Application for residence card validity period extension

1. Permanent residents (must be 16 years of age or older) or Highly Skilled Professional (ii):
   From two months before the expiration date of the current residence card to the expiration date
2. Individuals whose residence card expires on their 16th birthday:
   From six months prior to the individual's 16th birthday up until their birthday
3. When applying during the application period is expected to be difficult:
   If it is deemed difficult to apply within the application period due to unavoidable reasons, such as business trips or having to reside outside of Japan for an extended period of time for studying abroad, and it is not possible to re-enter Japan within the application period, it may be possible to apply prior to the application period.

1. The applicant (excluding persons under 16 years of age)
2. Representative
   1. Should the applicant be under the age of 16, or if they are unable to appear at the relevant office due to illness (Note 1) or other reasons, a relative who lives with the applicant and who is 16 years of age or older
   2. A relative living with the applicant and who is 16 years or older applying at the request of the applicant (Note 2)
3. Proxy
   1. The following individuals 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. Staff of 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. Legal representative of the applicant (excluding relatives living with the applicant who fall under 2a above)
   4. Should the applicant be under the age of 16, or if they are unable to make an appearance at the relevant office due to illness (Note 1) or for other reasons, relatives, cohabitants, or similar individuals deemed appropriate by the Director-General of a Regional Immigration Services Bureau

(Note 1) In case of "illness," please bring a medical certificate or an equivalent document as proof.
(Note 2) In case of "requested" representation, please bring a power of attorney (in Japanese) as proof.

• Application form
• One photograph (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. However, should the validity period for the residence card expire on the applicant's 16th birthday, they will need to provide 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
• If it is difficult to apply within the application period for reasons other than an extended period of overseas travel, documentation of the relevant circumstances as necessary
• Request form for kanji name notation on a residence card (For those who wish to have their name written in kanji) - PDF (in Japanese/English) Excel (in Japanese/English)
• Presentation of passport (or Certificate of Eligibility)
• Presentation of current residence card
  * If somebody other than the applicant submits an application for residence card validity period extension, make sure that the applicant has a copy of their residence card with them.
• When unable to present your passport (or Certificate of Eligibility), a written explanation noting the reason
• Presentation of documents certifying identity (when a proxy submits the application)

* If the residence card is not to be issued on the same day and you want to receive it at a later date, please submit the following documents:

• Application acceptance stub
• Passport or Certificate of Eligibility
• Current residence card
• Presentation of documents or other materials proving identity