Part-Time Work Permit Rules and Realistic Earnings for ASEAN Students in Japan
By Muntasir • Published Sep 18, 2026 • Updated Sep 27, 2026 • Money & Budgeting, Visas & Student Mobility
International students in Japan need a permit called shikakugai katsudo kyoka to work part time, capped at 28 hours a week during term and up to 8 hours a day during long school vacations. Hourly minimum wage is set by prefecture and runs roughly 1,023-1,226 yen, so a 28-hour week earns somewhere around 28,600-34,300 yen before tax.
🎓 Cap: 28 hrs/week during term, up to 8 hrs/day (near full time) on long breaks
📩 Apply for the work permit at the airport on arrival or later at a local immigration office
💵 Minimum wage varies by prefecture, roughly 1,023-1,226 yen/hour
⏱️ 28 hrs/week earns about 28,600-34,300 yen/week gross depending on prefecture
🏠 Nightlife and adult entertainment jobs are banned regardless of your permit
Part-time work rules for ASEAN students in Japan
Part-time work is allowed only after getting a specific permit, permission to engage in activity other than that permitted under the status of residence previously granted, shikakugai katsudo kyoka in Japanese. Without it, any paid work is illegal, including unpaid internships a court could treat as work. Students entering Japan apply for the permit at passport control on arrival, the easiest route, or later at a regional immigration bureau, according to the Immigration Services Agency of Japan .
The permit gets stamped or noted on your residence card, which must be carried whenever you work. Employers routinely ask to see it before offering shifts.
How many hours you are allowed to work
The standard cap is 28 hours a week while school is in regular session. During long school vacations, such as summer break, winter break, and spring break, the limit rises to 8 hours a day, which works out close to full time across most weekdays. Language school students face the same 28-hour cap as university and vocational students.
Hours are counted across all jobs combined, not per employer, so 20 hours at a convenience store plus 15 hours tutoring in the same week breaches the cap even though neither job alone does.
What you realistically earn
Japan sets minimum wage by prefecture rather than nationally, reviewed each year by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. Rates run roughly from 1,023 yen an hour in the lowest-paying prefectures to around 1,226 yen an hour in Tokyo, the highest in the country. Most ASEAN students study in or near major cities, where rates sit toward the higher end of that range.
| Prefecture tier | Approx hourly rate | 28 hrs/week gross |
|---|---|---|
| Lower-paying prefectures | ~1,023 yen | ~28,600 yen |
| Tokyo (highest) | ~1,226 yen | ~34,300 yen |
Convert these figures to your home currency before budgeting, since exchange rates move throughout the year. Part-time student income (arubaito) below certain annual thresholds is generally exempt from Japanese income tax, but check with your school's international office or a tax accountant if you also hold a scholarship, since combined income can push you over the threshold.
Where ASEAN students find part-time work
Convenience stores (konbini) are the most common first job for international students, since chains like 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, and Lawson hire heavily and train staff on the job. Restaurant chains, izakaya, and cafes are also common, though customer-facing roles usually expect conversational Japanese. Tutoring in English or your native language pays better per hour but takes longer to find without connections.
Jobs in nightlife, adult entertainment, and gambling-related businesses like pachinko parlors are off-limits under your permit regardless of hours left in your cap.
Staying within the rules
Immigration checks part-time work compliance at visa renewal and when applying to change status, for example from student to a work visa after graduation. A record of working beyond 28 hours a week is one of the most common reasons student visa extensions get delayed or refused, so keep pay slips (kyuyo meisaisho) from every job as proof of hours.
Applying for and renewing the permit
Request the permit on your immigration landing card when you arrive, ticking the box for permission to engage in part-time activity, or apply later at a regional immigration bureau with your residence card, student ID, and a simple application form. Renewal is not automatic, so reapply whenever you renew your residence status or extend your period of stay.
Some schools also require you to report your part-time job details to the international student office, separate from the immigration permit, so check your school's own rules alongside the national ones.
Language ability and pay
Konbini and food service jobs generally accept conversational Japanese and pay close to the prefectural minimum. Roles that need stronger Japanese, such as call center or office support work, or roles that use your native language, such as tutoring or interpretation, typically pay noticeably more per hour than entry-level retail and food service shifts.
If you hold income from more than one part-time employer during the year, you generally need to file your own year-end tax adjustment (kakutei shinkoku) rather than relying on a single employer's payroll department to handle it, since only one employer can apply the standard year-end adjustment (nenmatsu chosei) on your behalf.
Finding your first part-time job
University career offices and international student centers often keep a list of employers used to hiring students with permit restrictions, a good starting point if your Japanese is still developing. GaijinPot and Jobs in Japan are commonly used job boards aimed at foreign residents, alongside Hello Work, the public employment service with offices in most cities.
Most employers pay by direct bank transfer rather than cash, so open a Japanese bank account early using your residence card and student ID, since some banks ask for several months of residency before opening an account for new arrivals.