Working in Japan After High School: How to Change from a Dependent Visa to a Long-Term Resident Visa

Are you a foreign national attending high school in Japan? Have you decided what you want to do after graduation?

“I grew up in Japan, so I want to continue living here after graduation.”

“I want to work full-time at a Japanese company after graduating from high school.”

“My residence card says ‘Dependent,’ but am I allowed to work?”

“I was planning to go to university, but my parents got divorced, and now I need to work.”

If you have any of these questions, this article is for you.

The good news is that even if you are currently living in Japan under the “Dependent” (家族滞在) status of residence, you may be able to change your status to “Long-Term Resident” (定住者) after graduating from high school and work in Japan, provided you meet certain requirements.

Even if you do not qualify for a direct change to “Long-Term Resident,” you may still be able to work in Japan by obtaining the “Designated Activities” (特定活動) status of residence.

In this article, we explain the requirements and application procedures for foreign high school students who wish to work and continue living in Japan after graduation, as well as for their parents and guardians.

The information is based on official materials published by Japan’s Immigration Services Agency.

Can You Work Full-Time While Holding a “Dependent” Status of Residence?

You may be wondering:

“Can’t I just keep my Dependent status and work full-time?”

The “Dependent” status of residence is primarily intended for spouses and children of foreign nationals working in Japan, allowing them to live together with their family members.

As a general rule, people holding a Dependent status are not permitted to work.

However, if they obtain permission to engage in activities outside their status of residence (資格外活動許可), they are generally allowed to work part-time for up to 28 hours per week.

Therefore, if you graduate from high school and wish to work full-time at a Japanese company, such as 40 hours per week, you will generally need to change your status of residence.

Two possible options are changing your status to “Long-Term Resident” or to “Designated Activities” that permits employment.

What Changes If You Become a “Long-Term Resident”?

The “Long-Term Resident” status of residence allows foreign nationals to engage in a wide range of activities, including employment, while living in Japan.

If you obtain this status, you will no longer be subject to employment restrictions based on your status of residence.

You can work full-time as a regular employee and take various types of jobs, including those in restaurants, factories, retail stores, and other industries.

However, please note that “Long-Term Resident” is different from “Permanent Resident” (永住者).

A Long-Term Resident status has a limited period of stay, so you must apply for an extension before your current period of stay expires.

Six Requirements for Changing to “Long-Term Resident” After High School Graduation

According to the Immigration Services Agency of Japan, applicants who meet all six of the following requirements are generally eligible to apply for a change to “Long-Term Resident.”

1. You Must Have Graduated from Both Elementary School and Junior High School in Japan

You must have graduated from both a Japanese elementary school and a Japanese junior high school.

For example, if you moved to Japan when you were in the fourth grade and later graduated from both elementary school and junior high school in Japan, you would meet this requirement.

On the other hand, if you first came to Japan as a first-year junior high school student, you would generally not meet this requirement because you did not graduate from a Japanese elementary school.

Certain alternative schools, such as evening junior high schools, are also included.

2. You Must Have Graduated or Be Expected to Graduate from a Japanese High School

This requirement applies not only to students who have already graduated from high school in Japan but also to third-year high school students who are expected to graduate.

Eligible schools are not limited to full-time high schools.

Part-time high schools and correspondence high schools are also included.

Colleges of technology and upper-secondary courses at certain specialized training colleges may also qualify, provided they meet the applicable requirements.

3. You Must Have Continued Living in Japan Under the “Dependent” Status of Residence Since Entering Japan

In principle, this system is intended for people who have been living in Japan under the Dependent status of residence while being financially supported by their parents.

However, even if your current status of residence is “Student” (留学) or another status, you may still be eligible if your circumstances otherwise correspond to those covered by the Dependent status.

4. You Must Have Been Under 18 Years Old When You Entered Japan

The important factor here is not your current age but how old you were when you first entered Japan.

For example, if you moved to Japan at age 10 and are now 19 years old, you would still meet this age requirement.

5. You Must Have Secured a Job in Japan

You must have secured employment with a company or another employer in Japan.

You do not need to have started working yet.

A formal job offer is sufficient.

6. You Must Have Fulfilled Your Public Obligations in Japan

You must have complied with your legal obligations in Japan.

These include properly reporting changes of address and fulfilling other obligations required by Japanese law.

If you meet all the above requirements, you may apply to change your status of residence from “Dependent” to “Long-Term Resident.”

