Visas and residence status
How do I change from Student status to a work status in Japan?
Once you have a suitable job offer, apply to change your status of residence before your current stay expires. A common category is Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services; approval depends on your duties, qualifications and employer.
Prepare your passport, residence card, application form, photo, employment contract and graduation certificate, plus the documents required for your employer's category. The standard processing period is one to two months. For applications received from 1 October 2026, counter fees range from ¥10,000 to ¥75,000 according to the period granted; check the official fee table for online rates. If you graduate without a job, you may qualify for Designated Activities status to continue job hunting.
What may vary
Eligibility is assessed against the specific status and employer; some roles accept documented work experience instead of a degree. For applications filed from 15 April 2026 with a Category 3 or 4 employer, jobs that mainly rely on language skills (interpreting, hotel front desk) need proof of CEFR B2-equivalent ability, for Japanese JLPT N2 or above. Fees and document lists can change; applications received by 30 September 2026 still paid the old ¥6,000.
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