Another "I want to teach Japanese" topic

What country is he from? If he is from Australia, UK, Ireland, Canada, New Zealand, France, Germany, or Korea he might qualify for a working holiday visa, which does not require a degree. Otherwise, he will need a degree or 3 years of teaching experience to get a work visa.

If he can't do any of those, you have other options, but pretty limited in scope.
1) he can enroll in a school himself as a FT student, get a student visa, then with special permission work PT.
2) he can find a master craftsman (martial arts, pottery, swordmaking, etc.) and get a cultural visa, and with special permission, do the same
3) you two can get married, so if you get a work visa, he can get a dependent visa, and with special permission work PT.

Barring any of those, he is out of luck.

Awesome,

Yeh Were Aussie so I know he can get a WHV, but will most companies take him on a WHV with no University? I always understood that you needed the degree, suits me if you dont.

Thanks Heaps I'll put # 3 to him, see what he thinks ;)

Yes, you can work without a degree with a WHV.

Ruth

you want to teach japanese in japan???

marti makes a good comment here. I assumed that was a typo and that you were planning to join the hordes of foreigners who want to teach English.

Yes, places will hire WHV holders without university, but be prepared for a lot of "no, thank you" responses. Some places will want at least a year or 2 of university under your belt.

The degree is needed for immigration purposes in order to get a work visa, and even that can by bypassed if one has 3 or more years of teaching experience.

Man, I'm such an idiot! I meant "English" (head - desk!) I want to do the stereotypicall thing and he's decided he might like to come. (this puts a spanner in my plans to try for JET) He has no real work experience (he does have a job but its not anything special)

Thanks for the info it makes things appear to be a little more realistic, I was sure that you had to have uni.

Thanks again,
Lyndy

Speaking as a former JET and an alumni who has helped conduct JET interviews in the past, I don't see why you can't apply for JET. What I would recommend (and please don't quote me on this because it worked in the US and may not in Aus): Don't mention him in your application, but in the interview say that you have just gotten engaged and plan to marry in a year or two and that he plans to live with you in Japan. I have interviewed plenty of JETs with this story. We always judge the candidate solely on his or her merits. The fiancee part only matters on the Tokyo end when they will match you with a school or board of education that has to find housing for 2. Mention that he plans to get a WHV, and if you really want to work the system, say that he wants to work in something very Japanese (sushi chef?, some kind of craft? it might sound fishy if it's just teaching English).

I had a friend whose fiancee was writing a novel while here, with only a tourist visa. He just flew to Korea when necessary. I'm definitely not advocating this, but it does happen.

Anyway, I wouldn't cross out JET because of your circumstances.

mcmorraininjapan,
Not a bad idea, but a little complicated and no guarantee of anything. Besides, JET applications take a long time, so for next year, if she got on, she wouldn't even be starting her JET ALT stint until exactly 12 months from now. Don't know if they can wait that long, but it's something to consider.

As for popping in and out of the country, yes, you can do that on a tourist visa, but do it often enough or without good cause and funding to return here, and immigration will put you back on the plane home. Working holiday visa holders, I think, cannot even leave the country and return. Check on that one, folks.

"Working holiday visa holders, I think, cannot even leave the country and return. Check on that one, folks."

They can, but only if you obtain a re-entry permit beforehand.