If you are currently residing in Japan and hold a Residence Card, you are permitted to stay in Japan and engage in the activities allowed under your visa status until the expiry date indicated on your Residence Card.

If you wish to continue your stay and activities beyond this date, you should apply for an EXTENSION of PERIOD of STAY (VISA RENEWAL) before your current visa expires.

If you fail to submit the application before the expiry date stated on your current Residence Card, your visa status will no longer be valid, and your stay may be considered as illegal.

Contents
  1. WHEN and WHERE TO APPLY
  2. BASIC REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
  3. APPLICATION FEE
  4. PROCESS of APPLICATION
  5. IN CASE OF DENIAL
  6. BEWARE of SUSPENSION of JAPANESE BANK ACCOUNTS!
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WHEN and WHERE TO APPLY

When to Apply

You can apply for an Extension of Period of Stay up to 3 months before the expiry date of your current visa. Once your application is submitted, you may continue to stay in Japan under your current visa status until the Grace/Special Period ends.

In some cases, the Immigration Office may accept your applications submitted earlier than 3 months before the expiry date, but only if you have a valid reason. In such cases, you must include a letter explaining your reason.

Where to Apply

Your application must be submitted to the Immigration Office that has jurisdiction over your place of residence.

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BASIC REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

The documents required for an Extension of Period of Stay application vary depending on your current visa status and individual circumstances.

In general, you will need to provide documents proving that:

  • you will continue to engage in the activities allowed under your current visa,
  • you have been paying taxes properly and have no overdue payments,
  • you are financially stable enough to continue living in Japan.

If you wish to extend your current work-type visa but have experienced changes in your employment (e.g. change of employer) during your current period of stay, you must provide documents verifying your current employment and employer. In most cases, these documents are similar to those required for a Change of Visa Status.

To check the specific documents required for each visa type, refer to the following page: LIST of VISA STATUS

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APPLICATION FEE

The Immigration Office charges an Immigration Tax (government fee) as listed below:
* No tax or government fee will be charged if the application is denied.

  • [application submitted by 31 March 2025] 4,000 yen
  • [online application submitted on and after 1 April 2025] 5,500 yen
  • [in-person application submitted on and after 1 April 2025] 6,000 yen

The tax is payable by revenue stamp (収入印紙 shunyu-inshi) when you receive your renewed Residence Card. If you hire an immigration lawyer, their professional fee and any actual expenses (such as certificate fees, postage, or travel costs) are charged separately, in addition to the Immigration Tax.

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PROCESS of APPLICATION

Standard Processing Period

The standard processing time for an Extension of Period of Stay application is about 2 – 6 weeks after submitting the application.

However, the actual period may vary depending on factors such as your individual case, the timing of your application, the workload at the Immigration Office, and the specific office or branch where you submit the application. In some cases, it may take more than one month. Not that applications submitted to the Tokyo Immigration Office (in Shinagawa) may take twice the standard processing period or much longer.

The Immigration Office cannot provide any updates or guarantee the schedule of the screening or the date of the decision.

Basic Process

  1. Check the necessary documents required for your visa type and your individual circumstances.
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  2. Prepare and collect the necessary documents: If you have obtained Permission to engage in other activity (Shikakugai-katudo Kyoka), you need apply for it again together with your Extension of Period of Stay application.
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  3. Submit the application: You and your visa sponsor must sign the application form and submit the required documents to the relevant Immigration Office.
    NOTE: The applicant must be physically present in Japan at the time of submitting the Extension of Period of Stay application, even if it is submitted online. During the screening period, the applicant may leave and re-enter Japan for travel or other personal reasons.
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    Processing period at the Immigration Office: about 2 – 6 weeks
    The Immigration Office may request additional documents. In that case, the processing period may be extended.
    NOTE: The screening period may vary depending on factors such as your individual case, the timing of your application, the level of congestion at the Immigration Office, and the specific office or branch where you submit the application.
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  4. If the application is approved: A postcard notifying the approval will be sent to your address (or to your immigration lawyer, if you have hired one).
    * If the application is denied, refer to the section IN CASE OF DENIAL for information on the next steps.
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  5. Issuance of your new Residence Card:
    * If you have hired an immigration lawyer, they will handle this process on your behalf.
    [If you pick up your new card at the Immigration Office]
    You must visit the Immigration Office in person by the date stated on the postcard notice to receive your renewed Residence Card. You need to bring the necessary documents listed on the postcard notice, such as your current Resident Card and passport. You will need to pay the Immigration Tax (government fee) by affixing the required amount of revenue stamps to the Certificate for Payment Fee (手数料納付書).
    [If you receive your new card by mail (for online application only)]
    After receiving the email notice, send the necessary documents listed on the notice, such as a printed copy of the email notice, your current Residence Card, and the Certificate for Payment Fee (手数料納付書) affixed with the required amount of the revenue stamps to pay the Immigration Tax (government fee).
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  6. Once you receive your new Residence Card, your visa status is officially renewed and remains valid until the expiry date shown on the card.

