Daily Life Lessons · Work
Understand the basic rules for working in Japan (confirming working conditions in writing, working hours, breaks and paid leave, and what work your status of residence allows), and be able to check your own conditions before you start working.
Japan's Labor Standards Act (労働基準法), Minimum Wage Act and social insurance laws apply to foreign nationals too, regardless of nationality. Discriminating in wages or other working conditions because of nationality is prohibited. Before you start work, ask the employer to show your working conditions, such as wages, working hours and job duties, in writing or by email, and check them.
As a rule, working hours are up to 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week. If you work more than 6 hours you get a break of at least 45 minutes, and more than 8 hours, at least 60 minutes. If you work continuously for 6 months and attend at least 80% of working days, you get annual paid leave (年次有給休暇) (10 days at first; fewer for people who work fewer days).
Foreign nationals can do different jobs and work different hours depending on their status of residence (在留資格). Check the "work restrictions" field (就労制限の有無) on your residence card (在留カード). International students and others need permission to engage in activities outside their status of residence (資格外活動許可) to do a part-time job.
日本の 働く ルールは、外国人にも 同じです。国籍（こくせき）で 給料などを 差別（さべつ）しては いけません。
働く 前に、給料・時間・仕事の 内容を 紙か メールで もらって、確認（かくにん）しましょう。
- 働く 時間：ふつうは 1日 8時間、1週間 40時間まで - 休憩（きゅうけい）：6時間より 長いと 45分以上、8時間より 長いと 60分以上 - 有給休暇（ゆうきゅうきゅうか）：6か月 働いて、8割（わり）以上 出勤すると もらえます（はじめは 10日。働く 日が 少ない 人は 少なく なります）
在留資格（ざいりゅうしかく）で、できる 仕事や 時間が ちがいます。在留カードの「就労制限（しゅうろうせいげん）の有無（うむ）」を 見ましょう。留学生が アルバイトを するには、資格外活動許可（しかくがいかつどうきょか）が 必要です。
Do the Labor Standards Act and the Minimum Wage Act apply to foreign nationals?
Labor laws and social insurance laws apply to foreign nationals too, regardless of nationality.
Before you start work, how should you check your working conditions?
Companies are supposed to show the main working conditions, such as wages and working hours, in writing or a similar form. Check the contents before you start work.
If you work more than 8 hours in a day, how long is the break at minimum?
If you work more than 6 hours, you need a break of at least 45 minutes, and more than 8 hours, at least 60 minutes.
What are the conditions for getting annual paid leave?
If you work continuously for 6 months and attend at least 80% of all working days, you get annual paid leave. Part-time workers also get it, according to the number of days they work.
To check what kind of work you can do, where do you look on your residence card?
The "work restrictions" field shows whether you can work. If you have permission to engage in activities outside your status of residence, that is also written on the card.
Q. Do part-time workers also get paid leave?
A. If they meet the conditions (working continuously for 6 months and attending at least 80% of working days), part-time workers (パート・アルバイト) also get annual paid leave. People who work fewer days get fewer days of leave, according to the number of days they work.
Q. How many hours can an international student work part-time?
A. International students who have permission to engage in activities outside their status of residence can, as a rule, work up to 28 hours a week. During long school vacations, they can work up to 8 hours a day. They cannot work at places such as adult entertainment businesses (風俗営業). For details, check the guidance of the Immigration Services Agency of Japan (出入国在留管理庁).
Q. My company told me to leave my passport or residence card with them.
A. Under the national guidelines, companies should not keep foreign workers' passports or residence cards. It is enough to show your residence card so they can check it. If you are in trouble, ask a Labor Standards Inspection Office (労働基準監督署) or another consultation service.
This practice tool asks questions in random order (it works when JavaScript is enabled). You can still read all the questions and explanations above without it.
Systems and procedures may differ depending on the city, ward, town or village where you live and on the time of year. Please check the latest information from your local government or the relevant organizations.
Content checked on: 2026-10-03
This page is a translation of the Japanese original. If the translation and the original differ, the Japanese version takes precedence. View the Japanese original