Can international students work in security? Day and night pay and how to choose a job

Updated October 29, 2026

International students can work part-time in security if they have the necessary permission and meet the requirements. Many vacancies advertise daily pay, making income easy to estimate from the number of shifts.

However, choosing only by a high daily rate can leave too little time for classes and sleep. Before applying, check hours per shift, whether you can rest after a night shift, and the Japanese used at work.

1. 1Learn

   Training and safety instructions

2. 2Communicate

   Report and check during your shift

3. 3Rest

   Allow enough time to sleep before classes

Check permission and age requirements before working

People with “Student” residence status generally need permission to engage in activities outside their residence status for part-time work. Under the usual comprehensive permission, work during the school term must remain within 28 hours weekly. Add hours from any other part-time jobs. Immigration Services Agency and Tokyo Labour Bureau guidance

Security guards must be at least 18 and meet Security Services Act requirements. The company carries out the necessary checks, so ask for an explanation of required documents. First-time security workers generally receive at least 20 hours of initial training. Tokyo Security Service Association and Metropolitan Police Department

Initial training prepares you to start the job. You may not be able to begin normal site duties the day after applying, so ask whether training can be scheduled outside classes.

“Foreign applicants welcome” does not mean every residence status allows the same working arrangements. Tell the company you are applying with “Student” status and explain the conditions of your work permission.

How much can you earn monthly on day and night shifts?

The calculations below use advertised examples of JPY 12,000 for day shifts and JPY 13,300 for nights. Each shift assumes 8 actual working hours, excluding breaks, and the period is 4 weeks. Amounts are before taxes and other deductions and exclude travel allowances. Advertised pay example

View the original Japanese illustration

For example, 2 nights weekly yield about JPY 106,000 over 4 weeks. Three nights weekly yield about JPY 160,000, but that many shifts may not be possible every week. Exam periods, the company's roster, and training or probationary pay affect earnings. The figures in the chart are not necessarily your take-home pay.

In this example, night work pays JPY 1,300 more per shift. At 2 shifts weekly for 4 weeks, the difference from daytime work is JPY 10,400. Weigh that amount against your next-day plans and sleep.

Work from 22:00 to 5:00 the next day generally attracts a premium of at least 25%. However, it may already be included in the night-shift daily rate. Do not assume another 25% will be added to the whole advertised rate. Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

How many shifts are needed for JPY 100,000 or JPY 150,000 per month?

Using the daily rates above gives these calculations. They are guides over 4 weeks, not a guarantee that your preferred number of shifts will be available.

Scheduling 13 day shifts of 8 actual hours over 4 weeks requires 4 shifts in at least one week. Those 4 shifts total 32 hours, exceeding the usual 28-hour weekly limit. Even if the monthly total seems low, you must check each week's schedule.

The 12-night calculation also assumes 3 shifts and 24 actual hours each week. Add any training, other jobs, and overtime.

Money-related details to check alongside daily pay

Even if an advertisement says work sometimes finishes early, plan to work until the scheduled end and choose shifts that do not overlap with classes. Ask how you will be notified and paid if work is canceled because of rain or site circumstances.

Traffic guidance and facility security involve different duties

Traffic guidance means directing vehicles and pedestrians at construction sites, car parks, and similar locations. It includes standing outside and requires precautions for heat and cold. You need to understand short instructions and act while observing your surroundings.

Facility security may include patrols, checking people entering and leaving, reception, and responding to alarms. Even indoors, incidents require reporting and communication. At the interview, ask, “What duties will I have initially?” and “Who should I contact if I need help?”

Even if you lack confidence in Japanese, asking again when something is unclear is useful. Do not proceed without understanding safety-related instructions.

Who may suit security work, and who should compare other jobs?

Security is easier to consider if you can arrive on time, report changes you notice around you, and clarify instructions you do not understand. Nationality alone does not determine suitability.

Physical stamina does not guarantee suitability, and passing a Japanese test does not ensure readiness. Check both a working pattern you can maintain and the interactions the site requires.

Being able to clarify unfamiliar Japanese is important

Security work may involve short radio or spoken instructions. Practice clarification phrases like these for interviews and training:

• “Please say that again slowly.”
• “Do you mean I should wait at [place]?”
• “I do not know the location. Where is it?”
• “I cannot decide this myself. Please check.”

These are conversation examples, not substitutes for site safety procedures. In company training, learn your assigned location, reporting contact, and emergency communication method. Ask about anything unclear before starting work.

Night work is easier to consider when you can sleep the following day

Night shifts can suit people without next-day classes who can sleep after returning home. If you plan to work until morning and go straight to school, also compare daytime or short-hour jobs.