What If You Came to Japan During Junior High School or High School?

You might be thinking:

“Does this mean I cannot become a Long-Term Resident because I did not graduate from elementary school in Japan?”

There may still be another option.

Even if you did not graduate from a Japanese elementary school, you may be able to work in Japan by changing your status of residence to “Designated Activities.”

According to the Immigration Services Agency, the main requirements generally include the following:

• You have graduated or are expected to graduate from a Japanese high school.
• You were under 18 years old when you entered Japan.
• You have continued residing in Japan under the Dependent status since entering Japan, subject to certain exceptions.
• You have secured employment in Japan.
• Your parent or another person who financially supports you resides in Japan and agrees to act as your guarantor.
• You have fulfilled your public obligations, including the required address notifications.

Japanese Language Requirements for Students Who Transferred into a Japanese High School

For example, some students may have moved to Japan at age 16 and transferred directly into the second year of a Japanese high school.

In such cases, in addition to graduating from high school, Japanese language proficiency equivalent to JLPT N2 is required.

As proof of Japanese language proficiency, applicants are generally required to submit one of the following:

• Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT): N2 or higher
• Business Japanese Proficiency Test (BJT): A score of 400 or higher

On the other hand, if you entered a Japanese high school through the regular admission process as a first-year student, obtaining JLPT N2 is not uniformly required under this system.

Please also note that “Designated Activities” is a status of residence under which the permitted activities are individually designated for each person.

Depending on the conditions attached to your status, there may be restrictions on the types of work you can perform.

Therefore, it is important to check both your residence card and the official document specifying your permitted activities (指定書).

Which Situation Applies to You? Let’s Look at Some Examples

Your Age When Entering Japan and Educational Background	Possible Status of Residence
Entered Japan at age 8, graduated from Japanese elementary, junior high, and high schools, and received a job offer	Long-Term Resident
Entered Japan at age 13, graduated from Japanese junior high and high schools, and received a job offer	Designated Activities
Entered Japan at age 16, transferred into and graduated from a Japanese high school, passed JLPT N2, and received a job offer	Designated Activities
First entered Japan at age 18 and graduated from a Japanese high school	Not eligible under the special arrangements explained in this article

These examples assume that all other applicable requirements are also satisfied.

As you can see, even if two students graduate from the same Japanese high school, the status of residence they may apply for can differ depending on when they entered Japan and their educational history.

You May Also Be Able to Change from “Designated Activities” to “Long-Term Resident”

Even if you cannot change directly to “Long-Term Resident” when you graduate from high school, you may have an opportunity to do so in the future.

In 2024, the Immigration Services Agency published the requirements for this type of status change.

The main requirements are as follows:

1. You must have graduated from a Japanese high school or have an equivalent or higher level of education.
2. You must have resided in Japan for at least five years under a work-related Designated Activities status or another eligible work-related status of residence, excluding Technical Intern Training.
3. You must have secured employment, including a formal job offer.
4. You must be able to maintain a stable livelihood through your own income or other financial resources.
5. You must have fulfilled your public obligations, including address notifications and tax payments.

If you attended a Japanese university or vocational school before starting work, the period spent studying at that institution may also count toward the five-year requirement under certain conditions.

In other words, you may be able to work in Japan under “Designated Activities” after graduating from high school and later apply to change to “Long-Term Resident” once you meet the necessary requirements.

However, please remember that completing five years of residence does not automatically grant you Long-Term Resident status.

You must submit a new application for a Change of Status of Residence and undergo an immigration examination.

Required Documents for Changing from “Dependent” to “Long-Term Resident”

When applying to change your status of residence to “Long-Term Resident,” the following documents are generally required:

• Application for Change of Status of Residence (Form T)
• Identification photograph (4 cm high × 3 cm wide)
• Resume or educational history document showing your attendance at elementary and junior high schools in Japan
• Copies of graduation diplomas or graduation certificates from Japanese elementary and junior high schools
• High school graduation certificate or certificate of expected graduation
• Employment contract, notice of working conditions, formal job offer letter, or similar documents
• Letter of Guarantee
• Certificate of Residence (住民票) listing all household members, with My Number information omitted
• Passport and residence card (to be presented)

If you apply while still attending high school, you will need to provide documentation proving that you have actually graduated when receiving permission for the change of status.

If you apply for “Designated Activities,” a different application form is required.

