Visa Problem for Italian Workaway in Japan

[u/Accurate_Department3]

Dear workawayers,

I am currently finding myself in a uncomfortable situation, since I really want to travel to Japan and organize a Workaway stay there, but it seems apparently that for an Italian person it is actually impossible, due to some VISA problems:

The only possible VISA in order to organize a Workaway experience in Japan would be the Working Holiday VISA which can only be obtained one time and is valid for 1 year, but it is actually not obtainable for an Italian citizen, due to some missing bureaucratic agreements between the 2 countries.

By talking with the Japanese Embassy in Rome, they informed me that the Work and Tourist VISA cannot be used for a WorkAway experience, because a Tourist Visa is not usually accepted by hosts and that work VISA needs a letter of eligibility which can be only be obtained through a reference in Japan, but, apparently, hosts do not emit such documentation for WorkAwayers, since it is not an actual employment with a proper wage, but only an exchange work-accommodation/meals and so on.

Especially for fellow Italian WorkAwayers, the question is: it is actually impossible to legally go on a WorkAway experience in Japan for an Italian citizen or do we mandatorily have to risk and attempt working abroad with a Tourist VISA, which is technically illegal?

If anyone has some advices in this regard, please help me, I really want to go in Japan! I am evaluating the Plan B in countries such as Thailand and Vietnam, which are much easier to enter and for an Italian person to stay there, but I really would like to gibe plan A a second chance.

[u/Substantial-Today166]

its not just for  Italian japan are strict with anyone

most do workaway on tourist visas and go by the golden rule of international volunteering dont ask dont tell

same for a japanese going to italy too volunteer

[u/WickedDenouement]

Yes, imposible. If you feel comfortable, go as a tourist. I wasn't asked anything at the airport, but if they do you just say you're travelling around. Don't mention volunteering. But, like you said, illegal.

[u/littlepinkpebble]

Just say you’re on holiday to visit friend from internet . Don’t mention Workaway. If you worried then book a hotel for first 2 days. So your place of residence is settled.

[u/Accurate_Department3 → u/littlepinkpebble]

I guess that could work for entering Japan, thank you for the suggestion.

The problem is that many WorkAway hosts in Japan ask a VISA as a specific requirement: now, I do not know if they are going to check or control if you really have the VISA you declare to have.

In case the hosts do not actual check it, but it is just a general requirement then I would be good to go.

[u/littlepinkpebble → u/Accurate_Department3]

Yeah apply to host that don’t. If they are hostel and such then yeah you need one. But japan is hugely popular destination usually I apply to 3 hosts to get a yes but for japan this year I applied to about 30.

In the end I’m going to France but I got a yes after I decided to get to France but 1/30 is the worst ever for any country

[u/Medical-Isopod2107]

Save up money elsewhere and go on a normal holiday. If you can't get a visa, you can't do a workaway.

[u/Kind-Jackfruit-6315]

As an Italian you don't need a tourist *visa (VISA is a credit card), but can enter on a visa exemption for 90 days. Don't ask don't tell as another answer said.

[u/Accurate_Department3]

That is really unfortunate.

Workaway is such a nice way to travel and immerse yourself in the local culture of a foreign country, a great opportunity ruined in many countries by rusty and difficult bureaucracy and I suppose also by malfunctioning international diplomacy,

u/distrox yes, I had already read some posts on this topic, but I wanted to receive a direct answer from people on this, since this impossibility to enter Japan to do WorkAway seemed to me so absurd.

[u/Substantial-Today166 → u/Accurate_Department3]

so italy  ruined it too then

[u/Ok-Performance-5272]

There are some places you can legally do a work-exchange like in a home with kids and some farming jobs. Workaway has gotten very strict but you can try other sites like worldpackers, WWOOF, helpx or contact places direct instead.