Chapter 5
Status of Residence655 Status of ResidenceThis chapter provides some legal procedures at the Immigration Bureau for the change of yourstatus of residence.
You are required to notify the authorities in the event of any change in the details entered in thestatus of residence and certain other matters during the period of stay.
For the change of the place of residence, you need to notify the city/ward office as instructed in
Chapter 3.
Changes to items other than place of residence must be notified at the Regional Immigration
Bureau in person.
Online Application
Foreign nationals can apply for residence procedures online if they have a My Number card.
For details, please check the Immigration Services Agency website.
https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/guide/onlineshinsei.html【Caution!】 Staying in Japan without a valid residence status means that you are violating
Japanese immigration laws and there are various types of penalties for overstaying like
deportation, a fine, or imprisonment. The simple reason that you forgot to extend your status ofresidence is not accepted and will also be treated as a violation of Japanese law.

5-1 Extension of Period of Stay
When first arriving in Japan you will receive a residence card at the
airport, which has your period of stay listed on the front of the card.
The possible periods of stay for a student with a status of residence of“Student” are from three months and extend up to a maximum of four
years and three months.
If you wish to remain in Japan as a student beyond your designatedperiod of stay, you must apply for an extension of your period of stayat the Immigration Bureau with jurisdiction over your area of residence.
You may apply for an extension from three months prior to the
expiration date of your status of residence. You will receive a newresidence card after approval of the extension.

66

Application Process
1

Download the “Application for Extension of Period of Stay
Form” from the website of the Ministry of Justice.
*Use the format "10 Student".

Application for
Extension of Periodof Stay Form (PDF)

The form consists of 5 pages. Please fill out the first 3 pages. The
remaining 2 pages are to be filled out by Keio University.
2

Bring the application form to the Academic Affairs Office at SFC.

https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/content/930004076.pd

Come visit the main counter in the Alpha Building to fill out thef"Request Form for Certificates" and buy a 200 JPY ticket fromthe ticket vending machine.
Hand in the application form along with the “request form forcertificates”. Show us your student ID and residence card.
It should be ready for you to pick up after a half day from yourrequest.
3

Use the automatic certificate issuing machines for the "Certificate
of Enrollment" and "Transcript of Academic Record". They are
200 JPY each.

4Bring all necessary documents and items to the Immigration
Bureau to apply.
◻
◻
◻
◻
◻
◻
◻

Application for Extension of Period of Stay Form
Certificate of Enrollment
Transcript of Academic Record
Passport
Residence Card
ID photo (4 x 3cm, taken within 3 months)
Financial Proof Documents to certify your ability tocover all necessary financial expenses while staying
in Japan◻ *4,000 JPY application fee (a revenue stamp)*You can purchase a
4,000 yen revenue
stamp (印紙 inshi) at
either a post office ortheImmigration
Bureau.

67

5

After a few weeks, you will receive a slip notifying you that yourrenewed residence card is ready to pick up at the Immigration
Bureau.
Your *work permit” will expire the moment your visa status expires.
Please do not forget to extend your work permit at the same time.

6

Once your new residence card is issued, submit a copy ofyour residence card (both front and back) to the Student Life
Section at SFC.

If you fail classes and are deemed to repeat a year
原級(genkyu)

When a "Student" visa holder fails to fulfill their obligations as a student

repeating the previous
year(i.e., study or research) for 3 consecutive months or more without avalid/good reason, their visa will be subject to revocation.
Once your status of residence is revoked, you will be forcibly deported
from Japan in malicious cases, and furthermore, you will be barred fromentry to (and resuming studies in) Japan for a period of 5 years.
If you are deemed to repeatedly remain in the same year, there is apossibility that the Immigration Services Agency of Japan may judge
you as not achieving your original purpose of “Study” and yourapplication to extend your residence status could be refused or only
permitted for a shorter period. In the case that your residence status is
not to be extended, you can no longer stay in Japan to continue
studying.

685-2 Work Permission for Part-Time Jobs
Students who hold the status of residence of “Student” are allowed tostay in Japan only for study and research purposes. Therefore, you are
not allowed to work under the “Student” status.
If you wish to engage in secondary activities aside from your studies,such as a part-time job and internship, you must obtain the"Permission to Engage in Activity other than that Permitted under the
Status of Residence Previously Granted" (資格外活動許可/Shikakugai-

katsudo-kyoka) beforehand from the Immigration Bureau at the

資格外活動許可(Shikakugai-katsudokyoka)
Permission to Engage inActivity other than that
Permitted under the
Status of Residence
Previously Granted

airport or the city you live.
With this permit, students are allowed to work for up to 28 hours aweek—up to 8 hours a day when the school is "officially" not insession—as long as the work is not deemed to be socially immoral.
Immigration Services
Agency of Japan

