Who this is for
- Those considering changing to or extending Designated Activities
- International students who wish to continue job hunting in Japan after graduation
- Representatives of companies hiring foreign nationals with Designated Activities
Main application and consultation offices:For a Certificate of Eligibility, apply to the regional Immigration Services Bureau with jurisdiction over the intended place of residence or the location of the accepting organization. For a change or extension, apply to the regional Immigration Services Bureau with jurisdiction over the place of residence. Confirm where to submit a Certificate of Eligibility application depending on whether the applicant applies personally or through a representative.
Check Public Notice Eligibility for Each Activity
Designated Activities is a status of residence for activities specifically designated by the Minister of Justice for each individual foreign national. Activities specified in the public notice include, for example, work by graduates of Japanese universities and other institutions under Designated Activities No. 46. Examples outside the public notice include continued job hunting after graduation and waiting to begin work after receiving a job offer.
Being outside the public notice does not mean that unrestricted activities are permitted. Check which treatment applies to the activity you intend to pursue and whether your circumstances meet its requirements. Designated Activities is not a system that generally allows work that does not qualify under another work-related status of residence.
Check the activity and scope of work on the designation form
The specific activities are stated on the designation form attached to the passport. The designation itself is not recorded on the residence card, so do not determine the person's work or whether they may work based solely on the wording “Designated Activities.”
Both the individual and the hiring company should compare the activity stated on the designation form with the planned work. If the purpose or workplace changes, check with Immigration whether the current designation covers it or whether an application for a change or other procedure is required.
Supporting materials:[2]
Prepare separately for a Certificate of Eligibility, change, and extension
A Certificate of Eligibility for a new entry into Japan and a change to switch activities while in Japan are separate procedures. Guidance for Designated Activities No. 46 covers a Certificate of Eligibility, change, and extension. For continued job hunting after graduation, prepare in accordance with the guidance for changing from Student and extending the status to continue that activity. Do not assume that the same conditions apply to a Certificate of Eligibility application made from overseas.
For continued job hunting, check that the person was engaged in job-hunting activities before graduation, whether the school has recommended them, and other matters. For graduates of vocational schools, the course and relevance of what they studied are also relevant. For graduates of Japanese-language educational institutions, a degree from an overseas university and the school's requirements are also relevant. For an extension, provide updated evidence of actual job-hunting activity and means to cover living expenses.
Designated Activities No. 46 is separate from the status for job hunting
Work under Designated Activities No. 46 requires meeting requirements concerning educational background, Japanese-language ability, employment terms, and other matters. Graduating from a university or similar institution does not mean that any job is permitted. Even after the expansion of eligibility in 2024, conditions concerning degrees, accredited courses, titles, and other matters apply to graduates of junior colleges and similar institutions and to vocational school graduates.
The following are the main documents for continued job hunting and Designated Activities No. 46. For other Designated Activities, such as medical stays or domestic workers, or for applications by family members, use the official list for the relevant activity. This is not a complete list of required documents common to every type of activity.
Checking required documents and where to obtain them
The documents listed are representative examples. Required materials vary depending on the type of application, such as an application for a Certificate of Eligibility, change, or extension, as well as your current status of residence, affiliated organization, nationality, and family relationships. Additional materials may be requested for individual cases.
Application and livelihood-related documents to be prepared by the applicant
Application form / photograph meeting the specifications
- Purpose
- To provide information about the activity for which the application is being made and the applicant.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- Obtain the form from the Immigration page for the relevant activity and complete it yourself. For work-related activities, also check the section to be completed by the affiliated organization.
- Points to check
- The forms differ for a Certificate of Eligibility, a change, and an extension. Check the conditions for exemption from submitting a photograph for each procedure. For receipt of a Certificate of Eligibility by mail, also check the requirements for a return envelope and other items.
Passport / residence card / designation form
- Purpose
- To confirm the applicant's identity and the activities currently authorized.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- Travel documents kept by the applicant. Check the designation form attached to the passport.
- Points to check
- For a change or extension, present your passport and residence card. The designation form is used to confirm the activity; this does not mean that a copy must be submitted with every application.
Documents showing how expenses will be covered / certificates of residence tax assessment and payment
- Purpose
- To show that you can cover your living expenses, or to provide information about your income and tax payments.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- Expense-related documents are obtained from the applicant, the person providing financial support, financial institutions, and others. Tax certificates are obtained from the municipality where you lived on January 1 of the relevant year.
- Points to check
- For a change of status or extension for continued job-seeking activities, prepare documents showing how expenses will be covered. If someone else will bear the expenses, also explain their ability to do so and the circumstances. For an extension as a No. 46 applicant, tax certificates are central; if you cannot obtain them, prepare salary-related documents and similar materials.
Documents obtained from the school, examination provider, or other relevant organization
Certificates of graduation or completion, and certificates of degree or title
- Purpose
- To confirm graduation or the qualifying educational background.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- The school from which you graduated, the degree-awarding institution, or another relevant organization.
