Getting a job offer from a Japanese company is a huge milestone—but many international students find themselves wondering:
“What visa can I stay on after I graduate, before my first day of work?”
It’s a common concern. Even with a job offer in hand, the gap between graduation and employment can leave you feeling uncertain about your immigration status.
The good news is that your residence card doesn’t automatically become invalid on the day you graduate. However, once you graduate, the activities permitted under your Student Visa officially come to an end. That means you’ll need to consider changing to an appropriate status of residence as soon as possible.
In many cases, students who have already secured a job offer may be eligible to apply for a Designated Activities visa for prospective employees (Naitei holders). This status allows you to legally remain in Japan until your employment begins.
Whether your application is approved depends on several factors, including:
The type of job you’ve been offered
Your current immigration status
The documents provided by your future employer
Your individual circumstances
In this article, we’ll explain who qualifies, how the application process works, and whether you’re allowed to work part-time while waiting to start your new job.
目次
First, Check Where You Are in the Process
The path to a Designated Activities visa for prospective employees depends on your current residence status.
Before moving forward, take a moment to identify where you are in the process, as the requirements and next steps vary depending on your current visa situation.
Current Visa Status
Current Situation
What You Need to Do Next
Student Visa
You received a job offer while still enrolled in school.
Apply to change your status to Designated Activities (for Prospective Employees) after graduation.
Student Visa
You have graduated but have not yet received a job offer.
First, apply to change your status to Designated Activities (for Continued Job Hunting).
Designated Activities (Continued Job Hunting)
You received a job offer while looking for a job.
Apply to change your status to Designated Activities (for Prospective Employees).
Designated Activities (for Prospective Employees)
Your employment start date is approaching.
Apply to change your status to the appropriate work visa, such as Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services.
The Designated Activities (for Prospective Employees) status is available only to people who are currently staying in Japan under either:
a Student Visa, or
a Designated Activities visa for Continued Job Hunting.
If you haven’t received a job offer yet, you’ll need to complete a different immigration procedure first.
Although both visas are called Designated Activities, they’re not the same. The difference is explained in the Designation Letter you receive together with your residence card. It clearly states what activities you’re allowed to do under your visa.
Who Is Eligible? 5 Requirements for the Designated Activities Visa for Prospective Employees
You have graduated from a recognized educational institution in Japan or completed your academic program.
Your employment must begin within one year of receiving your job offer, and within one year and six months after graduation.
The job you’ve been offered must qualify for a work visa, such as Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services or another eligible work-related status of residence.
You must have maintained a good immigration record while staying in Japan, with no issues related to your residence status or compliance with immigration rules.
Your prospective employer must agree to support your application by confirming that they will:stay in regular contact with you until your employment begins, andpromptly notify the Immigration Services Agency if your job offer is withdrawn.
One requirement that deserves special attention is the fifth one.
This visa cannot be obtained by the student alone. Your prospective employer also plays an important role in the application process and must actively cooperate by providing the required documents and commitments.
Another requirement that’s easy to overlook is the time limit.
To qualify, you must meet both of the following conditions:
Your employment must begin within one year of receiving your job offer, and
Your employment must begin within one year and six months after graduation.
Meeting only one of these deadlines is not enough—both conditions must be satisfied.
Here’s one simple tip: write down the date you received your job offer and your graduation date. These two dates determine the deadline by which you must start working to remain eligible for this visa.
A Job Offer Alone Doesn’t Mean You’re Eligible
The third requirement is often the most important one in practice.
This visa isn’t simply a way to stay in Japan until your first day at work. It’s intended for people who are expected to qualify for a work visa once they begin employment.
In other words, your future job must be eligible for a work-related status of residence—such as Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services—and you must also be expected to meet the relevant requirements, including your educational background and field of study.
This is reflected in the application documents.
When applying for Designated Activities (for Prospective Employees), you’ll be asked to submit many of the same documents required for your future work visa application, including documents showing:
Your work location
The employer’s business activities
Your salary
Your job description
If you graduated from a vocational school (senmon gakkō), pay particular attention. Immigration will carefully examine whether your planned job is related to what you studied.
So don’t rely on your job offer letter alone. As early as possible, review your employment contract and job description to make sure they support your future work visa application.
Remember, Designated Activities (for Prospective Employees) is not a backup option for people who don’t qualify for a work visa. You should prepare with your future work visa application in mind from the very beginning.
Continued Job Hunting Visa vs. Prospective Employee Visa: 3 Key Differences
Although both are classified as Designated Activities, they serve different purposes.
One is for continuing your job search after graduation, while the other is for staying in Japan after you’ve already received a job offer.
Because these two statuses are often confused, here’s a simple comparison table to help you understand the differences.
What’s Different?
Continued Job Hunting Visa
Prospective Employee Visa
Who Is It For?
