The situations of international students approaching graduation vary from person to person.

Many wish to stay in Japan and start their career, as they have worked hard to study here.

To ensure that these talented individuals, who have honed their skills through dedication, can continue to thrive in Japan, the government and various industries are making efforts in different ways.

Job fairs organized through collaborations between local governments, regional immigration offices, local businesses, and JETRO are among such initiatives.

Understanding the types of residency statuses that can be changed opens up greater opportunities for a smooth transition to employment or starting a business.

We have explored several options for changing the “Student” residency status after graduation based on individual circumstances.

If you plan to start working immediately after graduation, you will need to apply for a change of residence status to one that matches your job responsibilities to ensure you can begin working on time.

The Immigration Bureau typically starts accepting applications for a change of status from “Student” to a work-related visa around December each year.

To meet your employment start date, it is crucial to prepare early with a “prospective graduation” status.

Work with your prospective employer to determine the appropriate status of residence.

Those who have graduated from a vocational school in Japan or from a university either in Japan or abroad and will engage in work related to their field of study typically obtain the ‘Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services’ resident status.

The acquisition of the JLPT N1 certification increases the likelihood of obtaining the “Designated Activities (Graduates of Japanese Universities, etc.)” status, expanding the range of available job opportunities.

For more details, please refer to the article I previously wrote on this Designated Activities (Graduates of Japanese Universities, etc.) status.

あわせて読みたい

Career Support for International Students: Residence Status “Designated Activities No. 46&#... The "Designated Activities No. 46" visa offers international students in Japan an opportunity to utilize their high-level Japanese language skills in various job roles after graduation. This visa allows graduates to work in positions that require active communication, such as translation, interpretation, and customer service, across industries like restaurants, hotels, nursing care facilities, and more. Learn about the eligibility criteria, required Japanese proficiency, and the types of work allowed under this visa.

International students who have graduated from universities, graduate schools, junior colleges, vocational schools, or certain Japanese language education institutions (only if they entered after graduating from a university or graduate school abroad) and continue their job hunting activities after graduation, which they started before graduation, may be eligible to change their status of residence to ‘Designated Activities’ (Continuing Job Hunting).

This status of residence can be granted for up to one year (6 months, with the possibility of one renewal).

If an international student graduating in September has received a job offer and will start working at a company in April of the following year, or if an international student with ‘Designated Activities’ (job hunting) has received a job offer and there is a gap before starting employment, it is necessary to change their status of residence to ‘Designated Activities’ (Job Offer Holder).

International students who have been officially accepted into a graduate school within one year of graduating from a university, or former international students holding a ‘Designated Activities’ (Continuing Job Hunting) residence status who have been officially accepted into a graduate school within one year and three months of graduation, may change their status of residence to ‘Designated Activities’ (Awaiting Enrollment) if their enrollment date falls after the expiration of their current period of stay.

Still, certain conditions must be met, such as the issuance of a pledge from the enrolling institution.

International students who wish to start a business after graduation are required to change their status of residence to ‘Business Manager.’

They must be expected to establish a company within six months of graduating from a university or graduate school, and must obtain a recommendation letter from their university or graduate school.

Additionally, if certain requirements are met, international students who wish to continue entrepreneurial activities initiated while still enrolled in school may be granted permission to stay in Japan for up to two years.

This special measure applies to international students who fall under one of the following two categories:

Case 1:

The student is enrolled in a university, graduate school, junior college, or college of technology that actively accepts outstanding international students namely by participating in the government-offered Employment Promotion Program for International Students or the Top Global University Project.

If the student has been engaged in entrepreneurial activities while still in school and wishes to continue after graduation, they may be eligible to change their status of residence to Designated Activities (Continued Entrepreneurial Activities), provided that all requirements are fulfilled.

Case 2:

The student graduated from a Japanese university, graduate school, junior college, college of technology, or vocational school (specialized course), and had been staying in Japan under the Program for Promoting Foreign Entrepreneurial Activities of Foreign Nationals in National Strategic Special Zones but was unable to establish a business within the permitted period.

In this case as well, if the prescribed requirements are met, the individual may be permitted to change their status of residence to Designated Activities (Continued Entrepreneurial Activities).

We’ve briefly touched on the topic, but we hope it’s clear that there are various options available depending on the situation of international students or graduates.

Our office is fully committed to supporting international students.

Preparing the application is an important process that involves proving both your current situation and that the desired residence status is appropriate for the activities you wish to pursue.

Please feel free to consult with us.