Dependent Visa in Japan: Change of Status for Full-Time Work After High School Graduation

If a child staying in Japan under Dependent status will work beyond the scope of Permission to Engage in Activity Other Than That Permitted (generally up to 28 hours per week), the child needs to change to a status of residence appropriate for the work before starting employment.

For people who entered Japan accompanying a parent under Dependent status and will work after graduating from a Japanese high school, the Immigration Services Agency provides a route to change to Long-Term Resident or Designated Activities when the published requirements are met. This page explains the requirements, required documents and screening points based on the 2026 published guidance.

1. Dependent Visa and Full-Time Work After High School Graduation

The status of residence Dependent is for the daily activities of a spouse or child who is supported by a person residing in Japan under an eligible status of residence. Even with comprehensive Permission to Engage in Activity Other Than That Permitted, work is generally limited to 28 hours per week. If a high school graduate will work beyond that scope, a change of status should be considered before employment begins.

• Regular work statuses such as Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services have their own academic-background, work-experience and job-content requirements.
• A person who entered Japan accompanying a parent under Dependent status and graduated from a Japanese high school may qualify for the published treatment allowing a change to Long-Term Resident or Designated Activities.
• The published criteria examine educational history, age at entry, continued residence under Dependent status, a confirmed job offer and compliance with public/immigration obligations.

Employers should also confirm the status under which the person will be permitted to work before employment starts. An employment contract, written notice of working conditions or job-offer letter is basic evidence that employment has been secured.

2. Long-Term Resident or Designated Activities? Check the Published Requirements

The correct route is not chosen simply by preference or employment type. It depends on whether the applicant meets the requirements published by the Immigration Services Agency, particularly the applicant's educational history in Japan.

2-1. Requirements for a Change to Long-Term Resident

The Immigration Services Agency lists the following requirements, all of which must be satisfied for this route.

• Completed compulsory education in Japan (such as elementary and junior high school).
• Graduated, or is expected to graduate, from a Japanese high school or equivalent.
• Has continued residing in Japan under Dependent status after entering Japan.
• Was under 18 years old at the time of entry into Japan.
• Has secured employment, including a job offer.
• Has fulfilled public obligations, including required residence-address notifications.

A person currently holding another status, such as Student, may also fall within this treatment if the person otherwise has eligibility corresponding to Dependent status. This treatment applies when the person will work beyond the scope of permitted activities under Dependent status (generally 28 hours per week).

Long-Term Resident is not an employment-based status, so after approval there is generally no occupational restriction of the type imposed by work statuses.

2-2. Requirements for a Change to Designated Activities

For Designated Activities, the Immigration Services Agency lists the following requirements, all of which must be satisfied.

• Graduated, or is expected to graduate, from a Japanese high school or equivalent.
• The person who supported the applicant while the applicant held Dependent status remains in Japan and acts as guarantor.
• Has continued residing in Japan under Dependent status after entering Japan.
• Was under 18 years old at the time of entry into Japan.
• Has secured employment, including a job offer.
• Has fulfilled public obligations, including required residence-address notifications.

If the applicant transferred into a Japanese high school partway through, proof of graduation must be accompanied by proof of JLPT N2 or higher, or a BJT Business Japanese Proficiency Test score of 400 or higher. This treatment also concerns employment beyond the general 28-hour-per-week limit under permission for activities outside Dependent status.

3. Requirements and Required Documents for Changing Status

Start with the basic documents published by the Immigration Services Agency. Additional documents may be requested depending on the individual circumstances.

3-1. Main Documents Prepared by the Applicant

For Long-Term Resident:

• Application for Change of Status of Residence (Form T).
• Photograph.
• Resume showing completion of compulsory education in Japan.
• Copy of Japanese elementary/junior-high graduation diploma or graduation certificate.
• Document proving graduation or expected graduation from a Japanese high school.
• Passport and residence card.

For Designated Activities:

• Application for Change of Status of Residence (Form U / Other).
• Photograph.
• Resume stating the date of admission to the Japanese high school.
• Certificate of enrollment showing the high-school admission date.
• Document proving graduation or expected graduation from a Japanese high school.
• For a student who transferred into high school: proof of JLPT N2 or higher or BJT 400 or higher.
• Passport and residence card.

3-2. Main Documents Prepared by the Parent / Sponsor

A Certificate of Residence (juminhyo) listing all household members is a basic document. For Designated Activities, a letter of guarantee from the person who supported the applicant while the applicant held Dependent status is required. A letter of guarantee is also listed among the documents for Long-Term Resident.

Tax certificates, tax-payment certificates, employment certificates and family-relationship documents are not uniformly listed as mandatory basic documents for this specific change-of-status treatment. However, immigration may request additional evidence according to the circumstances.

3-3. Main Documents Prepared by the Employer

To prove that employment has been secured, submit an employment contract, written notice of working conditions, job-offer letter or equivalent document. If the job-offer letter does not state the employment period, employment type and salary, also submit a job posting or other document showing those conditions.

A company profile, certificate of registered matters and detailed job-description statement are not uniformly listed in the official basic document list for this high-school-graduate treatment. Additional documents may nevertheless be requested after filing.

4. Common Problems That Can Lead to Additional Document Requests or Difficulty

The first step is to confirm whether the applicant meets the published eligibility requirements. The examination is based on objective facts such as educational history, age at entry, residence status, confirmed employment and compliance with public obligations.

