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Foreign residents in Japan are granted a status of residence that matches the content of their activities. If you wish to continue your stay in Japan after graduation, you will need to change your status of residence to one that matches the purpose of your activities.

On this page, we guide you frequently asked questions about "When you wish to continue job hunting in Japan after graduation", "When you have received an employment offer and wish to stay in Japan until the employment begins", "When JSPS Research Fellows (DC) continue their research activities at Tohoku University after graduation", and "When you need to extend the period of your stay because of postponing the graduation".

When you wish to continue job hunting in Japan after graduation

Change your status of residence from "Student" to "Designated Activities".

・When you would like to continue to seek employment in Japan after graduation, the status of residence should be changed to "Designated Activities" from "Student".

・If your change of status is approved, you will be allowed to stay in Japan for 6 months. After that, you can apply for an extension only once. This means that you will be able to stay in Japan for up to one year after graduation.

・One of the documents required for the change of status application is a "letter of recommendation for continued employment by the university you were enrolled in immediately before.

・International students who have graduated from the Faculty of Science or the Graduate School of Science should ask the Student Support Section for issuing a letter of recommendation. And when asking, you need to submit a written pledge (any format) writing something like "I will use this letter of recommendation only for the purpose of continuing my job search/hunting".

★For more information, please refer to the below pages:

【Designated Activities 9: Students from overseas who have graduated from university but wish to stay to search for a job in Japan】(Immigration Services Agency of Japan)

【About Change of Status of Residence】(TU Support)

・You can apply to change your status of residence three months prior to graduation, but your status of residence will not actually be changed until after graduation.

・You are allowed to work under 28 hours per week if obtained a working permit from the Immigration Services Agency.

When you have received an employment offer and wish to stay in Japan until the employment begins after graduation (Prospective Employees)

Change your status of residence from "Student" to "Designated Activities".

・It is a case that you have received an employment offer starting April although you graduate from the university in September, and if you wish to stay in Japan until the employment begins, the status of residence should be changed to "Designated Activities" from "Student".

・If your change of status is approved, you will be allowed to stay in Japan for 6 months. After that, you can apply for an extension only once. This means that you will be able to stay in Japan for up to one year after graduation.

・One of the documents required for the change of status application is a "Written Oath" and it needs to be issued by the company you are hired for.

★For more information, please refer to the below pages:

【Designated Activities 14: Students who have received an offer from a place of employment while at university or after graduation and wish to stay in Japan until they are hired】(Immigration Services Agency of Japan)

【About Change of Status of Residence】(TU Support)

・You can apply to change your status of residence three months prior to graduation, but your status of residence will not actually be changed until after graduation.

・You are allowed to work under 28 hours per week if obtained a working permit from the Immigration Services Agency.

When JSPS Research Fellows continue their research activities at Tohoku University after graduation (DC→PD)

Change your status of residence from "Student" to "Professor".

・When JSPS DC-fellows obtain doctoral degrees and continue their research activities at Tohoku University as JSPS PD-fellows, the status of residence should be changed to "Professor" from "Student".

・Please ask the section in charge of accepting researchers at the department you will belong to after graduation to prepare the "所属機関作成", which is the last page of the application form filled out by your institution.

★For more information, please refer to the below pages:

【Status of Residence: Professor】(Immigration Services Agency of Japan)

【About Change of Status of Residence】(TU Support)

・You can apply to change your status of residence three months prior to graduation, but your status of residence will not actually be changed until after graduation.

When you need to extend your period of stay because your graduation (program completion) will be extended

An extension of the "Student" status is required.

・The period of stay is usually the same as the period of study of the course you have enrolled in or an additional three months of the course period. Therefore, if you are unable to graduate within this period, you will need to apply for an extension.

・In addition to the documents for the renewal application, you may be asked to submit a document stating the reason why you need to extend your period of stay.

・There is no set format for the purpose. It is advisable that you write the reasons for the extension of graduation (program completion) on a piece of paper and state supporting comments by the supervisor below the reasons would be desirable for confirming evidence.

★For more information, please refer to the below pages:

【Application for extension of the period of stay: Professor】(Immigration Services Agency of Japan)

【Extension of Student Resident Status】(DiRECT)

Updated on August 31, 2022