Change of status and renewal: what each one is
- Change of status of residence: you want to do an activity that belongs to a different status, for example a student who starts full-time work. The ISA explains that this lets you get the new status without leaving Japan. You can apply from the time the reason for the change arises until your period of stay ends
- Extension of period of stay (renewal): you keep doing the same activity and need more time. You apply before the period ends; with a period of stay of 6 months or more, you can apply from 3 months before it ends
- Permanent residence: a separate application with its own requirements and fee
Counter fees from 1 October 2026
The fee for a change of status and for a renewal is the same, and it depends on the period of stay granted. At the counter it is paid with revenue stamps.
| Period of stay granted | Fee at the counter |
|---|---|
| 3 months or less | ¥10,000 |
| Over 3 months, up to 6 months | ¥18,000 |
| Over 6 months, under 1 year | ¥25,000 |
| 1 year | ¥33,000 |
| Over 1 year, under 3 years | ¥48,000 |
| 3 years to under 5 years | ¥64,000 |
| 5 years or more | ¥75,000 |
Applications received by 30 September 2026 pay the old fee of ¥6,000, even if the approval comes on or after 1 October. Permanent residence now costs ¥200,000, payable when permission is granted (it was ¥10,000 for applications received by 30 September 2026).
Online fees
Applications through the online residence application system have their own table. The fee is paid through a payment agent designated by the ISA, at a convenience store or by bank transfer (internet banking works). Credit cards and QR code payments are not accepted.
| Period of stay granted | Fee | Payment fee | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 months or less | ¥10,000 | ¥330 | ¥10,330 |
| Over 3 months, up to 6 months | ¥15,000 | ¥330 | ¥15,330 |
| Over 6 months, under 1 year | ¥21,000 | ¥330 | ¥21,330 |
| 1 year | ¥27,000 | ¥330 | ¥27,330 |
| Over 1 year, under 3 years | ¥42,000 | ¥330 | ¥42,330 |
| 3 years to under 5 years | ¥56,000 | ¥550 | ¥56,550 |
| 5 years or more | ¥65,000 | ¥550 | ¥65,550 |
The ISA warns about fraud: payment emails come only from the designated agent's addresses listed on its website. