Work
How can I find a job in Japan?
Start with job listings, company recruitment pages and career fairs that match your skills and Japanese level. Prepare a Japanese-style CV, called a rirekisho (履歴書), when the employer requests one; international employers may accept your usual CV.
If you study in Japan, use your school's careers office and JASSO's Job Hunting Guide to plan around the graduate recruitment calendar. Hello Work and the Employment Service Centres for Foreigners also offer support. If you need a work status of residence, check that the role and your qualifications meet its requirements. Your employer supplies the company documents for the application.
What may vary
Whether a particular job qualifies for a work status depends on the role, your qualifications and the employer; a job offer alone does not grant a status of residence, and you cannot start full-time work without one. Since 15 April 2026, applications for roles that mainly use a language (translation, interpreting, hotel front-desk work and similar) with an employer in immigration's Category 3 or 4 (typically smaller companies) must include proof of CEFR B2-level ability in that language; JLPT N2 or above counts for Japanese. Specified Skilled Worker and other routes have their own rules.
Checked on