Status Transition: Student / Permission-Out-of-Status / Designated Activities / Engineer-Humanities-Intl
Concrete transition from student to work residence status: student weekly 28-hour cap (long vacation 8 hours/day), Designated Activities up to 1 year between graduation and start date, Engineer-Humanities-International (gijinkoku) education-job relevance, apply 3 months before graduation, Letter of Intent + Employment Contract + Certified Copy of Registration required.
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The core issue for international students working in Japan is the timing and documents of status-of-residence transitions. The Immigration Services Agency doesn’t simply look at “do you have a job,” but at “do the applicant’s qualifications, education, duties, employer, and contract support each other.” This article breaks it down in 5 stages: limits during student status → bridging from offer to start date → the resident-status change procedure → handling when status doesn’t match → required records. All figures are based on the current system in force from April 2025.
1. Student status: scope of Permission for Out-of-Status Activities
The “Student” status of residence by itself does not include part-time work. Working requires a separate Permission for Out-of-Status Activities (shikaku-gai katsudou kyoka) — new students can apply at the airport on first entry when the residence card is issued; after entry, apply at the regional Immigration Services Bureau covering your address (not the municipal office). Permission is stamped on the back of the residence card.
After the permission is granted: usually within 28 hours per week, and during long vacations (summer break, etc.) up to 8 hours per day (40 hours per week) (Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act Article 19, paragraph 2). Multiple jobs are summed; thinking each workplace gets 28 hours is wrong — immigration sums them at review.
Disallowed work: All adult entertainment (fuzoku) businesses (including pachinko and amusement arcades) and adult-entertainment-related special businesses are prohibited. Even cleaning or office work in such venues counts as violations — status revocation and forced departure cases are common.
Special rules for vocational schools and language schools: Until the “graduation-pending” timing, you’re treated as enrolled. The post-graduation spring break (up to the ceremony) still allows part-time work under student status. But part-time work is not allowed from the day after graduation; those with confirmed offers must transition to “Designated Activities” (next section).
Punishment for violation: Excess hours or prohibited work are examined closely at renewal, change of status, and post-graduation job applications, and serious cases can lead to revocation of status (Immigration Act Article 22-4) or deportation. There is no fixed hour count that triggers a set penalty. The employer also faces “Illegal Work Promotion” charges: up to 3 years of imprisonment or a ¥3,000,000 fine until March 31, 2027, rising to 5 years or ¥5,000,000 from April 1, 2027.
Sources: ISA: Permission for Out-of-Status Activities, ISA: Student Part-time (Out-of-Status), MHLW: Foreign Workers and Illegal Work Prevention.
2. Offer → start date: bridging with “Designated Activities”
Graduation in Japan (typically March) to starting work (typically April) leaves 2-4 weeks. Sometimes companies cancel or postpone offers, leaving a 6-12 month wait. The Student period of stay on your card does not vanish at graduation, but you can no longer work part-time or keep Student status without studying, so those continuing the job hunt or waiting for a start date need to change to “Designated Activities” (tokutei katsudo) before that period expires.
Two typical Designated Activities subtypes. Designated Activities (Continued Job Hunting): for graduates of Japanese universities and similar schools still job hunting; granted for 6 months and renewable once (up to about 1 year), with part-time work possible via separate Permission for Out-of-Status Activities. It is not Designated Activities Notification No. 9, which covers internships for students of overseas universities. Designated Activities (Post-Offer Waiting): a transition period for the wait until starting (e.g., April starts), up to 1 year, requiring the offer letter and an employment contract pre-commitment certificate.
Application timing: Reception opens 3 months before graduation, the safest is filing by 1 month before. Filing 2 weeks before graduation often doesn’t reach review in time.
Required documents: Application Form for Extension of Period of Stay (Form No. 30-2), graduation-pending certificate (from school), offer letter, employer registration (toukibou jikoshou meisho-zenbu, 3 months old, ¥600), most recent year’s source-deduction certificate, residence card, passport, 4×3 cm photo. Fee by period granted (from Oct 1, 2026, counter: 1 year ¥33,000, 3 years ¥64,000, 5 years ¥75,000; online is ¥6,000-10,000 less), review 2 weeks-1 month.
Sources: ISA: Designated Activities (Continued Job Hunting), ISA: Designated Activities (Post-Offer Wait).
3. At the start date: Residence Status Change to Gijinkoku or similar
Once the start date is set, file the Residence Status Change Permit Application (from Student or Designated Activities to Engineer/Humanities/International Services). Eligible from 3 months before start date; realistic deadline is 1 month before.
Engineer / Humanities / International Services (gijinkoku, 技人国) review focuses:
| Criterion | Standard |
|---|---|
| Education × job relevance | Bachelor’s degree or above + major matches or relates to the job. Information engineering → engineer, economics → corporate planning, literature → translation / international services. Relevance must be clear in the rationale letter |
| Compensation | Same level as Japanese employees in equivalent positions or higher; there is no fixed monthly minimum for this status, and regional minimum wages still apply |
| Company category | Category 1 (listed / national / municipal): typically 5 years. Category 2 (¥10,000,000+ income tax withheld from salaries in the previous year’s statutory summary, or approved for online applications): often 3 years. Category 3 (summary filed but below that line): 1-3 years. Category 4 (other SMEs, startups): usually 1 year first time |
Required documents: Application Form for Change of Status of Residence (Form No. 30-4), employment contract (specifying salary, duties, employment type, contract period), employer registration, employer financial statement (Category 3-4), graduation certificate + transcript, residence card, passport, 4×3 cm photo. Fee as above, review 2 weeks-1 month (sometimes 1 week).
