Extending your period of stay in Japan

Extension — what is the same for every status

The applicant files in Japan, before the period of stay ends: with a period of 6 months or more, from 3 months before the end. Instead, a legal representative, a staff member of the employer or school approved by the immigration bureau, an attorney or an administrative scrivener (行政書士) can file; if the applicant is under 16 or ill, a relative or a person living with them. The application form and the other documents depend on your status — choose it in the ISA forms block above.

Files open from the website of the Immigration Services Agency of Japan (ISA). Forms are in Japanese and English; links checked 6 Oct 2026.

Documents

1. Application for extension — a different form for each status 在留期間更新許可申請書Choose your status in the ISA forms block above: it gives the form, a filled-in example and the checklist.
2. Photo, 4 × 3 cm 写真From 14 June 2026 a photo is needed for everyone aged 1 and over (before: from age 16).
3. Passport and residence card — to show パスポート及び在留カード（提示）
4. Health insurance — to show 健康保険証等（提示）Instead of the old insurance card you can show the 資格情報 screen in Mynaportal (マイナポータル), the 資格情報のお知らせ notice or a 資格確認書. If you have nothing to show, the extension is not refused for that reason.
5. Resident tax certificates (assessment and payment), if your status requires them 住民税の課税（又は非課税）証明書及び納税証明書From the city office of your address on 1 January. If you cannot get them, ISA asks for a free-form explanation and, if you have them, your withholding slip (源泉徴収票) or pay slips.
6. Fee payment form — needed after approval 手数料納付書At the bureau you stick revenue stamps (収入印紙) for the fee on it when you collect your new residence card.form · PDFform · Excel
7. Proof of a special reason — if you apply earlier than 3 months before 疎明資料For example, study or a long business trip abroad, childbirth, a hospital stay, or the whole family applying together. The documents for each case are in an ISA file; contact the bureau first.ISA list · PDF
8. Statement of reasons — if the applicant is ill and cannot come 理由書Needed when a relative or a person living with the applicant files because the applicant is ill or cannot come for another good reason; add a doctor’s certificate. Being busy at work or school does not count. For a child under 16 the relative also needs proof of relationship, for example a certificate of residence (住民票).template · Word

Immigration may ask for other documents too. Full list: the ISA procedure page.

Where to apply

Regional immigration services bureau for your address, weekdays 9:00–12:00 and 13:00–16:00

Fee

Paid only after approval. Applications received by 30 September 2026: ¥6,000 (online ¥5,500), even if the decision comes later. Received from 1 October 2026: the fee depends on the period granted — from ¥10,000 (up to 3 months) to ¥75,000 (5 years or more); online is cheaper except for periods up to 3 months. It can be higher if a specified residence card (特定在留カード) is issued with the permission. Full fee table

Processing time

2 weeks to 1 month — ISA standard

Online

Possible through the online residence application system (在留申請オンラインシステム). You can file yourself from age 15 if you already live in Japan as a mid- to long-term resident (中長期在留者) and have a My Number card. Online applications are not accepted on the last day of your period of stay.