The authorities in Japan have introduced major changes to its visa rules to allow international students to find employment in the country, VisaGuide reported.

After the introduction of new rules, foreign students who have completed their education at government technical schools will be allowed to work in fields that are not closely linked to their majors, Kyodo News reported.

Earlier, international students who failed to find employment aligned with their learned skills or knowledge were forced to return to their countries despite having technical and Japanese-language skills.

According to the Immigration Services Agency of Japan, the students will be provided with specialised programmes along with practical training opportunities at corporations by the state-designated technical schools.

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Additionally, the Japanese government has also extended the eligibility criteria for international students to stay in the country and work under the “designated activities” visa.

This specific visa provides a wider range of employment opportunities. These visas were issued only to students who graduated from universities or graduate schools.

With the new changes, the visa will now be granted to students possessing advanced Japanese skills and educational achievements equivalent to a bachelor’s degree.