What Is the Designated Activities Visa? A Clear Overview of Types and Common Use Patterns

The “Designated Activities” visa differs from statuses of residence with fixed purposes—such as work visas or student visas—in that it is a flexible status of residence designated individually depending on the purpose.
On the other hand, because there are multiple categories (notification numbers) and conditions, this is also a field where we receive a very large number of inquiries such as “I (or our company) am not sure which category applies.”

On this page, ACROSEED Immigration Lawyer's Office organizes major examples that individuals and corporate HR/administrative staff are often involved with in practice (No. 46 / J-FIND (No. 51) / Non-notification (Job-Hunting Continuation) / Internship / Digital Nomad (No. 53)) as a hub (comprehensive guide) organized by purpose.
Detailed requirements and procedures are explained on each individual page, so please proceed to the one that applies to your situation.

1. What Is the Designated Activities Visa? Its Position in the System and Basic Concepts

The Designated Activities visa is a status of residence under Japan’s immigration system based on “activities specifically designated by the Minister of Justice for each individual foreign national.”
In other words, the activities are not uniformly predetermined from the outset; rather, it is characterized by being designed to fit a specific purpose (e.g., preparation for employment, preparation for starting a business, internships, etc.).

1. Designated Activities Are Divided into “Notification” and “Non-notification” Categories

In practice, Designated Activities are broadly divided into (1) Notification-based Designated Activities (Notification No. ○) and (2) Non-notification Designated Activities (individual designation).
Major examples include No. 46, which is commonly relevant after graduation for international students, J-FIND (No. 51) for graduates of top universities worldwide, and No. 53 for digital nomads.

2. Differences from Work Visas and Student Visas

Work visas (such as Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services) presuppose an employment contract and job duties, while student visas presuppose academic study at an educational institution.
In contrast, Designated Activities is often used as a “preparation period for the next step”. Depending on which route you aim for (work / Highly Skilled Professional / Business Manager, etc.), the direction of preparation can change from an early stage.

2. How Many Types of Designated Activities Visas Are There? Major Examples Relevant to Individuals

The Designated Activities category is a broad “framework” in the system, and includes both types that have a notification number (Notification-based) and those that do not (Non-notification).
However, you do not need to understand every single type. In practice, the most common consultation areas for individuals and companies frequently involve: “employment / hiring,” “job hunting (job-hunting continuation),” “startup preparation,” “internships,” and “nomad stays.”

1. Major Examples Covered on This Comprehensive Page (Common Consultation Areas)

• Designated Activities related to employment for graduates of Japanese universities, etc. (e.g., No. 46)
• Job hunting and startup preparation for graduates of top overseas universities (e.g., J-FIND (No. 51))
• Continuing job hunting after graduation (cases designated as Non-notification)
• Foreign internships accepted by companies (depending on the case, Designated Activities or other schemes may need to be considered)
• Short-term stay as a Digital Nomad (No. 53)

2. There Are Many Other Types of Designated Activities (Examples We Handle)

Designated Activities are subdivided into detailed categories depending on the purpose, and there are far more than what is listed here.
ACROSEED Immigration Lawyer's Office has a proven track record of obtaining approvals for Designated Activities visas in the following types of cases.

For Designated Activities visa applications, we organize the optimal application route—including both Notification-based and Non-notification options based on the individual’s circumstances, the host organization’s acceptance framework, and the actual activity content.

• Domestic support personnel (so-called “maids,” etc.): Organizing the acceptance scheme, scope of activities, and contract structure is crucial
• Inviting parents to Japan (Designated Activities related to cohabitation, caregiving, or financial support): Explaining family circumstances, necessity, and financial maintenance is key
• Activities such as sports instructors: Proving the job nature, compensation structure, and the host organization’s framework is important
• Planning status of residence after Working Holiday ends: Document organization and job description, with a view toward transitioning to a work visa, are essential
• Continuing job hunting / waiting for an offer / status arrangement: Building up evidence logs of actual activities (applications, interviews, preparations) is critical
• Training / practical experience (internships, etc.): Even if unpaid or short-term, organization may be needed depending on the “work-like” nature of the activities
• Preparation period for research or highly skilled professionals: Consistency among academic background, achievements, and activity plans is emphasized

In all of the above, the status of residence is determined not by the “name” but by the substance (activity content, compensation, period, and acceptance framework).
Even if you are still at the stage of asking, “Which category does my case fall under?”, you can consult with us.

