For all foreigners who enter and reside in Japan, the methods used to complete the necessary procedures to allow them to engage in activities while they are residing in Japan have been established in detail based on a law called the “Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act” (hereinafter abbreviated as the Immigration Control Act).
Additionally, this act establishes different types of “status of residence” and “periods of stay” in accordance with the individual’s purpose for staying in Japan.
On top of this, the details of the activities that one can engage in under the individual “status of residence” are defined in strict terms.
If one does such things as failing to complete the procedures set forth in the Immigration Control Act, violating any of its provisions, or engaging in activities other than that permitted under the status of residence previously granted while receiving payment for them, one may be issued a deportation order or may have their application for renewing their period of stay or changing their status denied, and it is necessary to exercise thorough caution as such an event may prevent you from continuing your study abroad life.
If your school attendance rate becomes too low even for reasons beyond your control, due to such things as illness, etc., it will be determined that you are not focusing on your studies, and there are cases where you may not be permitted to renew your period of stay or change your status.

After your application has been received at the immigration services agency, you will be notified of the screening results on a later date by postcard, etc.
For this reason, you will need to once again visit the immigration services agency in order to formally receive permission.
As your residence card will be stamped with the words “application pending” once your application has been received, you will only need to wait until you receive notification on a later date from the immigration services agency.
Even if your period of stay were to expire during this duration, you would not be considered as “illegally overstaying.”

If you exit Japan without obtaining a re-entry permit, it will be necessary for you to once again “apply for a certificate of eligibility,” and to obtain a “visa” upon re-entry to Japan.
With that said, however, for re-entry within 1 year, since you will be presumed to have re-entry permission if you possess a residence card, as long as you re-enter Japan within 1 year of exiting the country, you will be able to re-enter the country by simply showing your residence card together with your passport.
In the event that you will be re-entering Japan more than 1 year after exiting the country, you will need to receive a re-entry permit at the immigration services agency before exiting the country.
You will need to pay a processing fee of 3,000 yen (single-entry) or 6,000 yen (multiple-entry), and you will need to have the re-entry permission approval sticker affixed to your passport.

Foreigners residing in Japan are only allowed to engage in activities (work) given within the scope determined by the 28 types of individual status of residence.
In order for a student studying at a university or graduate school, etc., in Japan to start work, it will be necessary for them to change their status of residence from the “Student (study abroad)” status of residence to one which permits work, such as “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services.”
Moreover, as of April of 2015, the “Engineer” and “Specialist in Humanities/International Services” have been consolidated to form the “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” status, and since the individual requirements for each one remains the same, we will explain them separately.

• The individual must have received education that is equivalent to or greater than that obtained through graduating from a university in the field of humanities.
  The individual must have completed a specialized curriculum at a specialized training college in Japan.
  The individual must possess 10 years or more of work experience.
• If engaging in work, such as translating, interpreting, language instruction, public relations, advertising, work related to overseas business, design work for fashion and interior decorating, product development, and other similar work, the individual must possess 3 years or more of work experience doing such work.
  With that said, however, for translation, interpretation, and language instruction, the individual must possess the qualification of graduating from a university (in which case, 3 years work experience will not be required).
• The individual must receive compensation that is equivalent to or higher than that received by a Japanese person working in the same position.

• The individual must have received education that is equivalent to or higher than that needed to graduate from a university in the field of science or engineering.
  The individual must have completed a specialized curriculum at a specialized training college in Japan.
  The individual must possess 10 years or more of work experience.
  *With that said, however, for IT engineers, for cases where the individual passes an examination that has been determined by a public notice issued by the Ministry of Justice, or for cases where the individual possesses qualifications, the above requirements are not required.
• The individual must receive compensation that is equivalent to or higher than that received by a Japanese person working in the same position.

If one wishes to apply to change their status of residence from one where they are allowed to “study abroad (as a student)” to one where they are allowed to “work,” as a basic rule, it is necessary for the individual to visit their nearest regional immigration services agency or a branch office of said agency.

• Graduation certificate (or certificate of expected graduation)
  *If you submit a certificate of expected graduation, it will be necessary for you to later submit a graduation certificate.

During the screening process at the immigration services agency, it will first be checked whether your experiences as a resident and the activities you have been involved in at your employer qualify you for the status of residence of “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services,” etc.
In regards to the results of the screening process based on such things as whether you possess the adequate skills and knowledge, etc., your academic history (curriculum you majored in and the contents of your research, etc.), whether you will be able to utilize your skills and knowledge, etc., the work description of the job that you are seeking, whether stability and continuity can be expected based on the scale and track record of the company employing you, etc., and furthermore whether there actually exists an opportunity for you to be utilized in your work duties, you will not be informed of these on the day of your application, and you will receive notification of this on a later date by postal mail.
If you pass the screening process, you will be granted the permission needed for the status of residence required for you to begin your employment.
Based on provisions given in ordinances related to fees for the Immigration Control Act, you will be required to pay 4,000 yen if you receive permission to change your status of residence.
(To pay this, you will need to purchase a 4,000-yen revenue stamp and affix this to a “fee payment form”)

“Designated activities” refers to a category of residence that the Ministry of Justice has designated for any activities that do not fall under any of the other status of residence categories.

• Graduation certificate from your university or graduate school
• Certificate that indicates that you possess a diploma issued by a specialized training college
• Written recommendation regarding your continued job search activities provided by your university, graduate school, or specialized training college
• Student transcript from your specialized training college
• Documents that clearly indicate the details of what your learned at your specialized training college

• Document which verifies that you have in fact received an informal job offer from the company offering you the job and the date of your informal job offer
• Written pledge from the company that you have received an informal job offer from that indicates compliance regarding their business correspondences, etc.
• Documents in which the contents of the training, etc., you will undergo until you are hired can be verified (only if you are engaging in such applicable activities)