Japan Internship Visa Requirements for Foreign Students | HR Managers’ Guide

When Japanese companies host overseas university students for internships, multiple visa and compliance considerations apply.

The type of visa (residence status) required depends on three factors:

1. Whether the internship grants academic credit
2. Whether remuneration is provided
3. Length of stay

If No Academic Credit Is Granted

Where no academic credit is granted, the internship generally falls under the “Designated Activities (Summer Job)” visa category.

The internship must be limited to three months or less (typically during summer recess or other academic breaks), and the company must provide remuneration as a condition.

If Academic Credit Is Granted

Depending on remuneration and length of stay, the internship may fall under one of three visa types: Designated Activities Visa, Cultural Activities Visa, or Temporary Visitor Visa.

A formal agreement between the host company and the student’s home university is required. An internship cannot be conducted based solely on an agreement between the company and the student.

Internships must be recognized as part of the student’s academic curriculum. Hosting periods exceeding one year, or arrangements without academic credit, are considered inappropriate.

The internship content must be directly related to the student’s field of study at their home university.

The host company must establish an appropriate supervisory and support framework. For more details on hosting international interns, please see the following page:

Internship and Summer Job Programs for International Students

An internship program allows international university students to gain work experience at Japanese companies. The purpose is to improve professional awareness and reduce mismatches during the job-hunting process in Japan.

Summary of Key Considerations for Hosting International Interns

In recent years, some companies have misused internship programs as a means of supplementing labor. However, internships must fundamentally be conducted as part of the student’s education.

The Immigration Bureau carefully reviews application documents, including evidence of an academic framework, presence of supervisors, and in some cases, the qualifications of those supervisors.

Finally, please note that the review of internship visa applications has become increasingly strict in recent years. To avoid misinterpretation, it is essential to provide clear documentation and a well-structured explanation of your hosting framework.