Application for change of status of residence

1. The applicant (a foreign national wishing to stay in Japan)
2. Representative
   Legal representative of the applicant
3. Proxy
   1. The following persons who have been approved by the Director-General of a Regional Immigration Services Bureau as an application proxy and who have received a request from the applicant
      1. Staff of an institution run by or employing the applicant
      2. Staff of an institution where the applicant is either a trainee or instructor
      3. An organization that oversees activities designed to help foreign nationals acquire skilled labor expertise or knowledge
      4. Staff of public interest corporations dedicated to seamlessly accepting foreign nationals
   2. Attorneys or paralegals who have notified the Director-General of a Regional Immigration Services Bureau, and received a request from the applicant
   3. Should the applicant be under the age of 16, or if they are unable to make an appearance at an immigration office by themselves due to illness (Note) or for other reasons, a relative, cohabitants, or similar persons deemed appropriate by the Director-General of a Regional Immigration Services Bureau
      (Note) In case of "illness," please bring a medical certificate or a similar document as proof.

Reminders

• While the applicant does not need to appear in person at the Regional Immigration Services Bureau when a proxy submits the application for change of status of residence, the applicant must be in Japan. Please be aware, however, that there are cases when the applicant will need to make an appearance, such as if the proxy has specific questions they wish to ask.

Same as above

(Note) An employee of the applicant’s company/school, the applicant's spouse, child, sibling, etc. cannot receive the applicant's residence card unless they fall under the criteria 1 to 3 above.

• Application form
• Photograph (one; write your name on the back of the standard photograph described below and submit by attaching it to the application)
  * Applicants under the age of 16 do not need to submit a photograph. Applicants who are not looking to have their status of residence changed to mid- to long-term residency also do not need to submit a photograph.

  

  1. The photograph must contain only the applicant.
  2. The dimensions of the photograph, excluding the edges, must meet all of the requirements for the sizes indicated in the diagram. (The size of the face must be measured from the top of the head (including hair) to the tip of the chin.)
  3. You must face the camera and cannot wear a hat.
  4. There must be no background (including no shadow).
  5. It must be a clear photograph.
  6. Taken within 3 months of the date of submission
• Submit materials depending on activities in Japan.
• Present residence card (including certificate of alien registration deemed to be a residence card; same hereinafter)
  * Limited to those receiving the same issued card.
  * If somebody other than the applicant submits an application for change of status of residence, make sure that the applicant has a copy of their residence card with them.
• Present written permission to engage in an activity other than those permitted by the status of residence previously granted. (Limited to individuals who have been issued this written permission.)
• Present passport (or Certificate of Eligibility)
• When unable to present passport (or Certificate of Eligibility), written explanation noting the reason
• Presentation of documents certifying identity (when an intermediary submits the application)

• Application form for change of status of residence (new format)
• (1) Guarantor form - PDF (in Japanese) (2) Guarantor form (in English)
• Questionnaire (in Japanese)
  * This document was updated on June 6, 2017. Please submit the new version.
  Questionnaire form (in English) Questionnaire form (in Simplified Chinese) Questionnaire form (in Traditional Chinese) Questionnaire form (in Korean) Questionnaire form (in Portuguese) Questionnaire form (in Spanish) Questionnaire form (in Tagalog) Questionnaire form (in Vietnamese) Questionnaire form (in Thai) Questionnaire form (in Indonesian)
  * If the questionnaire form is written in a language other than Japanese, a translated copy (in Japanese) is also required.
• Acceptance certificate for foreign national patients (in Japanese)

(Note 1) Can be printed on standard Japanese A4 paper.
(Note 2) To avoid reducing the size of the copy, uncheck "reduce page to fit paper size (K)" in the print dialog box before printing.
(Note 3) The guarantor form is a document that must be submitted when those whose status of residence is established by Appendix 2 of the Immigration Control Act are applying for an extension of period of stay. (For example, (1) the spouse (husband or wife) or biological child of a Japanese citizen, (2) the spouse (husband or wife) of a permanent resident, or (3) people of Japanese descent/the spouse (husband or wife) of a person of Japanese descent).
(Note 4) The questionnaire form is a document that must be submitted when those whose status of residence is established by Appendix 2 of the Immigration Control Act are applying for a change of status of residence. (For example, (1) the spouse (husband or wife) of a Japanese citizen, (2) the spouse (husband or wife) of a permanent resident, or (3) the spouse (husband or wife) of a person of Japanese descent).
(Note 5) The acceptance certificate for foreign national patients above is a document that must be submitted when staying in Japan for the period necessary to receive medical services in a hospital.

• Those who are truthful about their intentions to carry out activities in Japan in relation to this application; those whose activities include the activities listed in Table 1 of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act Appendix; those with a status or position listed in Table 2 of the Appendix (excluding the positions listed in the row for permanent resident); or other reasons that are deemed appropriate for granting a change of status of residence.
• In addition to the above, those whose status of residence is "Temporary Visitor" must have unavoidable extenuating circumstances for changing their status of residence.