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Designated Activities — stay pending start of confirmed employment

JapanSpecial cases

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

Official link

What exactly is the official special programme/status and why does it exist?

A Designated Activities status for foreign nationals who received a job offer while studying at, or after graduating from, a Japanese university or vocational school (専門学校) (including during continued job-hunting), allowing them to stay in Japan until they are hired, provided certain requirements are met.

See recorded sources
  • https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/resources/nyuukokukanri07_00013.html
    大学又は専門学校の在学中に就職先が内定した方や、大学又は専門学校を卒業後、継続就職活動中に就職先が内定した方が、企業に採用されるまでの間本邦に滞在することを希望される場合、一定の要件を満たせば、採用時期までの滞在を目的とした「特定活動」の在留資格への変更が認められ、本邦に継続して滞在することが可能です。

Which specific population, role, circumstance or historical/legal situation does it cover?

Foreign nationals residing with 'Student' (留学) status, or with Designated Activities for continued job-hunting.

See recorded sources

What circumstance, event, relationship, nomination, invitation or status activates access?

A job offer, together with: graduation from (or completion of a course at) a Japanese educational institution; hiring within 1 year of the offer and within 1 year 6 months of graduation; and the post-hire work being expected to qualify for a work status such as Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services.

See recorded sources
  • https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/resources/nyuukokukanri07_00013.html
    本邦の教育機関を卒業したこと又は教育機関の課程を修了したこと 内定後1年以内であって、かつ、卒業後1年6月以内に採用されること 企業等において従事する活動が「技術・人文知識・国際業務」等就労に係るいずれかの在留資格への変更が見込まれること

What sponsor, authority, nomination, certification, evidence or other step must occur before the status can be obtained?

The candidate's residence record must be free of problems, and the offering company must pledge to keep in touch with the candidate at regular intervals and to notify the Regional Immigration Services Bureau without delay if it withdraws the offer. The change-of-status application includes proof of ability to pay all expenses during the stay, the documents needed for the later change to the work status (plus a statement of company name, workplace, business, salary and duties), material confirming the job offer and its date, the signed pledge (誓約書), and details of any pre-hiring training.

See recorded sources
  • https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/resources/nyuukokukanri07_00013.html
    内定者の在留状況に問題がないこと 内定者と一定期間ごとに連絡をとること、内定を取り消した場合は遅滞なく地方出入国在留管理局に連絡することについて内定先の企業が誓約すること
  • https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/status/designatedactivities15.html
    申請人の在留中の一切の経費の支弁能力を証する文書 適宜 ※ 当該申請人以外が経費支弁をする場合には、その者の支弁能力を証する文書及びその者が支弁するに至った経緯を明らかにする文書を提出してください。 内定した企業において、採用後に行う活動に応じて変更することとなる、 就労に係る在留資格への在留資格変更許可申請に必要な資料 なお、内定した企業がカテゴリー1、2に該当する場合であっても、以下の項目が記載された文書を1通提出してください。 (1)内定した企業名 (2)主たる勤務場所(支店・事業所名および所在地、電話番号) ※ 派遣契約に基づく就労を予定している場合は、派遣先の勤務場所についても記載願います。 (3)事業内容 (4)給与(報酬)額 (5)職務内容
  • https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/status/designatedactivities15.html
    内定した企業からの採用内定の事実及び内定日を確認できる資料 1通 連絡義務等の遵守が記載された 誓約書(PDF:35KB)  1通 採用までに行う研修等の内容を確認できる資料(該当する活動がある場合に限る。)

What immigration status and rights result, how long do they last, can family be included, and what happens if the special qualifying circumstance ends?

The result is a change of status to Designated Activities for the stay until hiring. Holders may, with permission to engage in activity outside their status, work part-time up to 28 hours per week, and for an internship at the offering company before hiring may obtain permission exceeding 28 hours per week. The official source does not state the length of the period of stay, family inclusion or what happens if the offer is withdrawn.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • Length of the period of stay, inclusion of family and what happens if the offer is withdrawn (beyond the company's duty to report) are not stated in the sources read.

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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