Skip to content
日本签证通Reside Japan
#Residence procedures

在留期間更新許可申請 (Visa Renewal): Timing, Documents, Fees and the 特例期間

When to file (from 3 months before expiry), documents by status, fees revised from October 2026, processing time, the 特例期間 and online applications.

Last verified:

Highlights:Where to goDocumentsAmountsDeadlines

If your status of residence stays the same and you simply want to remain in Japan after your current period of stay expires, you need to file an 「在留期間更新許可申請」 (application for extension of period of stay, commonly called a "visa renewal"). Based on the official pages of the 出入国在留管理庁 (Immigration Services Agency of Japan), this article explains when you can apply, what documents are generally needed, the fees as revised from October 1, 2026, how long the review takes, and how to understand your situation if no decision has been made when your period of stay expires. It is intended as a self-check for all Chinese residents of Japan who hold a status of residence with a fixed period and are about to renew it.

Key points

  • In principle, you must apply on or before the expiry date (満了日) of your 在留期間 (period of stay); if your period of stay is 6 months or longer, you can apply from 3 months before the expiry date.
  • Fees for counter applications are paid with 収入印紙 (revenue stamps), and from October 1, 2026 they are tiered by the period of stay granted, ranging from 10,000 yen (3 months or less) to 75,000 yen (5 years or more).
  • The officially published standard processing period is 2 weeks to 1 month.
  • If you apply before your period of stay expires and no decision has been made by the expiry date, you may continue to stay with your original status of residence until whichever is earlier of "the time a disposition is made" and "the end of the day on which 2 months have passed from the expiry date" (特例期間 (special grace period)).
  • You can apply online through the 「在留申請オンラインシステム」 (online residence application system), but you cannot submit through the system on the last day of your period of stay (the expiry date itself).

When you can apply

The official page states that, in principle, the application must be filed on or before the expiry date of the period of stay; people with a period of stay of 6 months or longer can apply from 3 months before the expiry date.

If there are genuinely unavoidable circumstances, immigration may also accept an application earlier than 3 months before expiry, but you need to consult the immigration office with jurisdiction in advance. The examples given officially include studying abroad, long-term overseas business trips or assignments, overlap with the period of pregnancy and childbirth, returning home to give birth, hospitalization for illness, and family members applying at the same time.

If your period of stay is less than 6 months, please check with the 地方出入国在留管理官署 (regional immigration services bureau) with jurisdiction to find out from when exactly you can apply.

Who can submit the application

  • The applicant;
  • Agent: the applicant's legal representative;
  • 取次者 (application intermediary): staff of approved organizations (such as staff of the affiliated organization, educational institution or supervising organization (監理団体)), a registered 弁護士 (lawyer) or 行政書士 (administrative scrivener), and, where the applicant is under 16 or cannot appear in person because of illness, relatives, people living with the applicant, etc. approved by the director of the regional immigration services bureau.

Even when an intermediary submits the application, the applicant must be in Japan. In addition, the age of majority in Japan has been 18 since April 1, 2022, and people aged 18 or over must apply in person unless they use an intermediary.

Documents generally needed

Documents for the extension of period of stay are specified separately for each status of residence. The main official page does not have a single "general list", so you need to check the page for your own status of residence (for example, 「技術・人文知識・国際業務」 (Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services), 「家族滞在」 (Dependent), 「日本人の配偶者等」 (Spouse or Child of Japanese National) and 「経営・管理」 (Business Manager) each have their own page).

Taking 「技術・人文知識・国際業務」 (技人国) as an example, the main documents listed on the official page are:

Document Notes
在留期間更新許可申請書 (application form for extension of period of stay) 1 copy; the official website provides PDF and Excel formats and filled-in examples
写真 (photo) 1 photo, meeting the specified requirements; not required for those under 1 year old when the residence card is issued, those who are not mid- to long-term residents, or those applying for a period of stay of 3 months or less
パスポート及び在留カード (passport and residence card) Present the originals at the counter
Documents proving the affiliated organization's カテゴリー (category) Submit according to whether the company falls under カテゴリー1–4, for example proof of stock exchange listing or a copy of the previous year's 「法定調書合計表」 (summary of statutory reports)
所属機関の代表者に関する申告書 (declaration concerning the representative of the affiliated organization) 1 copy (reference form)
住民税の課税（又は非課税）証明書及び納税証明書 (resident tax assessment (or non-assessment) certificate and tax payment certificate) 1 copy each, showing total income for 1 year and tax payment status; a single document showing both is also acceptable. Issued by the 市区町村 (municipal office) where you lived on January 1 of the year

Points to note:

  • When the affiliated organization falls under カテゴリー1 or 2, the official page notes that "other documents are, in principle, not required"; which documents can be omitted is determined by the list on the page and the explanation given at the counter.
  • For the first renewal after changing jobs, if the new company falls under カテゴリー3 or 4, additional documents are also required, such as a notice of working conditions, a 登記事項証明書 (certificate of registered matters), a company profile and the latest financial statements.
  • People working as dispatched workers also need documents such as the dispatch contract and the management ledger.
  • If you have only recently entered Japan or moved and your municipal office cannot issue the tax assessment and tax payment certificates, the official page recommends consulting the immigration office first.

Documents for other statuses of residence (such as 家族滞在, 日本人の配偶者等 and 経営・管理) differ greatly, so be sure to open the relevant page and check each item.

