PERMISSION to ENGAGE in OTHER ACTIVITY (“SHIKAKUGAI KATSUDO KYOKA / 資格外活動許可” in Japanese) is a special permission granted to foreign residents in Japan that allows them to engage in activities outside the scope of their current visa status, within the limits specified by the Immigration Office. However, note that type of activity and the period or conditions of work permitted vary depending on each individual case.

There are 2 types of permission depending on your situation: INCLUSIVE (blanket) permission and EXCLUSIVE permission.

Depending on your current visa status and circumstances that require this permission, the immigration Office may grant you either INCLUSIVE permission or EXCLUSIVE permission (or, in rare cases, both). Note that holders of a work visa are generally not eligible to obtain this permission for simple part-time jobs, such as cashiering, waiting tables, or packing.

THOSE WHO ARE NOT REQUIRED TO OBTAIN THIS PERMISSION

Those who hold one of the following visa statuses do not need this special permission, as they are allowed to engage in any type of work at any time:

  • Permanent Resident
  • Long-term Resident (Teiju-sha)
  • Child or Spouse of Japanese
  • Child or Spouse of Permanent Resident

CASES NOT REQUIRED TO OBTAIN THIS PERMISSION

The following are examples of activities that do not require this special permission:

  • Your intended activity is already permitted under your current visa status.
    e.g. a holder of a HUMANITIES visa works as an English teacher or a translator/interpreter on weekends.
  • Volunteer activities or activities without income.
  • Incidental and temporary activities with a small reward (only once or twice).
    e.g. Accompanying a friend as an interpreter for a day and receiving a small token of appreciation.
Contents
  1. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR OBTAINING the PERMISSION
  2. TYPES OF PERMISSION
  3. HOW TO PROCESS
fabicon i-socia Advisors

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR OBTAINING the PERMISSION

You may consider applying for this permission if your situation meets all of the following general requirements:

  1. Your intended activity must not interfere with or hinder the activities permitted under your current visa status.
  2. You must continue to engage in the activities permitted under your current visa status.
  3. Your intended activity must fall under ACTIVITY-BASED visa categories listed in the Immigration’s official classification, excluding SPECIFIED SKILLED WORKER (特定技能) and TECHNICAL INTERN TRAINING (技能実習).
    *NOTE: In case of INCLUSIVE Permission, this requirement may be omitted.
  4. You cannot apply for this permission for the following type of activities:
    • Activities that violate any laws or regulations.
    • Activities related to the adult entertainment industry or similar businesses, such as nightclubs, pubs, hostess clubs (kyabakura), girls’ bars, pachinko parlors, game centers, or cabarets etc.
  5. You are not subject to a detention order or a hearing notice issued by the Immigration Office.
  6. You must have no history of misconduct, such as criminal records, violations of any laws or regulations, or unpaid taxes, national/social health insurance or pension contributions.
  7. If your current visa status is based on a contract with a company or organization in Japan, you must obtain confirmation that the company or organization agrees to your intended activity.
fabicon i-socia Advisors

TYPES OF PERMISSION

INCLUSIVE Permission

INCLUSIVE Permission allows you to engage in additional activities up to 28 hours per week if your situation meets all the General Requirement of the Permission except for item 3. In addition, you may engage in simple labor or activities which are not included in the list of visa statuses.

Once you obtain this permission, you don’t need to apply each time you change your part-time job. However, you must reapply every time you renew your current visa status if you wish to continue the activities permitted under this permission.

Examples of INCLUSIVE Permission

  • STUDENT visa holders may engage in a part-time job for up to 28 hours per week (or up to 8 hours per day during long seasonal breaks).
  • DEPENDENT visa holders may engage in a pert time job up to 28 hours per week.
  • DESIGNATED ACTIVITIES visa holders granted as a dependent (spouse, child, or others) may also qualify.
  • DESIGNATED ACTIVITIES visa holders granted for job-hunting purposes may qualify.
  • INSTRUCTOR, ENGINEER/HUMANITIES, and SKILLED WORKER visa holders (limited to those engaged as sports instructors) who have a contract with local public authorities or affiliated organizations may engage in activities under this permission.

EXCLUSIVE Permission

EXCLUSIVE Permission is granted on an individual basis, specifying the workplace name, scope of work, and other necessary details. You must apply for this type of permission in the following cases:

  • Your intended activity is not covered by the INCLUSIVE Permission, or
  • You currently hold a work-related visa status and wish to engage in other work-related activities that are not permitted under your current visa status.

Also, your situation must meet all of the General Requirement of the Permission. As mentioned in item 1 of the General Requirement of the Permission above, your intended activity must not interfere with or hinder your main activity under your current visa status.

Therefore, the working hours under this permission must not exceed the number of hours you spend on your main activity permitted under your current visa status. In general, it is considered reasonable to keep the working hours under this permission within half of the total working hours of your main activity.

Once you obtain this permission, you must reapply each time you change your part-time job that is permitted under this permission. In addition, you are required to reapply whenever you renew your current visa status if you wish to continue the activities permitted under this permission.

Examples of EXCLUSIVE Permission

  • STUDENT visa holders engaging in an internship that requires more than 28 hours per week
  • PROFESSOR or INSTRUCTOR visa holders engaging in teaching activities as a language instructor or teacher at private language schools
  • ENGINEER/HUMANITIES visa holders engaging in part-time work as painting instructors on weekends
  • Those who wish to engage in activities as a sole proprietor (Kojin-jigyo-nushi/個人事業主) or in activities for which working hours are difficult to measure.
fabicon i-socia Advisors

HOW TO PROCESS

To apply for Permission to Engage in Other Activity, you must submit the application to the Immigration Office that has jurisdiction over your place of residence before you begin the activity.

Immigration Tax

Not required

Standard Processing Period

2 weeks to 2 months depending on the case

Required documents

  1. Application form
  2. Residence Card and Passport
  3. [In case of EXCLUSIVE Permission] Documents which specify or clarify the intended activity

For more details, jump to the web page of the Immigration Office;

>> APPLICATION for PERMISSION to ENGAGE in OTHER ACTIVITY
* You can your preferred language by using the multilingual panel on the page.

fabicon i-socia Advisors