💼 Work & Labor Rights Guide for Foreign Residents in Japan

Japan has over 30 visa categories, and your work rights depend entirely on which visa you hold. Understanding these restrictions is critical because working outside the scope of your visa is illegal and can lead to deportation, fines, and a ban on re-entry to Japan.

Common Work Visa Categories

• Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services — covers office work, IT, translation, marketing, and similar professional roles. This is one of the most common work visas for foreign professionals. You can work full-time with no hour restrictions.
• Specified Skilled Worker (SSW 1) — allows full-time work in 14 designated industries including nursing care, food service, construction, agriculture, and manufacturing. You must pass industry-specific skills tests and a Japanese language test (JLPT N4 or equivalent).
• Technical Intern Training — restricts you to working at your designated workplace only. Changing employers is generally not permitted under this program. Full-time hours are allowed.
• Student Visa (留学) — you may only work part-time, and only after obtaining a special permission called "Permission to Engage in Activity Other Than That Permitted" (資格外活動許可). The limit is 28 hours per week during the school term and 40 hours per week during official school breaks such as summer and winter holidays.
• Spouse of Japanese National / Permanent Resident — these visa holders have no work restrictions at all and can work in any industry for unlimited hours.

Working Without Permission

Working outside the scope of your visa is a serious offense under the Immigration Control Act. Consequences include detention, deportation, fines of up to 3 million yen, and a 5-year ban on re-entry. Student visa holders who exceed 28 hours per week risk having their visa renewal denied, even if their academic performance is good. Immigration authorities do audit employer payroll records, so violations are often discovered during visa renewal applications.

How to Get Work Permission on a Student or Dependent Visa

If you hold a Student or Dependent visa and want to work part-time, you need to apply for "資格外活動許可" (Permission to Engage in Activity Other Than That Permitted) at your nearest Immigration Services Agency office. Bring your residence card, passport, and the application form (available on the Immigration Services Agency website or at the office). Processing typically takes about 2 weeks, and the permission is usually granted as a sticker on your residence card or noted in the card's IC chip. There is no fee for this application.

Japanese labor law protects all workers equally, regardless of nationality or visa status. Whether you are a full-time employee, part-time worker, or contract worker, you are entitled to the same fundamental protections under the Labor Standards Act, the Minimum Wage Act, and other labor legislation.

Key Employee Rights

• Minimum Wage — the minimum hourly wage varies by prefecture, ranging from approximately 930 yen to 1,113 yen per hour. Tokyo and Osaka tend to have the highest rates. Your employer cannot pay you less than this amount under any circumstances, and the Minimum Wage Act governs this right.
• Work Hours — the legal maximum is 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week under the Labor Standards Act. Any work beyond these limits counts as overtime.
• Overtime Pay — overtime is capped at 45 hours per month and 360 hours per year. Your employer must pay at least 125% of your regular hourly rate for standard overtime. For work exceeding 60 hours per month, the rate increases to 150%. Late-night work (between 10 PM and 5 AM) also requires a 25% premium on top of any overtime rate.
• Paid Leave — after 6 months of continuous employment with at least 80% attendance, you are entitled to 10 days of paid annual leave. This increases each year, reaching a maximum of 20 days after 6.5 years. Your employer cannot refuse your leave request except in cases of serious business disruption.
• Dismissal Protection — your employer must give you at least 30 days advance written notice before termination, or pay you 30 days wages in lieu of notice. Dismissal without just cause is illegal under the Labor Standards Act.

What Your Employer Must Provide

By law, your employer is required to give you a written employment contract, ideally in a language you can understand. The contract must clearly state your salary, work hours, overtime conditions, and termination terms. You should also receive monthly pay slips showing all deductions for taxes and social insurance. Your employer must enroll you in social insurance if you meet the eligibility criteria, provide overtime premium pay at the rates described above, and arrange an annual health checkup at no cost to you.

Illegal Employer Practices

Certain employer behaviors are strictly illegal under Japanese law. These include confiscating your passport or residence card (a serious offense that should be reported immediately), paying below the minimum wage, refusing to pay overtime, firing you for exercising your right to take paid leave, and discriminating against you based on your nationality. If you encounter any of these practices, you have the right to file a complaint with the Labor Standards Office.

Keep Records

Always keep copies of your employment contract, pay slips, and work schedule. If a dispute arises with your employer, these documents serve as essential evidence. It is a good practice to photograph your time card or attendance records regularly. Save any relevant messages, emails, or LINE conversations with your employer, as these can also support your case in a labor dispute.

Japan's social insurance system, known as Shakai Hoken, is mandatory for employees who work 20 or more hours per week at companies with 51 or more employees. The premiums are split 50/50 between you and your employer, meaning your employer pays half the cost. Social insurance provides comprehensive coverage across four main areas.

Types of Social Insurance

• Health Insurance (Kenko Hoken) — covers 70% of your medical costs, meaning you pay only 30% at hospitals and clinics. It also covers your dependents (spouse and children) at no additional premium. Your share is approximately 5% of your monthly salary.
• Employees' Pension (Kosei Nenkin) — provides old-age pension, disability benefits, and survivor benefits. Your contribution is approximately 9.15% of your monthly salary. If you leave Japan, you may be able to claim a lump-sum withdrawal of your pension contributions (see the "Leaving Japan" guide for details).
• Employment Insurance (Koyo Hoken) — covers unemployment benefits, childcare leave pay, and job training programs. Your share is approximately 0.6% of your salary. This insurance is essential if you lose your job.
• Workers' Compensation (Rosai Hoken) — covers injuries and illnesses that occur at work or during your commute. This is paid 100% by your employer, so there is no deduction from your salary. It covers medical costs, lost wages, and disability compensation.

