My boss asked me to work more days. I’d like to work five days at my part-time job next week.

Please be aware that there is a limit to the number of hours an international student can work part time. The rule is that they are only allowed to work up to 28 hours per week.

What happens if you don’t follow the rules?

If you work too many hours it is called “overwork,” and it may become difficult to graduate or find employment. Be sure to follow the rules when working in Japan.

If you are an international student working part-time in Japan, there is a rule that you can work up to 28 hours per week. However, there are other important things to know in addition to this ‟28 hours per week” rule. Let’s take a look at regulations on part-time work.

Permission to Engage in Activities Other than Permitted Under the Status of Residence

In the Work Restrictions section of the residence card of international students, it says “work not permitted” which indicates that international students are not allowed to work.

However, you can work part-time if you obtain permission to engage in activities other than permitted under the status of residence previously granted. Once this permission is obtained, it will be written on the back of the residence card as “Permission: within 28 hours per week in principle, excluding engaging in adult entertainment businesses.” However, you cannot work in pachinko parlors or brothels.

*If you are working as a translator, interpreter, tutor, or delivery service under private contract, it is difficult to confirm the “28 hours” requirement, so please consult with the Immigration Services Bureau in advance.

How to Count the 28 Hours per Week

International students are allowed to work part-time within 28 hours per week, but there are some points to note about how to count the 28 hours.

Let’s look at the table below as an example. The first week is a total of 28 hours and the second week is a total of 25 hours, both within 28 hours. However, the seven days highlighted in green adds up to 33 hours. This is not accepted. The “28 hours per week” means that the seven days, counting from any day of the week, must be 28 hours or less. Please be careful.

During Long School Vacations　　

You can work part-time up to 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week during the long vacation periods officially decided by the school, such as summer vacation.

However, if the school is temporarily closed due to COVID-19, etc., it is not an official long vacation. In this case, the “28 hours per week” will remain the same.

In Preparation for Employment in Japan

Certificate of Withholding Tax

If you are an international student hoping to find a job in Japan, be aware of the following. When changing your status of residence (visa) to work, you must submit documents related to taxation. These documents include the following.

Certificate of Withholding Tax

Please keep the Gensen Choshuhyo (Certificate of Withholding Tax) given to you once a year by your part-time employer.

Filing Tax Returns

If you work part-time at several places at the same time, you should file an income tax return at your local tax office between February and April, for your income from the previous year (January to December). At that time, you will be given a copy of the tax return form, so please keep it. If you do not know how to file a tax return, bring your pay slips for the year for all your part-time jobs to the tax office and ask for advice at the counter.

*If your total income for the year (before taxes) does not exceed 1,030,000 JPY, you do not need to file a tax return.

Taxes in Japan

Regardless of nationality or status of residence, those who work in Japan pay income tax and resident tax. We will be explaining about these two taxes and consumption tax below.

Do NOT Overwork

Tokyo Regional Immigration Services Bureau

When international students work more than 28 hours per week, it is called an overwork.
If the Immigration Bureau finds out about it, the following may happen.

1. You may not be able to renew your period of stay ? will not be able to graduate from school
2. You may not be allowed to change your status of residence for employment, ? will not be able to work

When a foreigner works in Japan, a document called Notification of Employment Status is submitted to Hello Work by the company you work for, and the Immigration Bureau has access to that information. The Immigration Bureau will be able to grasp the entire situation of your employment.
Even if your part-time employer asks you to do more work, please work according to the rules.

Click Here to Request For Assistance

Anyone can talk about anything, such as work, health, life, children’s school, and administrative procedures in 23 languages (English／Español／Bahasa Indonesia／မြန်မာ／Português／Tagalog／Tiếng Việt／简体中文／한국어／Melayu／แบบไทย／नेपाली／ខ្មែរ／Монгол／සිංහල／हिंदी／বাংলা／Deutsch／Français／Italiano／Русский／اردو／やさしい日本語)

We will keep your confidentiality. We will not tell your workplace about the contents of your consultation.

Check below for more information.