Extension of Period of Stay

JET Program participants are required to renew the Period of Stay of their Residence Card for their fourth and fifth JET years. Extending one's Period of Stay is the responsibility of the JET Participant.

Some people have been able to get a three-year extension on their Period of Stay. But most likely you will only be allowed to extend your Period of Stay for one year at a time.

Note: The process of applying to renew your Period of Stay is frequently referred to as "extending your visa" colloquially. However the Period of Stay is a feature of your Residence Card, not your visa, technically. JET Participants only use their visa to enter Japan for the first time.

When to apply

Residence Card (在留カード); note the expiration date on the bottom line with the blue background.

You can apply to extend your Period of Stay up to three months before it expires. The expiry date is listed on your Residence Card.

You must apply for an extension of Period of Stay before your Residence Card expires. If you fail to do so and continue to reside in Japan anyway, even for a single day, you will be in the country illegally (不法滞在; fuhō taizai) and you will face severe penalties, potentially including immediate deportation to your home country at your own expense and possibly being barred from reentry into Japan.

Your new Residence Card will be valid from the day it is issued (i.e. the date you receive it), so many JETs wait until the last minute to apply so that the new validity lasts as long as possible, making use of the special period below.

Special period (特例期間)

If you submit your application within the three-month window, it is possible that a ruling will not be passed down before the expiration date listed on your Residence Card. This is especially true if you wait until the last minute to apply for your extension.

If you have properly submitted your application on time, you will enter a "special period" (特例期間; tokurei kikan) (source) after the expiration of your Residence Card. The special period lasts until either the time when the ruling is passed down on your application, or two months from the original expiration date of your Residence Card, whichever is earlier. During the special period, you are considered to have the same Status of Residence as listed on your Residence Card.

You must also carry proof that you are in the special period:

• If you apply in person, you will receive a stamp on the back of your Residence Card saying that your application is in process (申請中; shinseichū). This stamp on your Residence Card is proof.
• If you apply online, you will not receive said stamp. Instead you will receive an email from Immigration Services informing you of your Application Acceptance Number (申請受付番号; Shinsei Uketsuke Bangō). You must carry this email (digital or printout) along with your Residence Card as proof. (source).

  Note: only the second email with the Application Number proper serves as proof; the first email with only the Provisional Application Acceptance Number (申請受付仮番号; Shinsei Uketsuke Kari-bangō) is not sufficient as proof. Be careful.

Caution! If you have a My Number Card, then it will expire before you enter the special period! You can apply for a short extension at your local municipal office if you bring proof that you have submitted an application to extend your Period of Stay before it expires. That way your My Number Card won't expire during the Residence Card process.

Application fees

As of April 1, 2025, fees for extending your period of stay have been revised:

• If applying online: \5,500
• If applying in person: \6,000

Both of these are one-time fees due at the point you physically receive your new Residence Card, after your application has been approved.

Regardless of application method, you are required to pay these fees by revenue stamp (収入印紙; shūnyū inshi). Revenue stamps can be purchased at Post Offices as well as at the Akita Immigration Office. Convenience stores sell them too, but they usually only carry small denominations (\200) which are not practical for the amounts required, so it's not recommended to buy them at a convenience store.

Note that revenue stamps (収入印紙; shūnyū inshi) are different from regular stamps (切手; kitte), be careful!

Documents to prepare

1. Have the following forms of ID ready:
   • Current Residence Card
   • Passport
2. Prepare the following documents:

   If applying online, scan everything in this item into pdf documents; a maximum of 20 individual pdf files that do not exceed 25MB total (including photo)

   (also see this ISA checklist of documents, and this ISA page)

   • Application form (在留期間更新許可申請書; Zairyū Kikan Kōshin Kyoka Shinseisho)

     Instructor Application for Applicant and Organization (from MOJ website; excel version)

   • Tax forms (for the most recent fiscal year; acquire from your municipal office)

     住民税の課税証明書 (Jūminzei no Kazei Shōmeisho; certificate of residence tax levied), and

     納税証明書 (Nōzei Shōmeisho; certificate of taxes settled),

     or their equivalents

     (these certificates are still necessary even if you obtain your tax information through the Maina Portal with your My Number Card through an online application)

   • Document(s) confirming your employment status

     Your contracting organization should create a "Notice of Working Conditions" (勤務条件通知書; Kimmu Jōken Tsūchisho or 任用条件通知書; Nin'yō Jōken Tsūchisho) for you at the start of each fiscal year which details your working conditions (salary, term, etc.); ask if you have not received yours.

