Permission to Engage in Activities outside of your Status of Residence

An exchange student working at a part-time job is an example of someone engaging in activities other than those permitted on their status of residence. If you wish to work while on a college student visa or a dependent visa, you must apply for permission to do so in advance at the Morioka Immigration Office. That permission is called “Permission to engage in an activity other than that permitted under the status of residence previously granted” （資格外活動許可, shikaku gai katsudou kyoka）

• Morioka Immigration Office

It is not necessary to gain permission to perform non-paid activities like volunteering, or to receive an honorarium from taking part in an event. However, if an exchange student gains employment upon completion of their studies, they must apply for permission to change their status of residence, not simply permission to engage in activities outside of it.

• Changing your Status of Residence

Applications may be refused if it is deemed that the addition activities will be to the detriment of the original status of residence. A student working more than 28 hours a week would be deemed unable to concentrate on their studies, and thus denied permission.

What you need

Item	Japanese translation	Details	Where to get it?
Passport	パスポート, pasupoto		N/A
Residence card	在留カード, zairyruu kado		N/A
Application	資格外活動許可申請書、shikaku-gai katsudou shinseisho	Link to the application	Online or at the Immigration Office
A document that indicating the activity you wish to perform	-	Example: an employment contract	Employer you wish to enter a contract with
Proof of your current status	-	Example: student card Example: marriage license	University or local municipal office

• Link to the application（外部リンク）

*As a rule, exchange students or dependents may not work more than 28 hours a week. If you would like to work a full time job, you will need to change your status of residence to one where employment is acceptable.

*Jobs in the adult entertainment industry are not permissible.

Further details are found at the

• Immigration Bureau: Permission to Engage in Activity other than that Permitted under the Status of Residence Previously Granted（外部リンク）