How to Change Your Status of Residence in Japan: 2026 Application Guide

A change of status of residence is used when the purpose or legal basis for your stay changes and the new activity belongs to a different status. It lets an eligible foreign resident apply for another status without first leaving Japan.

An extension is different: use it when you will continue the same status and permitted activity but need more time. Permanent residence also has its own separate application and is not handled as an ordinary change-of-status application.

Changing employers does not automatically mean changing status. If the new duties still fit your current work status, the main immigration step may instead be an affiliation notification and, where the scope is unclear, checking work authorization before starting the new duties.

• Different activity or legal basis → consider change of status
• Same status and same activity → usually extension of period of stay
• Permanent residence → separate permanent-residence procedure
• New employer with same permitted work → change may not be necessary

The target status controls the application form, evidence and examination. Do not start with a generic 'visa change' checklist. Open the official status-of-residence list and identify the status that matches the activity or personal position you will actually have.

For employment, the job title alone is not enough. Immigration looks at the real duties, contract, employer and the applicant's qualifications. For family-based statuses, the legal relationship, household circumstances, income or support evidence and relationship documents can be central.

If two statuses appear possible, resolve that question before building the file. A well-organized application for the wrong status is still the wrong application.

• Define the new daily activity or personal basis precisely
• Match it to one official status of residence
• Open that status's current document page
• Check applicant and supporting-organization requirements
• Do not rely only on the wording of a job title

Typical cases include graduating from school and moving into qualifying employment, moving from Dependent status to full-time work, changing to duties covered by a different work status, or applying on a new spouse or other qualifying personal basis.

The facts must already be concrete enough to prove. For a work change, that normally means the proposed employer, duties, pay and work location are sufficiently defined. For a family-based change, the underlying relationship and supporting evidence must exist.

A person in Temporary Visitor status should not plan on routinely converting to long-term residence after entering Japan. Immigration Services Agency guidance states that a change from Temporary Visitor is generally not permitted unless unavoidable special circumstances exist.

• Student → qualifying work status
• Dependent → qualifying full-time work status
• One work status → another because duties materially change
• Activity-based status → qualifying spouse or family-based status
• Temporary Visitor → long-term status is exceptional, not the normal route

The official filing period runs from the time the reason for the change arises until before the current period of stay expires. The Immigration Services Agency's 2026 guidance encourages applicants seeking a change to apply promptly once the reason for the change arises.

Do not wait for the final day. The Residence Application Online System cannot accept a residence application on the final day of the current period of stay. A person trying to file on that day must use the competent regional immigration office instead.

For planned employment, make the start date conditional on immigration permission when the new duties are outside your current status. An employer's desired start date does not override your current work authorization.

• Apply after the change basis becomes real and documentable
• File before the current period of stay expires
• Online filing is unavailable on the final day
• Do not start unauthorized new duties while waiting

A change-of-status application can be filed at the regional immigration office with jurisdiction over your residence, or online when the applicant and target procedure are supported by the Residence Application Online System.

The online system was renewed in January 2026. Foreign residents using the individual online route need to confirm eligibility and prepare the required identity environment before relying on the system. The system also has a firm practical limitation: it cannot be used on the final day of the current period of stay.

For an online application, keep the acceptance email and application number. Unlike a counter filing, the residence card is not physically marked 'application pending' at submission, so Immigration instructs online applicants to carry the acceptance-completion email together with the residence card when proof of the pending application is needed.

• Counter: file with the competent regional immigration office
• Online: confirm your user eligibility and supported procedure first
• Save the online acceptance email and application number
• Do not rely on online filing if you are already on the final day

If a residence-card holder files a valid change-of-status application before the current period expires and no decision has been made by the expiration date, the special-period rule generally allows continued stay until the decision or until two months after the original expiration date, whichever comes first.

During that period, you remain under the previous status. The special period is not early approval of the requested new status. You may continue activities already permitted by the existing status and valid separate permissions, but you should not begin activities that require the requested new status until the change is granted.

If the original expiration date is approaching, also consider practical effects outside immigration. The Immigration Services Agency has warned that My Number Card functionality and some bank procedures can require separate action around the printed residence-expiration date even when an immigration application is pending.

• Special period requires a timely valid application
• It ends at the decision or two months after original expiry, whichever is earlier
• Your old status and old work restrictions continue
• It does not authorize the requested new activity

The Immigration Services Agency lists a standard processing period of one to two months for change-of-status applications. A particular case may be faster or slower depending on the status, workload, missing evidence, additional-document requests and the facts being verified.

Online applicants can check the application state in the online system. Immigration also publishes average examination periods and asks applicants not to rely on repeated telephone calls for individual progress updates when no result has been issued.

If additional documents are requested, respond by the stated deadline. If the employer, school or sponsor must prepare them, send the request immediately and keep a copy of the response.

• Official standard: 1–2 months
• Individual processing can take longer
• Online applicants can check system status
• Respond promptly to additional-document requests

The fee is due when permission is granted, not simply because an application was filed. For applications under the current fee schedule, permission received through an immigration-office procedure costs ¥6,000, while permission through an online application costs ¥5,500.

Separate expenses can include photographs, certificates, translations, postage, travel and professional assistance. Those costs are not the Immigration Services Agency permission fee.

Paying a representative does not guarantee approval. The decision remains with the Immigration Services Agency.

• Counter permission fee: ¥6,000
• Online permission fee: ¥5,500
• Paid when permission is granted
• Document and professional-service costs are separate

Once permission is granted, follow the result instructions and receive the new residence card or complete the applicable online result process. Check the status of residence, period of stay, expiration date, work-permission information and personal details immediately.

Only after the new status takes effect should you begin an activity that depended on that change. Then complete any connected employer, school, social-insurance, municipal or other procedures that apply to your situation.

If the application is not approved, act quickly. The general change-of-status procedure lists no ordinary administrative appeal method for the decision. Depending on the case, you may need to understand the reason, correct the underlying problem, consider another lawful procedure or prepare to leave before your authorized stay ends.

• Inspect the new card immediately
• Confirm status, period and work-permission details
• Start the newly authorized activity only after approval takes effect
• If refused, do not assume the proposed activity or stay is authorized