     You may need to attach your signed reappointment papers too to prove your continued employment beyond the end date listed in your Notice of Working Conditions

   • Document(s) confirming the details of your work duties

     If your Notice of Working Conditions doesn't also cover this, your Terms and Conditions certainly should.

     Alternatively, if you received a Notice of Appointment (内定通知書; Naitei Tsūchisho) or similar from your contracting organization before your arrival on JET which delineates your job duties, that should work too.

     Possibly a Certificate of Employment (在職証明書; Zaishoku Shōmeisho) issued by your employer could fulfill this requirement too, if enough details are written on it. It might not be enough just by itself, though...? If you can get one for free, it couldn't hurt to append as an extra, just in case.

   • Document(s) confirming the financial solvency of your contracting organization (for the most recent fiscal year)

     Proof that you've been paid: either your yearly earning statement (源泉徴収票; Gensen Chōshūhyō; used by US JETs to file taxes) or all relevant monthly pay stubs (給料明細; Kyūryō Meisai)

3. A photo meeting ISA specifications:

   

   Photo requirements

   • Only showing the applicant
   • No headwear or any other object covering the face

   (glasses are acceptable, but the frame must not cover the eyes)

   • Facing front (not at an angle)
   • No background (including shadows)
   • Clear (not blurry)
   • Uniform lighting
   • Neutral facial expression
   • Taken within the last 6 months

     if applying online:

   • The total file size of all uploaded documents, including the photo, must not exceed 25MB
   • Must be in .jpg or .jpeg format

     if applying in person:

   • Photo dimensions: 40mm×30mm
   • Height of the head: 23~28mm
   • 2~8mm space between top of head and top of photo
   • Write your name on the back!

For the Application, fill in the pages labeled 'For applicant, part 1' and 'For applicant, part 2'. Fill in 'For applicant, part 3' if you will have a legal representative doing this process for you. Have your CO fill in 'For organization, part 1'.

On the application, 'For applicant, part 2' question 23 is worded a little strangely in English, "Total period of receiving the foreign language education when you teach the foreign language". Here, they want to know for how many years did you receive an education in the language that you are teaching.

The Resident Tax Certificate, Income Tax Certificate, and Income & Earnings Tax Certificate can be acquired from the Citizens' Affairs Division (市民課; Shiminka) or Tax/Revenue Division (税務課; Zeimuka) of your local town or city office. In small offices, this office might be part of the Promotion Division (振興課; Shinkōka). The certificates cost about ¥200 each and can be printed fairly quickly.

The Resident Tax Certificate needs to reflect that you paid your taxes. You need to do this before you get your "Resident Tax Certificate" or it won't reflect that you payed your taxes, which is needed for your new Residence Card.

Online applications

If you have a My Number card, you can renew your Period of Stay online. See the Immigration Services Agency (ISA) web page for details.

ATTENTION! As of January 2026, the MOJ has upgraded the online system to remove many of the previous technical limitations, improving the convenience of the online application process (1, 2). The application page has had a drastic layout change concurrent with this upgrade. Updating this guide to match the new system is a WIP; so be aware that some information here may be outdated, incomplete, or presented in incorrect order.

You will need:

• My Number Card
• Residence Card (and everything else in the Documents to prepare section above)
• PC (Windows or Mac)
• Smartphone (iPhone or Android; with NFC-reading and camera capablity)

Note: As of January 2026 the application must be submitted by PC. The smartphone acts only as an IC Reader for the My Number Card through the Mynaportal app; it cannot be used to submit the application itself.

Before you can apply digitally, you will have to prepare your My Number Card to be used for digital applications. See this Japan Agency for Local Authority Information Systems (J-LIS) web page (Japanese only) for instructions on how to use your My Number Card for digital applications.

Once your My Number Card and other documents are prepared, note that the actual online application then is a two-step process: first you have to register a User ID (利用者ID; Riyōsha Aidī) with the online application system, then you need to actually apply for the extension.

