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Jobs in Japan

Still Job Hunting After Graduation? Japan's Designated Activities Status Explained (2026)

If you graduate from a Japanese university or a qualifying vocational school without a job offer, you do not necessarily have to leave Japan when your Student status ends. According to the Immigration Services Agency (ISA), eligible graduates can change to Designated Activities with a six-month period of stay and renew it once, which allows about one year of job hunting after graduation. In some cases a second year is possible through job support programs run by local governments.

Who can use it

ISA lists four groups. In every case, you must have been in Japan on Student status and have already been job hunting before graduation.

  • University graduates (including junior colleges and graduate schools, and also colleges of technology). Non-degree students such as auditors, credited auditors, research students and students in special preparatory courses (bekka) are not covered.
  • Vocational school graduates, specialized course (senmon katei): you must have earned the senmonshi title, and what you studied must be recognized as related to a work status such as Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services.
  • Vocational school graduates, advanced course (senkoka): the same link between your studies and a work status is required.
  • Japanese language school graduates who already hold a degree from an overseas university: this applies only to graduates of language schools that meet ISA's requirements.

ISA also states that, for the first year, your record of stay must be free of problems and your school must support your continued job hunting, for example with a letter of recommendation.

How long you can stay

  • First year after graduation: a change to Designated Activities with a six-month period of stay, plus one renewal, for about one year in total.
  • Second year after graduation: if you are already job hunting under the first-year status, are accepted into a job support program run by a local government that meets ISA's requirements, and receive a certificate from that local government, you may change to a further Designated Activities status (again six months, renewable once). This covers job hunting within that program, including internships.

Documents for the change application

All applicants submit the change of status application form, one photo, and documents showing they can cover their living costs; they also present their passport and residence card. If someone else pays your costs, add documents showing their ability to pay and why they are supporting you.

Additional documents depend on your group:

  • University graduates: a copy of your diploma or a graduation certificate, a letter of recommendation from your university for continued job hunting, and materials showing that you are actively job hunting.
  • Vocational school graduates: proof of the senmonshi title (not needed for the advanced course), a diploma or graduation certificate with your transcript, a recommendation letter from the school, materials showing ongoing job hunting, and materials explaining in detail what you studied.
  • Language school graduates with an overseas degree: a diploma or certificate from the language school, an attendance certificate, proof of your overseas bachelor's degree or higher, a recommendation letter, materials showing ongoing job hunting, a signed confirmation that you will meet the school regularly and receive job hunting information, and a form showing that the school meets ISA's requirements.

ISA provides recommendation letter templates on its website. Graduate students who could not job hunt enough because of their research are told to consult their nearest immigration office.

You can apply before graduation if you have a recommendation letter from your school, a certificate of expected graduation and the other documents. In that case, a diploma or graduation certificate is required when permission is granted.

Extra conditions for language school graduates

For graduates of Japanese language schools who hold an overseas degree, ISA lists conditions including attendance of roughly 90% or more, enough funds to continue job hunting, job hunting that started while you were still enrolled, regular meetings with the school after graduation to report progress, and a recommendation letter from the school. The school itself must meet requirements, such as a track record of students finding jobs in Japan (at least one in the past year, or two in the past three years).

Part-time work and internships

Under all of these routes, you can work part-time for up to 28 hours a week if you obtain permission to engage in activities other than those permitted. Internships carried out as part of job hunting can qualify for permission beyond 28 hours. If you are in the second-year local government program, internships within that program do not require this permission.

When you get an offer

If you receive a job offer while job hunting, you may be able to change to a separate Designated Activities status for job offer holders and stay until your start date, if conditions are met. ISA's conditions include being hired within one year of the offer and within one year and six months of graduation, and a job expected to qualify for a work status.

Fees

For counter applications, fees depend on the period granted. A period of more than three months up to six months costs 18,000 yen for both a change and a renewal under the rates in effect from October 1, 2026. Applications received by September 30, 2026 paid the previous 6,000 yen.

Many graduates also need to find new housing at this stage. A furnished monthly rental is one way to stay flexible while you wait to learn where you will be working.

Always check ISA's latest pages and documents before you apply.

Sources

This article was created by OHAYO Stay based on the sources above (edited, reorganized and translated). It is not an official publication.

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