You may also need to submit an enrollment certificate showing the date you entered high school and, where applicable, proof of Japanese language proficiency such as a JLPT N2 certificate.

Immigration authorities may request additional documents during the examination process.

We therefore recommend preparing your application well in advance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. I Am Already 18 or Older. Can I Still Change to “Long-Term Resident”?

A. Yes, it may be possible.

Under this system, what matters is whether you were under 18 years old when you entered Japan, rather than your current age.

Therefore, even if you are currently 18, 19, 20, or older, you may still qualify for a change of status if you meet the other requirements.

Q2. I Am a Third-Year High School Student and Have Not Graduated Yet. Can I Apply?

A. Yes.

If you are expected to graduate from high school, you may be eligible to apply.

However, when permission for the change of status is granted, you will need to provide proof that you have actually graduated.

Once you have secured a job offer, we recommend discussing the application with your school and parents or guardians and preparing the necessary documents as early as possible.

Q3. Do I Need to Pass JLPT N2 to Become a “Long-Term Resident”?

A. Not necessarily.

If you graduated from Japanese elementary, junior high, and high schools and meet the other requirements for a direct change to “Long-Term Resident,” passing JLPT N2 is not a mandatory requirement.

However, if you transferred into a Japanese high school after the first year and wish to apply for the “Designated Activities” status explained in this article, you must provide proof of Japanese language proficiency equivalent to JLPT N2.

Q4. Can I Change My Status Even If I Have Not Found a Job Yet?

A. Generally, no.

Under the system explained in this article, which is intended for foreign students who wish to work in Japan after high school graduation, securing employment is one of the requirements.

Therefore, if you have not yet found an employer, you generally cannot apply for a change of status under this particular arrangement.

If you wish to work in Japan after graduation, we recommend starting your job search while you are still in high school.

Q5. What Happens If I Plan to Attend a University or Vocational School After High School?

A. Your options will depend on your circumstances.

The system introduced in this article is primarily intended for foreign nationals who plan to work in Japan after graduating from high school.

If you intend to continue your education at a university or vocational school, you will need to consider whether you can continue residing in Japan under the Dependent status or whether changing to the Student status of residence would be more appropriate.

This will depend on your current residence status, family circumstances, and living arrangements after enrollment.

Q6. Can I Work More Than 28 Hours per Week While My Change of Status Application Is Being Reviewed?

A. No.

Simply submitting an application to change your status of residence does not change the activities you are legally permitted to perform.

Even if you currently hold a Dependent status with permission to work part-time, you cannot work more than 28 hours per week before your change of status has been approved.

You must wait until you have obtained the appropriate status of residence before starting full-time employment.

Conclusion: You May Be Able to Continue Living and Working in Japan After High School

Many foreign nationals attending high school in Japan have lived here since childhood.

They have studied in Japanese, made friends in Japan, and built their lives here.

For students who wish to continue living and working in Japan after graduation, there are arrangements that may allow them to change their status of residence to “Long-Term Resident” or “Designated Activities.”

The three most important points to check are:

1. How old were you when you entered Japan?

2. Which schools did you graduate from in Japan — elementary school, junior high school, and/or high school?

3. Have you secured a job in Japan after graduation?

By checking these three points, you can get a general idea of which status of residence may be available to you.

However, the Immigration Services Agency also considers other factors during the examination process, including your immigration history, family circumstances, and the details of your employment.

“I am not sure whether I qualify for Long-Term Resident status.”

“I want to continue working and living in Japan after high school graduation.”

If you have any of these concerns, we recommend seeking professional advice as early as possible.

At TORIKANI International Administrative Scrivener Corporation, we provide consultations on residence status and visa applications for foreign high school students and their parents or guardians.

We review your educational background in Japan, the age at which you entered Japan, and your employment situation to help identify possible residence statuses and explain the necessary application procedures.

Our office is located in Musashi-Kosugi, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.

We specialize in immigration and residence status applications for foreign nationals.

References

• Immigration Services Agency of Japan | For Foreign Nationals Residing in Japan Under the “Dependent” Status Who Wish to Work After Graduating from High School
• Immigration Services Agency of Japan | Handling of Residence Status for Foreign Nationals Seeking Employment After Graduating from High School or Equivalent Institutions (PDF)

---

Contact Us

You can contact us through LINE, WeChat, WhatsApp, by phone, or through our online inquiry form.

Please choose whichever method is most convenient for you. We look forward to hearing from you!