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.
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) — typically applied for at airport immigration or the municipal office at the same time as the residence card creation, reviewed within 1 week, 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: A single 28-hour-per-week excess is recorded (immigration database); cumulative 30-hour excess makes residence renewal review strict; cumulative 50-hour excess triggers status revocation (Immigration Act Article 22-4). The employer also faces “Illegal Work Promotion” charges: business owners and managers face up to 3 years imprisonment or ¥3,000,000 fine.
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. Student status expires the day after graduation, so those continuing the job hunt or waiting for a start date need to transition to “Designated Activities” (tokutei katsudo).
Two typical Designated Activities subtypes. Designated Activities #9 (Continued Job Hunting): 1 year after graduation, continue job hunting, with part-time work permitted via separate Permission for Out-of-Status Activities; for those still job hunting after graduation. 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 ¥6,000 (revenue stamp), 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 (minimum ¥220,000-250,000/month; rural areas per MHLW regional minimum wage) |
| Company category | Category 1 (listed / national / municipal): typically 5 years. Category 2 (50+ employees, source-deduction summary filed): typically 3 years. Category 3 (<50 employees but summary filed): 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 ¥6,000, 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: Fee Revision (April 2025).
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); 80+ points after 1 year of residence can apply for Type 2 (effectively indefinite). ¥10M+ income + master’s degree + JLPT N1 typically exceeds 80 points.
Business Manager (keiei-kanri): Self-employed or board member; capital ¥5,000,000+ + physical office + 2+ full-time employees (or equivalent). First period 4 months; once stable, 1 year → 3 years.
Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) Type 1: 14 industries (care, construction, agriculture, accommodation, food service, automotive maintenance, etc.); 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: From 2024, “Training Employment” (ikusei shurou; precursor to SSW Type 1, up to 3 years) + SSW Type 2 with 11 industries (indefinite residence).
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: 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 re-issuance application at residence ward office within 14 days, ¥1,300, ~2 weeks); 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 Organizational Affiliation, 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. Student status expires the day after graduation; you must file Designated Activities #9. A gap 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) #9 / 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)