Graduates who have not yet received a job offer
People who have already received a job offer and are waiting to start work
Purpose
To continue job hunting in Japan.
To stay in Japan until your employment begins
Support Required
Your prospective employer is not involved. However, you’ll need documents such as a recommendation letter from your school.
Your prospective employer must cooperate by submitting the required written pledge (letter of commitment) and other supporting documents.
For the Designated Activities (Continued Job Hunting) visa, university graduates are generally required to submit a recommendation letter from the university they most recently attended confirming that they are continuing their job search. The Immigration Services Agency of Japan even provides an official template for this recommendation letter.
A simple way to remember the difference is this:
If you’re applying for the Continued Job Hunting Visa, you need your school’s support. If you’re applying for the Prospective Employee Visa, you need your employer’s support.
The usual process looks like this:
Continue job hunting after graduation under the Continued Job Hunting Visa.
Receive a job offer.
Change your status to Designated Activities (for Prospective Employees) while waiting to start work.
In other words, you can’t skip directly to the Prospective Employee Visa if you haven’t received a job offer yet.
The only exception is if you receive your job offer before graduating. In that case, you can apply to change your status directly from a Student Visa to Designated Activities (for Prospective Employees) without first obtaining the Continued Job Hunting Visa.
Working Part-Time? It Depends on Two Different Permissions
内Even after changing your status to Designated Activities (for Prospective Employees), you are not automatically allowed to work.
If you want to earn income before starting your full-time job, you’ll need to obtain Permission to Engage in Activity Other Than That Permitted by Your Status of Residence (commonly known as permission for part-time work).
The Immigration Services Agency divides this permission into two categories.
1. Comprehensive Permission
This is the standard permission that allows you to work up to 28 hours per week.
Most part-time jobs fall into this category.
2. Individual Permission
This permission is required for activities outside the scope of the comprehensive permission.
A typical example is an internship undertaken as part of your job preparation or career development, where the nature of the work goes beyond ordinary part-time employment.
Can You Work More Than 28 Hours at Your Future Employer?
In some cases, yes.
If you’re participating in an internship with the company that has already offered you a job, Immigration may grant Individual Permission allowing you to work more than 28 hours per week before your official employment begins.
However, this is not automatic.
Simply working before your first day on the job does not mean you’re allowed to exceed the 28-hour limit. The internship must genuinely be for professional training or work experience, and Immigration will review details such as:
The purpose of the internship
The activities you’ll perform
The duration
Your working hours
Whether you’ll be paid
Before starting the internship, you should confirm whether Individual Permission is required and obtain approval if necessary.
It’s also worth noting that you can hold both types of permission at the same time.
If you already have Comprehensive Permission, you can later apply for Individual Permission, and vice versa, depending on your circumstances.
Your Part-Time Work Permission Doesn’t Automatically Carry Over
One important point is often overlooked.
Permission for part-time work is tied to your status of residence. This means that the permission you received while on a Student Visa does not automatically remain valid after you change to Designated Activities.
If you plan to continue working part-time after changing your status, you should apply for a new permission for part-time work at the same time you apply to change your visa status.
You should also wait until the new permission has been granted before starting or continuing any paid work.
Finally, even if you receive Comprehensive Permission, you are not allowed to work in businesses related to the adult entertainment industry. This restriction applies regardless of whether you hold a Student Visa or a Designated Activities visa.
If you’d like to learn more about how Permission to Engage in Activity Other Than That Permitted by Your Status of Residence works, we also cover it in our guide:
It explains the basics of Permission to Engage in Activity Other Than That Permitted by Your Status of Residence, including who needs it, how to apply, and the rules you should know before starting a part-time job.
If you wait until you’ve found a part-time job to apply for work permission, you may have to delay your start date while waiting for approval. To avoid unnecessary delays, it’s usually best to apply for permission at the same time you apply to change your status of residence.
Timeline: When Should You Take Action?
Residence status procedures are often a race against your visa expiration date. The right time to apply depends largely on when you graduate and when your job starts.
Here are some common scenarios:
March Graduation → April Start Date
If you graduate in March and begin working in April, you can often change directly to your work visa before your current status expires.
In many cases, you won’t need the Designated Activities (for Prospective Employees) visa.
However, if there’s a significant gap between receiving your job offer and your start date, this visa may still be necessary.
September Graduation → April Start Date (Next Year)
If you graduate in September but don’t start work until the following April, you’ll have a gap of about six months.
This is the most common situation where the Designated Activities (for Prospective Employees) visa is needed.
March Graduation → October Start Date
The same applies if you graduate in March but your employment begins in October.
This is common for companies with multiple hiring periods or head offices located overseas, where employees don’t always start work in April.
