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Status of residence · 特定活動

Job-hunting visa after graduation in Japan

Graduating without a job offer yet? Graduates of Japanese universities and vocational colleges (専門学校) — and, as an exception, language-school graduates who already hold a degree from abroad — can switch to Designated Activities (特定活動) and stay in Japan to look for work for up to 1 year. Who qualifies, the timing and the official forms.

Forms and documents

Change of status

Checked against the Immigration Services Agency of Japan on 28 September 2026 · All Designated Activities

Period of stay6 months + 1 extension

Part-time work28 h/week, with permission

School recommendationRequired

Language-school graduatesOnly with a degree from abroad

Who qualifies

Who can get the job-hunting status

The status is for graduates who started looking for a job while they were students and want to continue after graduation.

It fits if you

  • graduated from a Japanese university or vocational college (専門学校), or from a language school after a university abroad
  • started job hunting while you were still studying and are continuing
  • can get a recommendation letter from your school
  • are in Japan and apply before your student status expires

It does not fit if you

  • studied only at a language school and have no degree from a university abroad
  • did not job-hunt while studying
  • have already left Japan after graduation without applying (in practice you lose the chance)
  • want to work full-time — that needs a work status

According to ISA

The four groups

  • University. Graduates of a Japanese university, graduate school, junior college (短大) or college of technology (高専). Auditing students, 別科 students and research students (研究生) do not qualify.
  • Vocational college (専門学校). Graduates with the 専門士 title, or of an advanced course (専攻科), whose studies are related to a work status such as Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services.
  • Language school. Only if you graduated from a university abroad (bachelor’s or higher) before the school, your attendance at the school was good (ISA’s condition: about 90 % or more), and the school meets ISA’s conditions — among them job-placement support and graduates who have already found jobs.
  • A second year. If you found no job in the first year, participants in a local-government job-support program (地方公共団体が実施する就職支援事業) with a certificate from it can get one more year — again 6 months plus one extension.

For language-school students

From a language school this status is usually out of reach

The job-hunting status is for graduates of universities and vocational colleges. A language-school graduate qualifies only with a degree from a university abroad and a school that meets ISA’s conditions. Without such a degree, plan your next status before you graduate: a university or vocational college (you stay on the Student status), or a job offer and a change of status to a work status.

Step by step

From graduation to a job

Stay in Japan legally, keep looking, get an offer, move to a work status.

1. Before graduation

Start job hunting while you study and ask your school for the recommendation letter early.

2. Change of status

Before your student status expires, apply for Designated Activities. You can apply before graduation with a certificate of expected graduation. You get 6 months.

3. Job hunting

Look for work; with permission you may work part-time up to 28 hours a week. If needed, extend once for 6 more months.

4. Offer → work status. With a job offer you change your status to a work status, for example Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services. Do not leave Japan after graduation before you have applied — in practice you lose the right to apply from inside Japan.

Forms and documents

Official forms and the documents you need

The list depends on where you studied: a university, a vocational college (専門学校) or a language school after a university abroad.

Choose the procedure and where you studied: the buttons open the ISA forms and the recommendation-letter template, and the list shows the documents ISA asks for.

Where you studied:

University, graduate school, junior college (短大) or college of technology (高専): Graduates of a Japanese university, graduate school, junior college (短大) or college of technology (高専). Auditing students, 別科 students and research students (研究生) do not qualify.

Vocational college (専門学校): Graduates of a vocational college (専門学校) with the 専門士 title, or of an advanced course (専攻科), if what you studied is related to a work status such as Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services.

Language school — with a degree from a university outside Japan: Only if you graduated from a university outside Japan (bachelor’s degree or higher) before the language school, your attendance at the school was good (ISA’s condition: about 90 % or more), and the school meets ISA’s conditions — among them job-placement support and graduates who have already found jobs.

Change of status — from Student to job hunting

You file yourself in Japan, before your student status expires — you can file before graduation with the school’s recommendation and a certificate of expected graduation. An administrative scrivener (行政書士) can file for you. The status is granted for 6 months.

Application formPDF · moj.go.jpApplication formExcel · moj.go.jp

Files open from the website of the Immigration Services Agency of Japan (ISA). Forms are in Japanese and English; links checked 6 Oct 2026.

