 放大圖片
■香港青年由今年1月起可申請工作假期簽證到日本。圖為日本東京市澀谷購物區。資料圖片
香港自01年起推出工作假期簽證計劃，申請者可以旅遊及工作兼顧方式，逗留最長一年。日本今年起引入相關制度，並分1月及5月接受申請，每期發出125個簽證。簽證的首期申請為本月13至22日。任何年齡介乎18至30歲的香港居民，只要有逾兩萬港元及沒有犯罪記錄，便可申請。日本駐港領事館指出，高峰期曾每天接到數十個電話查詢，預料反應踴躍，但強調未能保證每名參加者均能成功在日本找得工作。
日本工作假期簽證計劃目的，是為讓香港與當地青少年，能有體驗彼此文化及日常生活方式的機會。獲發簽證者可於最長一年內，在日本進行度假活動及工作。日本駐港領事館總務部長高田真里強調，工作並非計劃目的，只被認可為度假的附帶活動；獲發簽證者不可在酒吧、夜總會等風月場所或經營包含風化性質等特殊營業的場所工作。
計劃申請者須持有特區護照或英國國民海外護照(BNO)；過去未曾取得日本工作假期簽證；身體健康及沒有犯罪記錄；須有足夠生活費用(港幣16,000元)並持有返回香港的機票，或足以購買回程機票的款項(港幣6,000元)。成功獲批者，必須在辦證前已購買足夠的海外旅行保險，並在獲發簽證的3個月內起行。在日本逗留期間，如想暫時離境再返日本，必須在當地的入國管理局取得「再入國許可」。
Japan Working Holiday Visa Applicants Should Have HK$20,000 Living Fees
Hong Kong has implemented since 2001 the working holiday visa programme which allows successful applicants the right to travel and work in Hong Kong for a maximum of one year. This year, Japan has also introduced a similar system and has started to receive applications in two stages respectively in January and May. In each stage, a total of 125 working holiday visas will be issued. The first stage runs from 13 to 22 January. Any Hong Kong resident aged between 18 and 30, possessing over HK$20,000 and without criminal record may apply. The Consulate-General of Japan in Hong Kong said that they received dozens of telephone enquiries each day during the peak period. The consulate expects an enthusiastic response to the scheme but stresses the fact that there is no guarantee for every participant to be able to find a job in Japan.
The purpose of the Japanese working holiday visa scheme is to foster exchanges between youngsters in Hong Kong and Japan by providing chances for them to understand each others' culture and way of living. Successful applicants may stay in Japan for a maximum of one year for holiday or work. As stressed by Consul Mari Takada, Director of policy planning and administration division, working in Japan is not the main objective of the scheme; work should only be recognized as a fringe activity of taking a holiday in the country. These visa holders are not allowed to work in adult entertainment venues such as bars and nightclubs or in special places that operate business of an indecent nature.
Those who are planning to apply for a Japanese working holiday visa should be HKSAR or BNO passport holders who have never been granted one of the same type of visa before. They should be in a healthy condition and do not have a criminal record. In addition, they must have sufficient living expenditure(HK$16,000)and an air ticket for returning to Hong Kong or a fund enough to buy an air ticket back to Hong Kong(HK$6,000). Applicants should have purchased an adequately covered overseas traveling insurance before they file their applications and must depart for Japan within 3 months upon obtaining the visa. During their stay in Japan, should they wish to leave the country temporarily and return later, they must obtain a re-entry permit from the immigration bureau in the locality where they stay. ■Translation by開明
|
放大圖片