Note: Your User ID is valid only until the expiration date of the digital certificate on your My Number card. In almost all cases, this date will be the same as the expiration date listed on your current Residence Card. Which means that if you succesfully complete this process and renew your Residence Card (i.e. for your 4th JET year), you may have to re-register with a new User ID if you want to submit another application for a second extension (i.e. for your 5th JET year). (source: Q2-15, retrieved 2026-01-13)

Step 1: What to prepare

My Number Card - without yours you won't be able to apply online!

Some of the steps in this process are also outlined on this J-LIS web page.

In addition to the documents listed above, you will also need to prepare your My Number card:

1. Acquire your My Number Card
2. Prepare the digital certificate (電子証明書; denshi shōmeisho) on your My Number Card
   • The municipal office where you acquire your My Number Card should prompt you to establish the necessary digital certificates when you apply for the card. You will have to assign multiple PINs to establish the certificates, so if they don't prompt you to input PINs when you apply for the card, double check.
   • Have both PINs ready; one is a 6~16-digit PIN (letters and numbers), the other is a 4-digit PIN (numbers only)

Preparing your PC

1. Install the latest version of Java
   • You may need to install the latest version of Java from the Java website (this was necessary prior to December 2025)
2. Install a locale emulator
   • If your OS is not in Japanese, you may need to download and install a locale emulator to display the text properly
3. If you wish, you can also install the マイナポータル extension for Chrome or Edge at this time
   • You will be prompted to install it later should it become necessary, so you can skip it for now if you want
4. Proceed with your digital application in Step 2 (and 3) below.
   • See below also for preparing your smartphone and email address

Note: You previously also had to install JPKI software to complete this process (Windows: both software & Edge/Chrome browser extension / Mac: software). However, since IC readers are no longer used, this may no longer be necessary. Nevertheless the links are preserved here for the time being just in case.

Preparing your smartphone

1. Install the Mynaportal app for your smartphone: Android (Google Play Store) or iPhone (App Store)
2. Enable your smartphone's NFC reading capability and prepare your smartphone's camera
   • You will use your smartphone to scan the NFC chip in your My Number card
   • You will use your smartphone's camera to scan the QR code(s) displayed on the online application website

Note: You previously also had to install JPKI app for your smartphone (iPhone: App Store / Android: Google Play Store). This app enables your phone to work as a simple IC reader for a PC. But this functionality is redundant with the Mynaportal app, so theoretically it is unnecessary. Nevertheless the links are preserved here for the time being just in case.

Preparing an email address

Throughout the application process you will receive various, automatically-generated emails from Immigration Services. Many of these emails contain information which will is crtical to the online application process - such as URLs you will have to access during the application process, and even proof of legal residency in Japan in some cases.

Prepare an email account which you can access quickly and frequently. Also make sure your email is set up to receive emails from the Online Residence Application System domain:

@rasens-immi.moj.go.jp

All emails from the Online Application System will start with 【在留申請オンラインシステム】(Zairyū Shinsei Onrain Shisutemu; "Online Residency Application System") in the title, followed by an identifying phrase. Note that all email titles will be in Japanese only; refer to the sections below for what identifying phrases you can expect in each email title.

Unlike the titles however, the information in the body of each email will all be repeated three times; written first in regular Japanese, next in simple Japanese, and finally in English; scroll down to the bottom of each email to read the information in English.

Step 2: Registering for the Online Application System

After you have finished gathering your documents and setting up your physical device(s), follow the steps below. Also see the ISA Online Residence Application System User Manual (English) on the ISA webpage.

