From Student Visa to Work Visa: Jobs for Graduates in Japan
Most international students who stay in Japan after graduating move from Student status to Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services. Japanese companies hire new graduates on a yearly cycle, and recruiting for an April start often begins more than a year earlier, with information sessions, internships, written aptitude tests and several interview rounds. Common first jobs include IT and engineering, sales, trade administration, interpreting and coordination, hotel front desk and marketing.
Immigration looks at whether your studies connect to the job and whether the duties use specialised knowledge. University graduates are usually assessed more flexibly on that link than vocational school graduates. Your record as a student also matters: attendance, and whether your part-time work stayed within the permitted hours. After you receive an offer, you apply to change your status; for spring hires, applications are usually accepted from around December, but check the Immigration Services Agency's current guidance. The final decision rests with the Agency.
A practical tip: start job hunting early, keep your part-time hours well within the limit, and collect your transcripts and graduation documents in advance. If you have not found a job by graduation, a Designated Activities status for continued job hunting may be available with your school's recommendation. Ask employers whether they have hired international graduates before, since experienced HR teams handle the paperwork more smoothly.
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Frequently asked questions
When can I apply to change from Student to Engineer/Specialist status?
After you receive a job offer. For graduates starting work in April, applications are usually accepted from around December of the previous year. Check the Immigration Services Agency of Japan's announcements, as the exact schedule is published by the Agency.
What if I have not found a job before graduating?
Graduates of universities and some vocational schools may be able to change to a Designated Activities status to continue job hunting, generally with a recommendation from their school. Conditions apply, and part-time work needs separate permission.
Does my major have to match the job exactly?
It does not have to be identical, but there must be a reasonable connection between what you studied and your main duties. The link is usually assessed more strictly for vocational school graduates than for university graduates.