【Must-Read for Convenience Store Owners!】What’s the Relationship Between Convenience Stores and Work Visas?
In urban areas especially, you often see many foreigners working at convenience stores. It’s not uncommon for international students to work part-time while studying in Japan, but is there actually a work visa specifically for working at convenience stores? We’ll explain this point in detail.
Service Industry and Work Visas
Work visas are, in principle, limited to “highly specialized jobs.” Engineers, interpreters, researchers, etc., fall under highly specialized jobs. Therefore, customer service roles, simple labor, etc., are not eligible for work visas.
Consequently, it is not possible to obtain a work visa specifically for the purpose of performing convenience store duties (such as operating cash registers or stocking shelves). Generally, when foreigners work at convenience stores, they utilize the “Qualified Activities Outside the Scope of Status of Residence” option for international students, or visas such as the Specified Skilled Worker visa or the Family Stay visa.
If an employer mistakenly believes that “issuing a work visa will allow them to work,” this could constitute a violation of the Immigration Control Act. Therefore, it is crucial to correctly understand the relevant laws and systems.
Work Visas for Working at Convenience Stores
As explained earlier, convenience store operations are generally not covered by work visas. However, exceptions may be permitted.
For example, a foreign national holding a “Technical/Humanities/International Services” visa (commonly called the “Technical/Humanities/International Services Visa”) may be permitted to engage in “planning and management duties” such as store operations, personnel management, or sales analysis.
In this case, the role requires managerial or planning responsibilities, not merely cashier duties. Additionally, it has become increasingly common recently to hire foreign staff using the “Specified Skilled Worker (Food Service Field)” visa. Convenience store operators must clearly distinguish and understand which visas allow foreigners to work and which specific duties are permitted under each visa.
What is the N1 Designated Activities Visa?
There are several residence statuses allowing foreigners to work in Japan, but the “N1 Designated Activities Visa” has gained attention since 2020. This system was established to allow international students who have passed the Japanese Language Proficiency Test N1 to continue working in Japan after graduation.
A key feature of this visa is its minimal restrictions on job duties, allowing holders to work in customer service and hospitality roles. Consequently, international students with advanced Japanese proficiency can engage in customer service tasks at convenience stores.
However, the requirements for obtaining this visa are stringent, involving scrutiny of the foreigner’s academic background and the stability of their employment contract. While this visa can be a solution for employers facing labor shortages, it requires strict implementation of employment management practices.
Summary
Tasks like operating cash registers or stocking shelves at convenience stores cannot be performed under a standard work visa. However, obtaining a “Technical/International Services/Humanities Knowledge” or “Specific Skills” visa allows for convenience store work. Additionally, acquiring an “N1 Specific Activities Visa” enables employment in customer service and service industries.
