Student Visa Part-Time Work Monitoring Tightened (April 2026)
From April 2026, Japanese language schools and immigration cooperate to verify students work hours. From July 2026, Japanese ability is also checked at enrollment.
From April 2026, Japanese language schools and the ISA began sharing data to more rigorously verify that international students stay within the 28-hour weekly part-time work limit. From July 2026, Japanese language schools must also verify students Japanese proficiency at enrollment. Under the government Orderly Coexistence policy, crackdowns on excessive work and nominal enrollment (not attending class) are intensifying.
Key Points
- Language schools and ISA now share data to verify the 28-hour weekly work limit
- From July 2026: Japanese language schools must verify Japanese ability at enrollment
- Crackdowns on nominal enrollment (attending classes only on paper) are intensifying
Recommended Action
International students must strictly observe the 28-hour weekly work limit. A violation record affects not only visa renewal but also future status changes to work visas after graduation.