Part-time work for international students
International students who stay in Japan with a status of residence such as “College Student” (see the upper columns of Tables 3 and 4 of Appended Table 1 of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act) may not engage in “activities related to the management of business involving income or activities for which he/she receives reward” (Article 19, Paragraph 1 of the same Act), except when they are permitted to engage in activities other than those permitted under the status of residence (Article 19, Paragraph 2 of the same Act).
Activities other than those permitted under status of residece
As Part-time work is considered an “activities for which he/she receives reward“, international students must obtain permission to engage in activities other than those permitted under their status of residence in order to engage in part-time work.
Time Restriction
International students working part-time must work no more than 28 hours per week (or no more than 8 hours per day during summer vacation and other long breaks).
Violation of permission
If you work part-time in excess of these hours, you will be in violation of the Permission to engage in activity other than those permitted under the status of residence, and the renewal of your period of stay for the status of residence as a College Student may be denied. In addition, you may be subject to deportation for working illegally. In that case, you will not be allowed to enter Japan for five years. The employer may be guilty of encouraging illegal employment and be subject to imprisonment for up to three years, a fine of up to 3,000,000 JPY, or both. Punishment will also be imposed in cases of negligence, even if unintentional.
Designated Activities After graduation
If you have graduated from school, even if you have obtained permission to engage in activities other than those permitted under the status of residence and before the expiration date of your status of residence as a college student, you may not engage in part-time work. If you have been granted “Designated Activities” for job hunting after graduation, you can work part-time if you obtain a new permission to engage in activities other than those permitted under the status of residence.
Please feel free to contact us about the status of residence.