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）
Who this article is forAn enquiry about the notifications and the risks involved in withdrawing from graduate school part-way through, while waiting for the result of an application to change to 「経営・管理」.
When you withdraw from graduate school, you have a duty to file the 「活動機関に関する届出（離脱）」 (notification concerning the organisation of activity (leaving)) within 14 days of the date of withdrawal. This is because, even while the application for change is pending, the status of residence you currently hold is 「留学」. Please note as well that from the moment you withdraw you can no longer carry out 資格外活動 (part-time work) at all.
An enquiry about the notifications and the risks involved in withdrawing from graduate school part-way through, while waiting for the result of an application to change to 「経営・管理」.
Yes. You must file the 「活動機関に関する届出（離脱）」 within 14 days of the date of withdrawal.
If you hold 在留資格「留学」, you must make a notification under the law when you finish that activity (attending school).
Even while the application for change is pending, the status of residence you currently hold is 「留学」. If you fail to make this notification, it may be treated as a failure to perform a duty, and this may have a negative effect on the screening of your 「経営・管理」 application, which is still under way.
The risk is that, if the application were to be denied, you would also have lost your student standing and so would have no basis for staying in Japan.
Even while the application for change is pending, the status of residence you currently hold remains 「留学」. Please keep the following in mind, however.
As time has passed since the application, there is also a good chance that the result will come out at around the same time as your withdrawal at the end of March.
3 things: keeping your certificate of withdrawal, stopping part-time work completely, and a supplementary explanation for the examiner.
The enquiry on which this article is based dates from March 2026 (2026年3月). Please check the latest information on the website of the 出入国在留管理庁 and elsewhere.
Yes. Even while the application for change is pending, the status of residence you currently hold is 「留学」, so please file the 「活動機関に関する届出（離脱）」 within 14 days of the date of withdrawal. You can also file it through the 出入国在留管理庁電子届出システム.
No. From the moment you withdraw from graduate school, 資格外活動 becomes wholly impossible. Until permission for 「経営・管理」 is granted and you receive your new 在留カード, it is safer to hold off from receiving director's remuneration or doing operational work as well.
It may be treated as a failure to perform a duty, and this may have a negative effect on the screening of your 「経営・管理」 application, which is still under way. The deadline is within 14 days of the date of withdrawal.
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This page is a translation of the Japanese original. Because it is a translation, the meaning may differ from the original in places. Where something affects a decision you are making, please check the Japanese version or ask us. The supervision by a 行政書士 is of the Japanese version.