Graduation

After graduating or completing your studies at UTokyo, you will be required to return to your home country, even if there is remaining period of stay for the visa (status of residence) "Student." If you wish to stay in Japan for a while, you must change your status of residence from "Student" to the appropriate status of residence for the purpose of your stay. You cannot continue to stay in Japan on a Student visa. In addition, if you have not changed your status of residence to one that permits activities other than those permitted under the status of residence, you will not be permitted to work part-time remaining in Japan.
Also, please note that if your period of stay already includes a period to prepare for departure from Japan after graduation (e.g., one year and three months, two years and three months, or one to two months after graduation/completion of study), in principle, you will not be able to change your status of residence to "Temporary Visitor (Short-Term Stay)" for the purpose of preparing to leave Japan.

1. Looking for Work after Graduation

［1］Designated Activities (Future creators・Job-hunting activities) *Started from April 2023
If you wish to engage in job-hunting activities after graduation/completion of your studies, you may apply for a change of status of residence to "Designated Activities (Future creators・Job-hunting activities). If permission is granted, you may stay in Japan for a maximum of two years.
In addition to the application form, you must submit a proof of living expenses for the initial period of stay, CV, schedule of stay, and documents showing the current balance in a bank/other savings account under your name (such as a copy of your bankbook).
（Details）
https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/status/designatedactivities51.html

［2］Designated Activities (to continue job-hunting activities)
Regular international students who will graduate/complete their studies with a degree are eligible (non-regular students such as research students and exchange students are not eligible).
You may apply for a change of status of residence to "Designated Activities (to continue job-hunting activities)".
A letter of recommendation from your faculty/graduate school and documents proving that you have been engaging in job-hunting activities while in school must be submitted. Graduate students who are unable to engage in job-hunting activities due to their research activities etc. and who cannot provide documents proving that they have been engaging in job-hunting activities while in school should consult their affiliated faculty/graduate school.
If your application for change of status is admitted, you will be granted a period of stay for 6 months, which can be renewed once (for a total stay of up to 1 year).
PhD candidates who have withdrawn from the University with full credits can also apply for the change. However, please note that their application may not be approved or even accepted.
（Details）
https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/publications/materials/nyukan_nyukan84.html

2. If you have been offered a job and wish to stay until the start of work

Regular international students who will graduate/complete their studies with a degree may apply for the change of status of residence to "Designated Activities (for those who have a gap period before they start working)." In addition to the application form, a certificate of job offer, a written pledge (under the name of the company) stating compliance with the obligations to contact you, documents necessary to apply for change of status of residence to work permit, and a schedule of a training program leading up to entry into the company/organization are required. Please consult with the company/organization in advance.
（Details）
https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/publications/materials/nyuukokukanri07_00013.html

3. If you wish to stay until you enter graduate school

Regular international students who will graduate/complete their studies with a degree and wish to stay until the date of enrollment to a graduate school may apply for a change of status of residence to "Designated Activities (for those who wait for graduate school entrance.)"
There are some conditions, such as the date of enrollment to the graduate school must be within one year, and you must obtain a written pledge from the graduate school. Please consult with a graduate school you are to enter.
If you decide not to enroll or your enrollment is revoked after obtaining this status of residence, you will, in principle, be required to return to your home country. However, it is possible to change the status of residence to another status, such as a work permit.
（Details）
https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/publications/materials/nyuukokukanri10_00151.html

*If you have not been admitted to any schools at the time of graduation and wish to continue to stay in Japan to take an entrance examination, you may be granted "Temporary Visitor (Short-Term Stay)" status of residence. Both regular and non-regular students may apply for this status, and the period of stay will be screened individually. Under the "Temporary Visitor (Short-Term Stay)" visa status, it is prohibited to engage in activities other than those permitted under the status of residence (part-time jobs).
（Details）
https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/status/temporaryvisitor.html

4. If you are going to engage in entrepreneurial activities

［1］Designated Activities (Future creators・Entrepreneurial activities) *Started from April 2023
If you wish to engage in entrepreneurial activities after graduation/completion of your studies, you may apply for a change of status of residence to "Designated Activities (Future creators・Entrepreneurial activities). If permission is granted, you may stay in Japan for a maximum of two years.
In addition to the application form, you must submit a proof of living expenses for the initial period of stay, CV, schedule of stay, and documents showing the current balance in a bank/other savings account under your name (such as a copy of your bankbook).
（Details）
https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/status/designatedactivities51.html

［2］Designated Activities (to continue entrepreneurial activities)
International students who have been engaged in entrepreneurial activities while in school and continue to engage in the activities after graduation/completion of their studies may apply for a change of status to "Designated Activities (to continue continuing entrepreneurial activities).
You must complete entrepreneurial activities during your stay and apply for a change of status to "Business Manager (経営・管理 Keiei・Kanri)".
（Details）
https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/publications/materials/nyuukokukanri07_00001.html