Student baito
Part-Time Job Rules for International Students in Japan
Updated:
Part-time work (アルバイト, baito) helps many international students pay rent and practice Japanese. But the Student status of residence is for studying, and working is only allowed with separate permission and within clear limits. Breaking those limits, even by accident, can cause problems later when you renew your status or change to a work visa.
This guide explains the permission you need, the weekly and daily hour limits, which workplaces are off-limits, what happens if the rules are broken, the basics of tax and My Number for baito, and how to find a part-time job that keeps you on the safe side. Rules can change, so check the Immigration Services Agency of Japan website for the current version.
You need permission before you start
Students cannot work just because they hold a residence card. You first need Permission to Engage in Activity Other Than That Permitted under the Status of Residence Previously Granted (資格外活動許可). For students, this is usually a comprehensive permission that does not name a specific employer.
Many students receive it at the airport when they first land, if they apply there. Otherwise you apply at a regional immigration office. Once granted, it is shown by a stamp on the back of your residence card (or on a separate permission document). Employers are required to check it, so expect to show both sides of your card.
The permission is tied to your student status. It does not carry over automatically if your status changes, and your status and permission can be reviewed if you stop attending school. If you graduate and change to another status, such as Designated Activities for job hunting, check whether you need to apply again.
The 28-hour rule
During school terms you may work up to 28 hours per week. This is the total for all your jobs combined, not per employer. Two jobs of 20 hours each exceed the limit, even though each employer thinks you are fine.
The limit applies to any seven-day period, not only to a calendar week from Monday to Sunday. Count carefully when a busy weekend is followed by extra shifts early in the next week. Overtime and training hours count, and so do trial shifts if they are paid.
Keep your own record of hours for every job, and tell each employer how many hours you already work elsewhere. Shift managers change and schedules get busy; you are the only person who sees the total.
Long school vacations
During the long vacations set by your school, such as summer and spring break, you may work up to 8 hours per day. This only applies to the official vacation periods in your school's academic calendar, not to days you simply have no classes.
Keep a copy of your school's calendar in case you need to show the vacation dates. Once the vacation ends, the 28-hour weekly limit applies again from the first day of the new term.
Students in some situations, for example those on a leave of absence or those who have finished their course, may not be allowed to work in the same way. Ask your school's international office if your situation is unusual.
Workplaces that are off-limits
Even with permission, students may not work at businesses covered by the adult entertainment regulations under the Act on Control and Improvement of Amusement Business (風営法). This generally includes places where staff sit with and entertain customers, such as cabaret-style clubs, host and hostess clubs and some snack bars or lounges, as well as pachinko parlors, mahjong parlors and certain other amusement businesses.
The ban covers the whole business, not just certain duties. Washing dishes, cleaning or working the kitchen at such a place is still not allowed. Some bars and night-time venues fall into this category and some do not, depending on how they are licensed, and the name on the sign is not a reliable guide.
If a job ad offers unusually high hourly pay for night work, vague duties or pay in cash without a contract, be careful. When in doubt, ask the employer directly what type of business licence they hold, or ask your school before you start.
What happens if the rules are broken
Working without permission, working beyond the hour limits or working at a prohibited business is a violation of immigration law. It can be taken into account when you apply to renew your period of stay or to change to a work status after graduation, and serious or repeated cases can lead to much heavier consequences, including removal from Japan.
Employers who knowingly hire people to work illegally can also be punished, which is why careful employers check your card and hours. But the employer's mistake does not protect you; the responsibility for your own status is yours.
Your working history can come up later. Income and tax records show how much you earned, so a pattern of unusually high earnings can raise questions about your hours. Staying within the rules from the start is far easier than explaining later.
Tax, My Number and insurance basics
Income from baito is subject to income tax like any other salary. If you have one main job, submit the dependents declaration form (扶養控除等申告書) to that employer so tax is withheld at the lower rate. Submit it to only one employer; tax at your other jobs will be withheld at a higher rate, and you may need to file a return to settle it. Some tax treaties give students from certain countries special treatment, so check with the National Tax Agency or a tax office.
Employers will ask for your My Number (individual number) for tax and social insurance paperwork. This is a legitimate request. Give it only to your employer for these procedures, and do not share photos of your card on social media or with people you do not know.
If your income goes above certain levels, resident tax and other obligations may apply the following year. Keep your payslips and the withholding statement (源泉徴収票) from each job; you may need them for tax and for residence procedures.
How to find a safe part-time job
Look for employers used to hiring students: convenience stores, restaurants, hotels, supermarkets, logistics centers and language or tutoring jobs. Ads that say 留学生OK usually understand the rules and will check your permission and hours. Your school may also have job boards and advice.
Before starting, ask for the working conditions in writing: hourly wage, place, hours, how pay is calculated for late night, how often you are paid and how. Be careful with jobs that ask you to pay a fee to start, to hand over your residence card or passport, or to open a bank account for someone else. These are warning signs of fraud or illegal work.
Choose hours that leave enough time for classes and sleep. Poor attendance can itself cause problems when your status is reviewed, and your school's attendance record matters as much as your hours.
Checklist
- Permission to engage in activity other than that permitted is shown on your residence card
- Total hours across all jobs stay within 28 in any seven-day period during term
- During official long vacations, no more than 8 hours per day
- The workplace is not an adult entertainment, pachinko, mahjong or similar business
- You have the working conditions in writing
- The dependents declaration form is submitted to only one employer
- Payslips and withholding statements are kept for every job
Frequently asked questions
Is the 28 hours per job or in total?
In total. All your part-time jobs together must stay within 28 hours in any seven-day period during school terms.
Can I work at an izakaya or bar?
Many ordinary restaurants and izakaya are fine. Venues licensed under the adult entertainment regulations, such as places where staff entertain customers, are not allowed, even for kitchen or cleaning work. Ask the employer about their licence if you are unsure.
Does the 28-hour rule apply during winter break?
The 8-hours-per-day allowance applies only to the long vacations in your school's official calendar. If your school's calendar does not define winter break as a long vacation, the normal limit applies.
Can I keep working after I graduate?
Your permission is linked to your student status. After graduation, check your new status and whether you need new permission before continuing any baito.
Will a small mistake with hours ruin my visa?
Nobody can predict how a case will be judged, but hour violations can be considered at renewal or change of status. Keep records and stay under the limit so there is nothing to explain.