International students (except for post-master’s researchers and research students) who wish stay in Japan and continue searching for employment after graduation(March 24th or September 16th) may stay for six months. In such cases, the status of residence changes from “Student” to “Designated Activities,” and the period of stay may be extended for another six months(Total 1 year maximum). During this period, students may engage in activities other than those permitted under the status of residence previously granted, for up to 28 hours a week, on request.

Documents to be submitted to the Immigration Bureau

After sending a letter of recommendation from the university by e-mail, please apply for immigration with the following documents.

Change of residence status ※First application

Documents required for change

• Application for change of residence status(4 pages for use by applicant ）
• Diploma or certificate of graduation or Certificate of expected graduation(If you are a student of Hosei University at the time of application)※1
• Documents certifying that you are continuously looking for a job　※2
  (Documents showing that you joined company information session, confirmation emails for reservation of company information session, ,copies of job application form (“Entry Sheet”))
• Letter of recommendation from Hosei University (printing color)
• Documents or other information certifying your ability to pay expenses during your stay.(Copy of passbook）
• Residence card
• Passport
• Student Card (If you are a student of Hosei University at the time of application)
• Application for permission to engage in an activity

 
Extension of status of residence ※Second application

Documents required for extension

• Application for Extension of Period of Stay (for applicant 4 sheets)
• Diploma or certificate of graduation (optional)　※3
• Documents certifying that you are continuously looking for a job
  (Documents showing that you joined company information session, confirmation emails for reservation of company information session, ,copies of job application form (“Entry Sheet”))
• Letter of recommendation from Hosei university(printing color)
• Documents or other information certifying your ability to pay expenses during your stay.(Copy of passbook）
• Residence card
• Passport
• Application for permission to engage in an activity

※1 If your “Student” resident status will expire immediately before graduation, your application for “Designated Activities” will be accepted upon submission of a “certificate of expected graduation” instead of a “certificate of graduation.” This application will eliminate the risk of overstay (since the applicant can continue to stay in Japan while the application is pending). When you go to  Immigration Bureau to receive your Specified Activities residence card after graduation, submit your "Certificate of Graduation" to it.

※2 Graduate school students who could not job-hunting due to the Research Activities can submit the statement of reason issued by University instead of these documents. You can apply for the statement of reason through the “Application Form for Letter of recommendation”.

※3 It is not mandatory to submit, but the screening may proceed quickly if you submit.

Mandatory procedures in order to obtain a recommendation issued by the university

*Please note that change of status of residence from “Student” to “Designated Activities” can be applied by international students who have started searching for employment before graduation AND will continue searching for employment after graduation. International students who start searching for employment after graduation are not eligible to apply for such change of status of residence.

１．Submit an application form for “Letter of recommendation”

• Application Form for “Letter of recommendation”

*To complete the application, you will need “Documents proving your continuous job searching”e.g.) documents showing that you attended a company recruiting session/job fair, a reservation email for a company recruiting session/job fair, a copy of your entry sheet, an email regarding selection procedure by a company, etc.

２．Submit an application form for Certificates

• Application Form for Certificates

*This system is for alumni, but current students can also use it

• The alumni request a Certificate of graduation.
• There is no choice for certificates of current students, so please request 2 copies of “Certificate of Graduation”, and write in comments as follows:“Certificate of students status (in Japanese), and Certificate of expected Graduation (in Japanese), 1 copy of each.

３．The Global Education Center will prepare a letter of recommendation for the Immigration Bureau if the Global Education Center deems it appropriate for the university to issue the letter of recommendation.

What to do after the application for “Designated Activities” resident status

１．Report the application results. Upon successfully acquiring the “Designated Activities” resident status, submit your residence card

• Residence card application form

2．If you have not found a job by the expiry date of your period of residence with the “Designated Activities” status and wish to continue searching for employment, contact the university no later than one month before the expiration of your visa, and follow the same procedure as the first time of application.

３．Once you have completed your job searching, submit your final report sheet through the online application form. Also, report your career plans to Career Center via the Career/Employment System.

• Career/Employment System

*Please be sure to submit the Final Report Sheet when you find a job, when you return to your home country without finding a job in Japan, or when you change your status of residence to another one.

• Final report sheet