What this application is
To stay in Japan beyond the period of stay on your residence card with the same status of residence, you apply for an Extension of Period of Stay (在留期間更新許可申請) at the regional immigration office for your address. If your job or activity will change to one that belongs to a different status, you need a Change of Status of Residence instead.
When you can apply
- If your period of stay is 6 months or longer, you can apply from about 3 months before it expires.
- You must apply by the day your period of stay expires.
- Online applications cannot be filed on the last day of your period of stay. If you are that late, go to the immigration office.
Documents for common statuses
For every status: the application form, one photo meeting the official specifications (not needed if you ask for 3 months or less), and your passport and residence card to show at the counter. Documents issued in Japan must be dated within 3 months, and foreign-language documents need a Japanese translation.
Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services (技術・人文知識・国際業務):
- A declaration about the representative of your employer.
- Resident tax certificate (課税・非課税証明書) and tax payment certificate (納税証明書) for the last year, from the city where you lived on 1 January. One certificate showing both is enough.
- Depending on your employer's category (1 to 4), more documents: for example a copy of the employer's 法定調書合計表 (category 3), or your employment terms, company registration and financial statements (category 4). If this is your first renewal after changing jobs, expect to submit more.
Dependent (家族滞在):
- A document proving your relationship with the supporting family member (marriage certificate, birth certificate, family register, etc.).
- A copy of the supporter's residence card or passport.
- Proof of the supporter's job and income, such as an employment certificate plus their resident tax and tax payment certificates.
Student (留学):
- Confirmation forms that your school fills in for you. Ask the international office of your school early.
- Depending on your nationality and school, a statement about how your living costs are paid, and a scholarship certificate if you have one.
Fee
For applications filed at the counter, the fee is paid with revenue stamps (収入印紙) when you collect the result, not when you apply. The postcard you receive shows the amount. Since 1 October 2026 the fee depends on the period of stay you are granted:
- 3 months or less: 10,000 yen
- Over 3 months up to 6 months: 18,000 yen
- Over 6 months, under 1 year: 25,000 yen
- 1 year: 33,000 yen
- Over 1 year, under 3 years: 48,000 yen
- 3 years or more, under 5 years: 64,000 yen
- 5 years or more: 75,000 yen
Online applications have lower fees (for example 27,000 yen for 1 year and 65,000 yen for 5 years, plus a payment charge of 330 or 550 yen). After the review you receive an email with a payment link, and you pay at a convenience store or by Pay-easy. Revenue stamps and credit cards cannot be used online. Some applicants qualify for a reduced fee of 10,000 yen at the counter; online applications do not offer the reduction.
Where and how to apply
Apply at the regional immigration office that covers your address, or through the online residence application system. You can apply online yourself if you are a mid- to long-term resident aged 15 or over. Your employer's staff or a lawyer or administrative scrivener can also apply for you if they are registered for this.
If your card expires while you wait: the special period
If you applied before your period of stay expired and no decision has been made yet, you can keep living in Japan and doing your usual activities with the same status. This special period (特例期間) lasts until the decision, or until the end of the day two months after the original expiry date, whichever comes first. For counter applications, the back of your residence card is stamped to show the pending application; online applicants do not get this stamp.
How long it takes
The standard processing time is 2 weeks to 1 month. The office may ask for more documents during the review, so apply early.
Last checked: 2026-11-04