Section 1
Japanese High Schools
Q1. How do I enroll in high school? Are there high schools I can enroll in?
Q2. When does the Japanese school year start?
Q3. 【The Japanese School System】
Please tell me about the Japanese school system.
Q4.【Importance of enrolling in high school】
Do I have to?
Q5. 【Enrollment Requirements ・ Entrance Exams】
How do I enroll in high school?
Section2
Advancing to High School
Q1. Please tell me about the features of High Schools in Japan.
Q2. How do students commute to school?
Q3.【Types of high schools etc.】
What types of high schools are there?
Q4. 【Tuition Fees】
How much are high school tuition fees?
Q6. What are the requirements to take high school entrance exams?
Q8. What are the series of events leading up to entrance examinations
Q9. 【High School Life】
I want to learn about a high school student’s daily life.
Section3
Status of Residence and Nationality
Q1. 【Residence card】
What is written on a residence card?
Q2. 【Status of Residence】
What is status of residence?
Q3.As a high schooler, is there anything I need to do prior to working a part-time job?
Q4. 【To Those with the Dependent Status】
Am I able to work while I am under the “Dependent” Status?
Section 3 Status of Residence and Nationality
“Status of Residence” is very important.
This section affects everyone so we have compiled everything together in an easy-to-understand format.
Please read along with your family and think about the future.
Q1. 【Residence card】
What is written on a residence card?
A residence card has the following written on it.
- Name
- Nationality
- Sex
- Date of Birth
- Status
- Period of Stay (Date of Expiration)
- Kind of work you can do
It is important that everyone aged 16 or older carries this card whenever they leave home.
Q2. 【Status of Residence】
What is status of residence?
Your “Status of residence” is the purpose you came to Japan for, and outlines the type of work you can do.
The following are common statuses children have.
- Dependent
- Permanent Resident
- Long-Term Resident
- Designated Activities
- Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident
- Spouse or Child of Japanese National
Check your card to see what your status of residence is.
Q3.As a high schooler, is there anything I need to do prior to working a part-time job?
If you can find a place willing to hire a high schooler, you can work there.
However, depending on your status of residency there may be some procedures that you will need to complete.
【Those who can work without completing any further procedures】
- Permanent Resident
- Long-Term Resident
- Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident
- Spouse or Child of Japanese National
【Those who need to complete extra procedures】
If you are under the “Dependent” status, you will need to fill out an “application for permission to engage in activity other than that permitted under the status of residence previously granted” and submit it at the Immigration Bureau.
SenTIA or SenCUL can help!
【Everyone else】
Other statuses of residence require different procedures, and so you will have to confirm the procedures with either the Immigration Bureau or an administrative scrivener.
SenTIA or SenCUL can help!
Q4. 【To Those with the Dependent Status】
Am I able to work while I am under the “Dependent” Status?
Once granted “permission to engage in activity other than that permitted under the status of residence previously granted,” “dependents” can work part-time for up to 28 hours a week.
When you become an adult and want to work full-time, you won’t be able to do so under dependent status.
However, in the future you can change your status of residence when you are making the change to working full time.
Please look at the following flowchart with your family to start thinking about the future.
Q5. I want to change my status of residence.
The procedures vary depending on your nationality.
＜Those with multiple nationalities＞
Those with Japanese nationality and a different country’s nationality will be forced to pick one.
＜Those who don’t have Japanese nationality＞
Those who want Japanese nationality can apply for naturalization.
Below is a list of the minimum requirements. Be aware that requirements differ from person-to-person.
- Lived in Japan for at least 5 years
- At least 18 years old and in your home country, legally an adult
- Living a sincere life (having good behavior）
- Not struggling in life（able to make enough to live on in Japan）
- Have not taken or considered taking violent action against the Japanese government
- Possessing basic ability to read and write in Japanese
- Born in Japan
- Child of a Japanese national
- Married to a Japanese national
※Criteria that are not necessary but will help
【For consultations about changing nationality】
Family Registration Section, Civil Affairs and Administrative Department, Sendai Legal Affairs Bureau
TEL: 022-225-5611
Be sure to discuss changing your nationality with your family if you are considering it.