1. Click the big blue button near the top of the ISA page (or click here for a direct link).
2. Switch language to English at the top (optional)
3. Scroll down to the "New Registration" (新規登録; Shinki Tōroku in Japanese) section in the bottom right
4. Agree to the Terms of Use
5. Enter a valid email address and click "Register" (登録する; Tōroku suru)
   • Make sure your spam filter is configured to receive emails from the online system (info@rasens-immi.moj.go.jp)
6. Access the URL in the email:
   1. Select "外国人本人 (Foreign national (applicant))" from the user type (利用者区分; riyōsha kubun) list
   2. Fill in all feilds marked with "Required (必須; Hissu) as appropriate
   3. Create a password for your ISA account (with the following conditions)
      • Must be 10~20 characters long
      • Must contain at least one capital letter, one lower-case letter, one number, and one symbol
      • Acceptable symbols: $ % & = @ _ # * + - ? !
      • All characters must be half-width alphanumeric
      • The system differentiates between capital and lower-case letters
   4. Click "Proceed to Confirmation" (確認へ進む; Kakunin e Susumu)
   5. Confirm the contents and click "Register" (登録する; Tōroku suru)
   6. Make a note of the User ID which the system generates for you before you close the screen
7. Congratulations! You've made your account. Proceed to Step 2.1.

Step 2.1: Submitting a request for use

After you register your User ID, you will have to return to the Online Residence Application System login page and submit a request for use. Only once your request is approved can you actually submit your application.

1. Input your User ID and password and click "Login" (ログイン; Roguin)
2. Click "Online Application Procedures" (オンライン申請手続き; Onrain Shinsei Tetsuzuki)
3. Select the procedure that matches your user type
   • There should only be one: "Usage Application (For Foreign Nationals Who [...] )" (利用申出（[...]外国人本人の方）)
4. Agree to the Terms of Use
5. Next you will have to provide your digital certificate; click "Proceed to Next" (次へ進む; Tsugi e Susumu) to bring up a QR code:
   1. Launch the Mynaportal app on your smartphone
   2. In the Mynaportal app, select "Scan QR Code" (二次元コードの読み取り; Nijigen Kōdo no Yomitori)
      • Scan the QR code on the webpage
   3. Input the 4-digit PIN for your My Number card in the Mynaportal app and select "Next" (次へ; Tsugi e)
   4. Place your smartphone on top of your My Number card and select "Scan" (読み取り開始; Yomitori Kaishi)
      • Smartphone NFC readers can be finicky; make sure the chip in the card is as close to the sensor in the phone as possible. Try removing your smartphone from its case if it still doesn't work
   5. Once scanned successfully, a "Login completed" message will be displayed on your smartphone. Select "Close" (閉じる; Tojiru) in the app
6. Once the Online System confirms your digital certificate, you will have to provide "basic 4 information readings"; a second QR code will be displayed:
   1. As above, launch the Mynaportal app on your smartphone
   2. In the Mynaportal app, select "Scan QR Code" (二次元コードの読み取り; Nijigen Kōdo no Yomitori)
      • Scan the new QR code on the webpage
   3. This time you will have to input the 6~16-digit PIN for your My Number card in the Mynaportal app; do so and select "Next" (次へ; Tsugi e)
   4. Place your smartphone on top of your My Number card again and select "Scan" (読み取り開始; Yomitori Kaishi)
   5. Once scanned successfully, a "Signature completed" message will be displayed on your smartphone. Select "Close" (閉じる; Tojiru) in the app
7. On the webpage, fill in any fields which are not populated automatically
8. Click "Proceed to Confirmation" (確認へ進む; Kakunin e Susumu)
9. Confirm the contents and click "Apply" (申込む; Mōshikomu)
10. Close the pop-up box by clicking "OK"
11. Wait for an email from Immigration Services notifying you that your request for use has been approved
    • One you receive it, proceed to Step 3

Step 3: Submitting your online application

After you have successfully registered with the system, follow the steps below. Also see the ISA Online Residence Application System User Manual (English) on the ISA webpage for instructions on how to make online applications.

