# Job-hunting visa in Japan after graduation (Designated Activities)

URL: https://japanhow.com/visa/visas/job-hunting-visa-japan/
Author: JapanHow editors
Updated: Oct 24, 2026

## Summary

As of October 2026, international students who graduate in Japan without a job can stay to keep job hunting by changing to Designated Activities (特定活動). It is granted for 6 months and can be renewed once, so up to 1 year after graduation. You need your school's recommendation letter and must have started job hunting before graduating. With permission you can work part-time up to 28 hours a week. A second year is possible only through a qualifying local-government program.

## Key facts

- Period of stay: 6 months, renewable once
- Standard maximum: 1 year after graduation
- Part-time work: 28 hours a week, with permission
- Counter fee (6 months): ¥18,000

Japan's job hunting visa is a **Designated Activities (特定活動) status** for international students who graduate without a job. You change to it from Student status (留学), and it is granted for **6 months, renewable once**: up to **1 year after graduation**. You need a **recommendation letter from your school**, and you must have started job hunting before you graduated. This is the position as of October 2026, from the Immigration Services Agency (出入国在留管理庁, ISA).

**Informational only:** This guide explains ISA's published rules. It is not advice on your case. Your school's career or international office, the ISA information center (0570-013904) or a certified administrative scrivener (行政書士) can help with your situation.

## Who qualifies for the job hunting visa in Japan?

You must be on Student status and want to **continue job hunting you started before graduation**. ISA lists four groups:

| You graduated from | Extra condition |
|---|---|
| A Japanese university, junior college, graduate school or college of technology (高等専門学校) | Not as a 別科生, auditor (聴講生), credited auditor (科目等履修生) or research student (研究生) |
| A vocational school (専修学校) specialized program (専門課程) | You earned the **専門士** title, and your studies relate to a work status such as Engineer/Humanities |
| A vocational school advanced course (専攻科) | Your studies relate to a work status |
| A Japanese language school (日本語教育機関) | You already hold a **bachelor's degree or higher from a foreign university** (see below) |

Your residence record must also have no problems, and your school must recommend you. You can apply **before graduation** with the recommendation letter and a certificate of expected graduation. You then show your diploma or graduation certificate when the permission is granted.

## How long can you stay?

**Job-hunting Designated Activities:** 6 months + 1 renewal (Up to 1 year after graduation. A second year only through a qualifying local-government program.)

The first grant is 6 months. ISA allows **one renewal** of another 6 months. For the renewal you need a **new recommendation letter** from your school, proof you are still job hunting, and proof of funds.

## Can you get a second year?

Only through a **local-government job-support program** that meets ISA's requirements. ISA's pages don't list these programs, so ask your city or prefecture's international or employment office. The rules come from a Ministry of Justice guide dated December 2016, which ISA still links today:

- you must already be on job-hunting Designated Activities, as a university, college or 専門士 vocational graduate
- the local government selects you by document review and interview, and gives you a participant certificate (対象者証明書), valid for **3 months**
- you change to a new Designated Activities status for **6 months**, then renew once; the total can't run past **2 years after graduation**
- the program includes internships aimed at Engineer/Humanities-type jobs, not simple labor; for vocational graduates, related to your major
- at renewal you submit a new certificate and an internship record report; if it shows no real activity, the renewal can be refused

Internships inside the program need no work permission. For other part-time work, the 28-hour limit applies.

## Can you apply from a Japanese language school?

Yes, but only if you graduated from a **foreign university** first. ISA's conditions for you:

- a bachelor's degree or higher from a foreign university
- attendance of **about 90% or more** at the language school
- enough money to keep job hunting
- you started job hunting while enrolled
- regular meetings with the school after graduation, and a signed confirmation of this
- a recommendation letter from the school

The school must meet conditions too. It needs education-ministry certification (until March 31, 2029, a school on the older Ministry of Justice list also counts), good enrollment management over the last 3 years, a job-placement license or a job-focused course, and at least **1 student placed in a job in Japan in the last year, or 2 in the last 3 years**. Ask your school whether it qualifies before you count on this route.

## What documents do you need?

Certificates issued in Japan must be under 3 months old. Documents in other languages need a Japanese translation. Since June 14, 2026, the photo is needed for anyone aged 1 or older.

ISA says graduate students who couldn't job hunt enough because of research should consult their immigration office.

