Before You Take a Side Job in Japan: Check Whether Immigration Permission Is Required

Do not start paid work outside the activities allowed by your current status of residence until you know whether you need immigration permission. If permission is required, apply first and wait until it is granted.

The procedure is called shikakugai katsudō kyoka (資格外活動許可), officially translated as “permission to engage in activity other than that permitted under the status of residence previously granted.” The application itself is free, but the Immigration Services Agency states that standard processing can take two weeks to two months.

This guide is for foreign residents considering a part-time job, freelance assignment, paid internship, side business, or other paid activity in Japan. Your answer depends on your status of residence and the actual work—not simply on whether your employer calls it a “side job.”

The essentials

• Check the wording on your residence card and any existing permission before accepting work.
• If the new activity already falls within your current status, separate permission may not be necessary.
• Students and certain other residents may qualify for broad permission with an hourly limit.
• Other cases usually require permission for a specifically identified activity.
• An employer’s approval does not replace immigration permission.
• Applying does not authorize you to work while the application is pending.

First decide whether the new work is outside your status

The legal question is whether the paid activity falls outside the activities authorized by your status of residence. Job titles and employment arrangements alone do not decide this.

A person with an employment-based status may be allowed to work for more than one organization if both roles fall within the scope of that status. Conversely, a small freelance project can require permission if its duties fall outside that scope.

Before applying, write down:

• your current status of residence;
• your main work, study, or other authorized activity;
• the side activity’s actual duties;
• the organization or client involved;
• the work location;
• expected hours and schedule;
• contract period; and
• pay or other compensation.

Compare those details with the activities authorized by your status. If the boundary is unclear, ask the Immigration Services Agency before starting. A company’s internal classification, such as “contractor,” “volunteer,” or “side business,” does not determine the immigration result.

People who may not need this permission

Statuses based on personal position—such as Permanent Resident, Spouse or Child of Japanese National, Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident, and Long-Term Resident—generally do not restrict work to a particular professional activity. Holders normally do not use this procedure simply to take a second job.

That does not remove other obligations. Employment law, taxes, licenses, employer rules, and restrictions attached to a regulated occupation may still apply.

A person whose new duties remain within an employment-based status may also not need outside-activity permission. However, a change of contracting organization can trigger a separate immigration notification, and a major change in professional activity may require a change of status instead.

People who should not assume they can apply in the usual way

Some statuses have special restrictions. The Immigration Services Agency’s general criteria state that the proposed outside activity must correspond to an activity covered by an eligible work-related status, excluding activities under Specified Skilled Worker and Technical Intern Training.

Temporary Visitor status is also not a route for taking ordinary paid work in Japan. If your planned activity does not fit your present status or this permission system, the correct route may be a change of status—not a side-job application.

Comprehensive and individual permission are different

Comprehensive permission gives limited flexibility within a defined framework; individual permission approves a particular activity. Confusing the two can lead someone to work beyond the permission actually granted.

Comprehensive permission

Comprehensive permission, often called blanket permission, does not normally identify one employer in advance. It is commonly associated with eligible Student and Dependent status holders and certain Designated Activities cases.

For qualifying students, the familiar limit is:

• up to 28 hours in one week during the academic term; and
• up to 8 hours in one day during a long vacation formally set by the educational institution.

The 28-hour limit is a combined total across all jobs. It is not 28 hours per employer.

A student must continue the studies that support Student status. Leaving school, graduating, taking a leave of absence, or no longer carrying out the principal activity can change whether work remains permitted. A school holiday declared by an employer is not the same as a long vacation under the school’s rules.

Dependent status and eligible Designated Activities cases can have their own conditions. Read the permission recorded for you rather than borrowing another resident’s rule.

Individual permission

Individual permission is used when immigration authorities need to assess a specific activity, organization, contract, period, or set of duties.

It may be relevant when:

• an employment-based status holder wants to perform paid work outside the present professional scope;
• a proposed activity does not fit the conditions for comprehensive permission;
• hours or duties require a case-specific assessment;
• the work is freelance, self-employed, or business-related; or
• a continuing job-search resident plans an activity that needs individual review.

Approval for one named activity is not open permission for unrelated clients or jobs. A material change in duties, employer, location, hours, or contract may require another review.

ここがポイント: Permission is attached to the authorized activity and its conditions. It is not a general license to earn money from any source.

Check the approval criteria before preparing the application

Immigration will consider both the proposed work and whether you are properly carrying out your main authorized activity. A side job must remain secondary to the basis of your stay.

The Immigration Services Agency lists general criteria that include the following:

• The additional activity must not interfere with the activity authorized by your present status.
• You must actually be carrying out that principal activity.
• The proposed activity must fit an eligible activity category under immigration law.
• The activity must not violate civil or criminal law.
• It must not involve prohibited adult-entertainment-related businesses or workplaces covered by the listed restrictions.
• You must satisfy conduct-related and immigration-enforcement conditions.
• When your main status is based on a contract with a public or private organization in Japan, that organization must agree to the outside activity.