Step 3.1: Opening a ticket

1. Click the same big blue button near the top of the ISA page (or click here for a direct link).
2. Switch language to English at the top (optional)
3. Click "Online Application Procedures" (オンライン申請手続き; Onrain Shinsei Tetsuzuki)
4. Select "Application for extension of period of stay (For Foreign Nationals)" (在留期間更新許可申請（外国人本人）) from the list
   • Now there should be multiple; find and select the appropriate one
5. If you are prompted with a link to "Download file," do so and review it before proceeding
6. Agree to the Terms of Use
7. You will have to provide the "basic 4 information readings" again; a QR code will be displayed:
   1. Launch the Mynaportal app on your smartphone
   2. In the Mynaportal app, select "Scan QR Code" (二次元コードの読み取り; Nijigen Kōdo no Yomitori)
      • Scan the QR code on the webpage
   3. Input the 6~16-digit PIN for your My Number card in the Mynaportal app and select "Next" (次へ; Tsugi e)
   4. Place your smartphone on top of your My Number card again and select "Scan" (読み取り開始; Yomitori Kaishi)
   5. Once scanned successfully, a "Signature completed" message will be displayed on your smartphone. Select "Close" (閉じる; Tojiru) in the app
8. The "Application" screen will be displayed on the webpage; select the appropriate item from the dropdown list
9. Fill out the required information as appropriate
   • Personal information
   • Other information
   • Preferred method of receipt of new residence card (mail (郵送) or in-person pick up (窓口))
10. Check the box to confirm the application details
11. Proceed to Step 3.2 (YOUR APPLICATION IS NOT COMPLETE YET!)

Step 3.2: Attaching supporting documents

• Attaching a portrait photo
  1. Under the "Facial photo" (顔写真; Kaojashin) )heading, click ファイルの選択 (Fairu no Sentaku; Select file)
  2. Select the file and click "Open" (開く; Hiraku)
     • Your photo must have an aspect ratio of 4:3
     • It must be in .jpg or .jpeg format, and
     • It must meet ISA specifications (see #Documents to prepare above)
• Attaching documents
  1. Select "Attachment file" (添付ファイル; Tempu Fairu) next to the "Attachment of documents" (資料添付; Shiryō Tempu) heading
  2. Click ファイルの選択 (Fairu no Sentaku; Select file)
  3. Select the file and click "Open" (開く; Hiraku)
     • Repeat this process to upload multiple files
     • Files must be in .pdf format without any security features enabled
     • You are allowed a maximum of 20 files (including the portrait photo)
     • Total filesize across all files must not exceed 25MB (including the portrait photo)
  4. After attaching all files, click "Return to Input" (入力へ戻る; Nyūryoku e Modoru)
• Retrieving tax information
  1. Click "Get Tax Information" (所得・個人住民税情報取得; Shotoku / Kojin Jūminzei Jōhō Shutoku) under "The income and individual inhaitants tax information" (所得・個人住民税情報; Shotoku / Kojin Jūminzei Jōhō) header
  2. Select the most recent available year from the dropdown list and click "Get Tax Info" (所得・個人住民税情報を取得する; Shotoku / Kojin Jūminzei Jōhō wo Shutoku Suru)
     • Click "OK" on the box that pops up
  3. Check the box to agree to the Terms, and click the button to generate a QR code:
     1. Launch the Mynaportal app on your smartphone
     2. In the Mynaportal app, select "Scan QR Code" (二次元コードの読み取り; Nijigen Kōdo no Yomitori)
        • Scan the QR code on the webpage
  4. The webpage will prompt you to confirm the connection; do so by clicking "Connect" (連携; Renkei)
     • The box should populate with your tax information
  5. Click "Reflect" (反映する; Han'ei Suru)
• Submitting your application
  1. Review all of your entered information and attached documents
  2. Click "Proceed to Confirmation" (確認へ進む; Kakunin e Susumu)
  3. Confirm that everything is correct and click "Apply" (申込む; Mōshikomu)
  4. Press "OK" on the pop-up box
  5. Congratulations. Your application has been submitted.
     • Make a note of the reference number displayed

Step 4: Receiving your new Residence Card

Note: info in this section is relevant to the application process pre-January 2026 and may be outdated!

Step 4.1: Emails from Immigration

You will receive more important, automatically-generated emails from Immigration Services in this section. Make sure you have access to the email account which you registered in Step 2.

1. First you will receive an automatically generated email from the system stating that your application has been received.
   • Titled 申請受付完了のお知らせ (Shinsei Uketsuke Kanryō no Oshirase)
   • This is the same email mentioned in Step 3.2 (confirmation of submission)
   • This email will contain your Provisional Application Acceptance Number (申請受付仮番号; Shinsei Uketsuke Kari-bangō)
   • The Provisional Application Acceptance Number is a 19(?)-digit number, the first three digits of which indicate the Regional Immigration Services Bureau which is handling your application; if applying from Akita, yours will likely start with 959- for the Sendai Regional Immigration Services Bureau.

