Japan's Immigration Agency Sets New Rules for Stay Extensions

Japan's Immigration Services Agency has released official requirements for foreign nationals seeking to extend their period of stay in Japan without changing their residence status. Applicants must submit their extension requests before their current stay expires.

For those with a stay of six months or more, the application window opens three months prior to the expiration date. The agency advises against waiting until the last minute due to varying processing times at immigration offices.

In exceptional cases, applications may be accepted more than three months before the expiry date if there are genuine unavoidable circumstances. Situations qualifying for early applications include long-term assignments abroad, pregnancy with a due date within the application period, hospitalization due to illness, and applying alongside family members.

While specific documents required for each circumstance were not detailed, applicants must present supporting materials when contacting their local immigration office prior to submission. Missing the application deadline without a recognized reason could lead to violations of residence conditions.