Introduction
More and more overseas university students are coming to Japan to participate in internships at Japanese companies, and the status of residence “Designated Activities (Internship)” is attracting growing attention.
At the same time, many company staff and university officers are unsure which status of residence applies and what procedures they must follow, which often causes concern.
This article explains the basic framework and key application points of the status of residence “Designated Activities (Internship)” in plain language, based on official materials published by the Immigration Services Agency and the Ministry of Justice.
What is “Designated Activities (Internship)”?
“Designated Activities” is a status of residence that permits foreign nationals to engage in activities specifically designated for them by the Minister of Justice, and “Internship” is one of the activities covered under this category.
When a student enrolled at an overseas university receives remuneration and undertakes an internship at a Japanese company, entry to Japan is generally required under the status of residence “Designated Activities (Public Notice No. 9),” and a Certificate of Eligibility is normally obtained before applying for a visa.
Depending on the content and duration of the internship and whether remuneration is paid, other statuses such as “Temporary Visitor” or “Cultural Activities” may apply instead, so it is important to consider which status fits the actual plan from the earliest planning stage.
Key Requirements for Eligible Internships
Roughly speaking, internships that qualify for “Designated Activities (Internship)” satisfy the following conditions, which are concretely stipulated in the Ministerial Public Notice and related guidelines.
- The applicant is enrolled in an overseas university or graduate school (special cases such as leave of absence require individual confirmation).
- The internship is positioned as part of the educational curriculum and is based on an agreement or contract between the university and the Japanese host company or organization.
- The internship involves practical work experience at a Japanese company or similar organization for a certain period.
As for remuneration, internships with payment commonly use “Designated Activities (Public Notice No. 9),” while unpaid internships of up to 90 days fall under “Temporary Visitor,” and unpaid internships exceeding 90 days are treated as “Cultural Activities.”
Requirements for Host Companies and Universities
For the status of residence “Designated Activities (Internship),” not only the intern but also the host company and the university must satisfy certain requirements and assume specific roles.
- An agreement or contract concerning the internship must be concluded between the overseas university and the host company in Japan.
- The host company must clearly define the work content, supervision system, and working conditions (including remuneration and working hours) and be able to explain them in writing.
- The internship program must be recognized as educationally meaningful and relevant to the student’s major field of study.
In particular, the Certificate of Eligibility application must, in principle, be filed by the host company or organization in Japan, and it is expected that the company will take primary responsibility for the procedure.
Period of Stay and Extension
The period of stay for “Designated Activities (Internship)” is individually designated by the Minister of Justice according to the content and duration of the internship, but in practice, one year or six months is frequently granted.
Since internships are regarded as part of the educational curriculum for a limited period, the period of stay is usually set to the minimum necessary, and in many cases extension is not assumed.
However, when a six‑month period of stay is granted, it may be extended once, up to a total of one year, if there are unavoidable circumstances that justify the extension.
It is therefore important to design the period of stay in light of the internship schedule and academic calendar and to examine in advance whether an extension may be required.
Application Flow and Main Documents
When an overseas university student comes to Japan for an internship, the procedure generally proceeds as follows.
- The host company in Japan files an application for a Certificate of Eligibility with the regional immigration services bureau. The company, not the student, is expected to take primary responsibility for this procedure.
- Once the Certificate of Eligibility is issued, the student applies for a visa at the Japanese embassy or consulate in his or her country or region.
- After the visa is issued, the student enters Japan and receives a residence card stating “Designated Activities” at the port of entry.
The detailed list of required documents is provided in the “Designated Activities (Public Notice No. 9) Internship Guidelines” and other application instructions, and the exact documents differ depending on the content and duration of the internship.
Common Misunderstandings and Cautions (Illustrative Cases)
Consider a hypothetical case where Student A, enrolled at an overseas university, plans a three‑month paid internship at Company B in Japan.
Company B initially assumed that the student could enter Japan as a “Temporary Visitor,” but because payment of remuneration was planned, it became clear that the student needed to obtain the status of residence “Designated Activities (Public Notice No. 9)” through the Certificate of Eligibility procedure.
In another hypothetical scenario, University C plans to accept students from a partner university overseas for a six‑month program, but the proposed activities are essentially the same as ordinary part‑time work and are not sufficiently linked to academic credit, and thus the program is asked to be revised due to a lack of educational relevance.
As these examples illustrate, the appropriate status of residence changes depending on whether remuneration is paid and how the program is positioned academically, so it is vital to design internship programs with the legal framework in mind from the planning stage.
Relationship with Other Statuses of Residence
Internships can also be conducted under other statuses of residence, such as “Student” or “Designated Activities (Job Hunting/Job Offer),” by obtaining permission to engage in activity other than that permitted under the status of residence.
In the case of international students already studying in Japan, a special permission to work beyond the standard 28‑hour‑per‑week limit may be required for certain internships, separate from the general part‑time work permission.
On the other hand, when an overseas university student comes to Japan specifically to engage in a paid internship at a Japanese company, the status of residence “Designated Activities (Public Notice No. 9)” must generally be obtained before entry.
Since the appropriate status and procedure depend on factors such as who organizes the internship, where it takes place, how long it lasts, and whether remuneration is paid, early consultation with professionals or the immigration services bureau is strongly advisable.
Conclusion
The status of residence “Designated Activities (Internship)” is an essential framework enabling overseas university students to gain practical experience at Japanese companies as part of their educational curriculum while receiving remuneration, and it is operated in accordance with the Ministerial Public Notice and official guidelines.
For proper acceptance of interns, it is crucial that not only students but also companies and universities understand their respective roles and prepare the necessary Certificate of Eligibility application and supporting documents in line with the planned content and duration of the internship.
Because the required documents and legal assessments may vary significantly depending on the individual circumstances, it is safest to check the latest official information and, where necessary, consult an immigration specialist.