3. Which One Is Closest to Your Situation? How Designated Activities Visas Are Used by Purpose

Here, we briefly summarize “what you should check first” for common purposes, and guide you to the detailed explanation pages.
Please use this comprehensive page as a “map.”

1. I Graduated from a Japanese University and Want to Work in Japan (International Students / New Graduate Hiring)

The optimal route varies depending on whether you can transition to a work visa immediately after graduation, what happens around the job offer stage, and the company’s acceptance framework. In employment pathways for international students, No. 46 is often involved, and designing the route early reduces rework.

Change of Status from Student to Designated Activities No. 46

This is a representative Designated Activities category for international students who graduated from Japanese universities, etc., to engage in practical work, OJT, and pre-employment activities during the period before receiving a job offer. Procedures arise for both the individual (the student) and the company (the hiring side).

2. I Graduated from a Top Overseas University and Want to Come to Japan First for Job Hunting / Startup Preparation (J-FIND)

J-FIND (Future Creation Human Resources) allows activities in Japan even if employment is not yet secured, but “activity plan,” “funding documents,” and “exit planning to the next status of residence” are critical.
Also, because visa application practices overseas may differ by country, we recommend proceeding after clarifying what level of support is feasible.

What Is the J-FIND Visa (Designated Activities No. 51)?｜Requirements, Application Process, Employment/Startup

This is a Designated Activities category for graduates of top-ranked universities in global university rankings to conduct job hunting and startup preparation in Japan. The system allows you to come to Japan even before securing employment, and the key to success is designing the transition to a work visa, Highly Skilled Professional, or Business Manager.

3. I Graduated but Could Not Secure a Job Immediately (Job-Hunting Continuation / Status Arrangement: Non-notification)

Continuing job hunting after graduation may be designated as a Non-notification Designated Activities, and explaining “what you did and until when” becomes important for extensions or changes.
Because this area has many branching scenarios, we design the approach by working backward from your current status (graduation timing, period of stay, offer situation).

Can I Continue Job Hunting by Changing from a Student Visa to a Designated Activities Visa?

Even if you did not receive a job offer by graduation, depending on conditions, there are cases where a Designated Activities status for continuing job hunting may be approved. How you explain and document your actual job-hunting activities can greatly affect approval.

4. We Want to Accept a Foreign Intern (Organizing Company-side Procedures)

Internships are an area where misunderstandings easily occur, such as “It’s short-term so it’s fine,” or “It’s unpaid so there’s no issue.”
In practice, the appropriate status of residence design changes depending on the activity content (job-like nature), whether compensation is paid, the duration, and whether the person is enrolled in a school.
The more thoroughly the company has organized its framework (purpose of acceptance, job content, management structure), the smoother the procedures will be.

Foreign Internship Visa Application Guide

This is a guide to organizing internship programs as practical experience and trial hiring for foreign talent (overseas or in Japan). Even if unpaid or short-term, some cases require consideration of status of residence, and designing the host company’s framework is important.

5. I Want to Stay in Japan While Continuing My Overseas Work (Digital Nomad: No. 53)

Because the Digital Nomad (No. 53) category has limited eligibility and conditions, the first step is confirming whether you meet the requirements (income, insurance, activity content, etc.).
It is important to map the requirements and clarify the scope of permitted activities during the stay.

