Residence Renewal (Highly Skilled Professional)

You can apply up to 3 months before expiry. Applying before the expiry date allows you to remain in Japan during the review period (tokureikikan — valid until the disposition date or 2 months after expiry, whichever comes first)

For applications accepted on or after October 1, 2026, the fee depends on the period of stay granted. At the counter (paid by revenue stamp): ¥10,000 for 3 months or less, ¥18,000 for over 3 months up to 6 months, ¥25,000 for over 6 months but under 1 year, ¥33,000 for 1 year, ¥48,000 for over 1 year but under 3 years, ¥64,000 for 3 years but under 5 years, and ¥75,000 for 5 years or more. Applications accepted by September 30, 2026 are charged the previous fee of ¥6,000 even if the permission is granted on or after October 1. In either case the fee is paid after approval, not when you apply

Online applications have both different amounts and a different payment method. The fee is ¥10,000 for 3 months or less, ¥15,000 for over 3 months up to 6 months, ¥21,000 for over 6 months but under 1 year, ¥27,000 for 1 year, ¥42,000 for over 1 year but under 3 years, ¥56,000 for 3 years but under 5 years, and ¥65,000 for 5 years or more, plus a payment-processing fee (¥330 under 3 years, ¥550 for 3 years or more). Payment is made by convenience store or bank transfer; revenue stamps cannot be used, and credit card and QR code payments are not accepted

If you meet certain conditions, such as receiving public assistance, the fee is reduced to ¥10,000 regardless of the period of stay. Supporting documents must be submitted, and because the online system does not handle the reduction, the application must be made at a counter. If a Specified Residence Card is issued upon permission and the residence card you hold was issued on or after June 14, 2026, an Immigration Services Agency fee of ¥1,900 (paid by revenue stamp) and a J-LIS fee of ¥600 (¥800 if an electronic certificate is issued) are required in addition to the amounts above. No such fee applies if your residence card was issued by June 13, 2026, or if you already hold a Specified Residence Card

Always use the latest version of the Point Calculation Table. You only need to submit documents for items that confirm your 70+ points — you do not need to cover every scoring category

A municipal tax certificate is not on the standard submission list for this renewal, but some regional offices ask for one

If this is your first renewal after moving to a Category 3 or 4 employer, you also need the company registration certificate, the previous fiscal year's financial statements, and a business brochure. These are generally not required if you have not changed jobs

Online application requires prior user registration on the ISA online system

Highly Skilled Professional (ii) carries an indefinite period of stay, so there is no period-of-stay renewal. The card itself still expires, and you apply to renew it before that date (Immigration Act, art. 19-11). Cards issued up to June 13, 2026 ran for 7 years from issue (or until the day before the 16th birthday for under-16s); cards issued from June 14, 2026 run until the 10th birthday after issue, or the 5th birthday if the holder was under 18 when it was issued (Immigration Act, art. 19-5)

There is no application fee. Counter applications only; the new card is generally issued on the same day

Application window: from 3 months before the card's expiry date up to the date itself - or 6 months before, if the card was issued by June 13, 2026 and expires on the 16th birthday or the day before

A certificate of employment is not on the official document list, but it may be requested during screening