These points explain why an apparently small assignment may still require detailed evidence. Immigration is not only counting hours; it is checking whether the new work is compatible with the reason you are residing in Japan.

Employer consent and company rules are separate issues

For a contract-based status, immigration’s general criteria include consent from the organization connected to the principal activity. Prepare written confirmation if it applies to you.

You must also check your employer’s internal rules. There are two distinct approvals:

1. Workplace approval: whether your employer permits outside employment under its rules.
2. Immigration permission: whether your status of residence allows the activity.

Having only one does not automatically give you the other.

Documents to prepare

A complete application must show exactly what you plan to do and why it will not replace or disrupt your main activity. The official minimum list is short, but additional evidence may be requested during examination.

The standard items include:

• one application form;
• a document explaining the proposed activity;
• your residence card;
• your passport or certificate of status of residence;
• a written explanation if you cannot present the passport or certificate; and
• identification for an authorized representative when one submits the application.

For an individual application, useful supporting records can include:

• an employment agreement, offer letter, service contract, or statement of work;
• a detailed description of duties;
• the organization’s name, address, and business information;
• contract dates;
• weekly working hours and a schedule;
• compensation and payment method;
• a schedule for your main job or studies; and
• written consent from your principal organization when required.

If the work is freelance or involves several clients, clearly explain how assignments are obtained, what services you provide, how time is recorded, and how the work relates to your present status. Immigration may ask for documents beyond those listed on the general procedure page.

Avoid vague descriptions such as “online support,” “consulting,” or “content work.” State what you will produce, for whom, under whose direction, and how often. Immigration needs the real activity, not a broad label.

How to apply step by step

Apply through the immigration office responsible for your registered address and leave enough time for examination. There is no application fee.

1. Confirm that permission is the correct route

Check whether the activity is already within your status, requires outside-activity permission, or is substantial enough to require a change of status.

If you cannot tell, contact a regional immigration office or the Foreign Residents Information Center. This check is especially important for mixed duties, self-employment, and work that could become your main source of income.

2. Agree on conditional terms

Ask the prospective employer or client to make the offer conditional on obtaining any required immigration permission. The contract should identify duties, hours, pay, location, and period without requiring you to begin unlawfully.

3. Obtain consent where required

If your status is based on a contract with a Japanese organization, confirm whether that organization’s consent is required. Separately complete any internal side-job process imposed by your employer or school.

4. Complete the current application form

Use the latest form linked from the Immigration Services Agency’s procedure page. As of August 1, 2026, the official page lists PDF and spreadsheet versions, including forms for certain special situations.

Keep the activity description consistent across the form, contract, schedule, and supporting documents. Differences in job title, hours, or compensation can cause questions and delays.

5. Submit the application

The general submission destination is the regional immigration office with jurisdiction over your place of residence. Office days and hours can differ, so confirm them before visiting.

The official procedure page also states that this application can be filed online when submitted at the same time as an online application for a change of status, extension of period of stay, or acquisition of status. Do not assume that every standalone application can be completed online.

6. Wait for the decision

The official standard processing period is two weeks to two months. This is a guide, not a guaranteed deadline. Missing documents, unusual duties, or requests for additional evidence can extend the process.

Do not perform the paid activity while waiting merely because the form has been accepted. Submission and approval are different events.

7. Read the permission conditions

After approval, check the residence card, passport-related record, or permit information provided to you. Confirm:

• whether the permission is comprehensive or activity-specific;
• permitted duties;
• hour limits;
• validity period;
• employer or organization restrictions; and
• any other stated conditions.

Give the employer the information it legally needs, but retain your own copy of the application, supporting records, and approval.

Cost, timing, and practical deadlines

The government fee is zero, but the real planning cost is the waiting period. Do not arrange a start date that assumes immediate approval.

A practical timeline is:

• Before accepting: identify the duties and check your current status.
• Before applying: collect the contract, schedule, activity description, and any required consent.
• Application period: allow at least the official two-week-to-two-month standard range.
• Before the first shift or task: confirm that approval has actually been granted and covers that work.
• Before changing duties or clients: check whether the existing permission still applies.
• Before status renewal or change: ask how the permission will be affected; do not assume it continues unchanged.

There is no separate municipal application. This is a national immigration procedure handled through the competent regional immigration office. Your local city or ward office does not grant it.

Work that causes frequent confusion

Modern side work can still be paid activity even when no traditional workplace is involved. Focus on what you do and what you receive in return.

Remote work for an overseas client

Payment from abroad does not automatically place the activity outside Japanese immigration rules. If you perform the work while residing in Japan, ask immigration whether it falls within your status or requires permission.

Tax residence, payroll, and social-insurance questions are separate. Immigration approval does not settle them.

