# Working on a student visa in Japan: the 28-hour rule and how to get permission

URL: https://japanhow.com/visa/visas/student-visa-work-permit-japan/
Author: japanhow editors
Updated: Oct 21, 2026

## Summary

As of October 2026, international students in Japan can work part-time only with permission to engage in activity other than that permitted (資格外活動許可). It is free and can be granted at the airport on arrival. The limit is 28 hours a week, or 8 hours a day during your school's long holidays. Work at adult entertainment businesses is banned in all cases. Regular overwork can lead to refusal of a later work visa. After graduation, the permission ends, but job-hunting Designated Activities status allows up to 1 year more.

## Key facts

- During term: 28 hours a week
- Long school holidays: 8 hours a day
- Permission fee: Free
- Job-hunting after graduation: Up to 1 year

On a student visa in Japan, your work hours limit is **28 hours a week**, rising to **8 hours a day during your school's long holidays**. You can work only after you get **permission to engage in activity other than that permitted (資格外活動許可)**. It is free, and new students can get it at the airport on arrival. Jobs at adult entertainment businesses are banned whatever the hours. 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 international office can help, and the regional immigration office, the ISA information center (0570-013904) or a certified administrative scrivener (行政書士) can answer questions about your situation.

## How many hours can you work on a student visa?

**Comprehensive permission (包括許可):** 28 hours a week (Up to 8 hours a day while your school is on a long vacation set by its rules, such as summer or spring break. Only while you are enrolled.)

The Student status (留学) itself doesn't allow paid work. The comprehensive permission adds part-time work within these limits. It isn't tied to one employer, so you can change part-time jobs without applying again.

The permission is shown as a sticker in your passport or a permission document, and on the back of your residence card (在留カード). Employers are asked to check the back of the card.

## Which jobs are banned?

Even with permission, you can't work at a business covered by Japan's adult entertainment law (風俗営業等の規制及び業務の適正化等に関する法律). That includes:

- businesses licensed as 風俗営業 under that law
- sex-related businesses, whether in a shop or not, including phone and video services
- specified late-night entertainment restaurants (特定遊興飲食店営業)

The ban is worded as work at a place where such a business operates, so it is not limited to particular roles. Illegal work is excluded too.

## How do you apply?

Approved school staff, a registered lawyer or a 行政書士 can submit the application for you. Online, you can apply only together with a renewal or change of status. Since January 2024, a permission granted online can be sent by post.

## What about internships, freelancing or tutoring?

Some work needs **individual permission (個別許可)**, which names the employer and job:

- **internships over 28 hours a week** for final-year university students who have most of their credits (ISA gives about 90% as a guide), or final-year master's or doctoral students
- language teaching, interpreting, private tutoring and similar jobs, when outside the comprehensive permission
- **freelance or contract work** where your hours can't be checked objectively. If the hours are clear, such as delivery work with tracked hours, the 28-hour permission is enough
- preparing to start a business

Setting up a company, hiring staff or opening an office needs a change to Business Manager status instead. You can hold both kinds of permission at once.

One exception needs no permission: paid teaching or research assistance under a contract with your own university.

## What happens if you work more than 28 hours?

The consequences can follow you for years.

| Risk | What ISA's rules say |
|---|---|
| Permission revoked | ISA can revoke the permission if you break its conditions |
| Criminal penalty | Unauthorized paid work: up to 1 year in prison and/or a fine of up to ¥2 million. Mainly working without authorization: up to 3 years and/or ¥3 million |
| Refused work visa | ISA says regular work over 28 hours a week means you are not of good conduct |
| Refused renewal | Renewal requires that you actually study; ISA also checks employment conditions and tax payments |

ISA publishes real refusal examples. In one, a student applying for Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services had worked **more than 200 hours a month for over a year** and was refused. In another, a vocational school student with 70% attendance said absences were due to illness but had been working during them, and was refused.

If you stop studying for 3 months without a good reason, ISA can cancel your Student status.

