Part-time Employment of Foreign Students and Limit of 28 Hours per Week in Japan

When hiring part-time foreign employees

The Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act outlines the regulations for part-time employment of foreign students and others. When interviewing foreign students from local universities or schools for part-time job placements, it is crucial to verify the following:

• They possess valid permission to stay in Japan.
• They have not exceeded their authorized period of stay.
• They hold a part time work permit called “Permission to engage in activities other than those permitted under the status of residence.”

Foreign nationals studying in Japan usually hold a status of residence called “Student.” You can find the designation “Student” written on the front side of their residence cards. Foreign students who have been living in Japan and have entered university may have other status of residence categories, such as “Permanent Resident,” “Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident,” “Spouse or Child of Japanese National,” or “Dependent.” However, for the purpose of our discussion, we will focus on foreign students under the “Student” status.

If you have any inquiries about other status of residence categories, please contact your local regional immigration office or consult with a specialist, such as an administrative scrivener or immigration lawyer.

What type of work/activity can foreign students engage in

The work that foreign students can undertake should be within the scope that does not interfere with their original activities of residence. Foreign students should not be employed in the following types of businesses: snack bars, cabarets, lounges, bars, or any other establishments that serve alcoholic beverages in the presence of customers. They should also refrain from working in pachinko and mahjong parlors or other gambling-related businesses, as well as the sex industry or establishments associated with it. Even if foreign students are assigned to do tasks such as cleaning, operating cash registers, cooking, dishwashing, or other behind-the-scenes duties without direct customer interaction, they are still prohibited from being hired for such positions.

With/without an authorized permit called “Permission to Engage in an Activity other than that Permitted under the Status of Residence”

It is crucial to verify whether foreign students possess a valid permission to engage in activities other than those permitted under their status of residence. They may work part-time or engage in other types of work within the limits that do not disrupt their original activities of residence.

Additionally, ensure to check if there is a stamp on the back side of their residence card, a permission sticker affixed to their passport, or request foreign students to present their parttime work permit.

Those under “Student” status, with the aforementioned work permit, are allowed to work part time for a maximum of 28 hours per week.

Limit of 28 hours per week as a general rule

As a general rule, foreign students can be employed part-time for up to 28 hours per week, provided that they can meet certain requirements.

It is important to note that this 28-hour limit is not applicable separately to each workplace if a student works part-time at multiple locations, such as a convenience store and an izakaya at the same time. The total number of hours worked for all employers should not exceed 28 hours per week. Therefore, when hiring foreign students, it is crucial to verify if they are employed by other employers.

The only exception to this general 28-hour limit rule is that foreign students under “Students” status are allowed to work up to 8 hours per day during long vacations as stipulated in the school regulations. Many foreign students are eager to take on part-time jobs as they see it as an opportunity to enhance their language skills through practical work experience.