Unemployment Benefits

If you lose your job and have been enrolled in employment insurance for at least 12 months (or 6 months if you were dismissed or laid off), you are eligible for unemployment benefits. The benefit amount is typically 50-80% of your average daily wage, and payments continue for 90 to 330 days depending on your age, length of employment, and reason for leaving. To claim benefits, register at your nearest Hello Work (Public Employment Security Office) as soon as possible after losing your job. Bring your residence card, employment insurance card, and separation notice from your former employer.

Part-Time Workers and Social Insurance

Part-time workers are also eligible for social insurance if they work 20 or more hours per week, earn 88,000 yen or more per month, and are employed at a company with 51 or more employees. If you meet these criteria and your employer refuses to enroll you, this is a violation of the law. Contact your local Labor Standards Office or the pension office to report the issue. Being enrolled in social insurance is in your interest because it provides better health coverage and pension benefits than the national systems available to self-employed individuals.

Finding a job in Japan as a foreign resident requires using a combination of public services, online platforms, networking, and staffing agencies. The job market can be competitive, but there are many resources specifically designed to help foreign workers connect with employers who value multilingual and international talent.

Hello Work (ハローワーク)

Hello Work is Japan's free public employment service, run by the government. It is one of the most important resources for job seekers, including foreign residents. Major cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, and Fukuoka have dedicated multilingual counters (called "Foreigner Employment Service Centers") with staff who speak English, Chinese, Portuguese, Spanish, and other languages. Hello Work provides job listings, unemployment benefits processing, job training programs, and one-on-one support with resume writing and interview preparation. There is no cost to use any Hello Work service. You can find your nearest office on the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare website.

Job Sites for Foreign Workers

• GaijinPot Jobs — one of the largest English-language job boards in Japan, with listings across industries including teaching, IT, hospitality, and more.
• Daijob — focuses on bilingual positions and is popular among professionals who speak both Japanese and English or other languages.
• LinkedIn Japan — increasingly used by Japanese companies for professional hiring, especially in tech, consulting, and international business roles.
• Indeed Japan — offers a wide range of listings from entry-level to executive positions, available in both Japanese and English.
• Mynavi and Rikunabi — major Japanese job sites that are especially useful if you can read Japanese. They have the largest volume of listings from Japanese companies.

Additional Job Search Tips

Preparing a Japanese-style resume (履歴書, rirekisho) is essential for most job applications in Japan. This format is different from a Western CV and follows a strict template that you can buy at convenience stores or download online. Many employers in Japan still expect handwritten resumes, though typed versions are increasingly accepted, especially in IT and international companies.

Networking is also valuable in the Japanese job market. Attend industry meetups, international exchange events, and career fairs for foreign residents. Many cities host regular networking events through international associations and chambers of commerce. Staffing agencies (人材派遣会社) that specialize in placing foreign workers can also be helpful, as they often have relationships with employers who are specifically looking for international candidates and can assist with visa-related paperwork.

Japanese law recognizes and prohibits several forms of workplace harassment. Since 2020, all employers in Japan are legally required to have harassment prevention measures in place, including a consultation desk where employees can report incidents. These protections apply to all workers regardless of nationality.

Types of Workplace Harassment

Power Harassment (パワハラ, pawa-hara) refers to the abuse of a superior position or authority in the workplace. Examples include verbal abuse such as yelling or insulting an employee, assigning an unreasonable workload designed to overwhelm someone, deliberately isolating a worker from the team, making excessive personal demands unrelated to work, or denying someone reasonable work assignments. Power harassment is the most commonly reported type in Japan.

Sexual Harassment (セクハラ, seku-hara) includes any unwanted sexual conduct in the workplace. This covers inappropriate comments about someone's appearance or personal life, unwanted physical contact, sexual jokes or images in the workplace, and any form of sexual coercion. Both men and women can be victims, and the harassment can come from supervisors, coworkers, or clients.

Maternity Harassment (マタハラ, mata-hara) involves disadvantaging workers who are pregnant, on maternity leave, or using childcare leave. Examples include pressuring someone to quit because of pregnancy, demoting or reassigning a worker after they return from parental leave, making negative comments about a worker's pregnancy or childcare needs, and refusing to grant legally mandated maternity or childcare leave.

Where to Get Help

If you experience harassment at work, there are several resources available to you:

• FRESC Helpline — call 0120-76-2029 (toll-free). This is a dedicated multilingual support line for foreign residents dealing with labor issues, including harassment. Staff can advise you on your options and help you navigate the complaint process.
• Labor Standards Office (労働基準監督署) — the government agency where you can file formal complaints about labor law violations, unpaid wages, unsafe working conditions, and harassment. There are offices throughout Japan, and some have multilingual support.
• Labor Consultation Hotline — call 0120-811-610 for general labor consultations. The hotline is available in multiple languages Monday through Friday and can provide guidance on your rights and next steps.
• Legal Aid (法テラス, Houterasu) — call 0570-078-377 for free legal consultation if you meet income eligibility requirements. Houterasu can connect you with a lawyer and may cover legal fees if you need to take formal action.

Document Everything

If you experience harassment, it is essential to keep detailed records. Write down the date, time, location, what happened, what was said, and the names of any witnesses for each incident. Save all relevant messages, emails, and LINE conversations. Take screenshots if the harassment occurs through digital communication. This documentation is crucial if you file a formal complaint with the Labor Standards Office or pursue legal action. Without evidence, it can be difficult to prove harassment occurred.