- Points to check
- These are checked for a change of status for continued job-seeking activities and for applications for recognition or change to No. 46. For applicants in the vocational-school category seeking to continue job hunting, documents concerning grades, completed coursework, and any applicable title are also required. An application for job-seeking status made before graduation may use a certificate of expected graduation or similar document, but proof of graduation is required when permission is granted.
School recommendation and documents concerning continued job-seeking activities
- Purpose
- To show the school's recommendation and that you are actually continuing to seek employment.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- The school you attended immediately before. The applicant should organize records of applications, interviews, and similar activities.
- Points to check
- Prepare these for a change of status or extension for continued job-seeking activities. Applicants at Japanese-language education institutions must also provide documents such as an attendance certificate, confirmation of regular interviews, and materials confirming the school's requirements. These are separate from the documents for employment under No. 46.
Supporting materials:[3]
Proof of Japanese-language proficiency
- Purpose
- To confirm the Japanese-language proficiency required for No. 46.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- The organizations administering the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test or BJT, and, where applicable, the overseas university.
- Points to check
- For recognition or a change to No. 46, use a copy of a score certificate showing JLPT N1 or a BJT score of 480 or higher, or similar documentation. Confirm the treatment of applicants who majored in Japanese at a foreign university in the official guidance; do not treat it as a common requirement for all Designated Activities.
Supporting materials:[4]
Documents prepared by the accepting company under Public Notice No. 46
A document specifying working conditions and a statement explaining the reasons for hiring
- Purpose
- To explain the employment conditions and the specific duties that qualify under the system.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- Issued or prepared by the employer.
- Points to check
- Prepare these for recognition or a change to No. 46. The guidance indicates that the statement explaining the reasons for hiring may be omitted if the document specifying working conditions clearly describes duties that involve using Japanese.
Supporting materials:[4]
Documents clarifying the nature of the business
- Purpose
- To confirm the business conducted by the employer.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- The employer's information brochure, website, or similar materials. If using a certificate of registered matters, obtain it from the Legal Affairs Bureau.
- Points to check
- For recognition or a change to No. 46, prepare one of the items listed in the official list: an information brochure, equivalent materials, a copy of the website, or a certificate of registered matters. You do not need to collect all of them in every case.
Supporting materials:[4]
Declaration concerning the representative of the affiliated organization
- Purpose
- To declare information concerning the representative of the affiliated organization.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- The affiliated organization prepares this using the Immigration Services Agency's reference form.
- Points to check
- This has been added for applications by the No. 46 applicant for recognition, change, or extension, starting with applications submitted on or after April 15, 2026. It is stated that this document is not required for applications seeking permission to engage in activities as a family member.
Supporting materials:[4]
Consultation and application preparation process
- 1
- 2
- 3
Request documents from the school and employer
Ask the issuing party for a recommendation letter or working-conditions documents well in advance. For an extension, organize records of your current activities and documents concerning expenses and income, and ensure the information is consistent.
- 4
Apply and check the designated activities after permission is granted
Apply with the deadline in mind and respond to requests for additional documents. After permission is granted, check the designation document and period of stay, and engage only in activities within the permitted scope.
Points to check before applying
- Having all the documents listed as examples does not guarantee permission. The handling of periods of stay and extensions varies by activity, and neither permission nor a uniform review period can be guaranteed.
- The activity-specific guidance cited as examples requests that certificates issued in Japan be dated within three months of issuance and that Japanese translations be attached to foreign-language documents. Requirements for additional documents and forms may also change, so check the official list in effect when you apply.
This page provides general information about the system and does not determine individual cases or guarantee permission or approval. Required documents and requirements vary depending on individual circumstances. When applying, check the latest official information and consult an administrative scrivener about the procedures suited to your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
If I have a Designated Activities status, can I work for any company?
You cannot determine this from the status-of-residence name alone. You need to compare the activity stated in the designation document with the job and employer. Do not treat permission for job-seeking activities as permission for employment under a work-based category.
Do I also need a graduation certificate to extend my status for continued job-seeking activities?
The official list for university graduates requires proof of graduation or similar documentation for a change of status, and a school recommendation letter, activity records, and similar documents for an extension. However, additional documents may be requested in an individual review.
Supporting materials:[3]
What should I do if I cannot find my designation document?
First, check the documents attached to your passport. If you cannot find it, prepare materials that confirm your current activities and consult the Immigration Services Agency. Do not determine the scope of your work based only on the information shown on your residence card.
Supporting materials:[2]
Official Immigration and Legal Affairs Sources
Check the following official pages for application forms and the latest required submission materials. Official materials are displayed in Japanese or other languages provided by each organization.
- [1] Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Status of Residence “Designated Activities”
- [2] Tokyo Regional Immigration Services Bureau Application Reservation System: Q&A on Designated Activities outside the Public Notice and designation documents
- [3] Immigration Services Agency of Japan: When international students who have graduated from a Japanese university or similar institution seek employment
- [4] Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Status of Residence “Designated Activities” (graduates of Japanese universities and similar institutions, and their spouses, etc.)