   Note: this email is NOT proof that you are in the special period (if applicable). You will need the follow-up email below for that.

2. In a day or two(?) you will receive a follow-up email stating that your application is being processed.
   • Titled 申請受付番号のお知らせ (Shinsei Uketsuke Bangō no Oshirase)
   • This email serves as proof that your application is being processed (and that you are in the special period, if applicable); DO NOT DELETE IT!

   If you are in the special period, you are required by law to carry both your expired Residence Card and a copy of this email with you at all times. It's recommended to carry a printed copy of this email with you as well!

   • This email will contain your proper Application Acceptance Number (申請受付番号; Shinsei Uketsuke Bangō)
   • Your Application Acceptance Number is a 10-digit (numbers and letters) number with an indicator code at the beginning corresponding to the Regional Immigration Services Bureau handling your application; again, if applying from Akita, yours will likely start with "仙オン" for the Sendai Regional Immigration Services Bureau.
   • If you do not receive this email, contact the Akita immigration office as soon as possible.
   • At this point you should visit your local municipal office and apply for a short (2-month) extension to your My Number Card so that it won't expire during this application process. Bring the printout of this email.
   • At this point you should also notify your bank that you are applying for a new Residence Card. Bring the printout of this email.
3. If there is anything insufficient about your application, the Akita Branch of the Sendai Regional Immigration Services Office should contact you directly and instruct you how to proceed.
   • If they have to contact you, they usually call by phone and, of course, they only speak Japanese, so this can be quite a hassle if it gets to it; best to triple-check everything before you hit submit!
   • In most cases they will contact you to have you submit any missing documents. In theory you can access the online system and attach these documents to your application directly; but if you run into any hithces, you'll have to mail them physically.
   • If you do have to mail additional documents, mail them to the Sendai Regional Immigration Services Bureau Akita Office.
4. Finally, after your application has been approved, you will receive a third, automatically generated email.
   • Titled 審査完了に関するお知らせ (Shinsa Kanryō ni Kansuru Oshirase)
   • This email will inform you that your application has been approved, and instruct you how to send payment to receive your new Residence Card. See Step 4.2 for details.

Step 4.2: Sending payment by mail

The final email in Step 4.1 will instruct you to mail the following to the Tokyo Regional Immigration Services Bureau by simplified registered mail (簡易書留; kan'i kakitome):

(This packet must be received at the Tokyo Immigration Bureau within 14 days of receipt this email; see the address below)

1. A return envelope
   • Affix at least \460 in postage for simplified registered mail (簡易書留; kan'i kakitome)*
   • Alternatively, you can send a LetterPack (a LetterPack Plus, colored red, is recommended because they allow tracking!)
   • In the "To:" field, you must write your home address as you wrote it in your online application

     (If you need to change your address, you must first update your information in the online portal)

   • If using a LetterPack, leave the "From:" and "Contents" fields blank, and remove the sticker with the tracking number (追跡番号; tsuiseki bangō) (keep it for reference/tracking)
   • On the back of the envelope, you must write your Application Acceptance Number that you received in the second email in Step 4.1 (ex. 仙オン＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊)
2. The "Certificate for Payment of Fee" form (手数料納付書; Tesūryō Nōfusho)
   • You can download the form here.
   • Write your Application Acceptance Number in the top right (In the "番号 No." field)
   • Fill in the date
   • Write "5,500" in the "円 Yen" field
   • Attach your revenue stamp(s) (収入印紙; shūnyū inshi) in the box indicated**

     (If you have more than one, attach them side-by-side; you can extend into the margins if necessary)

   • Circle 2 for Extension of Period of Stay
   • Write your name as it appears on your Residence Card/emails from Step 4.1 in the bottom right on the line where indicated.
3. Your current Residence Card (the original!)
   • Make a copy of your Residence Card in color before you send it.
   • On the back of the color copy, write both your Application Acceptance Date and your Application Acceptance Number
   • You must carry this annotated color copy AND your passport on you at all times as proof of your legal residence until you receive your new Residence Card.