Fees

Counter applications (収入印紙)

The fee for permission for extension of period of stay was revised on October 1, 2026 and is charged according to the period of stay actually granted:

Period granted Fee
3 months or less 10,000 yen
More than 3 months, up to 6 months 18,000 yen
More than 6 months, less than 1 year 25,000 yen
1 year 33,000 yen
More than 1 year, less than 3 years 48,000 yen
3 years or more, less than 5 years 64,000 yen
5 years or more 75,000 yen
  • Applications accepted on or before September 30, 2026 pay the pre-revision fee of 6,000 yen, even if permission is granted on or after October 1.
  • People who meet certain conditions may be eligible for a reduction or exemption; the reduced fee is 10,000 yen regardless of the period granted.
  • If you receive a 「特定在留カード」 (a residence card with マイナンバーカード (My Number Card) functions) at the same time as permission is granted, an additional fee for that card may be required.
  • When paying at the counter, affix the stamps to the 「手数料納付書」 (fee payment form) provided on the official website.

オンライン申請

The amounts for オンライン申請 (online applications) differ from those at the counter (for example, 27,000 yen for a 1-year period and 65,000 yen for 5 years or more), and a payment processing fee of 330 yen or 550 yen is added. Online applications filed on or after October 1, 2026 cannot be paid with revenue stamps; payment is possible only at convenience stores or through banks (Pay-easy payment number, online banking). Credit cards and QR code payments are not supported, and no paper payment notice is sent. The official page also warns that payment notifications come only from the specific email domain published on the page, and that you should be alert to fraud if you receive payment requests from any other source. Please refer to the official page for the exact amounts.

Review period and the 特例期間

The officially published standard processing period is 2 weeks to 1 month; the actual time required varies by case and by office.

If you filed an extension application before the expiry date but no decision has been made by the expiry date, under the 「特例期間」 rules you may continue to stay with your original status of residence and continue your existing activities until whichever of the following comes first:

  1. The time a disposition is made on your application;
  2. The end of the day on which 2 months have passed from the expiry date of your period of stay.

For counter applications (not online), the 「在留期間更新等許可申請欄」 (field for pending applications for extension, etc.) on the back of the residence card is marked to show that an application is in progress. So if the period of stay shown on the front has passed, check the back as well. The 特例期間 applies only if you apply before the expiry date, so do not leave it until the last minute.

オンライン申請

Applications for permission for extension of period of stay can be submitted online through the 「在留申請オンラインシステム」. Users include the foreign nationals themselves (excluding those who are not mid- to long-term residents and those under 15), legal representatives, relatives under certain conditions, and approved staff of affiliated organizations, 弁護士 and 行政書士, among others. The types of procedures and the statuses of residence eligible for online application are as set out in the officially published PDF.

Note in particular: you cannot apply through the online system on the last day of your period of stay (the expiry date itself).

Timeline

  1. More than 3 months before expiry: check the page for your status of residence and confirm the document list; request the tax assessment and tax payment certificates from the municipal office where you lived on January 1, and ask your company for the documents you need.
  2. From 3 months before expiry: you can submit at the regional immigration services bureau with jurisdiction over your place of residence (counter hours are generally 9:00–12:00 and 13:00–16:00 on weekdays), or submit online.
  3. About 2 weeks to 1 month after submission: wait for notification of the result; if approved, pay the fee as instructed in the notice and receive your new residence card.
  4. Expiry date: for counter applications, submit on that day at the latest; for online applications, you must submit by the day before the expiry date at the latest.
  5. Still under review after expiry: you may continue to stay during the 特例期間 (up to 2 months after expiry); watch for notices from immigration during that time.

Common misconceptions

  • "I can still apply after my period of stay expires": In principle, you must apply on or before the expiry date, and the 特例期間 applies only if you applied before expiry.
  • "The renewal fee is still 6,000 yen": From October 1, 2026, the fee has been revised and tiered by the period granted; a 1-year permission applied for at the counter costs 33,000 yen. Applications accepted on or before September 30 still pay 6,000 yen.
  • "I can submit an online application on the last day": The official page makes clear that you cannot apply through the online system on the last day of your period of stay.
  • "The documents are the same for every status of residence": Documents are specified separately by status of residence and by category of affiliated organization, so you must check the relevant page.

Document checklist (you can tick items)

🔒 Ticks are saved only in this device's browser and shared with the check tool.

Materials for renewal (在留期間更新): 技術・人文知識・国際業務 (カテゴリー1)

0／9

For employees of Category 1 organizations such as listed companies, national and local public bodies, independent administrative agencies, and public interest corporations. In principle, no materials other than the category proof are needed.

  • 📍 出入国在留管理庁 (immigration)

  • 📍 You prepare it⏳ Taken within 6 months before the submission date

  • 📍 You prepare it

Only if it applies to you

  • Listed company

    📍 Your employer (organization)

  • Corporation established with the permission of the competent authority

    📍 Your employer (organization)

  • Innovation-creating company

    📍 Your employer (organization)

  • "company, etc. meeting certain conditions"

    📍 Your employer (organization)

  • Only for those working under a dispatch contract (the applicant is the dispatched worker)

    📍 Your employer (organization)

  • Only for those working under a dispatch contract (the applicant is the dispatched worker)

    📍 Your employer (organization)

Generate a checklist for your situation with the check tool →

Official sources

This article is based on the official pages below. Check the originals before you apply.

Last verified:

This content is for reference only. Please refer to the latest official announcements.

Related articles

Get updates

Members can receive push reminders on their phone before deadlines such as the 在留期限 (period of stay), life-event deadlines and application steps. No email subscription is needed.

Member notifications are coming soon.

No account needed: you can also follow guide updates with an RSS reader: RSS

Add to Home Screen

Once added, you can open this site from your home screen like an app.

  1. Open this site in Safari.
  2. Tap the Share button at the bottom of the screen (top right on iPad).
  3. Choose “Add to Home Screen”, then tap “Add”.

On iPhone and iPad, you need to add the site to your home screen and open it from there to receive push notifications.