Can You Keep Working in Japan After Graduation? Switching from a Student to a Work Visa

"Can I keep working in Japan after I finish my studies?" is one of the most common questions we hear from students approaching graduation. The short answer is that a student visa (Status of Residence "Student") does not, on its own, let you work beyond the limited part-time hours allowed under a separate permission. Once you have a job offer, you need to go through a change-of-status application to switch to a work-related status of residence.

This article walks through what's involved in switching to the "Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services" visa — the most common destination for new graduates — what the review actually looks at, and how to plan the timeline from job offer to your first day.

Can you start working with your student visa still in place?

The activities permitted under "Student" status are limited to receiving education, and paid work is not permitted beyond the scope of a separate part-time work permission. Even with a job offer in hand, you generally cannot show up to work on your start date still holding a student visa — approval of a change to a work-eligible status is a prerequisite.

If your period of stay happens to expire before the change is approved, there is generally a provision allowing you to remain in Japan for a set period while the application is pending, provided you filed before the expiry date. That said, this is meant as a safety net, not a plan — building in a comfortable margin is the standard approach.

What does the change-of-status review actually look at?

One of the core points examined is whether the job's actual duties are substantively related to what you studied at university or vocational school. A business major moving into sales or planning, or a computer science major hired as a systems engineer, tend to have an easier time demonstrating that connection. The further the job duties are from your major, the more carefully you need to prepare supporting documentation explaining the connection.

The review is also understood to look at the stability and continuity of the hiring company's business, and whether the offered salary is comparable to what a Japanese national in a similar role would receive.

What are the education requirements for this visa?

The "Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services" visa generally targets people who have graduated from a university (bachelor's degree or higher) or received equivalent education; graduates of vocational schools (senmon gakko) typically need to hold the "Senmonshi" or "Ko-do Senmonshi" title. Even without meeting the education requirement, a set number of years of relevant work experience can qualify you, though the required years are understood to vary by the type of work involved.

From job offer to your first day — what do you prepare, and when?

Once you have an offer, start gathering the employer-side documents — the employment contract or offer letter, the company's corporate registry certificate, financial statements, and so on — in coordination with HR. In parallel, collect your (expected) graduation certificate, academic transcript, and materials explaining your coursework. Working backward from your start date, filing with a comfortable margin ahead of the standard processing time is the practical baseline.

If your graduation isn't yet assured — for example, if you're at risk of needing an extra year or are short on credits — it's best to begin preparation as soon as your graduation outlook becomes clear.

Inside the SUMIMOTO Hub app, a 24-hour AI advisor can explain, in multiple languages, what documents a change-of-status application needs and how the process works. For preparing the actual application or assessing your chances of approval, we still recommend confirming with a licensed immigration professional, such as a gyoseishoshi.