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Visa Renewal in Japan
Starting to think about extending your stay in Japan by renewing your visa? This is your ultimate guide to being aware of the requirements and the steps to take.
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- By Saki Nakahara, Immigration Lawyer
- Last Updated:
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This depends on your visa type. Generally, if you are on a mid/long-term visa, such as a working visa or a family-related visa, the answer is yes: you should extend your visa if you wish to continue pursuing the activities granted under your specific visa.
However, if you are on a short-term temporary visa, such as a tourist visa, the answer is no, with a few extremely rare exceptions, such as needing to extend your stay due to hospitalization for medical care.
You are allowed to submit your application for visa renewal as early as 90 days prior to the expiry date of your current visa. It is also technically permissible to apply up to the day before your visa is due to expire, though of course we don’t recommend this at all.
Upon submission of your renewal application, your stay is provisionally extended for a period of up to two months or until a decision on your application is reached, whichever period is shorter. This provisional extension is referred to as Tokurei Kikan (特例期間) in Japanese, with the shorter duration being applicable.
Should your renewal application be declined before this provisional period concludes, you will be allotted a temporary status lasting either 30/31 days to make arrangements for your departure.
Typically it will take between 2 weeks and 1 month for the immigration bureau to process your visa renewal application.
If you are applying in person, apply at the Immigration Bureau
If you are applying in person, visit the Immigration Office representing your region. You can submit your application for a Japan Visa Extension at the Immigration Bureau that covers the area where you live, work, or study. You can find a list on the website of the Immigration Services Agency of Japan.
You can also apply online
You can apply for your visa online using the system, which is available 24/7, 365 days a year, and free of charge.
Who can and cannot apply online?
When applicants apply online on their own, it’s important to note that individuals on short-term visas, those whose period of stay is under 3 months, or those under 15 years old are not eligible to apply online.
If you have a long-term visa and have a My Number Card, you can apply for your own application yourself. Here is a full list of the individuals eligible to use the online system for the visa renewal application:
1. Staff of affiliated organization
2. Bengoshi or Gyoseishoshi
Only those approved as intermediaries for the visa applications by the local Immigration Office or those have submitted a notification.
3. Staff members of public interest corporations aimed at facilitated the smooth acceptance of foreigners
Only those who have been requested to support by the organization they belong to.
4. Staff members of registered supporting organizations
Only those who have been requested to support by the organization they belong to.
5. Applicant him/herself
6. Legal representatives
Legal representatives include:
- Parents: individuals who have the rights and obligations to supervise, protect, and educate the applicant when the applicant is under 18 years old.
- Guardian of a minor: individuals who serve as guardians when the applicant is under 18 years old and does not have a parental guardian, or when the parental guardian does not have legal custody (authority over property matters).
- Guardian for adults: Individuals who act on behalf of the applicant in legal matters when the applicant is an adult under guardianship or individuals who assist the applicant in legal matters.
7. Relatives : Spouse, children, father, mother
As a general rule, this is only possible if the applicant is below 16 years old or cannot apply due to illness or other causes.
What are the items I need to prepare to apply on my own?
- My Number Card
Your card must have electronic certificates for signature and user verification. - Residence Card
- PC
Smartphones are currently not supported by the system. - IC card reader/writer compatible with the My Number Card
- JPKI client software
You will need to download this from the portal site of the Japanese Public Key Infrastructure, free of charge.
My Number Card (Front and Back)
The list of required documents for the renewal process differs depending on the visa type but the following documents are commonly requested:
- Application form
- Portrait photo (headshot)
- Passport
- Residence Card
- Documents related to your activity in Japan (Certificate of Employment, service contract detailing your responsibilities, duration, position, monthly salary, etc.)
- Resident Taxation Certificate and Resident Tax Payment Certificate
- Withholding tax slip
- Employer’s Statutory Tax Report (Hotei Chosho Gokeihyo)
- Explanation Letter, etc.
Application Form for Extension of Period of Stay:
It consists of a few pages where you need to fill out your personal information along with company(your employer) details.
Taxation Certificate:
Tax Payment Certificate:
Withholding Tax Slip (Gensen Choshu Hyo)
Statutory Tax Report (Hotei Chosho Gokeihyo):
First and foremost, ensure you have all the necessary documents from your previous visa applications, starting from the first one onwards. If you enlisted an immigration lawyer to handle your submissions, be sure to follow up to obtain these documents promptly.
Consistency in your explanations and adherence to the plans outlined with the Immigration Bureau are crucial. With this in mind, consider the following four points:
Ensure that your primary activities in Japan align with your visa status throughout your stay. If you plan to make changes, such as switching jobs or starting a side business, consult with an immigration lawyer beforehand. They can advise you on whether such actions are permissible under your current visa and whether you need to submit notifications or apply for a different visa type
Prioritize maintaining your financial stability to increase the chances of visa renewal. Maintaining a stable and independent financial status is essential.
Fulfill your legal obligations, including timely tax payments. Even if you are employed, inquire with HR regarding any taxes you may need to pay independently, such as resident taxes.
- Don’t try to fabricate information, as the Immigration Bureau relies solely on evidence. If you explain something thinking it “sounds better,” but you cannot provide evidence when asked to submit it additionally, this could pose further challenges.
- The documents you submitted did not convince the immigration bureau of your financial stability in Japan.
- You failed to fulfill your legal responsibilities, including paying residence tax, health insurance, etc. Typically, your employer would handle these if you were employed. However, if you were working under a service contract, it’s crucial to be aware of and meet these obligations.
- You engaged in illegal activities during your stay in Japan.
- You no longer require your visa. Remember, your visa serves a specific purpose. If you have a student visa, you’re expected to be studying. If you have a working visa, you should be working.
- You did not fulfill the promises made in your previous application. If you assured financial stability or a certain income level as a contractor and failed to achieve it, your credibility could be compromised.
etc.
A tip for identifying possible reasons when your visa renewal application is denied is to consider what you told/ promised the Immigration Bureau in your previous visa application. Did you state that you would be earning a certain monthly salary? Did you fulfill this promise? Are the documents you submitted this time consistent with the explanation/plan you provided in the previous application?
If your Japanese Visa Extension application is rejected, you will be granted a Temporary Stay visa to prepare for your departure from the country. You have the option to reapply for an Extension of Stay if the denial was based on a correctable misunderstanding, or if you believe another visa type may be more appropriate.
However, changing the facts or the explanation you’ve provided to the immigration bureau can impact the consistency of your account, so we recommend contacting an immigration lawyer before considering reapplying.
If you want to increase the likelihood of securing your visa renewal or if you anticipate potential factors that might affect the renewal process, we recommend you consult with an immigration lawyer.
Many individuals turn to immigration lawyers for different reasons, whether to navigate the complex bureaucracy and language barriers or to enhance their application and ensure visa approval.
If you want to ensure that all your documents are prepared and submitted correctly for your case, feel free to contact us. We will assess your current situation and provide support throughout the visa application process.
Reference:
- By Saki Nakahara, Immigration Lawyer
- Last Updated:
Topics Covered
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