What options other than employment are available for international students at universities and graduate schools to stay in Japan after graduation?

For international students studying at a university or graduate school, the first option if they want to stay in Japan after graduation is to get a job at a Japanese company, but there are also various other ways to achieve this.

Below we will introduce some visa options for staying in Japan after graduation.

Management · management visa

A business manager visa is a status of residence that can be obtained by foreigners who wish to establish and operate a new business in Japan or manage an existing business.

If international students wish to establish a company in Japan after graduation, they can stay in Japan on a business manager visa.

mainApplication requirements

• A business location (office, store, etc.) must be secured.
• Employ two or more full-time employees or have capital of 500 million yen or more
• Stable management is expected (proved by a business plan)

Benefits

They can operate a business within Japan and are free to conduct business activities.

Advanced Human Resources Visa

There are two types of highly skilled professional visas: highly skilled professional No. 1 and highly skilled professional No. 2.

(1) Highly-skilled Professional No. XNUMX is a status of residence given to foreign nationals with highly specialized knowledge and skills.

*There are three types of Advanced Professional No. 1:

➀Advanced academic research activities "Advanced professional1No. (I)"

・Those who conduct basic research or cutting-edge technology research, or those who provide research guidance or education

②Highly specialized/technical activities “Highly skilled professional No. 1 (B)”

・People who are responsible for acquiring new markets and developing new products and technologies by utilizing specialized skills and knowledge.
・Persons engaged in work that requires knowledge or skills in the field of natural sciences or humanities.

③Advanced management/management activities “Highly skilled professional No. 1 (c)”

・Those who will utilize their extensive practical experience to engage in the management and administration of start-ups in order to help Japanese companies expand their business globally

(2) Highly-skilled professional No. 1 is a status of residence that can be transferred to if you continue to engage in the activities of No. 3 for more than three years and meet certain conditions.

Main application requirements

Advanced Professional 1

Points-based evaluation : You need to earn 70 or more points in your educational background, work history, annual income, age, etc.

Here are some key points to earn:

• Educational History: A bachelor's degree or higher is required, and a doctorate is even better.
• Career history: Long work experience is highly valued. Experience related to the work content in Japan is required.
• annual incomeThe higher your income, the more points you will earn.
• age: The younger you are, the more points you get.
• Additional points: Points will be added depending on conditions such as working in a specific field or graduating from a world-renowned university.

*Depending on the three different types of highly skilled professional No. 1, the explanatory materials for each item are different. Please refer to the following materials for basic examples of explanatory materials.

https://www.shigyo.co.jp/cms/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/637e213c23c70a287269f00ecc5bab97.pdf

*For details on annual income standards, point accumulation requirements and calculation methods for each field, please see the article below.

Benefits

• It is not limited to a specific field and allows for a wide range of activities in Japan.
• The period of stay is five years, allowing for long-term stays.
• Spouses may be granted work permission, and parents or domestic servants may accompany them if certain conditions are met.
• If you meet the requirements, you can apply for permanent residence in one or three years.
• Priority screening will be given to immigration and residence procedures.

Dependent Visa

A family visa is a status of residence that can be obtained by a spouse who is dependent on a person residing in Japan on a work visa or other visa in order to live in Japan.

If your spouse has a resident status in Japan, they can apply for this visa and stay in Japan.

Main application requirements

• The applicant's dependent (spouse) must have a residence status that allows them to work in Japan, such as "Professor" or "Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services."
• You will need to provide proof of the relationship between you and your dependent (e.g. a marriage certificate).
• Dependents will be required to submit documents such as proof of income and employment to show they can financially support the applicant.

Benefits

• Long-term stay is possible according to the period of stay of the applicant's dependent (spouse).

Spouse visa (spouse of a Japanese national, spouse of a permanent resident, etc.)

You can apply for this visa if you plan to marry a Japanese national or a permanent resident of Japan after graduation.

Main application requirements

• The applicant and the Japanese spouse must be legally married and the marriage relationship must be genuine.
• The applicant or his/her Japanese spouse must have sufficient income and savings to support the applicant and his/her family.
• Your application must be consistent with any applications you have previously submitted.

Benefits

• There are no work restrictions and you can work freely.
• You can stay in Japan for a long period with your spouse.
• If you meet certain conditions, you can apply for permanent residence.

Specified activity (continued job hunting) visa

If an international student with a student visa wishes to continue job hunting after graduation, they can change their visa status to specific activities (continued job hunting).

Main application requirements

• Applicants must have a "Student" status of residence.
• Applicants must demonstrate ongoing job search activity.
• The applicant must have the financial means to maintain a life in Japan.
• A letter of recommendation for continued job hunting from the university you were previously enrolled in is required.

Benefits

• Foreigners with a designated activities visa can extend their job search in Japan for up to one year.
• During this period, applicants have a better chance of finding work in Japan.

No matter which visa you apply for, it's best to make your choice based on your own circumstances and future goals.

Also, when changing visa status, it is important to allow yourself enough time, prepare the necessary application documents, and comply with Japanese laws and regulations.

If you have any questions about visa applications or document preparation, please contact us for a free consultation!

How to contact us