Guidelines for Visa Change / Renewal

According to the Immigration Services Agency,

“The Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act (hereinafter referred to as “Immigration Control Act”) stipulates permission for change of status of residence and extension of period of stay shall be granted only when there are reasonable grounds to allow the Minister of Justice to deem it appropriate to do so.

The decision as to whether or not there are reasonable grounds is mainly left to the discretion of the Minister of Justice, and such decision is made totally in view of various factors, such as activities in which an applicant intends to engage, the applicant’s residential status and necessity to reside, taking into account the requirements listed below.”

Activities in which an applicant intends to engage must correspond to any status of residence listed in the Appended Tables (Japanese only) of the Immigration Control Act.

For example, activities of “Engineer” should be “to engage in services, which require technology and/or knowledge pertinent to physical science, engineering or other natural science fields, based on a contract with a public or private organization in Japan.”

Likewise, activities of “Specialist in Humanities / International Services” should be “to engage in services, which require knowledge pertinent to jurisprudence, economics, sociology or other human science fields or to engage in services which require specific ways of thought or sensitivity based on experience with foreign culture, based on a contract with a public or private organization in Japan.”

Applicants must conform to the landing permission criteria provided for by Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice (Japanese only) , etc.

Applicants must have engaged in activities that are in accordance with the current status of residence.

For example, those who stays in Japan with a student visa despite being expelled from school will be given a disadvantage on his/her visa change/renewal unless there is a justifiable reason.

Applicants must have good behavior.

Those who have committed any act subject to criminal punishment that falls under any reason for deportation or act that cannot be overlooked in terms of immigration services administration, including mediation of illegal work, most likely will be given a disadvantage on his/her visa change/renew.

Applicants must have sufficient assets or ability to make an independent living.

Those who relies on public assistance / welfare payments can be considered as failing this requirement.

Proper employment and working conditions must be met.

Including a part-time and casual position, their employment and working conditions must comply with labor-related laws.

Tax obligations must be fulfilled.

In the case of applicants who are obliged to pay taxes, they must fulfill their tax payment obligations. A failure of their obligation will be cause of negative result on his/her visa change/renewal.