• The applicant was not under 18 at the time of entry.
• The applicant seeks Long-Term Resident status but cannot establish completion of compulsory education in Japan.
• High-school graduation/expected graduation or a confirmed job offer cannot be established with the required documents.
• A Designated Activities applicant who transferred into high school cannot provide the required Japanese-language proof.
• There are problems with residence-address notifications or other immigration/public obligations.
• The employment documents do not clearly show the employment period, employment type, salary or other necessary working conditions.

The Immigration Services Agency may request documents beyond the published basic list. Before applying, organize which requirement you meet and which document proves each fact.

5. Frequently Asked Questions

No. The treatment explained here is for people who will work in Japan after high school graduation. If you continue to vocational school or university, confirm whether you can remain on Dependent status or should change to Student status according to the purpose of study. Continuing education does not by itself require a change to Long-Term Resident or Designated Activities.

Under comprehensive permission for activities outside Dependent status, work is generally limited to 28 hours per week. If you will work beyond that scope, you need to consider a change of status before starting the work. The label “full-time employee” alone does not decide the issue; actual working hours, activities and the status requirements must be checked.

The Immigration Services Agency does not state that approval or denial is determined solely by the name of the employment type. The published requirements include having a confirmed job, and the employment evidence should show the employment period, employment type, salary and other conditions. This treatment concerns work beyond the general 28-hour-per-week limit, and each set of working conditions must be checked against the applicable requirements.

First check whether the intended job meets the requirements of a regular work status such as Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services. A person who entered Japan accompanying a parent under Dependent status and will work after graduating from a Japanese high school may qualify for a change to Long-Term Resident or Designated Activities under the published treatment even if the academic requirements of a regular work status are not met. The correct status should therefore be determined from educational history, age at entry, residence history and intended work rather than automatically applying for a work visa first.

6. Summary: Dependent Visa, Full-Time Work and Change of Status

If a child residing in Japan under Dependent status will work after high school graduation beyond the permitted scope, a change to a status appropriate for the work should be completed before employment begins.

• Long-Term Resident: check completion of compulsory education in Japan, Japanese high-school graduation, entry while under 18, confirmed employment and compliance with public obligations.
• Designated Activities: check Japanese high-school graduation, sponsor/guarantor in Japan, entry while under 18, confirmed employment and compliance with public obligations. A high-school transferee must also provide the specified Japanese-language proof.
• Regular work status: check the academic background, work experience and job-content requirements specific to that status.
• Prepare the published basic documents from the applicant, sponsor and employer.
• After working under Designated Activities or another qualifying employment status, a later change to Long-Term Resident may be available if the published conditions, including 5 years or more, are met.

7. Support from ACROSEED Immigration Lawyer's Office

ACROSEED Immigration Lawyer's Office checks the published requirements before filing: educational history, age at entry, continued Dependent residence, confirmed employment, public obligations, and—where relevant—the Japanese-language requirement and guarantor. We also check whether the basic documents actually prove each requirement and identify any additional evidence that may be needed for the individual case.

Nationwide Support: Online and email-based management, same quality anywhere in Japan.

Multilingual: Consultations available in English and Chinese.

Clear Progress Tracking: Check application status and required documents online.

Complex Cases Supported: Extensive experience with reapplications after rejection.

Transparent Fees: Clear pricing with minimal additional costs.

Support Even After Rejection: Free reapplication support until approval.

Information Security: Proper data management based on ISO27001 standards.

8. Related Pages Often Read Together with Long-Term Resident Applications

Guide to Applying for Permanent Residency from Long-Term Resident Status

A guide for Long-Term Resident Visa holders who wish to obtain Permanent Residency. Explains requirements such as years of stay, income criteria, financial independence, tax payment, and social insurance, as well as key points to avoid denial. Includes a free self-check tool.

How to Obtain a Long-Term Resident Visa after Divorce from a Japanese Spouse

Explains the requirements for a Long-Term Resident Visa after divorce (financial stability, settlement in Japan, raising a biological child, etc.) and important points to note. Also covers official approval/denial cases and the latest screening periods.

Long-Term Resident Visa for Raising a Japanese Child

Specialists explain Long-Term Resident Visas for those raising a Japanese child: eligibility requirements, required documents, change/extension procedures, key screening points, and the path from Long-Term Resident to Permanent Residency.

Long-Term Resident Visa for Bringing a Minor, Unmarried Biological Child from Overseas

A detailed explanation by specialists of the Long-Term Resident Visa procedures when a minor, unmarried biological child is to be supported in Japan by a Permanent Resident, Long-Term Resident, or Spouse of Japanese National.

Complete Guide to Long-Term Resident Visas for Nikkei Applicants

An administrative scrivener explains the conditions, procedures, and required documents for Nikkei 2nd, 3rd, and 4th generation applicants to obtain a Long-Term Resident Visa in Japan.

More Detailed Information on Long-Term Resident Visa Applications

Long-Term Resident vs. Permanent Resident in Japan | Key Differences

Adopted Child Visa Japan | Ordinary vs Special Adoption & Long-Term Resident

Japan Visa After Divorce With a Japanese Child | Custody & Long-Term Resident

Can I Bring My Adult Child to Japan? | Long-Term Resident Visa Age Limit

Dependent Visa Japan: Full-Time Work After High School | Change of Status

Long-Term Resident Visa Denied in Japan? Reasons & Reapplication

Long-Term Resident Visa Renewal in Japan | Documents, Requirements & Fees

Long-Term Resident Visa Japan: Unemployed or Low Income?

Change from Temporary Visitor to Long-Term Resident in Japan?