Procedures regarding residence status
Procedures for acquisition for residence status “Designated Activities” for job hunting
International students (excluding post-master’s researchers and research students) who continue their job search after graduation may stay in Japan by changing their status of residence from “Student” to “Designated Activities.” From the date of graduation (March 24 or September 16), they may remain in Japan for up to one year (a six-month “Designated Activities” status, renewable once). During this period, students may also be permitted, upon application, to engage in part-time work for up to 28 hours per week.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
If you leave Japan temporarily before applying to change your status of residence to “Designated Activities” before graduating from university and your graduation date passes while you are outside Japan, you will no longer be eligible to apply for a change to “Designated Activities.” If you plan to leave Japan and wish to change your status of residence, please apply at the Immigration Bureau before departing Japan whenever possible.
If you leave Japan after graduating from university before applying to the Immigration Bureau to change your status to Designated Activities, you will no longer be able to apply for this change.
When leaving Japan, please refer to the website below and be sure to complete the following two procedures.
Furthermore, after graduation, you will not be able to work part-time or participate in paid internship while the application to change your residence status from "Student" to "Designated Activities" is in progress.
Once you have obtained Designated Activities residence status, you will be able to work part-time after obtaining PERMISSION TO ENGAGE IN ACTIVITY OTHER THAN THAT PERMITTED UNDER THE STATUS OF RESIDENCE PREVIOUSLY GRANTED.
If you wish to apply to the Immigration Service Agency with a "Certificate of Expected Graduation" before graduating from university, please apply at the Shinagawa Office. There have been cases where applications have not been accepted at other branch offices.
In addition, for graduate students who were unable to engage sufficiently in job-hunting activities during their enrollment due to a focus on research activities, it has become possible to apply for a change of status to “Designated Activities” by submitting a statement of reasons issued by the university.
Please also refer to the following website for job-hunting activities.
Documents to be submitted to the Immigration Bureau
Change of residence status ※First application
- Application for change of residence status(4 pages for use by applicant ）(Example)
- 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 (After you submit a request for a university recommendation letter through 1. Application Form for “Letter of recommendation under “Application Procedure” below, the university will send the recommendation letter to you by email.) (Be sure to print in color.)
- Letter of Financial Support (A bank balance certificate verifying that the sponsor is the account holder, or a copy of the balance page of the bankbook verifying that the sponsor is the account holder, or a copy of the bank balance certificate printed from a bank account app is acceptable. The balance must cover approximately one year's living expenses. If the document is written in a language other than Japanese or English, a Japanese translation must be attached.)
- Residence card
- Passport
- Student Card (If you are a student of Hosei University at the time of application)
- Application form for permission to engage in activities other than those permitted under the status of residence ( sample)
Extension of status of residence ※Second application
Required Documents for Extending Status of Residence for Designated Activities (Job Hunting)
- Application for Extension of Period of Stay (for applicant 4 sheets)(Example)
- 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 (After you submit a request for a university recommendation letter through 1. Application Form for “Letter of recommendation under “Application Procedure” below, the university will send the recommendation letter to you by email.) (Be sure to print in color.)
- Letter of Financial Support (A bank balance certificate verifying that the sponsor is the account holder, or a copy of the balance page of the bankbook verifying that the sponsor is the account holder, or a copy of the bank balance certificate printed from a bank account app is acceptable. The balance must cover approximately one year's living expenses. If the document is written in a language other than Japanese or English, a Japanese translation must be attached.)
- Residence card
- Passport
- Application form for permission to engage in activities other than those permitted under the status of residence( sample)
※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.” By submitting this application, you will eliminate the risk of overstaying, as you are allowed to remain in Japan while your status of residence application is being processed. When collecting your “Designated Activities” residence card after graduation, be sure to submit your Certificate of graduation to the Immigration Bureau.
While one Certificate of graduation is provided free of charge at the graduation ceremony, if you need an extra copy for submission to the Immigration Bureau, it is recommended that you reserve it in advance following the instructions of your faculty or graduate school before graduation.
※2 Graduate school students who could not job-hunting due to the Research Activities can submit the statement of reasons issued by University instead of these documents. You can apply for the statement of reasons through the “Application Form for Letter of recommendation”.
※3 It is not mandatory to submit, but the screening may proceed quickly if you submit.
