parttime

International students on Ryugaku (College Student) visas need to apply in advance for the permission from the Immigration Bureau in order to be allowed to work part-time during their stay in Japan. With the permit International Students may work part-time for up to 28 hours per week (8 hours per day during official university holidays). It is illegal to exceed these working hours or to work without a permit. Violations are subject to severe penalties by the Immigration Bureau and may lead to the deportation of offenders. You can apply for permission to work even if you have not received a part-time job offer yet. So if you are considering working in future, it is recommended that you apply for the permission in advance. When you enter Japan for the first time and are granted to stay on Ryugaku​ (College Student) visas, you may apply for a part-time work permit at the port of entry (those who are entering Japan with a re-entry permit are not eligible). Please refer to the next page for how to apply after entering Japan at the Immigration Bureau.

Application for Part-Time Work Permit

If you do not obtain your part-time work permit at port of entry when you arrive in Japan for the first time, you must submit a part-time work permit application in person to the local Immigration Bureau office.
Documents ①-④ are necessary in order to make an application. You must not start working　part-time before you obtain the work permit from the Immigration Bureau. Moreover, your part-time work permit will be printed on the back of your residence card. So you need to handle your residence card very carefully.
^※The students with the visa status of “College Student” do not have to apply for the part-time work permit when they are engaged in the activities that support the university’s educational programs (such as Student Assistant or Teaching Assistant). If you work part-time on-campus, please contact the International Office in advance.

Required Documents

1. Application form for Shikakugai Katsudo Kyoka (Permission to Engage in Activities Other Than Those Permitted Under the Status of Residence), available at the International Office.
2. Passport
3. Residence card
4. Student ID card

The Immigration Bureau strictly forbids international students to engage in certain kinds of part-time employment as described below.

Notes

It is illegal to work in any of the following:

1. Entertainment and amusement business. Example： Night clubs and cabarets where customers are served alcohol and food, mah-jong parlors, pachinko parlors, casinos, etc.
2. Adult entertainment business (store type). Example: Brothels (“Soap-lands”), Fashion Health, strip theaters, love hotels and porn shops etc.
3. Adult entertainment business (non-store type). Example: prostitution, escort service and distribution of pornographic materials etc.
4. Adult entertainment business (audio-visual). Example: distribution of pornographic materials over the Internet or other mediums
5. Dating Service (store type). Example: operation of dating club etc.
6. Dating service (non-store type). Example: operation of telephone dating service etc.