Don’t Wait Until After Graduation
In all of these situations, waiting until after graduation to begin the application process can put your legal status at risk.
As soon as you receive your job offer, check the expiration date on your residence card and work backward from that date to plan your application schedule. Starting early gives you the best chance of completing all the necessary procedures on time.
We Recommend Seeking Advice Early If…
If any of the following applies to you, it’s a good idea to seek advice as early as possible.
You graduated from a vocational school (senmon gakkō). Immigration may examine whether your future job is related to your field of study. This requirement can also apply when applying for Individual Permission for an internship. For graduates of a vocational school’s specialized course, the internship must generally be related to the subjects they studied.
Your future employer has little or no experience hiring international employees. Companies unfamiliar with Japan’s immigration procedures often struggle with the required pledge and supporting documents. Explaining what the employer needs to prepare early on can help prevent delays.
Your residence status is close to expiring. Some documents, such as your graduation certificate or certificate of program completion, may take time to obtain. Waiting until the last minute can make it difficult to submit your application before your current status expires.
You want to continue working part-time before your full-time job starts. In this case, you should plan your status of residence change and your permission for part-time work together. Applying in the wrong order could leave you unable to work for a period of time.
One final point to keep in mind: Staying in Japan until your job starts and being allowed to work during that time are two separate immigration procedures. Many people complete one of them and assume everything is taken care of—but that’s not always the case. To avoid unexpected problems, make sure you’ve considered both your residence status and your permission to work before your employment begins.
For Employers Hiring International Graduates
This visa cannot be granted without your company’s cooperation. As the employer, you’ll generally be asked to prepare the following documents.
1. Proof of the Job Offer
A document confirming that a job offer has been made, including the date the offer was accepted or issued.
2. Letter of Commitment
A written pledge confirming that your company will comply with its obligations, such as maintaining contact with the prospective employee and notifying the Immigration Services Agency if the job offer is withdrawn.
The Immigration Services Agency provides an official template for this document.
3. Details of the Planned Position
A document explaining the position the employee will take, including:
Company name
Primary work location
Business activities
Salary
Job description
This third document is especially important.
Immigration will review whether the planned position is eligible for a work-related status of residence. This assessment should be made at the time of the job offer—not just before the employee starts work.
If the position does not meet the requirements for a work visa, the employee may encounter difficulties when applying to change from Designated Activities to the appropriate work visa before starting employment.
It explains the key points employers should know, including work permission requirements and compliance with Japan’s immigration regulations.
As soon as you make a job offer, compare the employee’s planned start date with the expiration date of their current residence status. If those dates don’t line up, you could lose a talented candidate simply because the necessary immigration procedures weren’t started in time.
Don’t Forget the Pre-Employment Immigration Procedures
The Designated Activities (for Prospective Employees) visa is only a temporary status that allows you to remain in Japan until your employment begins.
Once it’s time to start work, you’ll need to change your status of residence to the appropriate work visa, such as Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services.
Here’s a quick recap of the key points about the Designated Activities (for Prospective Employees) visa.
It allows international students who have received a job offer to remain in Japan until their employment begins.
It is available to people currently staying in Japan on either a Student Visa or Designated Activities (Continued Job Hunting).
There are five eligibility requirements. Among them, your employment must begin within one year of receiving your job offer and within one year and six months after graduation.
Having a job offer alone is not enough. Your future position must be expected to qualify for a work visa, such as Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services.
Your future employer must cooperate by submitting the required Letter of Commitment and other supporting documents. The application cannot be completed by the applicant alone.
If you want to work before your employment starts, you must apply separately for permission to engage in part-time work. The permission you received while on a Student Visa does not automatically carry over after changing your status.
This visa is particularly useful for graduates who have a long gap between graduation and their start date, such as students who graduate in September and begin work the following April.
Every application is reviewed individually by Immigration. Preparing early and confirming the requirements in advance can make a significant difference to the outcome.
Immigration procedures often come down to careful preparation and good timing. We want to help ensure that a valuable job opportunity isn’t lost simply because an application was delayed or an important document was overlooked.
At Megumi Immigration Law Office, we provide support in Japanese, English, and Chinese. We welcome consultations from both international students and employers hiring international talent.
Profile Megumi Suzuki, Immigration Lawyer . After graduating from universities in both Japan and Shanghai, I worked for about 12 years as an international flight attendant. Through my encounters with people from diverse backgrounds, I was inspired by those pursuing their dreams of studying or working in Japan.
As an administrative scrivener, I focuses on supporting foreign nationals — from visa applications to broader aspects of life in Japan. Guided by my motto, “Supporting people beyond the flight,” I provides personalized and heartfelt assistance, valuing each person’s past, present, and future.
Even if it feels like a small question, please don’t hesitate to reach out — we’re always happy to help.