Documents

  1. Application for change of status of residence 在留資格変更許可申請書
  2. Photo, 4 × 3 cm 写真From 14 June 2026 a photo is needed for everyone aged 1 and over.
  3. Passport and residence card — to show パスポート及び在留カード（提示）
  4. Proof that you can pay your living costs in Japan 申請人の在留中の一切の経費の支弁能力を証する文書For example, a bank balance certificate. If someone else pays, their documents and an explanation of why they support you.
  5. Diploma (copy) or graduation certificate 卒業証書（写し）又は卒業証明書University, graduate school, junior college (短大) or college of technology (高専)
  6. Recommendation letter from your school for job hunting 継続就職活動についての推薦状University, graduate school, junior college (短大) or college of technology (高専), Vocational college (専門学校)Written by the university, college or school you last attended. The template is on the ISA website.template · PDF
  7. Proof that you are job hunting 継続就職活動を行っていることを明らかにする資料University, graduate school, junior college (短大) or college of technology (高専)For example, job applications and interview invitations. Master’s and doctoral graduates who had no time to job-hunt because of research are advised by ISA to consult the immigration bureau.
  8. Certificate of the 専門士 title 専門士の称号を有することの証明書Vocational college (専門学校)Not needed for graduates of an advanced course (専攻科).
  9. Diploma (copy) or graduation certificate, and transcript 卒業証書（写し）又は卒業証明書及び成績証明書Vocational college (専門学校)
  10. Proof that you are job hunting 継続就職活動を行っていることを明らかにする資料Vocational college (専門学校)For example, job applications, interview invitations, correspondence with companies.
  11. Description of what you studied at the college 専門課程又は専攻科における修得内容の詳細を明らかにする資料Vocational college (専門学校)Your studies must be related to a work status, for example Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services.
  12. Language school diploma (copy) or graduation certificate 日本語教育機関の卒業（又は修了）証書（写し）又は卒業（又は修了）証明書Language school — with a degree from a university outside Japan
  13. Attendance certificate from the school 出席状況の証明書Language school — with a degree from a university outside Japan
  14. Degree from a university outside Japan — bachelor’s or higher 海外の大学又は大学院の卒業（又は修了）証書（写し）若しくは卒業（又は修了）証明書Language school — with a degree from a university outside Japan
  15. Recommendation letter from your school for job hunting 継続就職活動についての推薦状Language school — with a degree from a university outside JapanWritten by the university, college or school you last attended. The template is on the ISA website.template · PDF
  16. Proof that you are job hunting 継続就職活動を行っていることを明らかにする資料Language school — with a degree from a university outside JapanFor example, job applications, interview invitations, correspondence with companies.
  17. Confirmation that you will meet the school regularly and receive job information from it 定期的に面談を行うとともに、就職活動に関する情報提供を受ける旨の確認書Language school — with a degree from a university outside JapanISA form · PDF
  18. Document showing that the school meets ISA’s conditions 日本語教育機関が一定の要件を満たしていることが確認できる資料Language school — with a degree from a university outside JapanPrepared by the school.ISA form · PDF

Immigration may ask for other documents too. Full list: the ISA checklist above and the status page.

Where to apply
Regional immigration services bureau for your address
Fee
Paid only after approval. Applications received by 30 September 2026: ¥6,000 (online ¥5,500), even if the decision comes later. Received from 1 October 2026: the fee depends on the period granted — from ¥10,000 (up to 3 months) to ¥75,000 (5 years or more); online is cheaper except for periods up to 3 months. It can be higher if a specified residence card (特定在留カード) is issued with the permission. Full fee table
Processing time
1–2 months
Online
Yes
Documents for my caseYour list for your category and family — with checkboxes and a PDF

Extension — 6 more months of job hunting

You can extend once, for another 6 months. File before your period of stay ends, with a new recommendation letter from your school.

Application formPDF · moj.go.jpApplication formExcel · moj.go.jp

Files open from the website of the Immigration Services Agency of Japan (ISA). Forms are in Japanese and English; links checked 6 Oct 2026.

