Residence Status (在留資格) on Your Resume: A Guide for Foreign Applicants
Your 在留資格 decides what work you can legally do in Japan, and employers need to see it. A plain-language guide to the common statuses, work permission, and exactly how to show them on a rirekisho.
For a foreign applicant in Japan, your 在留資格 (residence status) is not a detail — it decides what work you are legally allowed to do, and a careful employer will not move forward without knowing it. Showing it clearly on your resume removes doubt and marks you as someone who understands the rules.
The common statuses, in plain terms
- 留学 (Student): may do part-time work only with a 資格外活動許可, up to 28 hours/week. See the 28-hour rule.
- 家族滞在 (Dependent): same 28-hour part-time rule with permission.
- 技術・人文知識・国際業務: a work visa for professional/office roles within its defined scope.
- 特定技能 (Specified Skilled Worker): for designated industries with labour shortages.
- 永住者 / 定住者 / 日本人の配偶者等: generally no restriction on the type of work.
- ワーキングホリデー: broad permission to work during the visa period.
Work permission and the residence card
Your status, expiry date, and any work permission are printed on your 在留カード (residence card). Students and dependents need the 資格外活動許可 (permission to work outside status) noted on the back before they can legally take a part-time job. Employers often ask to see the card, so what you write on the resume should match it exactly.
How to show it on the rirekisho
There is no fixed cell for this on the classic form, so put it in the qualifications/notes area as a clear line:
- 在留資格：留学（資格外活動許可あり・週28時間以内）
- 在留資格：特定技能1号（介護）
- 在留資格：永住者
If your status has an expiry date that matters for the role, you can add 在留期間満了日 (expiry) too. The part-time template has dedicated residence-status fields and will print the 週28時間以内 note automatically for students and dependents.
A few cautions
- Never overstate your permission — it is easy for an employer to verify against the card.
- Keep the wording on the resume identical to your card to avoid confusion.
- This article is general information, not immigration advice — confirm specifics with the Immigration Services Agency. See our disclaimer.
Ready to build it? Open the editor and choose the part-time template to get the residence-status fields.