Hi everyone,

I'm currently studying a BE in Mechatronics Engineering at university, a 4 year degree. My grandmother was a Japanese citizen until she came here to Australia ~50 years ago, however, I appear 95% white/Caucasian. I've been told that it'll be easier for me to get a visa (and a longer one at that) because of my relation, however, I'm not quite sure how that works. How hard would it be for me to get a working visa once I've got my degree?

Although I know I should probably ask this in the Employment forum, I may as well ask here too - is the discrimination in Japan really that bad, or if I have a perfect understanding of Japanese and have an engineering degree, would getting a decent engineering job in a Japanese firm be an achievable goal? I would definitely like the opportunity to move into management, too, but it's understandable if that's a little too ambitious.

As you would have seen in other threads.. Japan will only give you a visa for a job that Japanese people can't do as well as you can...
If you can find an engineering company that wants to employ you, you can probably get a visa..
Try the employment sites (ads on this page sometimes) to get an idea of what work is possible..

I don't think your grandmother's status will make any difference

Hmm, I was just looking into it then and apparently grandchildren are eligible for Long Term Resident visas (as long as my relatives in Japan are willing to sponsor me), and this will allow me to work just like a Japanese citizen. Thanks anyway.

Another quick question about visas in general that I haven't been able to find an answer to, the long term residency visa is 3 years in length but permanent residency (should I desire it) requires me to stay 5 years in Japan. Is it possible to renew a visa internally as long as you're eligible, or would I have to leave?

You can apply to have it extended within 60days of it expiring.

Are you sure about the 5 years for PR?

It was 7 years required but there has been talk of them wanting 10..

And...
Your grandmother lives in Australia????
Still a Japanese citizen after 50 years??
I think you will find the sponsor must be Japanese and must live in Japan......

Ah, thank you, that's certainly good news as I've heard some countries don't allow that.

PR is 10 years but holders of LT residency (should I truly be eligible) require only 5. I'm too lazy to pull up the link that told me so, and it seems that it's not too important if it's incorrect as long as I behave myself.

My grandmother lives here in Australia, but as by item 4 here: http://www.sakura-iloe.com/shikaku/longTermResident2.html (unless it's outdated or false) she's still considered Japanese for the purposes of the visa even if she's no longer a citizen.

You are quite correct regarding the sponsor, but it is possible (not certain) that either my grandmother's brother or her nephews and nieces could help me seeing as I've visited them a few times and I'd only ask with a decent bit of money in the bank.

Thanks for pointing out the POSSIBLE flaws in my assumption, you were right in doing so as I could have been caught in a sticky situation.

i am an mma fighter in brazil,if a japanese company decides to sponser me,(i would send a video of my fights etc.)would i be approved for a working visa? if so,how long is tha visa for?Thank you.