Japan has introduced new visa regulations aimed at facilitating employment opportunities for foreign graduates of Japanese vocational schools, in a bid to address the country’s labor shortage.
The Immigration Services Agency of Japan unveiled the new measures at the end of February, extending the opportunity for residency status to graduates of vocational schools and colleges. Previously, this privilege was predominantly reserved for university graduates. However, vocational graduates must still demonstrate proficiency in the Japanese language.
Under the revised regulations, graduates from vocational institutions, which typically offer two-year courses, will have the flexibility to seek employment in industries outside their field of study. The agency emphasized a more adaptable approach to assessing job relevance to an individual’s major.
As of May 2022, Japan hosted 231,146 foreign students, with nearly 52,000 enrolled in vocational schools. The country boasts approximately 2,700 registered vocational schools alongside 226 Japanese language schools.
The Japan Business Federation, the nation’s largest business advocacy group, has been advocating for relaxed residency rules for foreign vocational school graduates, citing labor shortages in critical sectors such as construction, elderly care, and hospitality.
The regulatory changes are a boon for vocational colleges, which have witnessed declining enrollments in recent years. Kaito Taguchi, overseeing foreign student enrollment at the National Association of Vocational Schools of Japan, lauded the reforms as a significant incentive for foreign graduates aspiring to work in Japan.
Before the recent adjustments, foreign graduates of vocational schools faced stringent employment restrictions, often leading to their departure from Japan upon completing their studies. Now, graduates will be eligible for “technology, humanities, and international affairs” residence status, broadening their employment prospects beyond traditional categories.
The revised visa regulations are expected to provide relief to many foreign students enrolled in Japanese language courses and vocational schools, many of whom rely on part-time work to cover tuition fees and living expenses, as highlighted by a Japan Student Services Organization survey conducted in 2022.