   Note that you must carry these regardless of whether you are in the special period or not!

Mail your packet by simplified registered mail (簡易書留; kan'i kakitome) to the Tokyo Regional Immigration Services Bureau:

〒135-0064
東京都江東区青海2-7-11  東京港湾合同庁舎  9階
東京出入国在留管理局オンライン審査部門オンライン申請手続班（おだいば分室内）御中

 -or-

Online Application Procedures Section
Online Inspection Department
Tokyo Regional Immigration Services Bureau (Odaiba Office)
9F Tokyo Port Joint Government Building
2-7-11 Aomi, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0064

* Both the envelope you send to Tokyo Immigration and the return envelope which they will send back to you must be (at least) simplified registered mail. Alternatively, you may substitute a LetterPack for the return envelope. However even if you substitute the return envelope with a LetterPack, you must still send the initial packet by simplified registered mail.

** Post Offices sell revenue stamps (収入印紙; shūnyū inshi) in all denominations, so it's recommended that you acquire them there; you likely will get one \5,000 stamp and one \500 stamp.
Convenience stores do sell them, too, but they usually only carry small denominations (\200 or under), so you'll have a real hard time finding the space to put 25+ individual stamps all on a single payment form. You'll have to visit the post office anyway to send your packet by simplified registered mail (and to acquire a LetterPack for your return envelope, optionally), so you might as well do it in one trip.

Step 4.3: Your new Residence Card arrives

You will receive one last email from Immigration notifying you that your application has been approved and that your new Residence Card will be mailed to you; titled 在留カード・就労資格証明書送付に関するお知らせ (Zairyū Kādo / Shūrō Shikaku Shōmeisho sōfu ni kan suru oshirase).

In a few days Immigration Services will mail you the packet containing your new Residence Card (using the return envelope you sent in step 4.2). The packet should also contain your old Residence Card (hole-punched to invalidate it). Keep it for your records.

Once you get your new Residence Card, make sure you perform any necessary follow-up activities, such as renewing your My Number Card for real AND notifying your bank for real!

Images of the Online Application System pre-January 2026

• Registering with the system:

• 
  (OLD)PIN prompt
• 
  (OLD)Inputting address, phone number, email address
• 
  (OLD)Selecting type of applicant and inputting Residence Card number
• 
  (OLD)Setting the password for the account from the email

• Opening a ticket:

• 
  (OLD)Splash page after logging in
• 
  (OLD)STEP1 of the application (type of application)
• 
  (OLD)STEP2-2 of the application (current Residence Card information)
• 
  (OLD)STEP4 of the application (Ticket completion)

• Attaching supporting documents:

• 
  (OLD)Tickets splash page
• 
  (OLD)Tickets splash page,
  ① Upload documents,
  ② Obtain tax information,
  ③ Upload photo
• 
  (OLD)File upload in ① (uploading a photo in ③ was a similar page; with a file size of 50kb)
• 
  (OLD)Confirmation of submission page

In-person applications

Extending one's Period of Stay in person takes two separate visits to the Akita Office of the Sendai Regional Immigration Services Bureau in Akita City. See location below. The Bureau is only open weekdays 9:00-12:00 and 13:00-16:00.

Note that in-person applications cost \500 more than online applications (\6,000 for in-person vs \5,500 for online).

Day one: Submitting the application

On day one you need to visit the Immigration Office on the 5th floor. Bring all of the documents listed at the top of this article; make photocopies for your records first!

After you turn over your documents (and show all of your IDs) to the officer, they will likely make you wait a short while why they do an initial review of everything you've submitted. If you forget some of these documents, they might let you mail the forms in later, but if they don't it would be a hassle, so try to bring them all; they might give you an envelope with their address printed on it in that case, but sometimes not.

After submitting the documents, the officials will ask you to write your name and address on a postcard. When your application has been approved, you will receive this postcard in the mail. On the postcard it will list the time frame for when to pick up your new Residence Card (only about 10 days).

They will also stamp the back of your Residence Card with 申請中 (Shinsei-chū; Application in progress) before you leave. This stamp is proof that you are in the special period, if necessary.

At this point you should visit your local municipal office and apply for a short (2-month) extension to your My Number Card so that it won't expire during this application process. Bring your Residence Card with the stamp on the back as proof.