Application Procedure
*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.
However, for graduate students who were unable to engage sufficiently in job-hunting activities during their enrollment due to a focus on research activities, it has become possible to apply for a change of status to “Designated Activities” by submitting a statement of reasons issued by the university.
１．Submit an 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．Issuance of Certificates
Please obtain the required certificate using the automatic certificate issuing machine.
If it is difficult for you to visit the campus, please apply through the online system listed below.
- Certificate Online Application
- Issuance fees, postage, and handling charges will apply.
- Graduates may also use this system.
- Graduates are required to submit one copy of a Certificate of Graduation. Please apply through the application screen.
- Current students are required to submit one copy of a Certificate of Expected Graduation. Please apply through the application screen.
３．The Global Education Center will send a letter of recommendation to you by email if the university determines that there is no problem with issuing it.
If it is determined, based on your enrollment and residence history, that you do not have a sufficient understanding of the laws and regulations regarding status of residence or are unable to comply with Japanese laws, the letter of recommendation cannot be issued.
４．Once all the required documents are ready, go to the Immigration Bureau to apply immediately.
- How to apply to the Tokyo Immigration Bureau
- How to apply online
Applications cannot be made through the online residence application system on the last day of the period of stay (the day the period of stay expires).
After completing your application, you will receive an email containing your application reference number. Please keep this email with you at all times until you receive your new card.
Before applying, please prepare the following items.
After the immigration bureau's review (which takes about 2-4 months), you will be approved and will need to pay a fee when you receive your new card. You can purchase revenue stamps for the fee at a university co-op or convenience store.
If your period of stay is about to expire or has expired while your application is being processed by the Immigration Bureau
Even if your period of stay expires while you are waiting for permission after applying for a change of status of residence, you can continue to stay in Japan with your previous status of residence for two months after the expiration of your period of stay (or until you obtain a new card, whichever is shorter). (= Special Period)
However, you will need to go through the procedures for your national health insurance and Individual Number Card . Please note that your MY NUMBER CARD will automatically expire when your period of stay expires, even if you are renewing your status of residence or applying for a change, and it will take time and money to reissue it. In particular, banks may impose transaction restrictions due to the period of stay even if you are renewing your residence status, and you may not be able to withdraw money. Please see below for details.
What to do after applying for “Designated Activities” resident status
Once you have obtained the “Designated Activities” residence status, please submit the information on your residence card to the Global Education Center.
*If you do not submit your updated residence card, we may not be able to issue a recommendation letter when renewing your “Designated Activities” residence status, so please make sure to submit it.
MY NUMBER CARD Procedures
If you have a My Number card, even if you change your residence status, your My Number card will automatically expire at the end of your previous residence period.
If your card expires, it will need to be reissued, which takes time and money, so be sure to complete the following procedure at your city office before it expires.
Time: Before the expiration date of your previous residence permit and from the day after you obtain your new card
Items that need to be updated:
① Validity period of your My NUMBER CARD
② (For those who have registered for an electronic certificate) Electronic certificate
③ (For those who use My Number insurance cards) Insurance eligibility
National Health Insurance Procedures
If you are not using a My Number Health Insurance Card, you will be issued a "Qualification Confirmation Certificate" listing your insured eligibility information. Please check with city office regarding the issuing method and procedures.
If you are a My Number Health Insurance Card user, please refer to "My Number Card Procedures" above.
Bank procedures
If you have registered your previous residence card with the financial institution you use, there may be restrictions on account transactions once the registration expiration date has passed. So once you have obtained your new residence card, please check with your financial institution on how to register your new residence card information.
Others
１．Notification of the Accepting Organization
- Please submit a notification of the Accepting Organization to the Immigration Service Agency by referring to the link below.
- Other notifications
２．If you have not found a job by the expiration date of your “Designated Activities” residence status and wish to continue your job-hunting activities, please submit the same application form as the first time, no later than one month before your period of stay expires.
*As with the first application, a letter of recommendation from the university is required for renewal, so be sure to submit the application form.
*Even if you submitted a Statement of Reasons issued by the university instead of proof of job-hunting activities for your first application, you will be required to provide documents showing your job-hunting activities for your second 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.
- Final report sheet
*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.
- Career/Employment System