Application Process【Upon Arrival in Japan (for the First Entry with Student Visa)】
Submit the Application Form (available on the website of the Ministryof Justice) at immigration at the port of entry.
【If You Are Already in Japan】

https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedur
es/shikakugai_00001.ht

1Prepare the following documents and apply at the Immigration
Bureau nearby.

ml?hl=en l◻ Application Form (available on the website of the Ministry ofJustice)◻ Passport◻ Residence Card
◻ A document which specifies details of your part-time job(Submit only if you have already secured a job)
2

When your application is approved, a seal indicating permission
will be affixed to your passport and an entry will be made on yourresidence card if you have been issued one.

Please note that it
may takeapproximately two
weeks to a month for

3

Submit a copy of your residence card (both front and back) to theStudent Life Section at SFC.

the issuance of thepermission.

69

5-3 Change in Your Status of Residence
休学(kyu gaku)
temporary leaveof absence

Temporary Leave of Absence
If you take a temporary leave of absence from the university, you will
not be able to remain in Japan with the status of residence of“Student.”
In this case, you are required to either leave Japan or have your statusof residence changed as appropriate without delay.
Note:
1

You are required to return your residence card to an immigration
officer at the airport of departure when you leave Japan during
your temporary leave of absence.

2

If you continue to stay in Japan during your temporary leave ofabsence, consult with the Immigration Bureau directly for moredetails on changing your status of residence.

Furthermore, activities such as part-time work will not be permitted
during the temporary leave of absence.

復学(fuku gaku)
returning to study after
a temporary leave of absence

Returning to Study After a Temporary Leave of Absence
You are required to reapply for a status of residence appropriate forresuming your studies following a temporary leave of absence
overseas.
Before entering Japan, you must obtain a Certificate of Eligibility andapply for a “Student” visa at the Japanese Embassy in your current
country of residence.
Contact the Office of International Affairs for procedures to apply fora Certificate of Eligibility at least 3 months prior to returning to Japan.
The required documents differ by student (e.g. an original medical
certificate from a doctor or a Certificate of your Military Service, etc.)70Withdrawal
If you withdraw from the university, you will not be able to remain in

退学(tai gaku)
withdrawal

Japan with the status of residence of "Student".
Please submit the "Notification of the Accepting Organization (left theorganization)" to the Immigration Bureau within 14 days after
withdrawing from Keio University and promptly leave Japan or haveyour status of residence changed as appropriate.

Notification of the
Accepting
Organization (left theorganization)

離脱届

You are required to return your Residence Card to an immigration
officer at the airport of departure when you leave Japan after yourwithdrawal from Keio.

hhttps://www.moj.go.jp/isa/content/001343886.p
df

If you decide to continue to stay in Japan after your withdrawal from
Keio, consult with the Immigration Bureau for more details aboutchanging your status of residence.
Transfer
If transferring to another university, you will need to change theaccepting organization on your status of residence.

Notification of the
Accepting
Organization (left theorganization andtransfer to a neworganization)

Please submit the "Notification of the Accepting Organization (left the「活動期間からの離脱」及organization and transfer to a new organization)" to the Immigration

び「新たな活動期間への移

Bureau within 14 days after the change takes place.

籍」

Graduation
A) For those planning to work in Japan after graduation, you will haveto change your status of residence from “Student” to theappropriate status of residence according to the type of job.

http://www.moj.go.jp/isa/content/930002913.pdf

For working for a company, in most cases, your status of residence
will be “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/ International Services.”
For working at a university/research institute as a researcher, yourstatus will usually be “Professor” or “Researcher”.

71

If you are due to start work in April, the Regional Immigration
Bureau accepts applications for a change of visa status from
Google form torequest an interview
for issuing the letter ofrecommendation

December of the previous year. It usually takes one to two months
for your application to be processed. Make sure to consult with
the HR section of your company and apply in advance so that you
have the appropriate status of residence by the time you startworking.
B) For those continuing job-hunting after graduation, your status of

https://forms.gle/EUo4
TpHyw134Trcb7

residence needs to be changed to “Designated Activities” which
grants a six-month period of stay.
This status of residence may be extended once, meaning that you

Necessary documents
to change your statusof residence from
“Students” to“Designated Activities”□Certificate ofgraduation from theuniversity enrolled in□Recommendation
letter from theuniversity□Financial documents
to certify the ability ofthemselves or someother sponsors tocover all expenses tobe incurred during
your stay in Japan□Documents to verify
that they havecontinued full-time
job-hunting likeinterview schedules□Application for
Change of Status ofResidence which canbe downloaded fromthe immigration
bureau's website□Passport andResidence Card

will be allowed to stay for a period of up to 1 year after graduation
to find employment.
You will need a letter of recommendation from Keio University toobtain this status of residence. Please submit the Google form torequest for an interview to issue a recommendation letter before
confirming your graduation. The deadline will be announced on
K-support in August and February.
The staff from the Office of International Affairs will contact you
and conduct an interview in order to issue the letter ofrecommendation.
In case you cannot find a job within 6 months, please submit thesame Google form again for another interview for the next 6
months.
C) For those planning to move to other countries after graduation,
you will be required to leave Japan even if there is time remaining
on your status as a “Student”.

