Changing Your Visa Type
Table of Contents
Changing Your Visa Type (Status of Residence) While in Japan
Foreign nationals who already have a status of residence and who wish to change the purpose of their stay and engage in activities that correspond to a different status of residence must change their status of residence. They may do this by submitting a request for change of status of residence to the Minister of Justice and receiving permission to change from their current status of residence to a new status of residence.
For example, an Application for Change of Status of Residence must be submitted in the following situations.
- The foreign national is residing in Japan with a Student visa but has found a place of employment in Japan.
- The foreign national wishes to switch to a different type of work than that permitted by their current status of residence.
- The foreign national has completed their technical intern training and wishes to switch to work involving specified skills.
- The foreign national has married or divorced a Japanese person.
Application Submitter
The Application for Change of Status of Residence may be submitted by any of the following parties:
- The applicant (the foreign national wishing to remain in Japan)
- A representative - The legal representative of the applicant
- A proxy
Submit Application to ...
The Regional Immigration Services Bureau with jurisdiction over the applicant’s place of residence
Application Submission Timing and Processing Time
The application must be submitted between the time when the grounds for the change of status of residence arise and the last day of the period of stay. The application must be submitted to the Regional Immigration Services Bureau with jurisdiction over the applicant’s place of residence. Standard application processing times are roughly two weeks to one month.
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