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Part-Time Work as an International Student in Japan: Work Permission and the 28-Hour Rule

Yes, international students in Japan can work part-time, but only after getting "permission to engage in activity other than that permitted" (資格外活動許可). With the standard blanket permission you may work up to 28 hours a week, or up to 8 hours a day during your school's long vacations, and never at adult-entertainment businesses. If you are arriving on Student status, you can apply for it right at the airport or port when you land.

Why you need permission at all

Each status of residence in Japan defines what you may do. The Student status covers studying, not earning money. Any paid work, or running a business that brings in income, therefore needs permission in advance. Working without it, or beyond its limits, is a breach of your status even if your employer never asks.

Blanket permission vs. individual permission

There are two kinds of permission for students, and you can hold both.

  • Blanket permission (包括許可). This is the one most students need. It lets you work up to 28 hours a week (8 hours a day during the school's long vacations) without naming a specific employer. The only document required is the application form. It also covers some self-employed work, such as gig delivery jobs paid per result, as long as your working hours can be checked objectively.
  • Individual permission (個別許可). This is for activities outside the blanket rule, and it is granted for a named organization and type of work. Examples include internships for university students in their final year who have nearly all credits needed to graduate (roughly 90% for a fourth-year student), and final-year graduate students; roles closely linked to student life such as language teaching, interpreting or private tutoring; and preparation for starting a business in Japan. Work whose hours cannot be verified, for instance freelance or outsourcing contracts with no standard working hours, also needs individual permission. Supporting documents explaining the work, hours and pay are required.

How to apply

  • At the port of entry. Newly arriving students whose Student status has been granted can apply right after landing permission and receive the blanket permission there. This does not apply if you entered on a re-entry permit, or if you were given a three-month period of stay.
  • After arrival. Apply at the regional immigration office that covers your home address. Counters are generally open on weekdays from 9:00 to 12:00 and 13:00 to 16:00.
  • What to bring. The application form, your residence card and your passport. For individual permission, add the documents describing the activity.
  • Fee and timing. There is no fee. The standard processing period is two weeks to two months.
  • Online. Online filing is possible only together with an application to change, extend or acquire status. Since January 2024, online applicants can receive the result by post as a permission document instead of a sticker in the passport.
  • Who may submit. You, your legal representative, approved staff of your school, or a registered lawyer or administrative scrivener acting for you.

Once granted, a summary of the permission is printed on the back of your residence card, and also recorded on its IC chip. Employers are asked to check both the card and the sticker or permission document.

The general conditions behind the permission

ISA grants permission when a set of conditions are all met. In plain terms:

  • the work must not get in the way of your studies;
  • you must actually be doing the activity of your status, meaning you are really attending school;
  • the work must be legal, and must not be at or for businesses such as adult entertainment or the sex industry;
  • your conduct must be good, and you must not be subject to deportation proceedings.

Staying within the limits

  • Long vacations mean the school's official breaks. The 8-hours-a-day rule is tied to your school's long vacation periods, such as summer break. A day without classes during term is not a vacation, so check your school calendar.
  • Track every job. If you have more than one job, keep a record of your total weekly hours so you never go over the cap.
  • Know the consequences. Working beyond the permitted hours can lead to deportation or to your extension being refused, which would end your studies. Revoked work permission also counts against your school's record with ISA.
  • Do not plan to live on wages alone. ISA states that covering all tuition and living costs from part-time work is not acceptable, and warns about agents who promise students 300,000 yen a month.

Taxes

Whether your wages are taxed depends on your situation, including any tax treaty between Japan and your home country, so ask your employer or the local tax office when you start. One rule worth knowing before you go home: according to the National Tax Agency, a non-resident who still has tax matters to handle in Japan, such as filing a return, paying tax or receiving a refund, must appoint a tax representative (納税管理人) and submit a notification to the tax office. The representative can be an individual or a company.

Sources

This article was created by OHAYO Stay based on the sources above (edited, reorganized and translated). It is not an official publication. Facts are summarized in our own words; see the linked pages for the official details.

Rules and dates can change. Always confirm with the official source before you apply.