Changing from Family Visa to Student Visa
Bring the following items to your local Immigration Services Bureau:
1. Application for Change of Status of Residence (Download the form
from the QR code in the right column)72

2. ID photo (4cm x 3cm) taken within 3 months of submission. Paste
onto your application.

Application for changeof status of residence

3. Passport (original and a copy)
4. Residence Card (original and a copy of front and back)5. Written statement of the reason for change (One or two A4 pages;
No set format for this statement but it must be written by you withyour signature at the end of the document)
6. A documentation certifying your ability to cover all necessaryfinancial expenses while a resident in Japan (e.g., a certificate ofhttps:/www.moj.go.jp/isa/content/930004076.p
df

scholarship, a copy of your bankbook, a copy of Tax Withholding
Certificate, and a copy of a document that includes a record ofremittances)
7. The designated Certificate for Payment of Fee with a 4,000 JPY
revenue stamp (inshi) attached. (You must pay the fee when yourapplication is approved. You can purchase revenue stamps at either
a post office or the Immigration Services Bureau.)※If you are already a student at Keio University, please also obtain
Certificate of Enrollment and Certificate of Course Registration(available at the certificate issuing machine located in the vicinity of
the Office of Academic Affairs).
※ These may be subject to change.

Check in advance with the

Immigration Services Bureau and the Office of International Affairs.
~Note~
After changing your status from “Student” to “Temporary Visa”,
you will no longer be considered a mid- to long-term resident. Ask
the City Office beforehand whether you will lose your right toreceive benefits from the City Office.



If your period of stay already extends beyond the planned
graduation/completion date to allow for a period of time toprepare to leave Japan, changing the status of residence to a
“Temporary Visa” to prepare for departure will in principle not be
permitted.

73Once your status of residence has been changed to a Temporary
Visa, you will not be permitted to change your status of residence
again to any other type.

5-4 Temporary Leave and Re-entry
If you intend to return temporarily to your home country or travel abroad during a vacation or at
any other time, you must obtain a re-entry permit prior to departure. If you depart without a reentry permit, you will have to apply for a new visa when returning to Japan.

みなし再入国許可Special re-entry permission (Minashi Sainyukoku Kyoka)(Minashi Sainyukoku
Kyoka) Special re-entry

Foreign nationals in possession of a valid passport and residence card

permission

who will be leaving and re-entering Japan within one year of departure

Application for Re-

and during their granted period of stay, are, in principle, not required

entry Permit

to apply for a re-entry permit (this is called a special re-entry permit.).
When you leave Japan, fill out the Embarkation Card and present it withyour residence card at the airport of your departure.

https://www.moj.go.jp/
isa/content/930004122.pdf
Documents to besubmitted:
◻
◻

◻
◻

Application for reentry permission
Passport (re-entry
permit will bedelivered into thepassport)
Residence card
3,000 JPY forsingle re-entry
permit◻

Multiple re-entry
permit: 6,000 JPY
revenue stamp74

Do not forget to check the box next to “I am leaving Japan temporarily
and will return” on the card.
This card is available at the passport control section at the airport.
Please note that you need to re-enter Japan before the expiration ofyour period of stay or you will lose your resident status.

Re-entry permission
If you are going to leave Japan for more than one year, please apply
for a re-entry permit at the immigration bureau of your residence prior
to departure.
The re-entry permission will be issued on the same day.

5-5 Visas for Your Family
If you have family members from your home country who will live withyou in Japan, it is necessary for them to obtain either a Dependent
Visa (for staying in Japan for more than 90 days) or a Temporary Visa
(for visiting).
Dependent Visa
Keio University does

A Certificate of Eligibility (COE) for a Dependent Visa can only beobtained for your dependent spouse and children.

not lodge a proxyapplication on behalfof students’ families.

International students who are already in Japan can apply for the visa
on behalf of their family members.
Those who hold family visas are not permitted to work in Japan. They
must obtain permission from the Immigration Bureau if they wish towork in Japan.
Application Process①

Download the “Application for Certificate of Eligibility” form fromthe website of the Ministry of Justice.