Guide to Obtaining Japan’s Digital Nomad Visa (Designated Activities No. 53)

This is a Digital Nomad-focused Designated Activities category that allows you to stay in Japan for a certain period while continuing work for an overseas company. We organize the differences from other Designated Activities and work visas, including whether work in Japan is permitted and how it relates to tax matters.

4. What You Can and Cannot Do Under a Designated Activities Visa (Common Rules)

Designated Activities visas are sometimes said to offer “greater flexibility” compared to other statuses of residence, but in reality, it is not a status that allows you to “do anything you want.”
Designated Activities is a status of residence designed for an individual purpose, and what you can and cannot do is strictly tied to the authorized activities specified at the time of approval.

Regardless of the category, what is commonly important is that Immigration focuses not on the paper formality, but on what you are actually doing in Japan (the reality of your activities).
If this “activity management” is not properly maintained, it becomes a major risk at the stage of extension or change of status of residence.

1. What You Can Do: Activities Aligned with the Authorized Purpose

Under Designated Activities, you may engage in job-preparation, job-hunting, startup preparation, or host-organization-based activities (such as internships), etc., within the scope of the purpose assumed at the time of approval.
However, rather than simply “being active,” Immigration places emphasis on whether your activities are carried out in a planned and continuous manner.

For example, in job hunting, practical evaluation points include whether your flow of applications, interviews, and company research connects naturally. In startup preparation, points include whether steps such as business planning, market research, and consultations with professionals are progressing in stages.

2. Caution: Paid Work (Remunerated Activities) Is Not “Anything Goes”

People often misunderstand this as “If it’s Designated Activities, you can work,” or “If it’s short hours or low pay, it’s fine,” but this is an extremely risky way of thinking.
Whether remunerated activities are permitted—and even if permitted— Immigration will strictly check whether the work is consistent with the original purpose of your activities.

In practice, regarding job duties, contract structure, work frequency, and income level, it is crucial whether you can explain—in a way that even a third party can reasonably understand— “why this activity is connected to job preparation or startup preparation.”
If the explanation is weak, it is not uncommon for extension to be denied or for the transition to the next status of residence to be blocked.

3. What You Cannot Do: Inactivity or “Form-Only” Stay That Contradicts the Purpose

If, contrary to the authorized purpose, you have been largely inactive for a long period, or your situation appears as a “form-only stay,” it becomes difficult to continue under a Designated Activities visa.
In particular, at the time of extension application, “What did you do during this period?” will be checked in concrete terms.

Therefore, keeping daily logs such as application records, interview notes, email exchanges, and preparation progress is extremely important in practice.
Rather than “explaining everything later in a lump,” accumulating records routinely and consistently greatly increases the success rate for extensions and changes.

5. For Those Who Are Not Sure Which Designated Activities Category Is Appropriate

Designated Activities visas have an exceptionally wide scope as a system, and even cases that look similar at first glance may require different categories or application routes.
Depending on the combination of detailed conditions—such as academic background, graduation timing, current location (overseas / in Japan), contract structure, whether compensation exists, and the actual state of activities— the route may diverge between “a route that can be advanced safely” and “a route that is likely to get stuck later.”

At ACROSEED Immigration Lawyer's Office, we handle not only major categories such as Designated Activities No. 46 and J-FIND (No. 51), but also a wide range of cases including job-hunting continuation (Non-notification), foreign internships, and status arrangement after Working Holiday, as well as highly individualized Designated Activities cases such as domestic support personnel, inviting family members, and sports-related activities.

In such cases, rather than simply “matching a notification number,” it is important to first design how to connect the current situation to the future status of residence (work visa, Highly Skilled Professional, Business Manager, etc.).
If you proceed with the wrong direction, you may need additional explanations and extra documents at the extension or change stage, increasing both time and psychological burden.

If you are at the stage of thinking, “I don’t know which category my case falls under,” or “I want to confirm whether my current approach is safe,” then by organizing the situation early, you can minimize rework.

