Please refer to the following page for information on procedures related to your status of residence while studying in Japan.

Immigration Procedures

Please see the following page.

Immigration Procedures

Please see the following page that provides information on housing.

Accommodation

Notification must be made within 14 days to the regional immigration services bureau for school changes, or to the municipal office for residence changes.
Please refer to the website of the Immigration Services Agency for information on the procedures and required documents.

Reference: Immigration Services Agency, "Notification Procedures Concerning Affiliations, etc."

Reference: Immigration Services Agency, "Notification of Place of Residence for Medium- to Long-term Residents"

You will need to change your status of residence if you conduct activities falling under a different status of residence. Specifically in the following cases, international students need to change their Student status of residence to another type of status.
In any such case, the regional immigration bureau will accept your application for Permission for Change of Status of Residence with payment of the required application fee. Check with the website of Immigration Services Agency regarding documents required for the application to change your status of residence.

Reference: Immigration Services Agency, "Change of Status of Residence (Immigration Act, Article 20)"

Reference: Immigration Services Agency, "Application for Permission for Change of Status of Residence"

1）If you have graduated from a university, etc., and have been offered a job in Japan

You must apply for Permission for Change of Status of Residence from Student for employment purposes after you graduate and before you start working.
There are several types of status of residence for work. They include the statuses of residence of "Engineer," "Specialist in Humanities/International Services," "Researcher," "Investor/Business Manager" for those who run their own companies, and "Instructor" for those who teach at Japanese elementary or junior high schools.

Reference: Immigration Services Agency, "For International Students Who Wish to Find Employment in Japan (Guide to Procedures Concerning Status of Residence for International Students Seeking Employment) (JP)"

2）If you continue to seek employment after graduation

If a university graduate cannot find a job by the time of graduation and wishes to continue job hunting in Japan after graduation, they must change their status of residence to Designated Activities. The period of stay is six months, and in principle, one renewal of the period of stay is permitted. Furthermore, you need a letter of recommendation from your school in order to continue job hunting after graduation. Consult your school if you wish to continue job hunting in Japan.

Reference: Immigration Services Agency, "To those who wish to stay in Japan for job hunting after graduation from university, etc."

Reference: Immigration Services Agency, "Designated Activities 9"

3）If you wish to continue activities to start your own company after graduation

International students with excellent entrepreneurial and managerial abilities who are expected to establish a company corporation within six months of graduation (or completion) from an undergraduate university or graduate school, start a business, and apply for permission to change their status of residence to Management may apply for permission to change their status of residence to Designated Activities upon recommendation by the university they graduated from or completed their studies. If the necessary funds, stores, or offices for starting a business are secured, and necessary measures are taken for the university to properly monitor and manage the entrepreneurial activities, the change of status of residence to Designated Activities may be approved. Students may stay in Japan for up to six months after graduation.

Reference: Immigration Services Agency, "Designated Activities 11"

By applying for and receiving permission to extend the period of stay at the regional immigration bureau, you may continue to stay in Japan beyond the expiration date of the period of stay determined at the time of entry into Japan.
For details on renewal procedures, etc., please refer to the website of the Immigration Services Agency.

Reference: Immigration Services Agency, "Extension of Period of Stay (Immigration Act, Article 21)"

Reference: Immigration Services Agency "Application for permission for extension of period of stay""

By obtaining a re-entry permit from the regional immigration bureau before leaving Japan, it is possible to temporarily return home or travel outside of the country.
However, those in possession of a valid passport and residence card who will be returning to Japan within one year of their departure (or before their expiration period of stay, if the period is within one year) do not need to apply for a re-entry permit at a regional immigration services bureau before leaving Japan.
In addition, depending on the type of scholarship you are receiving or the university you are enrolled in, you may be required to apply for and receive approval in advance. Please check with your school or scholarship sponsoring organization.

Reference: Immigration Services Agency, "Re-entry Permission (Immigration Act, Article 26)"

Reference: Immigration Services Agency, "Application for Re-Entry Permit"

Reference: Immigration Services Agency, "Deemed Re-entry Permit (Immigration Act, Article 26-2)"

If you file an application at a regional immigration services bureau or other such official organization and are granted permission to engage in activities other than that permitted under the status of residence previously granted, you can work part-time. Please see the following page for information about part-time work.

Part-time Work

Reference: Immigration Services Agency, "Permission to Engage in Activity other than that Permitted under the Status of Residence (Article 19 of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act)"

Reference: Immigration Services Agency, "Permission to Engage in Activity other than that Permitted under the Status of Residence of Student"

Both internships and job hunting can be done while studying in Japan. However, if you wish to receive payment for doing an internship, you must go through the procedures at the regional immigration bureau and obtain a "Permit to Engage in Activity other than that Permitted under the Status of Residence."
Please see the following page for information about internships.

internships

Reference: Immigration Services Agency, "To Those Who Seek Internships"

See the following page for information about job hunting in Japan.

Employment in Japan

Reference: Immigration Services Agency, "For International Students Who Wish to Find Employment in Japan (Guide to Procedures Concerning Status of Residence for International Students Seeking Employment) (JP)"

Please see the following page for information about insurance.

Insurance

If you wish to extend your scholarship while studying in Japan, consult with the school or the scholarship organizer.
You may apply for new scholarships, but application deadlines and scholarship start dates vary among scholarship sponsoring organizations. Please consult the school you are attending or your scholarship organization as soon as possible.