Freelancing and platform work

A short assignment, online marketplace contract, or payment to a sole proprietor can still be remunerated activity. Individual permission may be necessary if the work is outside your authorized scope.

If assignments change constantly, seek guidance on whether the proposed arrangement can be assessed under one permission and what records you should keep.

Paid internships

A paid internship can require outside-activity permission even when it is educationally useful. Student hour limits and long-vacation rules may apply, but internships exceeding those limits can require individual assessment or another immigration route.

An unpaid internship is not automatically risk-free. Its duties and scale could affect your main studies or raise questions about whether it is genuinely unpaid training. Confirm unusual arrangements with your school and immigration.

Honoraria, prizes, and one-time payments

Not every receipt of money is treated identically. Reimbursement, an occasional honorarium, a prize, royalties, and compensation for ongoing services can raise different questions.

Do not decide from the payment label alone. Explain the underlying activity, frequency, and relationship with the payer when requesting official guidance.

Helping a family business

Regularly serving customers, preparing products, managing accounts, or operating an online shop may constitute work even if relatives own the business. The absence of a conventional wage does not by itself answer the immigration question.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Most preventable problems begin with treating the permit as a formality rather than checking its exact scope. Use this list before you start.

• Starting after submission: Wait for approval, not merely an application receipt.
• Relying on an employer’s promise: Employers cannot expand the activities authorized by your status.
• Assuming all residents have a 28-hour allowance: The rule applies only to qualifying people with the relevant permission.
• Counting 28 hours separately for each job: Where the weekly limit applies, combine hours across jobs.
• Using a job title instead of describing duties: “Engineer,” “assistant,” or “consultant” may cover very different activities.
• Ignoring prohibited workplaces: Comprehensive permission does not override restrictions involving adult-entertainment-related businesses.
• Treating overseas income as automatically exempt: Where the client pays from does not alone decide whether immigration permission is needed.
• Continuing after the main activity ends: Graduation, withdrawal, job loss, or another major change can affect the basis for permission.
• Assuming permission survives every renewal or status change: Check the new residence card and permission conditions.
• Forgetting employer or school rules: Immigration permission does not cancel contractual or institutional restrictions.

Keep work schedules, contracts, invoices, and payment records. They help you monitor conditions and explain the activity during later immigration or tax procedures.

When a change of status may be the better route

Outside-activity permission is designed for secondary work, not for replacing the principal purpose of residence. If the new activity becomes your main occupation, consider whether you need to change your status of residence.

Warning signs include:

• the side activity takes more time than your main work or studies;
• most of your income will come from the new activity;
• you have stopped performing the activity supporting your current status;
• the new role is long-term and professionally different; or
• you plan to operate a business rather than perform a limited secondary activity.

A change-of-status application has different requirements and is not automatically approved. Discuss the proposed transition with immigration before reorganizing your work.

Questions foreign residents often ask

Can I begin if my employer says permission will probably be granted?

No. A prediction or internal company approval is not immigration authorization. Wait until permission has been issued.

Does the application cost anything?

The Immigration Services Agency states that there is no fee for this application. You may still have personal costs for document preparation, translation, travel, or professional assistance.

How long does approval take?

The official standard processing period is two weeks to two months. Actual timing varies, and immigration may request more evidence.

Is side work always limited to 28 hours?

No. The 28-hour framework is associated with comprehensive permission for specific eligible statuses and circumstances. Individual permission is governed by the conditions granted in that case.

Can I work at any business after receiving comprehensive permission?

No. Prohibited adult-entertainment-related businesses and activities remain excluded. Other conditions of your status and permission also continue to apply.

What if the duties already fit my current work status?

Outside-activity permission may not be required, but another procedure—such as a notification concerning an affiliated organization—may apply. Confirm based on your status, contract, and actual duties.

Where can I obtain an official answer for my case?

Contact the regional immigration office responsible for your address or the Foreign Residents Information Center. The official procedure page lists 0570-013904 in Japan and 03-5796-7112 for IP phones or calls from overseas.

What to check before saying yes to the work

Your safest next step is to match the proposed duties to your current status before signing an unconditional contract or performing any task. Use the latest official form and instructions, because immigration procedures and document formats can change.

Before the planned start date, confirm all five points:

• Is the activity already within your current status?
• If not, are you eligible for comprehensive or individual permission?
• Does the application accurately describe the duties, hours, pay, and organization?
• Have you received every required institutional or employer approval?
• Has immigration granted permission that clearly covers this activity?

If any answer remains unclear, postpone the work and ask the competent immigration office. The practical dividing line is simple: a possible approval is not permission, and a submitted application is not permission.

参照リンク

• Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Application for Permission to Engage in Activity Other Than That Permitted Under the Status of Residence Previously Granted
• Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Permission for Activities Outside Student Status
• Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Information for People Considering Enrollment at a Japanese-Language Institution
• Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Online Residence Application Procedures
• Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Regional Immigration Services Bureaus and Offices
• Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Foreign Residents Information Center