As the new year gets underway, and you wrap up final exams and thesis submissions, graduation season has truly arrived.

Many students, including those graduating from universities, vocational schools, and Japanese language schools, may wish to continue their job search after graduation.

By starting the process of changing your residence status early, you can confidently continue your job search after graduation.

If you meet certain requirements, such as not having any issues with your current residence status and receiving a recommendation from your school, you may be eligible to change your residence status to “Designated Activities” for job search purposes.

This status is granted for an initial period of six months, and it can be extended for one additional six-month period, allowing you to continue your job search in Japan for up to one year.

Graduates eligible for this status include those who have graduated from universities or vocational schools in Japan, as well as international students who have completed their studies at Japanese language institutions after graduating from overseas universities or graduate schools (provided the institution meets certain criteria).

When applying for a change of residence status, both common documents and specific documents are required depending on the type of graduate.

・Application form for change of residence status

・ID photo

・Passport (original)

・Residence card (original)

・Documents proving financial ability to support yourself during your stay

-Requirements:

   International students with a “Student” visa who have graduated from a university (including junior colleges and graduate schools) in Japan and wish to continue their job search after graduation. 

The same applies to foreign nationals who have graduated from a technical college.

  ※ Students enrolled in special courses, auditing students, students taking individual subjects, and research students are not eligible.

-Required documents:

・Graduation certificate or diploma (copy) from the last attended university　

・A recommendation letter from the university confirming you are continuing your job search

・Documents proving you are actively seeking employment

　※ In the case of graduate students, if sufficient job search activities could not be conducted during their studies due to focusing on research or other activities, they may consult the nearest regional immigration office.

-Requirements:

 International students with a “Student” visa who have graduated from a vocational school in Japan, earning a specialist qualification, and wish to continue their job search.

-Required documents:

・A recommendation letter from the vocational school confirming you are continuing your job search

・Documents proving you are actively seeking employment

・Documents confirming that your area of study is related to specific work visa categories, such as “Engineering, Humanities, and International Services”

-Requirements:

 International students who have graduated from an overseas university or graduate school, then completed studies at a Japanese language institution in Japan.

-Required documents:

・Graduation certificate (copy) from the Japanese language institution

・Attendance verification from the Japanese language institution

・Graduation certificate (copy) from the overseas university or graduate school

・A recommendation letter from the Japanese language institution confirming you are continuing your job search

・Documents proving you are actively seeking employment

・A confirmation letter from the Japanese language institution that you are regularly receiving job search-related support and information

・Documents confirming the institution meets the required standards

・Even before graduation, you can submit a “Certificate of Expected Graduation” in place of a graduation certificate. 

・In this case, you must submit your graduation certificate once it is issued.

For those continuing their job search in the second year, there is a possibility to apply for “Designated Activities (6 months)” if you participate in a job support program for international students offered by local governments.

This visa can be extended once, allowing you to stay in Japan for a maximum of two years for job search activities.

This measure, which allows the job search period to extend from one year to a maximum of two years, was implemented nationwide after Fukuoka City proposed it to the government.

For more information about the job support program in the Fukuoka area, please visit the “International Student Support” page on Fukuoka City’s website.

At Stellar, we provide assistance with the process of changing your status from a “Student” visa to “Designated Activities” for continuing your job search.

As of January 2025, we support international students residing in areas under the jurisdiction of the Fukuoka Regional Immigration Bureau (Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Oita, Miyazaki, Kagoshima, and Okinawa prefectures), ensuring that you can take the next step in your career with confidence.

Please feel free to contact us！