Side Jobs in Japan: Visa Permission and Tax for Foreign Residents

A side job in Japan raises two separate questions for foreign residents: does your residence status allow the work, and how is the extra income taxed? Check the first before you start. Getting it wrong can affect your visa, not just your tax.

Last updated: September 26, 2026

Step 1: Does your residence status allow it?

Your residence status defines what paid work you may do. To earn money from work that is outside your status, you need permission to engage in activity other than that permitted(shikakugai katsudō kyoka) from the Immigration Services Agency before you start.

Students and dependents (ryūgaku, kazoku taizai) can get a blanket permission for part-time work of up to 28 hours a week. Students can work up to 8 hours a day during long school holidays.
Work visas, such as Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services: a side job that falls under a different residence status needs an individual permission for that specific work.
Work within the scope of your own status may not need permission, but where the line falls depends on the job. If you are unsure, ask the Immigration Services Agency before you start.
Permanent residents and spouses of Japanese nationals have no work restrictions.

Step 2: How the extra income is taxed

What counts is income: what you earn minus the expenses needed to earn it. Keep receipts and a simple record from the start.

Side income in the year	Income tax	Resident tax
Over ¥200,000	File a tax return by March 15	Covered by your tax return
¥200,000 or less	No tax return required	Declare it to your city office: the ¥200,000 exception applies to income tax only

The ¥200,000 rule applies to employees who get a year-end adjustment from their main job. If you file a tax return for another reason, such as the medical expense deduction, you must include all side income, even under ¥200,000.

If the side job is a second salaried job

Give the dependents declaration only to your main employer. The second employer withholds income tax at a higher rate, and only the main employer does the year-end adjustment.
You must file a tax return if the salary from the second job plus any other side income is over ¥200,000. The higher withholding often means you get some of it back.

Freelance and online income

Income from platforms abroad is taxable in Japan once you live here, and in the same way as income from Japanese clients.
Some clients in Japan withhold 10.21% from fees for writing, design, translation and similar work. That is an advance payment of your income tax, credited when you file.
If your side income grows, you can register as self-employed with the tax office and consider the blue return (aoiro shinkoku) for extra deductions.

How to file, deadlines, and how foreign income is treated: see the tax return guide.

Frequently asked questions

Can foreigners have a side job in Japan?

It depends on your residence status. Work outside your status needs permission from the Immigration Services Agency before you start. Students and dependents can get permission for up to 28 hours a week. Permanent residents and spouses of Japanese nationals have no restrictions.

Do I need to file taxes for side income under ¥200,000?

Not for income tax, if you are an employee with a year-end adjustment. But you still need to declare it to your city office for resident tax.

Will my employer find out about my side job?

Resident tax on all your income is usually deducted through your main employer's payroll, so a higher resident tax bill can reveal extra income. Check your employment rules, as some companies require approval for side jobs.

Official sources

The rates and rules in this calculator come from these Japanese government and insurer publications (in Japanese).

Calculators

This guide reflects official rules as of the last update. Procedures can differ by city and by your situation; check with your city office, tax office or the Japan Pension Service when in doubt. It is not tax or legal advice.