JAPANLIFE GUIDE
Emergency
City Office Procedures/Check soonRequired

Extension of Stay vs. Change of Status

Distinguish extending the same activity from changing your activity or status, then check timing and documents.

Procedure at a glance

Who this is for
People extending the same status or changing activity/status
Deadline
Apply before expiry; for stays of six months or more, guidance generally starts around three months before

Do this todayRecord status and expiry from the residence card

If the deadline is near or passedIf your status has expired or expires today, contact the Immigration Information Center or your regional office today before continuing normal preparation. Do not make assumptions about continued work or stay; ask how to appear and what to bring.

Where to goImmigration office for your address or eligible online system

residence cardrenewalimmigration
Official information checked: 2026-07-18Review status: Reviewed

Step-by-step guide

Choose your situation

Extend the period of stay

Use this path when continuing the same activity under the current status. Check the expiry date and filing window first.

Follow these steps

Progress: 0/3 completed

1Confirm your case and deadlineCheck required documents / Confirm when to apply

What to do

  1. 1Write the card expiry, current and planned activity, employer or school, and dependency on one sheet; if unsure, show it to your immigration office before starting
  2. 2Extensions are generally accepted from about three months before expiry; check status-specific evidence and the responsible office early, and prepare a change before the new activity

Check before you start

  • Record status and expiry from the residence card
  • Write whether the activity stays the same or changes
  • Check official documents, timing, and counter or online eligibility

When the deadline starts

  • Use an extension to continue the same status activity and a change application for a different activity. For periods of six months or more, extension filing generally opens about three months before expiry; file before expiry.

If the deadline is near or passed

  • If your status has expired or expires today, contact the Immigration Information Center or your regional office today before continuing normal preparation. Do not make assumptions about continued work or stay; ask how to appear and what to bring.

Urgent contact

  • Immigration Information Center: 0570-013904 (IP/overseas: 03-5796-7112). Confirm current hours and languages on the official page.
2Prepare the office and documentsApply before expiry / Monitor additional requests

What to do

  1. 1Apply at the counter or, if eligible, online before expiry; as checked on 18 July 2026, the approval fee is JPY 6,000 at the counter or JPY 5,500 online, and save the receipt number
  2. 2Keep the receipt or online reference with the residence card and meet every extra-document deadline; confirm how the special period applies to your accepted application

Basic items to bring

  • Residence card and passport
  • Photo meeting current official rules
  • Correct application form
  • Status-specific employment, school, income, and tax evidence
  • Application receipt
  • Items requested for result collection

Fees

  • Checked 14 July 2026: JPY 6,000 at the counter or JPY 5,500 for online filing, payable when permission is granted. A proposal for 1 October 2026 is not final; recheck before collecting the result.

Online options

  • Eligible applicants can file extensions or changes online. Registration, card-reading, document submission, and result collection differ from counter filing.

If you cannot go

  • Only a legal representative or an authorized/notified application intermediary may qualify. A family member cannot freely file or collect merely because the applicant is busy.

If documents are missing

  • If a document is missing, do not guess or substitute it. Tell the office its exact name and ask whether you can consult first, submit it later, and where to obtain it.
3Confirm completion and the next deadlineVerify the new card

What to do

  1. 1Collect the result by its deadline and verify name, status, period, work restrictions, and outside-status permission at the counter; if already expired, contact immigration today

Confirm at completion

  • A pre-expiry filing receipt and follow-up method are saved
  • The new card is verified and relevant organizations are updated

What you receive

  • Keep the filing number and date. On approval, check the new card's name, status, period, work restrictions, and treatment of the old card before leaving.

Check before leaving

  • Before leaving, check your name, address, covered period, and procedure type, then ask about the next deadline and contact method.

Records to keep

  • Keep the reference number, filing date, office, copies of submitted documents, and next contact date. Save confirmation screens and emails for online filings.

Next action

  • Check whether the new residence period must be reflected on your My Number Card and reported to your employer or school, bank, and mobile provider.

Confirm with the official office

  • This page cannot determine the latest form, appointment and hours, municipality-specific additions, individual review, or same-day handling. Confirm these immediately before filing.
  • Status, activity, work/study, dependents, tax/insurance, online eligibility
Important cautions
  • Approval is not guaranteed and depends on individual review
  • A special period after timely filing has a limit; act on result notices
  • Residence-card photo rules changed from June 14, 2026; check current requirements
Find where to go

Useful Japanese phrases

Extension of Stay vs. Change of Status

この件について相談したいです。必要なものと次に行く場所を教えてください。

Kono ken ni tsuite sodan shitai desu. Hitsuyo na mono to tsugi ni iku basho o oshiete kudasai.

I would like to ask about this issue. Please tell me what I need and where I should go next.

Counter

この手続きに必要なものを教えてください。

Kono tetsuzuki ni hitsuyo na mono o oshiete kudasai.

Please tell me what I need for this procedure.

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