I would like to stay in Japan longer or I would like to do something different to my visa.

(1)Status of residence and period of stay

Statuses by which foreign national can stay in Japan are provided in Article 4 of the Immigration-Control and Refugee-Recognition Act (hereinafter referred to as the Immigration Control Act)(see the separate table below).

On the occasion when foreign nationals are granted an entry permit to Japan, a period of stay and a scope of activity are determined for each individual, then a landing permit stamp is stamped in their passports.

The period of stay is reckoned from the day following that when the landing permit is granted.

(2)Engaging in an activity other than that permitted by your status of residence previously granted

In case foreign nationals wish to conduct activities not permitted by their status of residence previously granted, they must apply for a permit. For instance, in the case where a missionary wishes to teach English at an English conversation school, he/she must obtain the relevant permit.

[Documents to be submitted]
* Application for permit for activities not permitted by the previously granted status of residence
* Documents to clarify the concrete contents of the activities in excess of the initially authorized scope of activity (for example, a copy of an employment contract, etc.).
* Passport or a certificate of the status of residence (for example, a certificate of studentship in the case of an international exchange student)

(3)Change of a status of residence

Foreign nationals who intend to change their status of residence must follow due formalities for a change of status of residence.

For example, if a foreign national desires to be employed by a Japanese company after his/her graduation from a university in Japan, he/she must comply with necessary procedures for changing his/her status of residence.

Please be aware that a change of status of residence is not necessarily granted to all applicants.

[Doncuments to be submitted]
* Application for permission for a change of status of residence
* Written documents describing the reason for application (a document that describes the reason for application, explaining concretely the activity that the applicant is going to conduct. There is no formal form.)
* References that certify the specific contents of the activity that the applicant is going to conduct (for example, a certificate of entry admission to a school, an invitation letter, an employment contract, etc.)

(4)Extension of a period of stay

The period during which a foreign national is allowed to stay in Japan is fixed for each status of residence. No foreign national may stay in Japan by exceeding this pre-authorized period of stay.

However, if a foreign national is unable to achieve the purpose of his/her visit within his/her pre-authorized period of stay, he/she may apply for permission for extension of his/her period of stay by going through due formalities. The extension of the period of stay is permitted when the competent authorities admit it as reasonable.

[Documents to be submitted]
* Application for permission for extension of a period of stay (prescribed form)
* Written documents describing the reason for application (a document describing specifically the present activity of the applicant and the reason why the extension is necessary. There is no formal form.)
* Documents that certifies the reason why the extension of period of stay is necessary (for example, a certificate of admission to a school, an invitation letter, an employment contract, etc.)

(5)Certificate of working qualifications system

The new Immigration Control Act which came into force on June 1, 1990 includes a system to issue a certificate of working qualifications.

This system was established for the convenience of both foreign nationals who intend to work in Japan and their employers. In accordance with this system, a certificate of working qualifications is issued upon request for foreign nationals. With it, foreign nationals can certify, using a written document, the specific contents of 'activities to manage profit-making business or to receive remuneration', that they are authorized to engage in based on their status of residence and permission to conduct activities not previously allowed under their status of residence. In other words, foreign nationals can prove with this certificate that they are legally qualified to work in Japan.

This certificate of working qualifications is issued on request from foreign nationals. No foreign national is under an obligation to obtain one.

For further details, make inquiries to district offices or branch offices of the Immigration Bureau of the Ministry of Justice.