Transitioning from Student Status to Work Visa in Japan: Legal and Practical Considerations

2025年11月22日

約 8 分

Transitioning from Student Status to Work Visa in Japan: Legal and Practical Considerations

As the number of international students seeking employment in Japan continues to rise, the transition from Student status to a work-authorized residence status has become one of the most time-sensitive processes in Japanese immigration practice. This article provides an overview of the regulatory framework, deadlines, and risk factors that foreign graduates and employers should be aware of.

1. From “Student” to a Work-Authorized Residence Status

International students who complete their studies at a Japanese language school, university, or graduate school and subsequently obtain employment in Japan are required to change their status of residence to a work-authorized category（入管法第20条）. In this context, “work visa” primarily refers to:

Approval is contingent on the applicant’s academic background and the relevance of their job duties to their field of study.

2. Timeline and Filing Window: The Critical December–January Period

Most Japanese companies employ new graduates on April 1, immediately after degree conferral in March. As a result, January through March has historically seen a surge in applications to change status of residence—sometimes causing students to miss the employment start date.

To mitigate this risk, the Immigration Services Agency now encourages students to file between December 1 and January 31. Examinations generally take approximately two months. Filing after late January may result in delays that jeopardize the applicant’s ability to lawfully begin employment on April 1.

3. Red Flags and Grounds for Denial

A change of status application may be denied if the student’s record during their studies indicates non-compliance with the Student status, including:

Extremely poor academic performance
Repeating a year without legitimate cause
Low attendance without reasonable justification

Serious compliance issues may also bar approval:

Working more hours than legally permitted
Operating an unapproved business
Engaging primarily in YouTube or other monetized media activities

Such conduct may constitute a violation of the Immigration Control Act and can result in denial of a status change request.

Applicants pursuing Highly Skilled Professional status should note that degree certificates (e.g., completion of a Japanese graduate program) must be available prior to filing. For medical doctors and attorneys, it is permissible to work at a hospital or law firm under Highly Skilled Professional status prior to license registration, but professional activities cannot begin until registration is fully completed.

4. Continental Immigration: Representation and Case Experience

Continental has extensive experience with student-to-work status transitions each year. Our practice covers not only standard corporate employment but also highly specialized and non-traditional cases, including:

Employees of foreign financial institutions in Japan
U.S. military-related personnel
Embassy and diplomatic staff family members
Medical students and resident physicians
Student entrepreneurs and freelancers
Highly Skilled Professional applications

To ensure timely filing, we offer an accelerated service plan designed specifically to meet the crucial December–January filing window.

For consultations and intake, please contact us via the web form. The cost will be 115,000～150，000 JPY(excluding tax).

Professional Consultant

Masakazu Murai
Immigration Consultant & Financial Advisor with 18 years of investment banking experience at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley, advising over 500 entrepreneurs and executives.