Japan's 70-hour work culture is world-famous. Canada's 37.5-hour standard week is equally real.
Japan average overtime: 80+ hours/month, with mandatory 'service overtime' in many companies. Canada: 37.5-hour work week, statutory overtime pay, and 10 public holidays. Both countries have excellent food scenes. Only one of them has ski powder.
Over 5,000 Japanese nationals hold Canadian work permits. The number grows every year.
Why Canada. For Japan.
Three things that change when you get here.
A work week that ends on Friday
Canada's standard work week is 37.5 to 40 hours. Overtime is paid by law. Employees take their full vacation entitlement without social pressure. For many Japanese professionals arriving in Montreal, the first few months feel like a permanent holiday while earning a full salary.
English skills become a career advantage
In Montreal's tech, finance, and international business sectors, English fluency is a genuine competitive advantage. Japanese professionals with strong English skills move quickly into well-paid roles. Your bilingual background - Japanese and English - is valued in companies with Asia-Pacific operations.
A PR pathway based on merit, not connections
Canada's Express Entry system scores your profile on age, education, language, and work experience. Japan's seniority-based promotion system does not transfer here - what transfers is your skill set. Most Japanese professionals with Canadian work experience receive PR invitations within 2 to 3 years.
The roadmap
Working Holiday to Permanent Residency.
3 to 4 years. Realistic. Proven.
The IEC is not a gap year. It is the first chapter of a permanent life in Canada. Every step below builds directly on the last.
IEC Working Holiday permit
Open work permit for 24 months. Eligible for Japan nationals aged 18-35. Work for any employer, anywhere in Canada. No job offer needed.
We prepare and verify your application. Most clients receive their permit within 4 to 8 weeks of the invitation.
Arrive, settle, and work in your field
Montreal gives you a bilingual city with a lower cost of living. Toronto gives you sheer volume of English-speaking roles. Both work. You build Canadian experience in your profession from day one.
We advise on neighbourhoods, healthcare cover (RAMQ), and professional licensing where applicable.
12 months of skilled Canadian work experience
After 12 months in a skilled occupation (NOC TEER 0 to 3), you are eligible for the Canadian Experience Class. This is the Express Entry stream with the shortest processing time.
English speakers receive CRS bonus points. Bilingual English-French speakers receive significantly more.
Express Entry pool · Invitation to Apply
IRCC runs draws from the pool every two weeks. Once invited, you have 60 days to submit your full permanent residency application.
Average ITA-to-decision: 6 months. You remain in Canada and keep working throughout.
Permanent Residency confirmed
PR card in hand. Live and work anywhere in Canada indefinitely. After 3 years of physical presence in a 5-year window, you can apply for citizenship.
This is the goal. We celebrate every single one of these with our clients.
Why Montreal
More English than you think.
More affordable than anywhere you have lived.
Montreal is a French-speaking city, but 65% of companies do business in English. Tech, finance, and the startup sector run predominantly in English. You will not struggle.
Learning French boosts your Express Entry score, expands your options, and deepens your life here. It is a competitive advantage, not a barrier.
SOS Hub Canada
Here is what we actually do for you.
A Montreal-based relocation and settlement firm. Our MIFI-recognised consultant manages everything from eligibility to PR strategy, in English.
Questions from Japan.
The ones we actually get asked, with honest answers.