Documents

  1. Application for extension of period of stay 在留期間更新許可申請書
  2. Photo, 4 × 3 cm 写真Not needed when the extension is for 3 months or less.
  3. Passport and residence card — to show パスポート及び在留カード（提示）
  4. Proof that you can pay your living costs in Japan 申請人の在留中の一切の経費の支弁能力を証する文書For example, a bank balance certificate. If someone else pays, their documents and an explanation of why they support you.
  5. Recommendation letter from your school for job hunting 継続就職活動についての推薦状University, graduate school, junior college (短大) or college of technology (高専), Vocational college (専門学校)Written by the university, college or school you last attended. The template is on the ISA website.template · PDF
  6. Proof that you are still job hunting 継続就職活動を行っていることを明らかにする資料University, graduate school, junior college (短大) or college of technology (高専), Vocational college (専門学校)For example, job applications, interview invitations, correspondence with companies.
  7. Recommendation letter from your school for job hunting 継続就職活動についての推薦状Language school — with a degree from a university outside JapanWritten by the university, college or school you last attended. The template is on the ISA website.template · PDF
  8. Proof that you are still job hunting 継続就職活動を行っていることを明らかにする資料Language school — with a degree from a university outside JapanFor example, job applications, interview invitations, correspondence with companies.
  9. Confirmation that you will meet the school regularly and receive job information from it 定期的に面談を行うとともに、就職活動に関する情報提供を受ける旨の確認書Language school — with a degree from a university outside JapanISA form · PDF
  10. Document showing that the school meets ISA’s conditions 日本語教育機関が一定の要件を満たしていることが確認できる資料Language school — with a degree from a university outside JapanPrepared by the school.ISA form · PDF

Immigration may ask for other documents too. Full list: the ISA checklist above and the status page.

Where to apply
Regional immigration services bureau for your address
Fee
Paid only after approval. Applications received by 30 September 2026: ¥6,000 (online ¥5,500), even if the decision comes later. Received from 1 October 2026: the fee depends on the period granted — from ¥10,000 (up to 3 months) to ¥75,000 (5 years or more); online is cheaper except for periods up to 3 months. It can be higher if a specified residence card (特定在留カード) is issued with the permission. Full fee table
Processing time
2 weeks – 1 month
Online
Yes
Documents for my caseYour list for your category and family — with checkboxes and a PDF

FAQ

Job-hunting visa questions

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How long does the job-hunting visa last?

First you get 6 months. You can extend it once for another 6 months — up to 1 year in total. One more year (again 6 months plus one extension) is possible if you join a job-support program run by a local government (地方公共団体が実施する就職支援事業) and get a certificate from it.

Usually not. The job-hunting status is for graduates of Japanese universities and vocational colleges (専門学校). The exception is a language-school graduate who already holds a degree from a university outside Japan (bachelor’s or higher), had attendance of about 90 % or more and studied at a school that meets ISA’s conditions.

Yes, but not automatically. You need permission to engage in an activity other than that permitted (資格外活動許可) — then you can work up to 28 hours a week.

Yes. A recommendation letter from the school you graduated from is required both for the first application and for the extension.

With a job offer you change your status to a work status — for example Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services. Until then you cannot work full-time on the job-hunting status.

Before your student status expires, while you are still in Japan — you can apply before graduation. Start job hunting while you are still a student: the status is only for people who continue a search they have already started.

The school diploma, an attendance certificate, the degree from a university outside Japan, the school’s recommendation letter, proof of job hunting, a confirmation that you will meet the school regularly, and a document showing that the school meets ISA’s conditions. Templates for the letter, the confirmation and the school document are on the ISA website.

You can change to a Designated Activities status (特定活動) for waiting for the start of employment. ISA’s condition: you are hired within 1 year of the offer and within 1 year 6 months of graduation. You can work part-time up to 28 hours a week with permission.

For applications received by 30 September 2026: ¥6,000 (online ¥5,500). For applications received from 1 October 2026 the fee depends on the period granted; for 6 months it is ¥18,000, or ¥15,000 online plus a ¥330 payment fee. You pay only after approval. The fee can be higher if a specified residence card (特定在留カード — residence card and My Number card in one) is issued with the permission. Part-time work permission is free.

Student → Work → Permanent residence

The most common route in Japan — and where you are on it

  1. Student留学 · language school or college
  2. Change of statusbefore your student status endsYou are here
  3. Work visaEngineer / Humanities or SSW
  4. HSP70–80 points
  5. Permanent residenceusually after 10 years, 1–3 with HSP
  6. Citizenshipusually 10 years in Japan

Work in Japan

Finding the job

All topics: Work in Japan — the full guide

Sources

Where this information comes from

Facts and document lists were checked against the website of the Immigration Services Agency of Japan (ISA) on 28 September 2026. Form links come from a register of ISA files that our server refreshes every week: when ISA publishes a new version of a form, the button opens the new file.

This page is general information, not legal advice. Immigration decides each application and may ask for more documents. Where a rule is known only from practice, we say so.

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