Specified Activities No. 46 Explained: Benefits, Challenges & Eligible Work in Japan [2026]

“A foreign national who graduated from a Japanese university can legally work on the floor of a restaurant or manufacturing line” — that is exactly what Specified Activities No. 46 makes possible. This residence status allows broader work activities than the popular “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” (技人国) category. This article explains the benefits, challenges, eligible work types, and common pitfalls.

What Is Specified Activities No. 46?

Specified Activities No. 46 (officially: “Japanese University Graduate”) is a work visa for foreign nationals who have graduated from a Japanese university and possess a high level of Japanese proficiency. It allows them to engage in a wide range of work that utilizes their Japanese language skills.

Introduced in 2019 to support the employment of international students, its biggest feature is that on-site work (floor work, manufacturing lines, etc.) is permitted under certain conditions — something not possible under a standard work visa. The 2024 revision further expanded the eligible applicants.

3 Key Requirements

① Academic Background: Must Graduate from a Japanese University

Eligible Schools	Condition
Japanese university or graduate school	Degree awarded (Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctoral)
Japanese junior college or technical college	Degree awarded
Accredited vocational school (専修学校)	Must hold the “Advanced Professional” (高度専門士) title — added in 2024 revision

⚠️ Not eligible: Standard vocational school graduates (専門士 only), Japanese language school graduates, graduates of overseas universities only.

② Japanese Proficiency: JLPT N1 or BJT 480+

• JLPT N1 pass certificate
• BJT Business Japanese Proficiency Test: 480 points or above
• Those who majored in Japanese language at a university or graduate school (exemption applies)

N2 is not sufficient. JLPT N1 is highly challenging, and this requirement is often the biggest hurdle.

③ Remuneration: Same as or Higher Than Japanese Counterparts

The salary must be equal to or greater than that paid to Japanese employees doing similar work. Only full-time (permanent) employment qualifies — part-time or freelance arrangements are not eligible.

Comparison: Specified Activities No. 46 vs. Engineer/Humanities/International (技人国)

Item	Engineer / Humanities / International	Specified Activities No. 46
Eligible schools	Domestic or overseas universities	Japanese universities only
Japanese language	No formal test requirement	JLPT N1 or BJT 480+
On-site / floor work	Basically not permitted	Permitted under conditions
Changing employers	Notification only (same industry)	New application required every time

What Work Is (and Isn’t) Allowed?

Eligible work must contain all 3 pillars:

1. Work requiring smooth communication in Japanese (interpreting does not have to be the main duty)
2. Work that applies knowledge/skills acquired at university
3. Work at a certain professional standard (planning, management, education, development, etc.)

Industry	✅ Likely Permitted	❌ Not Permitted
Food & Beverage	Store management + interpreting/instructing foreign staff + serving customers during busy periods	Dishwashing only
Manufacturing	Conveying instructions to foreign workers + process improvement + some line work	Line work only, no communication role
Hospitality	Front desk + training foreign staff + some room cleaning	Cleaning only
Retail	Product planning + foreign customer service + some shelving	Stocking shelves / cashier only

Absolutely prohibited: adult entertainment and licensed professional duties (attorney, nurse, administrative scrivener, etc.).

5 Key Benefits

1. Flexible job design including on-site work — great for F&B, manufacturing, and hospitality
2. Access to high-level Japanese language talent (JLPT N1 holders communicate near-natively)
3. Career path from floor work to management under one visa — no need to change status within the same company
4. Eligible for permanent residence application — years of stay count toward the requirement
5. Family members can come to Japan under Specified Activities No. 47

Challenges & Important Notes

⚠️ A new application is required every time you change employers

This visa comes with a “designated slip” (指定書) valid only for the specific company. Unlike the standard work visa, you must apply for a change of status every time you switch employers — even if the type of work is the same.

⚠️ Officers assess actual work duties, not job titles

Even if the job title is “Store Manager” or “Planning Staff,” if the actual work is mostly simple tasks, the application will be rejected. Immigration officers scrutinize the actual content of duties from your application documents.

⚠️ Actual track record is reviewed at renewal

The initial application is based on a “work plan,” but renewal is assessed based on what you actually did. If the real duties diverge from the approved content, renewal may be difficult. Keeping daily work records is important.

⚠️ JLPT N1 is a high-difficulty exam

The pass rate for JLPT N1 is around 30–35%. For many international students, achieving N1 takes several years of study. N2 is not sufficient for this visa.

Summary: Is Specified Activities No. 46 Right for You?

Recommended if you:	May not be suitable if you:
✅ Graduated from a Japanese university	❌ Only hold an overseas degree
✅ Hold JLPT N1	❌ Only have N2 or below
✅ Want to work in F&B, manufacturing, or other industries combining floor & management roles	❌ Plan to change jobs frequently
✅ Want to build a long-term career in Japan	❌ Want to work as a freelancer or contractor

Specified Activities No. 46 is a powerful option for international students who studied and built Japanese language skills in Japan. However, the requirements are strict and preparing the application documents is complex.

Our office provides full support for Specified Activities No. 46 applications — from designing job duties to drafting the employer’s reason letter. Free initial consultation available in 5 languages.

📋 Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan — Specified Activities No. 46 Leaflet (PDF)