“Specified Activities” (特定活動) is a flexible visa status that covers activities not falling under other residence categories. It is divided into Notified Specified Activities (defined by ministerial public notice) and Non-Notified Specified Activities (granted at the minister’s discretion). It covers a wide range of situations from Working Holiday to EPA nurses to university graduates seeking employment.
What is the Specified Activities Visa?
The “Specified Activities” residence status (Immigration Act Appended Table I-5) permits foreign nationals to engage in activities specifically designated by the Minister of Justice. It covers situations not fitting other work or non-work categories.
Notified vs. Non-Notified Specified Activities
| Notified (告示) | Non-Notified (告示外) | |
|---|---|---|
| Legal basis | Public ministerial notice | Individual ministerial discretion |
| Disclosure | Published in Official Gazette / ISA website | Internal circular only (not public) |
| Identification | Numbered (No. 1–57+) | No number assigned |
| Examples | Working Holiday, No. 46, EPA nurses | Job-hunting, awaiting start date, departure prep |
Key Notified Specified Activities
| Notice No. | Activity / Target |
|---|---|
| No. 7 | Working Holiday (18–30 years old from partner countries) |
| No. 9 | Internship (university students, up to 180 days/year) |
| Nos. 15–17 | EPA nurse/care worker candidates (Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam) |
| No. 42 | 4th-generation Japanese descendants (up to 5 years) |
| No. 44 | Startup visa / entrepreneur preparation (up to 6 months) |
| No. 45 | J-FIND — job-hunting for highly skilled foreign professionals (up to 6 months) |
| No. 46 | Japanese university graduates (JLPT N1+, broad work scope) |
| No. 55 | Digital Nomad — remote workers (up to 6 months) |
Spotlight: No. 46 — Japanese University Graduates
Notice No. 46 allows foreign nationals who graduated from a Japanese university/graduate school/junior college to work across a broader range of occupations than the standard “Engineer/Humanities/International” visa — including front-line roles like retail and restaurant service, as long as Japanese communication is involved.
2024 Amendment: Expanded to Vocational Schools
- Previously: graduates of Japanese universities, graduate schools, junior colleges, and technical colleges
- Now added: graduates of accredited vocational schools (専門学校) who obtained the “Advanced Specialist” (高度専門士) qualification
Key Requirements for No. 46
| Education | Graduation from a Japanese university/graduate school/junior college, or accredited vocational school with 高度専門士 |
| Japanese proficiency | JLPT N1, or BJT 480+ points (or major in Japanese at a foreign university) |
| Employment | Full-time employment, compensation equal to or exceeding Japanese nationals |
| Work content | Must involve tasks requiring smooth Japanese communication |
Common Non-Notified Specified Activities
- ✅ Awaiting job start date: permitted to stay after graduation until employment begins
- ✅ Post-graduation job hunting: continue job searching after student visa expires (typically 3–6 months)
- ✅ Departure preparation: short-term stay after residence status expires
- ✅ Supporting elderly parents: humanitarian stay when child is residing in Japan
Work Permission
Whether work is permitted depends entirely on the “Designated Activities” certificate attached to the residence card. Always verify before employing someone with Specified Activities status.
Consult Inui Gyoseishoshi Corporation
Specified Activities applications vary widely by type. We can advise which notice applies to your situation and whether non-notified status is available. 5-language support (JA/EN/ZH/KO/VI) available at our Osaka Minamimorimachi office. First consultation is free.
Supervised by
乾 喜満（いぬい よしみつ）
Gyoseishoshi (Administrative Scrivener) / Representative, Inui Gyoseishoshi Corporation
Registration No.: 16260979
Founded 2016. Specializes in residence status and naturalization in Japan. Available in 5 languages (JA/EN/ZH/KO/VI). Based in Osaka Tenjinbashi.
Supervised by
乾 喜満（いぬい よしみつ）
Gyoseishoshi (Administrative Scrivener) / Representative, Inui Gyoseishoshi Corporation
Registration No.: 16260979
Founded 2016. Specializes in Japan residence status and naturalization. Available in 5 languages (JA/EN/ZH/KO/VI). Based in Osaka Tenjinbashi.
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