Student Visa Work Limits in Japan: Hours, Permits, and Rules Explained

Many international students in Japan work part-time to help cover living expenses. However, Japanese law imposes clear restrictions on student work — working over the limit or without the proper permit can have serious legal consequences. Here's everything you need to know.

What Is "Permission to Engage in Activity Other than That Permitted"?

The "Student" (留学) residence status is intended for study — not employment. To legally take a paid part-time job, you must first obtain Permission to Engage in Activity Other than That Permitted (資格外活動許可).

⚠️ Never work without obtaining this permission first. Even helping out at a friend's business for one day counts as unauthorized employment.

Work Hour Rules

During Term Time (While School Is in Session)

Maximum 28 hours per week

• Week defined as Monday through Sunday
• Total across all part-time jobs (if you hold more than one, add them together)
• Includes probationary and training periods

During Official School Holiday Periods (Summer, Winter, Spring Breaks)

Up to 8 hours per day (equivalent to full-time work)

This applies during officially scheduled school breaks, typically:

• Summer vacation (usually late July to early September)
• Winter vacation (usually late December to early January)
• Spring vacation (usually late February to early April)

📌 Tip: Exact holiday dates vary by school. Before working during a holiday period, verify the official school calendar — you may want to ask your school for an enrollment certificate (在学証明書) showing holiday dates for your employer's records.

Types of Work That Are Still Prohibited

Even with permission, the following types of work remain off-limits:

• Any work at adult-entertainment businesses (風俗営業) or sex-related special businesses (性風俗関連特殊営業) — bars, hostess clubs, and so on. This bans every job at such a venue, including washing dishes or cleaning, not just serving customers
• Gambling-related work
• Other activities the immigration authorities have determined would damage the public interest

General part-time work in food service, retail, and service industries is usually fine.

How to Apply for Permission

When to Apply

• Apply as soon as possible after completing your move-in address registration (転入届) upon arrival
• Some universities and language schools assist with this during the enrollment process — ask your school

Method 1: Visit the Immigration Bureau in Person

1. Bring the following documents to the Regional Immigration Services Bureau with jurisdiction over your residence:

   • Application for Permission to Engage in Activity Other than That Permitted
   • Passport
   • Residence Card
   • Certificate of enrollment (在学証明書, issued by your school)

2. Permission is usually granted same day or within a few days (it may be noted in the QR code data on the back of your Residence Card or as a sticker in your passport). There is no application fee.

The permission is valid until the end of your current period of stay. When you renew your student status, check whether your permission needs to be reissued — many students reapply at the same time to avoid a gap.

Method 2: Online Application (オンライン申請)

The immigration bureau provides an online application system. Confirm whether the "Student" status permission for outside activity is available via this system for your specific case.

Confirming Your Permission

After approval, the QR code on the back of your Residence Card will include a note indicating "permission granted (資格外活動許可あり)", or there will be a permission sticker in your passport. Show this to your employer before starting work.

Consequences of Violations

If you are unsure whether a specific job is allowed, ask your school's international student office or the Immigration Services Agency's information center before you start working, not after.

Balancing Work and Study

The immigration bureau periodically works with schools to monitor student attendance and academic progress. The following situations may affect your residence status renewal:

• Attendance below the required rate (typically 80% or higher is the minimum)
• Significant academic underperformance (unable to advance or graduate)

Part-time work can supplement your living expenses, but remember: you are in Japan primarily to study. Don't let work interfere with your academics.

Finding Part-Time Work

• Baitoru (バイトル), Mynavi Baito (マイナビバイト), Townwork (タウンワーク): Japan's major part-time job platforms
• Your school's Career Center (学生支援室 / キャリアセンター): Usually has job listings suited to international students
• Convenience stores, restaurants, factories: More likely to hire foreign nationals; Japanese language requirements tend to be lower

Final Takeaway

The rules for student work in Japan are narrow but predictable: get the permission before your first shift, stay inside 28 hours a week during term, and remember that school holidays are the only time the weekly ceiling lifts. The permission itself is free and usually issued the same day, so there is no reason to work around it. Where students get into trouble is arithmetic — two jobs that each look within limits but add up past 28, or a shift at a venue that is off-limits no matter what the job involves.