This article is a translation of the Japanese original. Where the two differ, the Japanese version prevails. Read the Japanese original（日本語版を読む）
You can, but depending on where you move to, a "change" of status of residence is needed, and the screening starts again from zero. To teach at a specialised training college it is 「技術・人文知識・国際業務」, and to teach at a university it is 「教授」. In an application for permanent residence, the stability of your annual income and the shortness of your period of stay tend to be the weak points, and for side work 資格外活動許可 is essential.
A person who has begun life in Japan as an ALT asks how to design the career and the status of residence that follow.
In most cases a "change" of status of residence is needed: 「技術・人文知識・国際業務」 for a specialised training college, and 「教授」 for a university.
If you move from being an ALT at a primary, junior high or high school (在留資格「教育」) to a teaching post at a vocational school or a university, in almost all cases a "change" of status of residence is needed.
A change in the type of status of residence means that the "screening" by the 地方出入国在留管理局 (Regional Immigration Services Bureau) starts again from zero. A change to 「教授」 in particular is checked strictly against your record of published papers and your teaching history at institutions of higher education. Looking ahead, it is important to plan research activity and qualifications (such as a master's degree) from your ALT days onwards.
Your contribution to the local community is high, which helps on conduct, but the stability of your annual income and the shortness of your period of stay are weak points.
An ALT who teaches at a public school or a similar institution is seen as contributing a great deal to the local community, and this tends to give a positive impression on the side of conduct (素行, good conduct).
In screening for permanent residence, an annual income of at least 3 million yen (300万円) is one guide figure. On the ALT pay scale (up to about 250,000 yen a month, 月額20〜25万円程度), a single person can clear it, but where you have dependants the "independent livelihood requirement" may be screened strictly.
Employment is often non-regular, and it is not unusual to see the period of stay decided in short units of 1 year, tied to the length of the contract. The guidelines for 永住許可 (permission for permanent residence) ask that for the status of residence you currently hold, you are residing with the longest period of stay set out in 出入国管理及び難民認定法施行規則別表第二 (Appended Table II of the Ordinance for Enforcement of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act). There is, however, a transitional measure: until 31 March 2027 (令和9年3月31日), holding a period of stay of 「3年」 is also treated as "residing with the longest period of stay". It is not a rule that it "must be 5年以上".
Put the other way round, where you are in non-regular employment, renewing the contract again and again, and continue to work with a period of stay that stays at 1 year, there are cases where it is difficult to gain the right to apply for permanent residence.
在留資格「教育」 does not allow you to receive payment outside the school, so you need to obtain 資格外活動許可 in advance.
Some ALTs think about topping up their income by teaching at an English conversation school at the weekend, or by doing translation work. However, 在留資格「教育」 does not permit you to receive payment outside the school.
The answer is to obtain 「資格外活動許可」 (Permission to Engage in Activity Other Than That Permitted) in advance. If you work outside the school without it, there is a risk that this is treated as 不法就労 (illegal work) and counts fatally against you at your next extension of status of residence or when you apply for permanent residence.
Cases are increasing where ALTs use the teaching skills built up in schools and move to the supporting side for foreign workers who come to Japan under 特定技能.
Recently there are more and more cases where an ALT uses the teaching skills built up in schools and moves into Japanese-language teaching for foreign workers who come to Japan under 在留資格「特定技能」 (Specified Skilled Worker), or into a role running orientation on daily life (for example as staff at a 登録支援機関, a registered support organisation). In that case the status of residence becomes 「技術・人文知識・国際業務」.
As for day-to-day residence management, simply keeping the following 2 points in mind will make your life in Japan more settled.
If you are unsure about things such as "can I do this job on my current status of residence?" or "what can I prepare now for the future?", please consult a specialist such as a certified administrative procedures legal specialist (gyoseishoshi).
The status of residence changes to 「教授」 (Professor). For the change, your record of published papers and your teaching history at institutions of higher education are checked strictly, so it is important to plan research activity and a master's degree from your ALT days onwards.
In screening for permanent residence, an annual income of at least 3 million yen (300万円) is one guide figure. Even on a pay scale of up to about 250,000 yen a month (月額20〜25万円程度) a single person can clear it, but where you have dependants the independent livelihood requirement may be screened strictly.
The guidelines for 永住許可 (permission for permanent residence) ask that, for the status of residence you currently hold, you are residing with the longest period of stay set out in 出入国管理及び難民認定法施行規則別表第二 (Appended Table II of the Ordinance for Enforcement of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act). There is, however, a transitional measure: until 31 March 2027 (令和9年3月31日), holding a period of stay of 「3年」 is also treated as residing with the longest period of stay. It is not a rule that it must be 5年以上.
在留資格「教育」 does not permit you to receive payment outside the school, so you need to obtain 資格外活動許可 (Permission to Engage in Activity Other Than That Permitted) in advance. If you work without permission, it counts fatally against you as 不法就労 (illegal work) at your next extension or when you apply for permanent residence.
Tell us your situation and we will answer it directly. Available in Japanese and English.
Get a free consultationThis article provides general information. Immigration rules change, and outcomes depend on individual circumstances. Please check the Immigration Services Agency website or consult a qualified specialist.
This page is a translation of the Japanese original. Where the two differ, the Japanese version prevails.