POINTS TO NOTE

  • In case you hire an immigration lawyer for your application: Your immigration lawyer will handle the entire process on your behalf. The Immigration Office will communicate directly with your immigration lawyer whenever necessary.
  • You must be physically present in Japan at the time of both submitting your application and receiving your renewed Residence Card, even if you hire an immigration lawyer to handle the process on your behalf.
  • You may travel outside Japan during the screening period. However, you must return to Japan and receive your new Residence Card before the end of the Grace/Special Period (特例期間).
  • You are required to notify the Immigration Office of any changes in the information stated on your application form or in your supporting documents.
  • The Immigration Office cannot provide information regarding the progress or expected completion date of your application screening.
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IN CASE OF DENIAL

If your Extension of Period of Stay application is denied, a written notice of denial will be sent to you or your visa sponsor (or your immigration lawyer, if you have hired one). The notice will include the main reason for the denial in general format.

You must visit the Immigration Office with the notice to confirm the detailed reason for the denial and to discuss the next steps. If the reason is not critical and can be resolved, you may reapply as soon as the issue is corrected. However, if the reason is critical and difficult to resolve, you will need to consider alternative options or prepare to leave Japan.

NOTE: If you have hired an immigration lawyer, they will handle the process on your behalf. However, in some cases, the applicant must also appear in person together with the immigration lawyer to confirm the detailed reason for the denial.

IF YOUR CURRENT VISA STATUS (BEFORE APPLYING FOR THE EXTENSION) HAS ALREADY EXPIRED AT THE TIME OF DENIAL

When you visit the Immigration Office with the notice of denial, your expired Residence Card will be invalidated, and you will be granted a temporary DESIGNATED ACTIVITIES (for DEPARTURE) visa status to prepare for leaving Japan. The period of stay under this visa is generally 30 or 31 days, depending on your individual circumstances.

  • If you are granted a DESIGNATED ACTIVITIES (for DEPARTURE) visa status with a period of 31 days or longer, you may apply for a Change of Visa Status by the expiry date if you can find a visa category that fits your situation.
  • If you are granted a DESIGNATED ACTIVITIES (for DEPARTURE) visa status with a period of 30 days or less, you must leave Japan before the visa expires.

If you decide to leave Japan, you must complete the necessary procedures at your city or ward office, Pension Office (年金事務所), bank, and other related institutions before departure. If you leave Japan without submitting the required notifications or fail to settle any remaining taxes or payments, it may cause problems when you apply to enter Japan again or when you apply for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) in the future.

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BEWARE of SUSPENSION of JAPANESE BANK ACCOUNTS!

To prevent criminal activities related to the misuse or unlawful transfer of bank accounts, Japanese banks may suspend the accounts of foreign nationals whose visas have expired.

If your bank account is suspended, you will not be able to withdraw money, transfer funds, or make payments using the account. (In most cases, the account may still be able to receive incoming deposits.)

CONTACT YOUR BANK BEFORE the EXPIRY DATE

It is recommend that you contact your bank before your current visa is expired, even if you have already applied for an Extension of Period of Stay. At the very least, check your bank’s website for information on how to report your renewed visa status.

If you receive a written notice from your bank regarding your visa status around the renewal period, make sure to contact them immediately – but be cautious of phishing scams.

After contacting your bank, you will be asked to submit a notification to confirm that you will continue living in Japan. The notification process and required documents vary by bank, so you should check directly with the bank first. Some banks also allow this procedures to be completed online.

Here are some examples of documents that banks may ask you to provide:

EXAMPLE of NECESSARY DOCUMENTS

  • Residence Card
    • If you have already received your renewed card: present your new Residence Card at the bank in person, or submit a scanned copy of the renewed card.
    • If your application is still under screening (online application): submit a scanned copy of your current Residence Card and the email 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」(Notice of Application Number) sent from the Immigration Office.
    • If your application is still under screening (in-person application): submit a scanned copy of your current Residence Card and the Application Receipt (申請受付票) issued when you submitted your application.
  • Bankbook and/or Cash Card
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