'temp visitor' without leaving the country. Surely others would have come across this issue before. Your help and guidance is greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

Bex

Hi there,

I'm afraid Visa issues test the limit of my knowledge! I know anecdotally that people go on holiday to Korea to re-enter under different conditions, but I'm not sure how this would work in your case. The best option is to call the Japanese embassy in your country and ask them directly - as you say, you can't be the first with this sort of question!

Hope this helps!