This page explains Permission to Engage in Other Activities in Japan.
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Permission to Engage in Other Activities in Japan
28-Hour Rule, Residence Card and Employer Checks
Permission to Engage in Other Activities is required when a foreign national in Japan engages in income-generating or remunerated activities outside the scope of their current status of residence.
This is especially important for students, dependents, side jobs by work-status holders, freelance-style activities, and employer-side residence card checks.
Quick answer: what should be checked first?
It is not enough to check whether the person has Permission to Engage in Other Activities. You must also check what activity is permitted, within what scope, and how many hours may be worked. Employers should check both the front and back of the residence card and manage work hours and job duties carefully.
- Applicant: current status of residence, expiry date, main permitted activity, and proposed income-generating or remunerated activity.
- Permission details: blanket permission or individual permission, 28-hour rule, workplace or activity restrictions, and prohibited activities.
- Employer: front and back of the residence card, work restrictions, permission notation, and total working hours across all workplaces.
- Risk: unauthorized work, excessive working hours, or failure to perform the main activity may affect extension, change of status, permanent residence, and employer compliance.
- Processing time: the standard processing period published by Immigration is two weeks to two months.
In Japan, each status of residence has a specific permitted scope of activities. If a foreign national intends to engage in income-generating activities or receive remuneration outside the scope of their current status, they should confirm whether Permission to Engage in Other Activities is required before starting.
“It is only a part-time job” or “It is only a side job” does not always mean that the activity is safe. The foreign national may face immigration problems, and the employer may face illegal employment facilitation risks.
When this permission may be required
Permission to Engage in Other Activities becomes an issue when a foreign national intends to engage in an activity that belongs outside the current status of residence and involves income or remuneration.
For example, Student status is primarily for study, and Dependent status is primarily for staying in Japan as a family member. If a student or dependent wishes to work part-time, this permission usually needs to be checked before the activity starts.
Typical applicants
International students generally need permission before working part-time in Japan. Working hour restrictions, long school holiday rules, prohibited business categories, and consistency with study purpose should be checked.
A person with Dependent status usually needs permission before engaging in paid work such as part-time employment. Working hours, financial dependency, and renewal explanations should be considered.
Even work-status holders may need careful review when engaging in side jobs, outsourcing, freelance-style work, or activities that are different from their main permitted activity.
Check the back of the residence card
Permission to Engage in Other Activities may be shown on the back of the Japanese residence card. However, a notation on the card does not mean that any type of work is freely permitted.
You should check the type of permission, activity content, working hours, workplace, and relationship with the original status of residence. For students and dependents, the 28-hour rule is often a major issue. Employers should also check the residence card, status of residence, expiry date, and permission notation before employment starts.
- Check both the front and back of the residence card.
- Confirm whether the permission is a 28-hour blanket permission or an individual permission for a specific activity.
- Confirm whether the job duties, workplace, and working hours match the permission.
- If the person has multiple workplaces, manage the total working hours, not only the hours at your own workplace.
- Before renewal or change of status, review working hours, income, school attendance, and financial dependency.
Blanket permission and individual permission
Permission to Engage in Other Activities is generally discussed as blanket permission or individual permission. Blanket permission is often used for part-time activities within 28 hours per week.
Activities outside that scope, freelance-style work, outsourcing, side businesses, or activities that require specific review may require individual permission.
| Type | Main meaning | Practical caution |
|---|---|---|
| Blanket permission | Permission that does not specify each workplace, typically used for activities within 28 hours per week. | Activities related to adult entertainment businesses and other prohibited categories are not permitted. Total working hour management is important. |
| Individual permission | Permission for a specific activity, organization, contract, or work content outside the blanket-permission framework. | Outsourcing, freelance-style work, side businesses, professional activities, and unclear working-hour cases should be reviewed carefully. |
| When change of status may be better | If the person will continuously engage in an activity far outside the current status, a change of status may need to be considered. | Permission to Engage in Other Activities is not a substitute for the correct status of residence. |
General requirements for permission
Immigration’s official procedure page lists general principles for Permission to Engage in Other Activities. In practice, the proposed activity should not interfere with the main activity under the current status, the person should actually be engaging in the main activity, and the proposed activity must not fall under prohibited categories such as adult entertainment-related activities.