Application for
Certificate of Eligibility(COE) for a Dependent②Fill out the form and prepare other necessary documents.
Application Form for each member of your familyA copy of your Passport (photo page, visa page, and landingVisapermission page)

A copy of your spouse’s/children’s Passport (photo page)

A copy of your residence card (both sides)



One Photo for eachOne photo for each relevant family member taken within the

http://www.moj.go.jp/ONLINE/
IMMIGRATION/16-1-1.pdf

last 3 months (4cm H x 3cm W with plain background)75

Certificate of Enrollment



Document certifying financial support (scholarshipcertificate or balance statement from your bank)An original marriage certificate (spouse) or an original birthcertificate(child) with English translationDocument showing proof of address (a copy of rental
agreement. If currently living alone, a written proof
showing

that

your

accommodationcanlegallyaccommodate the family you wish to bring over or that you
are actively looking for family accommodation.）

Self-addressed envelope with a 404 JPY stamp*The Immigration Bureau may ask for additional documents. Contact the
Immigration Bureau directly for more information.

③ Apply for a digital CoE at the Immigration Bureau④ Receive the digital CoE from the Immigration Bureau. (It takes 5business days to 1 month to issue a dependent visa)⑤ Send the digital CoE via email to your family in your home country.
⑥ Your family members bring the issued digital CoE to the Embassy ofJapan in your home country with other necessary documents toapply for their visas.
Temporary Visa
List of 68 countries
and regions for
exemption of Visa(short-term stay)

If you would like to invite family members for a temporary period fromcountries which have not signed the Visa Exemption Agreement withJapan, they must apply for a Temporary Visa in person at the Japanese
Embassy or Consular Office in their countries.
Visa for your newly born baby
If you or your partner has given birth, and if your baby will remain in

https://www.mofa.go.j
p/j_info/visit/visa/short/novisa.html

Japan for more than 60 days after the date of birth, you will need toobtain a Status of Residence for your baby within 30 days.
Please contact the Immigration Bureau for more details.

76

5-6 Lost/Stolen/Damaged Residence Card
If your residence card is lost, stolen, or damaged,
1. Go to the nearest police station.
Submit a lost property report or stolen property report. They will
issue you a document to certify that you lost or got stolen yourresidence card, i.e. lost property certificate (遺失届証明書), stolen
property certificate (盗難届出証明書).
2. Visit the regional Immigration Services Office to apply forreissuance of the card within 14 days of discovering the loss ortheft.
Documents to be submitted:
Application for Reissuance of a Residence Card (lost or damaged)

An ID photo (4 x 3 cm, taken within three months prior to theApplication for reissuance of a residence
carddate of application)
Passport (Original)

A document issued by the police office.
*If you are unable to submit a certificate, please prepare a

https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedur
es/nyuukokukanri10_000
10.htmldocument indicating the reason and the details of the loss.
The card will be reissued on the same day.
The Application is free of charge.

Information for Immigration and Visa Consulting Services

IMS Legal Professional
Corporation
03-5402-6191

Free consulting and Japanese visa application processing services areavailable for international students, researchers, faculty members, staff
and Japanese students currently studying at Keio University.

keio-visasupport@attorneyoffice.com

77

5-7 Immigration Bureau Nearby （Yokohama/Kawasaki）
Yokohama District Immigration Office (90 mins from Shonandai station)
10-7 Torihama-cho, Kanazawa-ku,
Yokohama-City, Kanagawa 236-0002
0570-045259 （IP phones and calls fromoverseas）
045-769-1729 (domestic)

Open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (weekdays)
Visiting and giving items to detainees is from9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Access to the Immigration Bureau in Yokohama
1 The nearest train station for the immigration bureau in
Yokohama is JR Shin-Sugita station(新杉田駅).
The only exit on the 2nd floor is directly connected to a
shopping mall. Follow the sign to the bus stop for theimmigration bureau.

278

At the end of the shopping mall, turn to the left as
the sign shows.

3

Follow the sign and go downstairs.

4

You can see the bus stop no.1 after getting outside.

5

Take a bus to the immigration bureau (入国管局) fromthe bus stop no.1.
220 JPY (Advance payment) / 14 mins

79

Yokohama District Immigration Kawasaki Branch Office (60 mins from Shonandai station)
1 Chome-3-14 Kamiasao, Asao-ku,
Kawasaki-City, Kanagawa 215-0021
044-965-0012 (domestic)

Open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (weekdays)
Visiting and giving items to detainees is from9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Access5 mins walk from the south exit of Shin-Yurigaoka station (Odakyu line)*Please note that the immigration offices in Yokohama and Kawasaki are for the residents in
Kanagawa-prefecture. Tokyo residents need to go to the Immigration Office in Shinagawa,Tokyo.

80