Residence Card & Visa in Japan: Complete Guide
A complete overview of administrative procedures required for residence card & visa in Japan. Check deadlines, required documents, and office locations in advance.
The procedures you need — and their deadlines — vary greatly depending on your nationality, visa type, family situation, and employment status. Browse the frequently asked questions below to get a clearer picture of what applies to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. When can I start applying for visa renewal?
You can apply up to 3 months before your current visa expires. Make sure to apply before the expiration date. During the review period, you are allowed to stay for up to 2 additional months after expiration under the special extension rule.
Q. Does changing jobs affect my visa renewal?
If the new job falls within the activities your status covers, you do not need to change status. You do need to file an affiliated organisation notification within 14 days of each event — ending the old contract and signing the new one (article 19-16). For your first renewal after moving to a Category 3 or 4 employer, additional documents are required: a certificate of registered matters, the latest annual financial statements, and material describing the business.
Q. Is the Residence Card expiration the same as my visa period?
It depends on the status. For most statuses the expiry of your period of stay is also the expiry of the card, so renewing the period gets you a new card. Permanent residents, Highly Skilled Professional (ii) holders and special permanent residents have no fixed period of stay, so only the card's own validity is renewed — it runs to the tenth birthday after issue. That renewal is an obligation under article 19-11(1) and is filed between three months before expiry and the expiry date.
Find Out Which Procedures Apply to You
Answer a few questions to get a personalized checklist with the exact procedures and offices that apply to your situation.
Check which procedures apply to me →