Extending and changing your status

You apply at the regional immigration bureau, or online if your status allows it. The window opens about three months before your period of stay ends. You will need your passport, residence card, an application form, a photograph and documents showing that you still meet the conditions, such as an employment certificate and tax records.

Examiners look at what you have done in Japan, including whether you worked in line with your status and paid your taxes and insurance. If you applied before the deadline and are still waiting, you can usually stay until the decision, or for up to two months after the old period ends. Keep the receipt.

If your activity changes, for example from student to employee or from employee to spouse, you apply to change your status. Do it before you start the new activity, and keep working only as your current status allows.

When you leave Japan for a short time, a special re-entry permit lets you come back within one year, or before your period of stay ends if that is sooner, without a separate application, if you hold a valid passport and residence card and tell the officer when you leave. For longer trips, apply for a re-entry permit before you go.

From 1 October 2026, reports say the fees for extending or changing status depend on the length of the permit granted, and are much higher than the old ¥6,000. The permanent residency fee also rose sharply. Online applications may cost less than a counter application, so check the official fee table before you pay.

You must report certain changes within 14 days: a new address at the city office, and a change of employer, a divorce, or your spouse’s death to the immigration agency. Failing to report can cause problems at your next renewal.