[2026 Guide] Side Jobs with an Engineer/Humanities Visa: Legal Pitfalls & Safe Ways to Earn

" The yen is weak, and life is getting expensive. I want to earn extra cash working for Uber Eats or a convenience store on weekends."

If this is what you are thinking, please stop for a moment. That action could, in the worst-case scenario, lead to "Deportation."

Many foreign residents misunderstand this, but the legal rules for "part-time work (28 hours/week)" allowed for International Students are completely different from "side jobs" allowed for holders of a Work Visa (Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services). Especially since the Immigration Control Act amendments (and stricter enforcement leading into 2025/2026), corporate monitoring of illegal employment has become much more severe.

In this article, we explain how holders of the "Gijinkoku" (Engineer/Humanities/Intl. Services) visa can engage in side jobs "legally" and with "minimal risk of being found out by their employer." We will cover specific methods and the "Red Zone" (simple labor) you must absolutely avoid, based on the latest legal realities.

Conclusion: Side Jobs are "Possible" on a Work Visa, but "Simple Labor" is NG

First, the conclusion: Engaging in a side job while holding an "Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services" visa is not prohibited by the Immigration Control Act itself. However, there are extremely strict limits on the "Content of Activities."

Red Zone and White Zone for Permission to Engage in Activity other than that Permitted

NG Side Jobs (Red Zone: Unauthorized Activities)

The following jobs are highly likely to be considered "Simple Labor" (unskilled labor), and you generally cannot perform them under your current visa.

Food Delivery (Uber Eats, etc.): Even if you are a sole proprietor, the nature of the work is "transportation," so Immigration tends to view it as simple labor.
Convenience Store / Restaurant Staff: Customer service and stocking shelves fall outside the expertise of the "Engineer/Humanities" visa.
Factory Line Work / Cleaning: These also fall under simple labor.

To do these jobs, you need "Permission to Engage in Activity other than that Permitted under the Status of Residence Previously Granted." However, for a holder of a high-skilled work visa to get this permission for simple labor is currently "virtually impossible."

OK Side Jobs (White/Gray Zone)

On the other hand, if the side job falls "within the scope" of your current visa, you can do it without special permission.

IT Engineers helping with another company's development project: Within the scope of "Engineer."
Translation, Interpretation, Language Teaching: Within the scope of "Specialist in Humanities/International Services."

In other words, if it is a "side job that utilizes your professional skills," it is legally safe and allows you to aim for higher unit prices.

The "Permission" Misunderstanding Many Foreigners Fall Into

You might think, "I just need to go to Immigration and get permission, right?" But there is a big trap here.

Blanket Permission vs. Individual Permission

International Students (Student Visa): They get a "Blanket Permission" that says, "As long as it doesn't interfere with studies and is within 28 hours a week, almost any simple labor is OK."
Employees (Work Visa): The principle is "Individual Permission," where each specific employer and job content is screened.

Risks of Applying

If you apply saying, "I want to do Uber Eats, so please give me permission," under current Immigration practices, it will likely be rejected on the grounds that it "does not match the dignity or original activities of the Engineer/Humanities visa." Even scarier is that a record that you "attempted to engage in simple labor" remains with Immigration. This risks becoming a "Yabuhebi" (waking a sleeping snake)—a negative factor during your next visa renewal.

The Biggest Reason Companies Find Out: "Residence Tax"

Even if you clear the legal issues, the next worry is "Will my main company find out?" The cause of 90% of leaks is "Residence Tax."

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The Mechanism of Discovery

Japan's Residence Tax is calculated based on the previous year's income and is usually deducted from your company salary (Special Collection). When your income increases due to a side job, the "Residence Tax Determination Notice" sent to your company's payroll department will show an amount higher than what would be calculated from your company salary alone.

"Huh? This person is supposed to have an annual income of 4 million yen, but their Residence Tax corresponds to an income of 6 million yen?"

This is how the side job is exposed.

Countermeasure (Ordinary Collection)

The only way to prevent this is to check the box for "Self-Payment (Ordinary Collection)" for the Residence Tax on your side job income when filing your Final Tax Return (Kakutei Shinkoku). However, recently, some municipalities force "Special Collection" (deduction from salary) as a matter of policy, so this is not 100% preventable.

For a detailed explanation of taxes, please refer to Residence Tax: Why Does Take-Home Pay Drop in Year 2? The "Post-Payment" Trap. Also, for steps on filing taxes, Year-End Adjustment vs. Final Tax Return: How to Get Your Refund is a helpful reference.

Concrete Ways for Work Visa Holders to Earn "Safely"

Rather than risking your visa to earn ¥1,100 per hour at a convenience store, it is far more efficient—and risk-free—to use your professional skills to earn ¥3,000 to ¥5,000 per hour.

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For IT Engineers & Designers

If you are currently working as an IT engineer, the safest and highest-paying side job is "Remote Development Projects." It is not uncommon to find projects worth ¥300,000 to ¥500,000 per month for working just 2-3 days a week. Since this falls within the scope of the "Engineer" visa, you avoid Immigration Law troubles.

Especially if you are looking for flexible projects starting from 2 days a week, using an agent is essential.

For Engineer/Designer Side Jobs: 'IT Pro Partners'

Offers many high-paying projects suitable for full-time employees, such as 'From 2 days/week', 'Weekends only', and 'Remote'. Because they deal directly with end clients, the agency margin is low, meaning more money in your pocket. Start by looking for technical projects with zero visa risk.

View Projects on Official Site (Free)

For Translators, Language, & Marketing

Those under the "Specialist in Humanities/International Services" category (non-engineers) should also avoid simple labor. Sell your "Language Ability" or "Knowledge of your Home Country" through translation, interpretation, overseas market research, or SNS management.

These skills sell for a high price on skill-sharing services.

Coconala: You can list your specialties, such as translation or consulting.
Craudia: You can find work-from-home tasks like writing and administrative support.

Sell Your Skills on 'Coconala'

There are people looking for your skills in translation, interpretation, document creation, and more. Listing is free and work is completed at home, keeping the risk of your company finding out low.

Find Side Jobs/Remote Work on 'Craudia'

One of Japan's largest crowdsourcing sites. There are many listings for tasks you can do in your spare time, such as writing, data entry, and translation.

Search for Jobs Now

3 Checklists Before Starting a Side Job

Finally, to avoid trouble, strictly check the following three points.

Check Company Rules (Work Rules): Confirm if your main company prohibits side jobs. Even if legal, if it's prohibited by the company, you risk disciplinary action if caught.
Check Visa Category: Re-confirm that the content of the side job falls within the "Status of Residence" on your current Residence Card. Working as a hall staff member at a restaurant on an "Engineer" visa is illegal.
Check Contract Type: Confirm if it is an "Employment Contract (Part-time/Arubaito)" or a "Service Agreement (Gyomu Itaku)." For side jobs, "Service Agreements" (Freelance) are generally easier to handle regarding taxes and harder for companies to detect.

If you are looking to increase your salary in your main job rather than a side job, consider checking 2025 Guide: Comparison of Japanese Job Sites & Agents for Foreigners.

Conclusion

Doing a side job on an Engineer/Humanities visa carries the risk of visa revocation if you choose simple labor like Uber Eats. Choose a side job that utilizes your "Professional Skills" (development, translation, content creation, etc.), which are your strengths, and if necessary, obtain the appropriate permissions properly. Start by checking agent sites to see what kind of projects you can receive with your current skills.

Next Step:

For IT Engineers: Check projects for 2 days/week at IT Pro Partners.
For Others: Consider selling your skills on Coconala or Craudia.