Work Permit For Japanese Translator In Thailand

Hi there,

I have a question about obtaining a work permit through a Japanese language qualification.

In May this year I got a job as a Japanese translator in Thailand. I have no university degree and less than a year's experience translating, but I have a level 2 certificate for the JLPT (a Japanese language exam called Japanese Language Proficiency Test).

Once I'd got the job I went to get my non-immigrant, came back and handed in the paperwork for my work permit application. Last week the company lawyer called and told me that I have neither the adequate experience nor qualifications to obtain a work visa. He said I needed a degree, and in addition the JLPT was the wrong kind of qualification.

I can't argue with the degree and experience, but the JLPT is the most widely known Japanese language qualification of all, usually requested on advertisements for work of this kind in Thailand or anywhere. (It may turn out that my level isn't high enough, but that wasn't his complaint)

After this happened, I started wondering why he hadn't recognised the certificate. It then occurred to me that with most Japanese translators in Thailand being either Thai or Japanese – the Thais obviously not requiring a work permit and a native Japanese not requiring this language certificate – it's possible that neither the lawyer nor immigration have ever come across one before. Which is worrying …

So in a nutshell I'm writing to ask if anyone out there has ever obtained a work permit with just a JLPT level 2?

Many thanks, Spencer