Post-hire notification duty: After receiving gijinkoku, changes of employer (organization) require notification to immigration within 14 days (Immigration Act Article 19-16). Maximum penalty ¥200,000.
Sources: ISA: Engineer/Humanities/International (Gijinkoku), ISA: Residence Status Change Permit Application, ISA: Revision of residence permission fees on October 1, 2026.
4. When status doesn’t match: Highly-Skilled Professional / Business Manager / Specified Skilled Worker
Four alternatives when gijinkoku doesn’t apply.
Highly-Skilled Professional (kodo senmonshoku): Points-based (education, work history, income, age, Japanese skill); 70+ points qualifies for Type 1 (5 years); Type 2 (no period limit) requires 3+ years in Type 1 (or equivalent Designated Activities) and still 70+ points. Separately, 80+ points lets you apply for permanent residence after 1 year, and 70+ points after 3 years. ¥10M+ income + master’s degree + JLPT N1 typically exceeds 80 points.
Business Manager (keiei-kanri): Self-employed or board member. Since October 16, 2025: capital ¥30,000,000+, at least 1 full-time employee, B2-level Japanese held by the applicant or a full-time employee, a related graduate degree or 3 years of management experience, and an expert-checked business plan; existing holders have a transition period until October 16, 2028. First period 4 months; once stable, 1 year → 3 years.
Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) Type 1: 16 fields since 2024 (care, construction, agriculture, accommodation, food service, automotive maintenance, automobile transport, railways, etc.), with further fields such as logistics warehousing and linen supply added from 2026, so check ISA’s current list; obtained through skills exam + Japanese exam; up to 5 years. No education requirement; useful for industries where gijinkoku won’t apply.
New / expanded work visas: “Employment for Skill Development” (ikusei shurou), enacted in June 2024, starts on April 1, 2027 and replaces the Technical Intern Training Program (a 3-year stage before SSW Type 1); it is not open to applicants yet. SSW Type 2 allows renewal without an upper limit and family accompaniment.
Application windows are at the local immigration office: Tokyo Immigration, Osaka Immigration, Nagoya Immigration, etc. English, Chinese, Vietnamese interpreter service (advance booking + phone interpretation) is available.
Sources: ISA: Training Employment (ikusei shurou) overview, ISA: Highly-Skilled Professional Points, ISA: Business Manager, ISA: Specified Skilled Worker System.
5. Records to keep: 6 categories with originals + copies
For status-related work, keep originals + copies of 6 categories: Residence Card (loss/theft requires a re-issuance application at the regional immigration bureau within 14 days of noticing; free, and in principle issued the same day); Passport (old ones too; for continuity of residence period); Permission for Out-of-Status Activities stamp page (residence card back); Immigration receipt slips (receipt number + submission date + result notice for each application); Source-deduction certificates (most recent 5 years; submitted at renewal); health insurance qualification (My Number health insurance card or qualification confirmation document), Basic Pension Number notice, employment contract, offer letter (for employment-relationship continuity).
Notification duty on moving / changing jobs: Within 14 days of an organization change, file an “Organization Notification” at immigration; within 14 days of an address change, file a “Move-In Notice” at the municipal office + update My Number card address. Both delays affect the next renewal review.
Don’t allow gaps between Student → Designated Activities → Gijinkoku: even 1 day of expired status = “Illegal Stay,” sharply reducing the next permit success rate.
Sources: ISA: Notification of the contracting organization, ISA: Residence card reissue after loss, MIC: Basic Resident Registry Act and Move-In Notice.
6. Common mistakes
Treating part-time “28 hours weekly” as per-workplace. Multiple jobs are summed for 28 hours. 20 hours at job A + 15 hours at job B = 35 hours violation. Part-time records are fully checked at residence renewal.
Assuming nothing needs to be done if continuing job hunting after graduation. You must change to Designated Activities (Continued Job Hunting) before your Student period of stay expires. Staying past that date without a pending application means “Illegal Stay.”
Applying for gijinkoku after starting work. Eligible 3 months before start; realistic deadline 1 month before. Starting work without permit in hand makes the first day “out-of-status labor” — a violation, and the company faces Illegal Work Promotion.
Applying for gijinkoku in a field unrelated to your major. Education × job relevance is the heart of gijinkoku. Information engineering → engineer goes through; tourism studies → engineer does not. The relevance must be clearly explained in the rationale letter.
Using old versions of Form No. 30-2 / 30-4. Forms are revised yearly; always download the latest version from the ISA official site. Old versions from a print shop will be returned.
Not notifying immigration of an organization change. The Organization Notification must be filed within 14 days (online or at the immigration window). Missing it means up to ¥200,000 fine + disadvantage at next renewal review.
Japanese key terms
- 資格外活動許可 (shikaku-gai katsudou kyoka, Permission for Out-of-Status Activities)
- 特定活動 (tokutei katsudo) (Continued Job Hunting) / Post-Offer Wait
- 在留資格変更許可申請 (Application for Change of Residence Status, Form No. 30-4)
- 技術・人文知識・国際業務 (Engineer/Humanities/International Services / gijinkoku)
- 所属機関等に関する届出 (Notification of Organization)
- カテゴリー 1-4 (Categories 1-4, employer size classes)