## Can you work after you graduate?

Your Student permission covers only the time you are **enrolled**. After graduation, you need a new status.

If you have a job offer, apply to change to a work status. ISA asks students starting work in April to **apply between December 1 and the end of January**. See our [change of status guide](/visa/visas/change-of-status-of-residence-japan/).

If you are still looking, you can change to **Designated Activities (特定活動) for job hunting**:

- for graduates of Japanese universities and of vocational schools with the 専門士 title, with your school's **recommendation**
- **6 months, renewable once**: up to 1 year after graduation
- a second year is possible through some local-government job-support programs
- with a new permission, you can again work up to **28 hours a week**

Some graduates of foreign universities who studied at a certified Japanese language school can use a similar route.

## Related guides

Getting paid? See our guides to [opening a bank account](/money/banking/bank-account-for-foreigners-japan/) and [resident tax for foreigners](/money/tax/resident-tax-japan-foreigners/). Going home for the holidays? Read about the [re-entry permit](/visa/visas/re-entry-permit-japan/).

More guides: [visa renewal](/visa/visas/visa-renewal-japan/), [Highly Skilled Professional visa](/visa/visas/highly-skilled-professional-visa-japan/).

## Questions people ask

### How many hours can a student work in Japan?

Up to 28 hours a week, with permission to engage in activity other than that permitted. During your school's long holidays, set by its rules, the limit is 8 hours a day.

### Can international students work in Japan without permission?

No paid part-time job is allowed without permission. One exception: paid teaching or research assistance under a contract with your own university needs no permission.

### How do I apply for permission to engage in activity other than that permitted?

At the airport right after landing if you arrive on Student status, or later at the regional immigration office for your address. For the standard 28-hour permission, you only need the application form, your residence card and passport. There is no fee.

### What happens if I work more than 28 hours a week on a student visa?

ISA can revoke the permission, and unauthorized work is a crime under the Immigration Act. ISA also says regular work over 28 hours means you are not of good conduct, and it has refused work visas to students for this.

### Can I keep working part-time after I graduate?

Not on your Student permission, which covers only the time you are enrolled. If you change to Designated Activities to keep job-hunting, you can apply for a new 28-hour permission.

## Sources

- [資格外活動許可申請 (Permission to engage in activity other than that permitted)](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/16-8.html), Immigration Services Agency of Japan (accessed Oct 21, 2026)
- [「留学」の在留資格に係る資格外活動許可について](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/nyuukokukanri07_00003.html), Immigration Services Agency of Japan (accessed Oct 21, 2026)
- [資格外活動の許可（入管法第19条）](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/shikakugai_00001.html), Immigration Services Agency of Japan (accessed Oct 21, 2026)
- [大学等を卒業後就職活動のための滞在をご希望のみなさまへ](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/resources/nyukan_nyukan84.html), Immigration Services Agency of Japan (accessed Oct 21, 2026)
- [継続就職活動又は内定後就職までの「特定活動」に係る資格外活動許可について](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/nyuukokukanri07_00002.html), Immigration Services Agency of Japan (accessed Oct 21, 2026)
- [「技術・人文知識・国際業務」の在留資格の明確化等について（令和8年4月改定）](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/content/001460430.pdf), Immigration Services Agency of Japan (accessed Oct 21, 2026)
- [在留資格の変更、在留期間の更新許可のガイドライン](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/resources/nyuukokukanri07_00058.html), Immigration Services Agency of Japan (accessed Oct 21, 2026)
- [在留資格「留学」から就労資格への変更申請を予定されている皆様へ](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/10_00240.html), Immigration Services Agency of Japan (accessed Oct 21, 2026)
- [出入国管理及び難民認定法施行規則 (Article 19)](https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/356M50000010054), e-Gov (Digital Agency) (accessed Oct 21, 2026)
- [出入国管理及び難民認定法 (Articles 19, 70, 73)](https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/326CO0000000319), e-Gov (Digital Agency) (accessed Oct 21, 2026)