“I realized I didn’t get permission to engage in activity other than that permitted after I started my part-time job…”
“I worked without knowing, but what will happen to my visa renewal?”
Right now, you might be panicking out of fear of illegal employment. However, please calm down first. Taking the wrong action, like trying to hide it, is the most dangerous thing you can do.
This article explains the risks of forgetting to obtain work permission and specific countermeasures to minimize the damage.
1. [Conclusion] Quit your part-time job right now and take the correct action!
Working for income without permission is a violation of the Immigration Control Act (illegal employment).
“They won’t find out” will not work
Please discard the idea that “they won’t find out because I get paid in cash” or “it’s okay because I only worked for a few days.” In Japan today, the tax office and the Immigration Services Agency accurately track the income status of foreign nationals through the My Number system and salary payment reports from companies to the government. The moment you submit a taxation certificate when renewing your visa status, any unauthorized income will be detected.
2. The “3 fatal risks” when forgetting is discovered
If you leave it as it is or lie when applying for a visa (status of residence) renewal, the following heavy penalties await you.
Risk 1: Your next visa renewal/change will be “disapproved”
During immigration screening, “the intention to abide by the law (good conduct requirement)” is highly valued. If the fact that you worked without permission is discovered, the possibility of changing from a student visa to a work visa or renewing a dependent visa being denied becomes extremely high.
Risk 2: In the worst-case scenario, you become subject to “deportation”
If judged to be highly malicious, your current status of residence may be revoked, and you risk being deported to your home country. Once deported, you will not be able to re-enter Japan for at least 5 years.
Risk 3: Employers (companies) are also punished
Illegal employment not only applies to the foreign national who worked but also holds the employing company liable for a serious crime called the “crime of promoting illegal employment” (imprisonment for up to 3 years or a fine of up to 3 million yen). It will cause enormous trouble for the company.
The possibility of a claim for damages from the company regarding this matter is not zero.
3. Recovery methods to minimize the damage
So, the past where you already worked cannot be changed, but what should you do from now on?
If the maliciousness is low (reported voluntarily immediately)
If “I really didn’t know the system, noticed it after a few days of working, and quit immediately,” there is a possibility of recovery depending on your future response. The important thing is to honestly declare the facts without hiding them before being pointed out by immigration.
[Advice from an Expert] Submitting a statement of reason is the key
Submitting only a normal application form at your next visa renewal, acting as if “nothing happened,” is the worst move possible. You must proactively prepare and submit a logical and persuasive “statement of reason” or “written explanation” detailing why you worked without permission, that you have already resigned, and a pledge never to repeat the same mistake.
If you do not know the correct rules for engaging in income-generating activities or the overall application procedure, be sure to check the guide below before it’s too late.