Foreign-Connected High School Students’ Job Hunting Guide
About Residence Status
For students who have foreign roots and are thinking about working in Japan, it is very important to understand your "residence status." There are different types of residence status. Some allow you to work, some do not allow you to work, some limit the type of job you can do, and some allow you to choose many kinds of jobs. If you want to work full-time (not just part-time), you may need to change your residence status.
First, check your residence card and confirm your residence status. Then follow the flowchart and check when and how you need to change your residence status.
Created in March 2024, Updated in September 2024
Important!Residence status information changes often, so always check the latest information. If you want to know more details, please check the official websites listed in the sources, especially "Notice No. 1455."
①For people who DO NOT have the "Family Stay" status
If you have one of these visas: Permanent Resident, Long-term Resident, Spouse of Permanent Resident, or Spouse of Japanese, you can go to school or work without changing your visa. You can also choose many kinds of jobs.
People with Official visa or Diplomat visa should go back to the flowchart and follow the next step. People who changed their visa from "Family Stay" to "Student" should also go back to the flowchart and continue to the next step.
People who came to Japan alone with a "Student visa" are not included in Notice No.1455.
Please go to ※ (the note section).
②You can work up to 28 hours per week.
People with a "Dependent" visa can work if they receive "Permission to Engage in Activity Other Than That Permitted." However, they must work no more than 28 hours per week. To work full-time, you need to graduate from high school and change your residence status. If you want to live and work in Japan, aim to graduate from high school. If graduating from high school is difficult, please consult a specialist.
③For those who are thinking about continuing their studies
If you plan to enter a university, junior college, or vocational school, it is better to keep your "Dependent" status and not change it. When applying for scholarships or asking someone to be a guarantor for an apartment, you may be advised to change to a "Student" visa. However, there are disadvantages, so think carefully before deciding.
Also, people who fall under Notice No. 1455 can change their residence status to "Designated Activities" or "Long-Term Resident" after graduating from university or vocational school in order to work.
④Job offer + N2 → "Designated Activities"
This applies to Notice No. 1455.
If you entered a Japanese high school in the middle of your studies, the conditions are a little stricter, but you may be able to change your status to "Designated Activities" after graduation. The conditions are:
- You must graduate (or be expected to graduate) from a Japanese high school.
- You must receive a job offer from a company.
- You must pass the Japanese Language Proficiency Test at N2 level.
- You must have a guarantor (usually a parent).
If you meet these four conditions, you can work more than 28 hours per week in many types of jobs.
After working for five years under "Designated Activities," you may be able to change your status to "Long-Term Resident."
However, people who came to Japan after turning 18 do not fall under Notice No. 1455. It is difficult to change to a work visa immediately after high school graduation. Please consider going to university or vocational school （see※）.
⑤Job offer → "Designated Activities"
This applies to Notice No. 1455.
If you entered a Japanese high school from the beginning and graduate (or are expected to graduate), you may be able to change your status to "Designated Activities." The conditions are:
- You entered a Japanese high school from the first year and will graduate (or are expected to graduate).
- You have received a job offer from a company.
- You have a financial guarantor (usually a parent).
You do not need to pass JLPT N2. You can work more than 28 hours per week in many types of jobs.
After working for five years under "Designated Activities," you may be able to change your status to "Long-Term Resident."
However, people who came to Japan after turning 18 do not fall under Notice No. 1455. It is difficult to change to a work visa immediately after graduation. Please consider going to university or vocational school (see ※).
⑥Job offer → "Long-Term Resident"
This applies to Notice No. 1455.
If you graduated from a Japanese elementary school (even if you entered in the middle), entered and graduated from a Japanese junior high school, and entered and graduated (or are expected to graduate) from a Japanese high school, you may be able to change your status to "Long-Term Resident." Unlike other cases, you do not need a guarantor or JLPT.
The conditions are:
- You have received a job offer from a company.
- You have completed the required Japanese school education.
You can work more than 28 hours per week in many types of jobs.
※ For people who do not fall under Notice No. 1455
If you came to Japan alone with a "Student" visa or came after turning 18, you should consider going to university or vocational school. After graduating from university or vocational school, the type of residence status and conditions you need will depend on the job. Some examples are shown below.
| Job | Residence Status | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Jobs in the same field as your "Specialist Diploma" (for example: mechanical engineer, interpreter, designer, language teacher, etc.) | Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services | ①Complete a specialized course at a vocational school and receive the title "Specialist" or "Advanced Specialist." ②Get a job in the same field that you studied. |
| Cook or Confectionery Sanitation Specialist | Designated Activities | (Example: Confectionery field) ①Study for at least one year at a confectionery training school designated by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare to gain necessary knowledge and skills. ②Pass the Confectionery Sanitation Examination and obtain a license. ③Pass the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) N2. ④Find a job and receive a job offer. |
| Hairdresser | Designated Activities | ①Study necessary knowledge and skills at a hairdresser training school, get good grades, and maintain good behavior. ②Receive a job offer from a hairdressing organization or company. ③Graduate from the training school. ④Pass the National Hairdresser Examination and obtain a license. ⑤Pass JLPT N2. |
| Jobs that use Japanese (for example: restaurant industry, hotel industry, manufacturing, taxi driver, etc.) | Designated Activities (No. 46) | ①Graduate from a 4-year university or graduate school in Japan. ②Pass JLPT N1 or score 480 or higher on the BJT Business Japanese Proficiency Test. |
The "Designated Activities" visa for hairdressers and cooks is approved under new government guidelines. These include the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (2023) program called the "Project for Training Human Resources to Promote Japanese Food Culture Overseas," and the Cabinet Office National Strategic Special Zone (2021) program called the "Foreign Hairdresser Training Project." These two programs aim to spread Japanese food culture and Japanese beauty techniques overseas. Because of this purpose, it is not possible to renew or extend the period of stay under these visas. When you research the qualification you want to get, also check your residence status carefully.
Sources:
All Sources
「家族滞在」の在留資格をもって在留し、本邦で高等学校卒業後に本邦での就労を希望する方へ｜法務省出入国在留管理庁
外国籍の中学生?高校生のみんなへ～将来就職して働くために～｜東京出入国在留管理局在留支援部門 動画
入管庁管第1455号「高等学校等卒業後に本邦で就労する者の取扱いについて（依頼）」
高等学校等卒業後に日本での就労を考えている外国籍を有する方へ：法務省
【2021年10月25日UP】 がいこくじんの子どものビザ?フローチャート｜かながわ?こみゅにてぃ?ねっとわーく?さいと
外国人の子どもの高校卒業後の「在留資格＆進路」フローチャート（PDF）｜神奈川県行政書士会国際部
在留資格と就職（動画）｜glolab
見える？選べる！将来の仕事MAP｜NPO法人ABCジャパン
Sources for ※
製菓衛生師になるには｜全国製菓衛生師養成施設協会
日本の食文化海外普及人材育成事業について｜農林水産省
日本の食文化海外普及人材育成事業について（PDF）
Foreign Hairdresser Training Project | Cabinet Office, National Strategic Special Zones
Q&A about the Foreign Hairdresser Training Project (PDF)