[Question]What are the requirements to renew my status of residence?

[Answer]

It is possible to apply to extend your period of stay should you wish to stay in Japan doing the same activities.

Requirements as of March 2010(revised):
1. Acivities fall under the status of residence
2. Meets all basic regulations for entering Japan
3. No issues pertaining to past conduct
4. Must have skills and funds to financially support oneself
5. Must fulfill all labor requirements
6. Tax records must be in order
7. Alien registration matters must be in order
8. Subscribes to Social health insurance

You may apply for renewal 3 months before the expiration date of the present stauts of residence.

★ The Immigration Law was revised on July 15,  2009. If you applied to extend your status of residence prior to the last day of your authorized stay, and have yet to receive answers to all of your enquiries regarding application, you are entitled to remain in Japan until you receive a reply, or up to 2 months after the end of your current status of residence. This revision will take effect on July 1, 2010.

[Question]I’m an international student currently seeking employment after graduation. Can I continue to stay in Japan after graduation until I find a job? Can my family stay with me while I job hunt?

[Answer]

As part of the new system, if fresh graduates have the required letter of recommendation from their university, they are able to change their status of residence to that of “Designated Activities”. This short-term status can be renewed once, making the maximum period of stay 1 year. If you apply for permission to engage in activity other than that permitted under the status of residence previously granted you will be able to work up to 28 hours a week at a part-time job. You family are entitled to stay with you under the same status of residence for this period.

[Question]Who can apply for a permanent resident permit and how?

[Answer]

Requirements
Your behavior and conduct must be upright and proper, you must have no criminal record, perform civil duties, and live a blameless life as a decent citizen

You have to have sufficient assets or ability to make an independent living, and not become a public burden and are expected to live a stable life for the foreseeable future employing the assets or ability of yourself or those of your family members. Your permanent residence will benefit Japan.

Although there are no statutory requirements as to the exact length of your stay, you will have to have been living in Japan continuously for a certain length of time in order to determine whether or not you meet the above requirements:

• In principle, continuous residence in Japan for 10 or more years
  (If you originally came to Japan as a student, you will have to reside continuously for 5 or more years with work or status of residence.)
• Continuous residence in Japan for 3 years or more in the case that you are a spouse of a Japanese national, permanent resident or special permanent resident, except when your marriage lasts 3 years or more and your continuous residence in Japan is one year or longer.
• Continuous residence in Japan for one year or more in the case that you are a child of a Japanese national or a permanent resident, or a specially-adopted child.
• Continuous residence in Japan for five years or longer if you a refugee or an Indo-Chinese refugee
• Continuous residence in Japan for five years or longer if you have been staying as a long-term resident
• Continuous residence in Japan for five years or more if you are recognized as someone who contributes to Japan in such fields as diplomacy, society, economy, and culture.

Required documents includes

Application forms
Materials showing that you have sufficient assets or ability to make an independent living or those of your breadwinner.
Guarantor letter
Documents showing proof of ID identity
Letter explaining why you wish to apply for permanent residency

Please note even if you have permanent residency you still have to carry your Alien Registration Card, and have a Re-entry Permit to leave Japan.

The Immigration Bureau provides guidelines for permission of permanent residency on their homepage, and a list of successful and unsuccessful application examples .

[Question]When do you need to apply for “Permission to Engage in Activity Other Than That Permitted by the Status of Residence Previously Granted”?

[Answer]

The scope of activities permitted for foreigners to engage in is limited within the authorized activities defined by the status of residence they hold. Thus it is against the law to engage in income-generating business or paid activities that are not authorized under the status of residence. If you wish to work outside the scope of your authorized line of work, however, you should obtain a “ permission to engage in an activity other than those permitted by the status of residence previously granted” or “shikakukatsudo-gai kyoka,” in Japanese. The permission is granted as long as the planned activity won’t hinder the applicant from the activity that is the original purpose of residence. Holders of “Spouse of Japanese national etc.,””Long term resident,””Spouse of Permanent resident etc.,” and “Permanent resident” do not have restrictions on their activities so they don’t need to obtain this permission. You may accept remuneration without obtaining the permission if your income-generating activity is not carried out on a regular basis, for example;

