2025-04-24

A visa is a status of residence that allows foreigners to work in Japan. Therefore, basically, you are not allowed to engage in any activities other than working in Japan. So, is it possible to attend school to acquire qualifications or improve skills? Is it necessary to change my status of residence?

What is a work visa?

In order to stay in Japan, a foreigner must obtain either a “work visa” or a “status of residence” which can be roughly divided into two categories.

The work-related status of residence is generally referred to as a “residence visa. This status of residence allows you to work in a specific job or occupation. Conversely, it is prohibited to work in a job or occupation that is not permitted. In addition, a status of residence that allows you to live with relatives living in Japan is a status of residence that allows you to live with relatives living in Japan.

Can a foreigner attend school with a work visa?

Is it possible for a foreigner to attend school while holding a work visa? As a conclusion, it is basically possible.

Even in the case of Japanese nationals, there are many cases where they attend vocational schools to acquire qualifications or improve their skills while working for a company. Similarly, there is no prohibition on foreigners working in Japan.

However, a “proviso” is attached here. If the Immigration Bureau determines that a foreigner has been so intent on attending school or studying that he/she has neglected his/her primary job and has not performed work related to his/her status of residence for more than a certain period of time, the Immigration Bureau will not be able to determine whether or not the foreigner has been granted a visa. If this happens, there is a possibility that your current status of residence will be revoked.

If you decide to quit your job and go to school to study in earnest, you will have to change your status of residence to “College Student”.

Be careful about side jobs

Many people now work side jobs after work or on weekends while working at their companies, and the number of companies that allow this is increasing.

However, as explained earlier, as a rule, foreigners with a “work visa” are prohibited from doing anything other than their authorized work. So, is it OK to have a so-called “side job”? The answer is “yes. However, in order to do so, you must obtain permission to engage in “activities permitted outside the status of residence” in addition to your current status of residence.

However, if you are asked to give a lecture as a “gratuity for a lecture not given as part of your job,” that is, if you are asked to give a lecture only once, or if you are asked by a friend to drive a car and receive a reward, that is, if you are asked to drive a car and receive a reward, or if you are asked to engage in “activities permitted under your current status of residence” (in other words, if you have a “work visa” as it is now), you are not required to obtain a “work visa” (see below). In addition, if you are engaged in “activities permitted under your current status of residence,” i.e., part-time work related to your current “work visa,” you do not need permission to engage in “activities other than those permitted under the status of residence.

Conclusion

Attending school while holding a work visa is basically not considered a problem. However, if the Immigration Bureau determines that you have neglected the work permitted under your original work visa, your current work visa may be revoked, so you should be careful.