## How much does it cost?

The fee depends on the period granted, for applications received **from October 1, 2026**. Job hunting status is 6 months, so:

| How you apply | Fee for over 3 to 6 months |
|---|---|
| At the counter | ¥18,000 (revenue stamps) |
| Online | ¥15,000 + ¥330 payment fee |

You pay again for the renewal. Online fees are paid by convenience store or bank payment after an email from **@service-dgft.com**. ISA warns that fee emails from other addresses are scams. Full table: [change of status guide](/visa/visas/change-of-status-of-residence-japan/).

## Can you work part-time on a job hunting visa?

Yes, with **permission to engage in activity other than that permitted (資格外活動許可)**. It's free.

- **Comprehensive permission (包括許可):** up to **28 hours a week**, any employer, not at adult entertainment businesses.
- **Individual permission (個別許可):** for internships over 28 hours as part of job hunting (for vocational graduates, related to your major), or if your school **crossed out** work permission on the recommendation letter.
- Freelance work where hours can't be checked needs individual permission. Starting a company or hiring staff needs Business Manager status instead.

For how the student rules work, see our [student visa work guide](/visa/visas/student-visa-work-permit-japan/).

## What happens when you get a job offer?

If the job starts soon, apply to **change to a work status**, usually Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services (技術・人文知識・国際業務). See the [Engineer/Humanities visa guide](/visa/visas/engineer-humanities-visa-japan/) for what the job must look like.

If the start date is months away, you can change to **Designated Activities for job-offer holders (内定者)**. ISA's conditions:

- you are hired **within 1 year of the offer** and **within 1 year 6 months of graduation**
- the job is expected to qualify for a work status
- the company signs a pledge (誓約書) to contact you **at least every 3 months**, report a canceled offer to immigration, and not let you start work before your work status is granted

You can again work part-time up to 28 hours a week with permission. ISA tells applicants to apply promptly once their activity changes: if you don't do the activity of your status, it can be canceled.

## How is Designated Activities No. 46 different?

**Designated Activities No. 46 (特定活動46号)** is not a job-hunting status. It's a work status for graduates who have a full-time job that uses Japanese. As revised on **February 29, 2024**, it covers:

- a bachelor's degree from a Japanese university, or a degree from a Japanese graduate school
- junior college or college of technology graduates who got a bachelor's degree through NIAD-QE review
- graduates of a MEXT-certified vocational career program with the **高度専門士** title

You also need **JLPT N1 or BJT 480+** (or a foreign degree majoring in Japanese), pay equal to a Japanese employee, and work that uses what you studied. Adult entertainment work and work reserved for licensed professions are excluded. From April 15, 2026, applicants also submit a declaration about the employer's representative. See our [JLPT guide](/life/learning/jlpt-registration-dates/) for test dates.

## Is there a job seeker visa if you didn't study in Japan?

Mostly not. The exception is **J-Find (未来創造人材制度)**, since April 2023. It gives Designated Activities for up to **2 years** to job hunt or prepare a startup if:

- your university is in the **top 100 of at least 2 of 3** world rankings (QS, THE, Shanghai); ISA publishes a list
- you got your degree **within the last 5 years**
- you have at least **¥200,000** in savings when you apply

More guides: [change of status](/visa/visas/change-of-status-of-residence-japan/), [re-entry permit](/visa/visas/re-entry-permit-japan/), [Business Manager visa](/visa/visas/business-manager-visa-japan/), [quitting a job on a work visa](/work/jobs/quitting-job-japan-visa/).

## Questions people ask

### How long can I stay in Japan on a job hunting visa?

Each grant is 6 months, and ISA allows one renewal, so up to 1 year after graduation. A second year is possible only if a local government selects you for a job-support program that meets ISA's requirements.

### Can I get a job hunting visa from a Japanese language school?

Only if you already hold a bachelor's degree or higher from a foreign university, attended about 90% or more, started job hunting while enrolled, and your school meets ISA's requirements and recommends you. Language-school students without a degree don't qualify.

### Can I work part-time on a job hunting visa?

Yes, after you get permission to engage in activity other than that permitted (資格外活動許可). It allows up to 28 hours a week and is free. If your school crossed that item out on the recommendation letter, you need individual permission instead.

### Can I extend the job hunting visa in Japan?

Once. For the renewal you submit a new recommendation letter from your school, proof that you are still job hunting and proof of funds.

### Is there a job seeker visa for people outside Japan?

Not for most people. The J-Find route lets graduates of universities ranked in the top 100 of at least 2 of 3 world rankings, within 5 years of their degree, stay up to 2 years to look for work or prepare a startup. They need at least ¥200,000 in savings.

## Sources

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- [推薦状 (school recommendation letter, reference form)](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/content/930002543.pdf), Immigration Services Agency of Japan (accessed Oct 24, 2026)
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