(1)   lecturing, speech, debating or similar activities
(2)   advising, appraising, or similar activities
(3)   producing novels, theses, art works, photos, programs or similar creative activity
(4)   Appearing events, movies, or broadcasting programs or other similar activities
(5)   Helping with household chores for friends or acquaintances

If you are staying in Japan under a status of residence such as “student,” or “dependent,” you can get comprehensive permission to engage in unauthorized activities without limitations on activities except for working for business operations where adult entertainment of various forms is offered either with or without actual business sites, which includes telephone dating service and online adult entertainment.

If you are staying under a status of residence that requires professional expertise such as “Skilled labor,” “Engineer,” and “Specialist in Humanities/International Service,” you need to apply for the permission to cater to the specific situation. You can only engage in activities that require professional/expert knowledge and skills, specified under a different status of residence.

[Question]I have a status of residence that permits me to stay in Japan for a long time. What should I do if I wish to go home temporarily?

[Answer]

If you wish to leave Japan temporarily and then return during the authorized period of residence under the same status, you can do so by obtaining a Re-entry Permit at your local immigration office before your departure. As long as you have this permission and return during the authorized period of stay, you don’t have to obtain a new visa or apply for Alien Registration at a municipal office afresh. If you ever leave Japan without the permission and wish to return under the same status of residence, you have to start over by applying for a new visa unless you have a multiple-entry visa, and a permanent resident is no exception to this rule. 

When you leave Japan with this permission, you don’t hand your Alien Registration Card over to an immigration officer at the airport. The maximum valid period of a Re-entry Permit is three years and the actual period is decided in accordance with the date of expiration of your status of residence. Re-entry permission comes in two types – a single re-entry permission and a multiple re-entry permission. To apply, you need to produce your passport and Alien Registration Card and pay the application fee. A Re-entry Permit stamp, typically granted immediately on the day you apply, is placed on your passport if you have one. A Re-entry Permit is not available to those staying with temporary visitor status.

Following the revision to the Immigration Act on July 15, 2009, however, those who have a valid passport and Resident Card (Special Permanent Resident Card for special permanent residents) will be exempt from getting a Re-entry Permit as long as they leave Japan for less than one year, (two years for special permanent residents) and return within their authorized period of stay in Japan. This revision is schedule to be enforced within three years after the promulgation of the revised law.

[Question]I’ve recently changed jobs after working at a previous company for three years. Are there any immigration procedures I should follow?

[Answer]

If you are staying in Japan with a status of residence such as “Specialist in Humanities and International Services” or “Engineer” and wish to change jobs, it is important to make sure the type of work in the new workplace is within the authorized activities under your current status of residence.  To confirm the relevancy and to ensure your smooth renewal procedures in the future, you can apply for “Certificate of Authorized Employment” at your local immigration office. This certificate is also useful for your prospective employers because they can see beforehand whether the work you will be doing conform to your permitted activities under your status. This certificate is issued upon your request and is not mandatory to have.

Those who can apply for this certificate of authorized employment include persons;

(1) who stay in Japan with a status of residence permitted to work, including “Professor,””Journalist,””Investor/Business Manager,” “Legal/Accounting Services,””Engineer,” and “Specialist in Humanities/International Services.” 

(2) who stay in Japan with a status of residence without working permission but are granted a” permission to engage in an activity other than that permitted by the status of residence previously granted,” including “Cultural Activities,” “Designated Activities,”” Students,” “Trainee,””Dependent,”and ”Temporary Visitor.”  

(3) with a resident status of “Designated Activities” which permits income-generating activities or in the case of being granted a permission to engage in an activity other than that permitted by the status of residence previously granted.

(4) who stay in Japan with a status of residence with unlimited working permission, including “Permanent Resident,” “Spouse of Japanese nationals,””Spouse of permanent resident,””Long-term resident.”

(5) who are a Special Permanent resident

A person holding the above (4) or (5) has no limits or restrictions on his activities so thus he can choose any kind of work.