6. Overview of Our Designated Activities Visa Application Support Service

1. Service Overview

A Designated Activities visa is a status of residence for which the application route, required documents, and key proof points vary significantly depending on factors such as the notification number (e.g., No. 46, No. 51), whether it is Notification-based or Non-notification, and differences in the activity purpose.
At ACROSEED Immigration Lawyer's Office, we organize the situation of the applicant or the host company, identify which Designated Activities category is most appropriate, and design the application with an eye toward future changes of status of residence.

Even in cases such as “I don’t know which Designated Activities category applies,” or “I want to reliably connect to a work visa, Highly Skilled Professional, or Business Manager,” we provide consistent support from current situation analysis → application strategy → document preparation and filing support.

Who This Service Is For (Individuals / Companies)

• Individuals and companies considering post-graduation procedures for international students (Designated Activities No. 46 / Job-Hunting Continuation)
• Individuals considering J-FIND (Designated Activities No. 51) as graduates of top overseas universities
• Those who want to use Designated Activities for a job-search or startup-preparation period and reliably connect to the next status of residence
• Companies / HR personnel considering accepting foreign interns
• Cases requiring an explanation strategy under Non-notification Designated Activities (job-hunting continuation, status arrangement, etc.)

2. What the Service Includes

1. Eligibility assessment for a Designated Activities visa (organizing the notification number and Notification-based / Non-notification classification)
2. Designing an activity schedule and evidence narrative aligned with the purpose
3. Drafting and reviewing documents for Immigration submission (including statements of reasons and explanatory materials)
4. Filing as an application agent with the Immigration Services Agency (COE / Change / Extension)
5. Responding to requests for additional documents during review and providing supplemental explanations
6. Advice with a view toward the next-stage transition to a work visa, Highly Skilled Professional, Business Manager, etc.

3. Advantages of Choosing ACROSEED Immigration Lawyer's Office

▼See the 9 Reasons ACROSEED Is Chosen for More Details

4. Ratings on Google Reviews

ACROSEED Immigration Lawyer's Office has received high evaluations for service quality from many clients, regardless of nationality or application category.

5. Service Fees for Designated Activities Visa Support (Tax Excluded)

• There are absolutely no additional charges based on your conditions.

• ACROSEED Immigration Lawyer's Office provides nationwide support. Even customers outside the area can request services at the fees below.

• Payment by Visa or MasterCard is also available.

7. Related Pages Frequently Read Together with Designated Activities Visa Applications

Designated Activities Visa Application Guide

A complete overview of Japan’s Designated Activities visa applications. We explain major examples such as Designated Activities No. 46, J-FIND (No. 51), non-notification job-hunting continuation, internships, and Digital Nomad (No. 53).

Change of Status from Student to Designated Activities No. 46

This is a representative Designated Activities status for international students who have graduated from a Japanese university, etc., to engage in practical work, OJT, and pre-employment activities during the period before receiving a job offer. Since procedures are required for both the individual (the student) and the company (the hiring side), it is important to organize the requirements and clarify the division of roles.

What Is the J-FIND Visa (Designated Activities No. 51)? | Requirements, Application, Employment/Startup

This is a Designated Activities status for graduates of top-ranked universities in global university rankings to conduct job hunting or startup preparation in Japan. It allows entry to Japan even before employment is secured, and planning the transition to a work visa, Highly Skilled Professional, or Business Manager is the key to success.

Can I Change from a Student Visa to a Designated Activities Visa to Continue Job Hunting?

Even if you did not receive a job offer by the time you graduate, there are cases where, if certain conditions are met, a Designated Activities status to continue job hunting may be granted. How you explain the reality of your activities and how you keep records can significantly affect whether your application is approved.

Guide to Obtaining Japan’s Digital Nomad Visa (Designated Activities No. 53)

This is a Designated Activities category for Digital Nomads that allows you to stay in Japan for a certain period while continuing work for an overseas company. We organize key differences from other Designated Activities categories and work visas, including whether you can work in Japan and the relationship with taxation.