- The proposed activity must not interfere with the activity under the current status of residence.
- The person must actually be engaging in the activity under the current status of residence.
- The proposed activity must be an appropriate activity covered by the permission framework.
- The proposed activity must not be related to adult entertainment businesses or other prohibited activities.
- The person’s conduct should not be poor.
- If the person’s status is based on a contract with an institution, that institution’s consent may be relevant.
Important points to avoid immigration problems
- Do not start working before obtaining the required permission.
- For students, school attendance and academic consistency may also become relevant.
- For dependents, financial dependency and household circumstances should be reviewed.
- Side jobs by work-status holders require careful review of the permitted scope of the current status.
- Employers should check the residence card, expiry date, permission notation, and working hour management.
- If there are multiple workplaces, manage total working hours across all workplaces.
- If the residence card alone is not enough, also check the passport sticker, permission document, and application details.
How we review the case
We first confirm the current status of residence, expiry date, proposed activity, workplace, working conditions, working hours, and remuneration. We then consider whether Permission to Engage in Other Activities is sufficient, whether individual permission is required, or whether Change of Status of Residence should be considered.
We confirm the residence card, expiry date, and current permitted activities.
We review the workplace, job duties, working hours, remuneration, and employment or contract type.
We consider whether blanket permission is enough, individual permission is needed, or a change of status may be more appropriate.
We check the application form, residence card, passport, and materials explaining the proposed activity.
Depending on the case, we assist with the permission application, review in connection with renewal or change, or employer-side compliance check.
How Tommy’s Legal Service can support you
We help students, dependents, and work-status holders confirm whether the proposed activity is allowed under the current status of residence.
- Review of whether permission is required
- Residence card and permission notation check
- Explanation of working hour and activity restrictions
- Review of possible impact on renewal or change of status
Before hiring a foreign national for part-time work, side work, outsourcing, or freelance-style work, employers should confirm whether the person can legally engage in the proposed activity.
- Residence card check points
- Permission notation review
- Working hour management
- Prevention of illegal employment facilitation risk
If the person has already been working, we review whether working hours, income, school attendance, or financial dependency may become an issue in the next immigration application.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Permission to Engage in Other Activities shown on the residence card?
It may be shown on the back of the residence card. However, if the card notation is unclear, it may also be necessary to check the passport sticker, permission document, and application details.
Can I work if there is no permission notation on my residence card?
If the activity is outside the scope of your current status of residence, you should confirm whether permission is required before starting. Do not start a paid activity that requires permission before the permission is granted.
Does the 28-hour rule apply across multiple part-time jobs?
In practice, working hours should be managed as a total, not only by each workplace. If you have multiple part-time jobs, keep accurate work records.
Do dependents need this permission to work part-time?
A person with Dependent status usually needs Permission to Engage in Other Activities before engaging in paid work such as part-time employment. Financial dependency and household circumstances should also be considered.
What should employers check?
Employers should check the front of the residence card for status of residence, period of stay, expiry date, and work restrictions. They should also check the back of the card for Permission to Engage in Other Activities and confirm that job duties and working hours match the permission.
Official references
Please also check the latest information from the Immigration Services Agency of Japan.
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Permission to Engage in Other Activities under Article 19
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Application for Permission to Engage in Other Activities
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Permission for Student status
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Permission for Dependent status
Unsure whether you can work or hire?
Permission to Engage in Other Activities depends on the current status of residence, proposed activity, working hours, remuneration, contract type, workplace, and timing of renewal or change of status. If you are unsure whether you can work, or whether you can hire a foreign national, please confirm the situation before the activity starts.
Tommy’s Legal Service can review the situation from the applicant side, family side, or employer side and organize the practical points before filing or employment.
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