At this point you should also visit your bank to notify them that you have applied for a new Residence Card. Bring your current Residence Card with the stamp on the back as proof.

Day two: Retrieving your new Residence Card

Day two is a quick and easy trip. Here's what you need:

• The postcard the Immigration officials sent you.
• Passport
• Residence Card
• ¥6,000 for the Period of Stay extension.

First, go to the 2nd floor shop and buy ¥6,000 worth of revenue stamps (収入印紙; shūnyū inshi). Then go to the 5th floor immigration office and finish the paperwork.

Alternatively, go to the 5th floor first, and they may give you a special paper which you can affix the stamps to. If you do it that way, take the paper down to the 2nd floor shop and attach the stamps there before going back up.

Once you get your new Residence Card, make sure you perform any necessary follow-up activities, such as renewing your My Number Card for real AND notifying your bank for real!

Sendai Regional Immigration Services Bureau Akita Office

The office is in the Akita Joint Government Building (秋田合同庁舎; Akita Gōdō Chōsha); the building is SE of Yabase Park, diagonally behind the Akita Prefectural Office.

This is also where you will mail any additional documents if there is anything insufficient in your initial application. In such a case you will send your documents here regardless of how you applied (online or in-person). You can also submit additional documents in person.

〒010-0951
秋田県秋田市山王7-1-3　秋田合同庁舎　5階
仙台出入国在留管理局秋田出張所　御中

 -or-

Sendai Regional Immigration Services Bureau Akita Office
5F Akita Joint Government Building
7-1-3 Sanno, Akita-shi, Akita-ken 010-0951

Hours: Weekdays 9:00-12:00 and 13:00-16:00 (closed on holidays)

Phone: ☎ 018-895-5221

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Follow-up activities

REQUIRED!!

• Renew your My Number Card. Your My Number Card will have the same expiration date as your original Residence Card, and you cannot apply for a new one without presenting your new Residence Card. You are eligible to receive a short extension (2 months) if you have proof that you are renewing your Residence Card. This should be done as soon as possible after submitting your application to extend your Period of Stay; you don't want your My Number Card expiring on you while you're undergoing the Residence Card application! Then you will have to apply for a proper extension to your My Number Card after you actually receive your new Residence Card; this should be done as soon as possible after you receive your new Residence Card.

• Notify your bank(s) that your Residence Card has changed. Banks in Japan are required to keep an up-to-date record of status of residence of foreigners who hold accounts with them. Failure to do so may prompt them to put restrictions on your account(s). Possibly you will receive a notice in the mail about it; but not always, so it's good to be proactive!

• Notify your Contracting Organization (BoE or school) that your Residence Card has been updated. They may require a photocopy for their records.

Possible (your mileage will vary)

• You may need to renew your Japanese drivers license around the same time. This is unrelated to the period of stay extension process and you can do either first. A postcard from the driving center should come to your house with details on the renewal process. The process involves a 2 hour lecture if you are renewing your license for the first time. You can renew your drivers license up to one month prior to, and one month after your birthday, so you should be able to plan ahead and use a nenkyuu day, should you decide to do it on a weekday. New drivers licenses have RFID cards, and when you get them, you'll be asked to choose two 4-digit PINs.

See also

• ISA Extending Period of Stay page (Japanese)
• ISA page for procedures for Instructor status of residence (Japanese)
• ISA page for photo specifications (Japanese)
• Guidelines for using the Online Application System (Japanese)
• ISA Online Residence Application System User Manual (English)
• ISA Online Residence Application System User Manual (Japanese)
• ISA page on Extending Period of Stay online
• Immigration services fees (updated April 1, 2025) (English pdf available)
• J-LIS page on using your My Number Card for digital applications (Japanese)
• Sendai Regional Immigration Bureau (〒983-0842 仙台市宮城野区五輪1-3-20 仙台第二法務合同庁舎)
• Extension Application Form (PDF). (CAUTION: Outdated!)
• Extension Application Form (Excel). (CAUTION: Outdated!)
• Application form source page (in Japanese).
• Alien registration in Japan (wikipedia)
• Japan Post tracking website (for tracking LetterPack Plus envelopes)