Many foreigners in Japan want to earn extra income beyond their main job. Whether this is legal depends on your visa type — and how you structure the work.
First: Check Your Visa
This is critical. Working outside your visa’s permitted activities can lead to deportation or visa revocation.
| Visa Type | Side Work Allowed? |
|---|---|
| Work visa (Engineer, Humanities, etc.) | Only with 資格外活動許可 (Permission for Activities Outside Status) |
| Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) | ✅ Side work permitted without special permission |
| Spouse visa / Dependent visa | ✅ Work permitted (may need 資格外活動許可) |
| Permanent Residency | ✅ Fully unrestricted |
| Student visa | 28 hrs/week max with 資格外活動許可 |
| Working Holiday | ✅ Generally unrestricted |
How to Get 資格外活動許可 (Permission for Outside Activities)
Apply at your local immigration office or online via the Immigration Bureau portal. Usually processed in 2–4 weeks. Allows up to 28 hours/week of side work.
Best Legal Side Income Options
1. English Tutoring / Teaching (英会話)
Best option for most work-visa holders. High demand, good hourly rates.
- Private lessons: ¥2,000–5,000/hour
- Online via italki: you set your own schedule and rate
- Word of mouth among friends, colleagues, local community centers
Register as a teacher on: italki.com — largest platform for online language teachers worldwide.
2. Online Freelancing (Overseas Clients)
Working for clients outside Japan in your professional field:
- Web development, design, copywriting, consulting
- Platforms: Upwork, Fiverr, Toptal, 99designs
Key advantage: Income received in foreign currency, manageable via Wise. Often qualifies as overseas income with different tax treatment — consult a tax accountant.
3. Selling on Mercari or Yahoo Auctions
Buying and reselling second-hand goods:
- Start by selling your own items
- Once you understand the market, sourcing from thrift stores and reselling is viable
- No visa issues for personal selling; regular business selling may require proper status
4. Blogging / Affiliate Marketing
Long-term play but no direct visa concerns (passive income):
- Create content in your native language targeting your home country audience
- Monetize with affiliate links, AdSense
- Takes 6–18 months to generate meaningful income
5. Stock Photography / Video
If you’re a photographer or videographer:
- Upload to Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, Getty Images
- Japan photos, daily life, food imagery sell well internationally
- Passive income once uploaded
6. Translation / Interpretation
If bilingual in Japanese:
- Document translation: ¥3–8 per Japanese character
- Interpretation at business meetings: ¥30,000–80,000/day
- Platforms: Gengo, ProZ, or direct clients
Tax on Side Income
All income earned in Japan must be declared — including side income.
Under ¥200,000/year: If you’re a salaried employee, side income under ¥200,000 may not require a separate tax return (but should still be declared in some cases — consult a tax accountant).
Over ¥200,000/year: File a 確定申告 (annual tax return) including all income.
You can deduct legitimate business expenses (equipment, software, home office) against freelance income.
👉 See: How to File Taxes in Japan as a Foreigner
Receiving Payments from Overseas
For overseas clients, use Wise to receive payments in USD, EUR, GBP etc. without expensive bank wire fees.
👉 Wise in Japan: Complete Guide for Foreigners