Graduating from university while on a student visa and starting professional work requires a Change of Status — from Student (留学) to an appropriate work status (typically Engineer/Humanities for most professional roles).

Critical timing: Apply for Change of Status before your graduation date or before you start work — whichever comes first. You cannot begin work activities until the Change of Status is approved. Most universities have dedicated windows for this process.

If you married a Japanese national while in Japan on a work or student visa, you can change your status to Spouse of Japanese National (日本人の配偶者等). This status has no work restrictions — any job, any industry, any employer.

Note: Changing is optional — you can keep your existing work visa if it suits you. Many people choose to change once they have sufficient evidence to support the application. Proof of genuine relationship is the key challenge.

Going freelance or starting a company while on an Engineer/Humanities work visa is one of the most complex transitions in Japan immigration. The Engineer/Humanities status is based on an employment relationship with an organization — it does not cover self-employment.

Typical options: Business Manager (経営・管理) visa for company founders and directors (note: requirements significantly tightened in October 2025 — ¥30M capital required). For some tech freelancers, a review of actual activity patterns may be needed before determining the right route.

If your new job involves a fundamentally different type of activity from what your current status permits — for example, moving from a professional white-collar role to a skilled labor role in a specific industry — Change of Status is required before you can begin the new work.

Do not start the new job first. File the Change of Status application before beginning the new type of work. If you're unsure whether your new role crosses status categories, the detailed employer guide below has specific HR scenarios.

Dependent (家族滞在) visa holders can only work part-time with a 資格外活動許可 (permission for activities outside status), limited to 28 hours per week. To work full-time in a professional role, you need to change to an appropriate work status.

The right work status depends on your qualifications and the nature of the work. If you have a university degree and professional experience, Engineer/Humanities is likely the path.

If you are a student visa holder who has received a job offer and will be starting work after graduation, you need to change to an appropriate work status. This is one of the most common changes in Japan.

Timing is critical: Most new graduates start on April 1. You must file your Change of Status application well before that date. If you're a foreign student graduating in March, start the process by November–December of the previous year to be safe given 2–4 month processing times.

If you changed employers but your new job involves the same type of professional work that your current status covers, Change of Status is not required. You simply need to file a 14-day notification with ISA about the employer change, and prepare updated employer documents for your next renewal.

The 14-day notification must be filed within 14 days of starting the new job. This can be done online at oishi.moj.go.jp.

Applying for Permanent Residency (PR) is a separate application from Change of Status. You do not change your current status to apply — you apply for PR while keeping your existing status, and your current status remains valid throughout the review period.

PR has specific requirements including residency duration, compliance history, and from April 2027, a 5-year visa at the time of application.