Application for permission to engage in activities other than permitted
What is Application for permission to engage in activities other than permitted?
Foreign nationals residing in Japan who have been granted a status like Spouse of a Japanese national are not restricted in their activities. On the other hand, those residing in Japan under other residence statuses are generally not permitted to engage in activities that are not stipulated in their granted residence status. In order to engage in these activities, permission must be obtained from the Immigration Services Agency. The application to obtain this permission is called an application for permission to engage in activities other than permitted.
If he/she engages in activities outside of his/her status of residence without this permission, he/she may be charged with engaging in activities outside of his/her status of residence (punishable by imprisonment for up to one year or a fine of up to 2 million yen, or both).
Typical Examples
For example, the residence statuses "Student" and "Dependent" do not specify activities that can generate income, so in order to do part-time work, he/she must apply for permission to engage in activities other than permitted. It is common to see many foreigners working in convenience stores and fast food restaurants, but most of these people are international students who have obtained permission to engage in activities other than those permitted.
Permission criteria (general principles)
- 1.The activities he/she wishes to carry out will not interfere with his/her original activities.
- 2.He/She is currently carrying out activities related to his/her current status of residence.
- 3.The activities he/she wishes to carry out fall under the activities stipulated for other employment-related statuses of residence (excluding "Specified Skilled Worker" and "Technical Intern Training"*)
- 4.The activities he/she wishes to carry out are not illegal activities or adult entertainment businesses.
- 5.He/She is not of bad behavior.
- 6.The company agrees that he/she carries out activities outside of his/her status of residence.
*For example, someone who is engaged in agricultural activities under the "specified skilled worker" cannot take up a part-time job cleaning buildings in their spare time.
Comprehensive permission
Those residing under the status of residence of "Student", "Dependent", and some "Designated Activities", etc., are permitted to engage in activities to operate a business that generates income or activities to receive remuneration, up to a limit of 28 hours per week, as long as they meet all of the above "general principles" except for 3.
The meaning of "comprehensive" is that it is permitted without specifying the place of work or the content of the part-time job.
Individual permission
- -Internship activities exceeding 28 hours per week, despite the status of residence being "student".
- -Language teachers, interpreters, private tutors, and other occupations that have a close relationship with international students.
- -Occupations that are within the scope of part-time jobs that students normally have according to social standards.
- -Preparatory activities for the purpose of starting a business in Japan.
Unlike comprehensive permission, permission is granted by specifying the place of part-time work and the type of work.
Application method etc.
For comprehensive permission, only the application form is required. For individual permission, a document (optional format) explaining the activity, activity time, remuneration, etc. is required.
Please note that applications for permission to engage in activities other than permitted can only be submitted online if they are submitted at the same time as an application for permission to change residence status, an application for permission to extend period of stay, or an application for permission to acquire residence status.