If you submit your application for EXTENSION of PERIOD of STAY (VISA RENEWAL) or CHANGE of VISA STATUS on or before the expiry date of your current visa, your current residence status will be deemed valid until whichever of the following comes first:
- The day you receive the result of your application
This refers to the issuance date of your new Residence Card, or of a written notice explaining the reason for denial – not the date you receive the postcard notice from the Immigration Office. If you have processed the application online and receive your new Residence Card by mail, the relevant date will be when your online application status changes from 発行待ち (waiting for issuance) to 完了 (completed), after you have completed the issuance process by sending your old Residence Card and the 手数料納付書 (Certificate for Payment of Fee) to the relevant division of the Immigration Office. - The day 2 months have passed from the expiry date stated on your current Residence Card.
This period is commonly referred to as GRACE PERIOD or SPECIAL PERIOD (特例期間; Tokurei-Kikan). During this time, your visa status remains valid, and you may continue engaging in the activities permitted under your current visa, even if the expiry date of your visa as already passed.
IF THE GRACE/SPECIAL PERIOD HAS PASSED
Once the Grace/Special Period has ended, you can no longer stay in Japan under your current visa status. In this case, the Immigration Office will generally grant you a “31-day Designated Activities – For preparation for departure“, allowing you to either prepare to leave Japan or apply for a Change of Visa Status.
After submitting your application for an Extension of Period of Stay or Change of Visa Status, a slip called 申請受付票 (Application Receipt) will be attached on your passport. This slip allows you to confirm the date of application, application number, and other details. In addition, a stamp reading “在留期間更新（or 在留資格変更）許可申請中” will be affixed on the back of your Residence Card. This stamp indicates that your application is still being processed by the Immigration Office.
If you have submitted your application online, you should carry a scanned copy or printed copy of the email sent from the Immigration Office titled “【在留申請オンラインシステム】申請受付番号のお知らせ”. This can be presented as proof of your application.
If you need to stay outside Japan during the application processing period, for example due to a short business trip, it is not a problem as long as you return to Japan and pick up your new Residence Card before the end of the Grace Period.
That said, we strongly recommend submitting your application for an Extension of Period of Stay or Change of Visa well in advance. The Immigration Office may request additional documents during the review process, which could extend the overall processing time. In the worst-case scenario, the Immigration Office may not be able to complete your application before the end of the Grace Period.
Note that the Grace Period cannot be extended under any circumstances.
If the Immigration Office determines that they need more time to review your application, they will notify you about a week before the end of the Grace Period. At that time, they may instruct you to change your visa status to “31-day Designated Activities” in order to maintain a valid residence status while your application continues to be processed. The Immigration Office will complete the screening within the date of expiry of the “31-day Designated Activities”.
If you are instructed to submit reapplication because the Immigration Office still needs more time to complete the screening, or if you apply for a Change of Visa Status after a denial while you are under the 31-day Designated Activities visa status, you may be granted a Grace Period under the 31-days Designated Activities status.
