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Hiring International Students for Part-Time Work: Rules and Precautions Employers Must Know

Part-Time Employment of International Students:
Rules and Risk Management

Prerequisite: No student status = no work

Permission for non-status activities is conditional on "being an international student."
The moment a student graduates, withdraws, or is expelled, the permission expires.

Rule 1: Time Management

Basic Principle

28 hours per week

*Including all jobs combined
*Any 7-day period must not exceed 28 hours

Exception (During Long Breaks)

40 hours per week

*Only during school-designated breaks
*Max 8 hours per day

Rule 2: Enrollment and Activity Verification

ReliablePeriodically request submission of "student ID" and "transcript."

DailyConfirm school attendance through casual conversation like "How's school going?"

Be alert if they request shifts during class hours or avoid talking about school!

3-Point Risk Management for Companies

Verify permit (back of residence card)
Strict working hour management
Regular enrollment checks and communication

"I checked the permission for non-status activities on the residence card, so it should be fine" -- this assumption can unknowingly lead to legal violations, and companies may face serious liability.

Hello everyone. I'm Shizuka Wakabayashi, an Immigration Specialist.
In this second installment of our compliance series, we focus on "hiring international students for part-time work." While motivated international students are a valuable workforce for many companies, their employment comes with special obligations for employers that differ from hiring Japanese part-timers.

Prerequisite: Without "Enrollment" and "Actual Activity," Work is Not Permitted

The permission for non-status activities granted to international students is absolutely contingent on them "actively being a student in Japan."

1Formal "Enrollment"

Permission for non-status activities is tied to the "Student" residence status. If the student graduates, withdraws, or is expelled, the permission automatically expires at that point.

2Substantive "Activity"

Beyond simply being enrolled, the question is whether "they are actually performing student activities." Poor attendance or low grades can be a major reason for denial of future visa renewals.

If the employer fails to verify this and continues employing a former student who has already left school, the company faces serious risk of being charged with "abetting illegal employment."

Rule 1: Time Management (28 Hours Per Week and Long Break Exceptions)

Principle: "Within 28 hours per week"

If working multiple part-time jobs, this is the total of all working hours combined.

*How "week" is defined:
This is a very strict rule where any 7-day period must not exceed 28 hours.

Exception: "Within 40 hours per week during long breaks"

Only during long vacation periods defined in the school's rules (such as summer and winter breaks) is "8 hours per day, within 40 hours per week" permitted.

Rule 2: How to Verify "Enrollment and Activity"

Reliable methodEstablish an internal rule to periodically request "student ID" and "transcript" submissions every 3 or 6 months.
Everyday methodThrough conversations like "How's school recently?" or "What are you studying?", check if they're balancing work and academics.
Practical compromiseNormally monitor the situation through communication, and if anything seems suspicious, request submission of student ID or enrollment certificate.

Summary

Verify the permission on the back of the residence card
Strictly manage working hours (28 hours per week, long break exceptions)
Regular enrollment checks and everyday communication to understand academic status

Enforcing these three measures is the key to protecting the future of hard-working international students and maintaining your company's compliance.