The length of “one night shift” varies by company and site. Three shifts of 8 actual hours total 24 hours, but 3 shifts of 10 hours total 30, exceeding the usual 28-hour weekly limit.

“Nap available” does not mean all nap time is a duty-free break. If you must respond to alarms or calls while sleeping, that time may count as work. Ask the company to explain how work, breaks, and naps are classified. Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare approach to nap time

Use start and finish times to consider your school schedule

View the original Japanese illustration

Look beyond the shift's finishing time and check whether you can sleep after returning home. This example assumes work from 21:00 to 6:00 the next day, a 1-hour duty-free break, and a 1-hour commute.

For instance, a shift from 21:00 to 6:00 with a 1-hour break fully released from duties means 8 actual working hours. This is an example calculation, not the hours of an actual vacancy.

If travel home takes 1 hour, you arrive around 7:00. Classes at 9:00 then make uninterrupted sleep difficult. The same shift is easier to schedule if the next day is free, so look at your next-day timetable before daily pay.

For your first night job, write out a schedule including commuting, changing clothes, meals, and sleep. Do not assume all time after clocking out is immediately free; reserve the time needed after returning home too.

Add training and other-job hours when managing your total

View the original Japanese illustration

Training counts as work. In the same week, 20 training hours plus 8 site hours total 28; adding 4 hours at another job makes 32. That schedule is not permitted under the usual permission limiting work to 28 hours weekly.

Statutory security training counts as working time. In a week with the generally required initial training of at least 20 hours, you cannot take as many site shifts as in a normal week. Tokyo Security Service Association recruitment guide

For example, 20 training hours and 8 site hours total 28. Adding 4 hours at another job that week makes 32. Training hours still count even if the pay rate differs from normal work.

If you have another job, explain its hours before arranging security shifts. The limit is 28 hours weekly in total, not 28 at each company. Update your own records when schedules change or overtime occurs. Tokyo Labour Bureau guidance

Follow these checks from applying to your first shift

1. Check whether the company accepts international students and has vacancies on your preferred days.
2. Bring your timetable, other-job schedule, and commuting range to the interview.
3. Check the required documents and work conditions explained by the company.
4. Confirm pay, working hours, training dates, and duties in writing.
5. Attend initial training and ask about unfamiliar words and actions.
6. Confirm the first day's meeting point, time, items to bring, and contact details.

After training, you should still receive explanations of procedures at each new site. Allow for getting lost on the first day, and contact the designated person early if circumstances prevent you from arriving.

Ask the company these questions before applying

1. Do you accept international students, and are there shifts that fit my classes?
2. How long is it from meeting to dismissal, and how many of those hours are actual work?
3. When is initial training, and what are the training and probationary pay rates?
4. Does daily pay include the night premium, and are travel expenses paid separately?
5. Who will teach me at my first site?

Be honest in interviews about days you cannot work. Promising too many days just to get hired forces schedule changes at both school and work. Ask whether time off is available during exams and how far in advance to discuss it.

Use records when pay or hours differ from the explanation

Record each working day's start and finish times, breaks, and location. On payslips, check days worked, training pay, allowances, and deductions. Save the advertisement and written employment conditions to help when asking the company questions.

Japanese labor laws also apply to international students. If you have problems with pay or conditions, first ask the company contact. If unresolved, consult your school or a labor-advice office. Miyagi Labour Bureau guidance for international students

Frequently asked questions about student security jobs

Can I work if my Japanese is not fluent?

It depends on the company and site. Even if a listing says “No Japanese required,” check whether you can understand the instructions and reports actually used. Ask about interview explanations you did not understand and how training works before deciding.

Will I receive the table's amount every month?

The table assumes the stated number of shifts. A calendar month is not exactly 4 weeks, and actual shifts and payroll periods vary. Include time off for exams, training, and probation when estimating income.

Can I work more during summer vacation?

During school-designated long vacations, international students' permitted outside activities are subject to a limit of 8 hours per day. Check your own permission and school vacation dates, then discuss shifts with the company. A weekday without classes does not count as a long vacation. Immigration Services Agency

Can I continue after graduating?

After graduation, if you are not enrolled at any educational institution, you cannot work under the comprehensive permission for international students, even if your residence period has not expired. Before graduating, check future residence status and work conditions with your school and immigration authorities. Immigration Services Agency residence examination Q&A

Can I apply without security experience?

Some companies recruit beginners. Even after hiring, work starts after required initial training and site explanations. First check whether the training schedule fits school.

Preparing your school timetable and other-job schedule makes it easier to explain your availability. Start with a manageable number of shifts and discuss future work while checking that you can attend classes and get enough sleep.

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