Part-Time Work in Japan: 28 Hours Isn't Per Job — It's Across All of Them

"Student" status doesn't include the right to work

The "Student" (留学) status of residence lets you study full-time in Japan — it says nothing about work. To legally hold a part-time job, you need a separate permit: 資格外活動許可, permission to engage in activity outside your status of residence. It's issued at the immigration bureau (or on arrival at the airport, which is often faster), and noted on your residence card, which you must carry while working.

You cannot start working before the permit is granted — in some cases, even an unpaid internship needs separate clearance. Part-time work is legally prohibited during a leave of absence (休学), even if you're still holding a valid permit.

28 hours is a total across jobs, not per job

The most common mistake is counting the limit per employer. In fact, 28 hours a week applies across every employer combined — two jobs at 20 hours each isn't two legal part-time jobs, it's already a violation.

During official school breaks (summer, winter, spring), the daily cap rises to 8 hours a day. Sources disagree on the weekly cap specifically during breaks — some cite a 40-hour weekly ceiling, others say there's no weekly cap at all during break periods. This is worth confirming directly with your school's international office rather than inferring it from general articles.

What's banned regardless of hours

Regardless of hours worked or whether you hold a permit, certain industries are off-limits to international students entirely — adult entertainment, host/hostess clubs, mahjong parlours, pachinko, and related businesses. This isn't about the hour limit; this kind of work is prohibited outright.

Since 2026, oversight has gotten tighter

On 10 April 2026, Japan's Immigration Services Agency and Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a notice tightening rules for students — stricter financial checks, new language requirements, and closer monitoring of student work. Among other things, language schools must now verify each student's work situation roughly every three months and report to the immigration authorities if a student refuses to comply with the limit.

Individual universities are layering their own rules on top. APU (Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University), for instance, requires international students to report any change in their part-time workplace to the university starting 1 July 2026.

Breaking the limit isn't a technicality — according to several universities, it can have serious consequences for residence status, up to being barred from re-entering Japan for several years. The work permit isn't a reason to relax; it's valid strictly within its own terms.