In case you submit the application for either EXTENSION of PERIOD of STAY (VISA RENEWAL) or CHANGE of VISA STATUS right before/on the date of expiry of your current VISA STATUS, your current VISA STATUS is deemed to be valid until the following period whichever comes first;
- the day you receive the result of application
* Not the date of receipt of a notice (post card) sent from the Immigration Office, but the date of issuance of the new Residence Card (usually, date of issuance of the new card will be the date you pick up your new card at the Immigration Office. In case you receive the new card by mail, it will be the date the online status turns to 完了 from 発行待ち.). - the day 2 months passed from the date of expiry stated on your current residence card
This period is generally called as EXCEPTION/SPECIAL PERIOD (特例期間; Tokurei-Kikan). It allows you to keep your VISA STATUS valid and to keep engaging in the activity allowed under current VISA STATUS during this period even if the expiry date of your current VISA STATUS has been passed.
IN CASE THE EXCEPTION/SPECIAL PERIOD HAS PASSED; you cannot stay in Japan under current VISA STATUS any more. In that case, the Immigration Office generally gives you “31-days Designated Activities: preparation for departure” visa status to prepare for departure from Japan or to apply for Change of Visa Status.
After the application of EXTENSION of PERIOD of STAY or CHANGE of VISA STATUS, a slip called “Application Receipt / 申請受付票” will be stapled on your passport, which you can confirm the date of application and application number etc. In addition, “在留期間更新（or 在留資格変更）許可申請中” stamp will be affixed on the backside of your Residence Card. The stamp shows that your application is still in progress at the Immigration Office.
In case you have done the application online, you should bring the scanned copy (or hard copy) of an email sent from the Immigration Office titled as “【在留申請オンラインシステム】申請受付番号のお知らせ”, which you can confirm the application number etc. This email can be the proof of application.
In case you need to stay outside Japan during the screening period after submitting the application due to a short business trip etc., it is no problem if you come back to Japan and pick up your new Residence Card by the end of this EXCEPTION PERIOD.
Having said that, we strongly recommend that you apply for Extension of Period of Stay or Change of Visa Application in advance with time to spare. It is possible that the Immigration Office might request you some additional documents during the process of screening and it makes the processing time longer. Also, depending on the timing, they require much more time for the screening due to the congestion of the applications. In the worst case, they are unable to complete your application by the end of EXCEPTION PERIOD.
The EXCEPTION PERIOD will not extend no matter what the reason is.
If the Immigration Office decides that they need more time to examine your application, they inform it to you around a week before the end of EXCEPTION PERIOD and tell you that you need to proceed to change your visa to “31-days Designated Activities” to keep your residence status is valid and continue the ongoing screening. You will have another 2 months or more under the Designated Activities visa status if you file for the re-application of what you submitted previously at the same time of changing your visa to 31-days Designated Activities.
