2.10 Extension of Period of Stay and Change of Status of Residence
Section Two: Visas and Status of Residence
This section provides an overview of the various entry procedures required to work and live in Japan. This section also includes a description of the types of work visas available to foreign companies, foreign staff, and the family of foreign nationals.
2.1 Entry Procedures
2.2 Relation Between Visa and Status of Residence
2.3 Process from Acquisition of Certificate of Eligibility to Acquisition of Visa
2.4 Types of Working Statuses
2.5 Temporary Visitor Visa and Status
2.6 Reciprocal Visa Exemptions for Temporary Visitor
2.7 Resident Card
2.8 Re-Entry Permission
2.9 Family Members Accompanying Working Foreign Nationals
2.10 Extension of Period of Stay and Change of Status of Residence
2.11 Points-Based Preferential Immigration Treatment for Highly-Skilled Foreign Professionals
2.10.1 Extension of Period of Stay
The period of stay is decided together with the status of residence when the foreign national lands in Japan or changes his/her status of residence, and the foreign national may only reside in Japan for this stipulated period of stay.
Consequently, a foreign national wishing to continue the same activities in Japan with his/her present status of residence beyond this stipulated period of stay must apply for an extension of this period of stay no later than the last day of that period of stay. Extensions will not be granted if the purpose of the stay has already been completed or there are other problems connected with the status of residence.
Applications for extensions of periods of stay may be submitted from around three months before the expiration date of the period of stay if the period of stay is at least six months. If a foreign national applies for an extension before his/her period of stay expires (excluding where made by a foreign national granted permission to stay for 30 days or less) and no decision has been made on the application by the expiration date, he/she may remain in Japan under the same status of residence until the date on which a decision is made on the application or two months have elapsed from the original expiration date, whichever is the shorter period.
Regarding period of stay, please refer to the following website,
Immigration Bureau, Ministry of Justice “Immigration Control IMMIGRATION 2014” (17.3MB)(Page 6 and 7)
A foreigner residing in Japan who wishes to cease the activities in which he/she is currently engaged and to engage exclusively in activities belonging to a status of residence other than that which he/she presently holds must apply and receive permission for a change of status of residence. For example, a foreign national dispatched from a parent company in a foreign country to a subsidiary in Japan and currently residing in Japan on an "Intra-company Transferee" status of residence who wishes to resign from the company to which he is dispatched and to invest in and operate his own company needs to apply and receive permission for a change to "Investor/Business Manager" status of residence.
However, applications for a change in status of residence are not automatically approved, and permission will not be granted if the new activities do not correspond to the requirements and criteria of the status of residence sought.
If a foreign national has applied for a change in status of residence (excluding applications made by persons granted a period of stay of not more than 30 days) and no decision has been made on the application by the expiration date of the period of stay granted in respect of the applicant' s status of residence, the applicant may remain in Japan under the same status of residence until the date on which a decision is made on the application or two months have elapsed from the original expiration date, whichever is the shorter period.
