"Specified Activities" (Japanese University Graduate) is a status of residence established under Notification No. 46 of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act. Since its creation in May 2019, international students who graduated from Japanese universities, graduate schools, and equivalent institutions have been able to work in occupations that were previously difficult to qualify for under the "Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services" status — such as customer service, sales, hotel work, and roles requiring smooth communication in Japanese.
For full details, please refer to the Immigration Services Agency's Guidelines on "Specified Activities" (Japanese University Graduate) for Supporting Employment of International Students, as well as the Summary (PDF), Guidelines (PDF), and Required Documents (PDF).
Who Is Eligible (Requirements Overview)
Academic Background Requirements
Applicants must have graduated or completed a program at one of the following Japanese educational institutions:
- Graduated from a 4-year university in Japan
- Completed a master's or doctoral program at a Japanese graduate school
- Completed the specialized course of a Japanese college of technology (kosen) and obtained a bachelor's degree
- Completed a specialized course at a Japanese vocational school (senmon gakko) recognized by the Minister of Education under a vocational practice curriculum, and obtained the title of Advanced Professional Specialist (Kodo Senmonshi)
※ Graduates of junior colleges only, or of overseas universities only, are not eligible.
Japanese Language Proficiency Requirements
- Must have passed JLPT N1 (Japanese Language Proficiency Test), or scored 480 or above on the BJT Business Japanese Proficiency Test
- Applicants who majored in Japanese language at a Japanese university or graduate school may be recognized as meeting this requirement in lieu of the above tests
Nature of Work
The work must be centered on activities that "require smooth communication in Japanese." Purely passive, instruction-based tasks are not recognized. The role must involve two-way communication and proactive engagement with others.
Examples of eligible activities: customer service and sales, front-of-house roles at restaurants, bell staff or doormen at hotels/ryokan, customer service that also involves interpretation for foreign guests, managing and guiding foreign workers at a factory while also performing on-site duties, planning and coordination work, etc.
Examples of ineligible activities: activities related to adult entertainment businesses; work requiring national licenses such as medicine or law; positions where simple labor is the primary duty (e.g., assembly line work only, cleaning only).
Employment Conditions
- Direct employment is the rule (dispatch or contract work is not permitted)
- Full-time permanent employee status, with an indefinite contract or a fixed-term contract of one year or longer
- Salary must be equivalent to or higher than that of Japanese university or graduate school graduates performing the same type of work
- The accepting company must maintain proper employment management practices, including enrollment in social insurance
Period of Stay
The period of stay is one of the following: 5 years, 3 years, 1 year, 6 months, or 3 months. When changing from "Student" status or at the time of the first renewal, the period granted is generally 1 year. At the time of renewal, the continuity of employment, use of Japanese, and tax payment status are reviewed.
Comparison: Specified Activities No. 46 vs. Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services
The table below summarizes the key differences between Specified Activities No. 46 (Japanese University Graduate) and Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services.
| Comparison Item | Specified Activities No. 46 (Japanese University Graduate) Notification No. 46 |
Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible Applicants | Limited to those who have graduated or completed a 4-year Japanese university, graduate school, college of technology specialized course, or certain vocational schools (Advanced Professional Specialist) | Those who satisfy requirements through academic background or work history — e.g., university graduation, vocational school completion, or 10 or more years of practical experience |
| Japanese Language Proficiency | Required (N1 or BJT score of 480+. Those who majored in Japanese language may be recognized separately) | Not legally required (may be required depending on the nature of the work) |
| Scope of Eligible Work | Centered on work that "requires smooth communication in Japanese." Covers a wide range of occupations including customer service, sales, hotel work, bilingual customer support, and supervisory roles involving foreign workers | Limited to technology (natural sciences such as science and engineering), humanities (law, economics, social sciences, etc.), and international services (work based on foreign culture). A strict relationship between job duties and academic/practical background is required |
| Relevance of Academic Background to Job | A match between the field of study at university and the job duties is not required. The work is centered on leveraging Japanese language skills | In principle, applicants must have majored in subjects related to the required technology/knowledge, or have relevant practical experience |
| Employment Format | Direct employment is the rule (dispatch and contract work not permitted) | Direct employment is the rule (dispatch may be permitted under certain conditions) |
| Salary | Must be equivalent to or higher than that of Japanese university/graduate school graduates performing the same type of work | Must be equivalent to or higher than what a Japanese national would receive for the same type of work |
| Period of Stay | 5 years, 3 years, 1 year, 6 months, or 3 months (when changing from "Student" status or at first renewal, generally "1 year") | 5 years, 3 years, 1 year, or 3 months |
| Main Purpose | Supporting employment of international students. Enables work in a wide range of occupations by leveraging Japanese language ability | Accepting professionals who engage in work requiring specialized expertise or international capabilities |
When to Choose "Specified Activities No. 46"
- If you graduated from a Japanese university or graduate school and hold JLPT N1 or BJT 480+, and you are seeking employment in customer service, sales, hotel work, or Japanese-language planning/coordination roles where the job-duty connection required by "Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services" is difficult to establish, then applying under Specified Activities No. 46 (Japanese University Graduate) may be the right choice.
- If the job duties clearly fall within the definition of Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services, it may be more appropriate to apply under that status as usual.
Official Links & Resources
- Guidelines on "Specified Activities" (Japanese University Graduate) for Supporting Employment of International Students | Immigration Services Agency
- Summary of "Specified Activities (Notification No. 46)" (PDF)
- Guidelines on "Specified Activities" (Japanese University Graduate) for Supporting Employment of International Students (PDF)
- Attachment (Required Documents) (PDF)
- Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services Visa
- Job-Hunting Activities for International Students
For inquiries about applying for Specified Activities No. 46 (Japanese University Graduate), or to discuss which status of residence is most appropriate for your situation, please feel free to contact us.
