Student work rights in Japan
Rules for working while studying in Japan, including work limits, internships, tax steps and post-study routes where covered by the guide.
Read the complete Japan study abroad guide.
Part-time Jobs
Student status does not automatically permit paid work. You need Permission to Engage in Activity Other Than That Permitted under the Status of Residence Previously Granted. Eligible new students can often request the general permission on arrival; otherwise apply through immigration.
With that permission, the usual limit is 28 hours per week while classes are in session, across all jobs combined, and up to 8 hours per day during long school vacations specified by the institution.
Work connected with adult-entertainment businesses is prohibited even when the role itself appears unrelated. Breaching the conditions can jeopardise future immigration applications, so treat part-time earnings as supplementary rather than as the core of the funding plan.
Source: https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/work-in-japan/part-time-jobs/
Post-study Work
A graduate who has not secured a qualifying full-time job by graduation may, if eligible, change from Student to Designated Activities for continued job hunting. The ordinary period is six months and can generally be extended once, giving up to one year. A recommendation or other support from the school is normally part of the process.
J-Find (Future Creation Individual) is a separate route and should not be confused with the graduate job-hunting status. It targets recent graduates of highly ranked overseas universities and uses its own age, graduation-date, university-ranking and funds requirements. Check the Immigration Services Agency's current J-Find page and eligible-university list before relying on it.
Once you secure qualifying employment, you change to the appropriate work status. Japanese-language expectations are employer- and occupation-specific rather than a single legal JLPT threshold.
Source: https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/status/designatedactivities51.html
Common questions
What should international students know about work in Japan?
Student status alone does not authorise work: obtain separate permission. The usual ceiling is 28 hours/week in term and 8 hours/day in long vacations.
What should international students know about post study in Japan?
Eligible Japanese graduates can usually continue job hunting for up to one year; J-Find is a separate route with different eligibility.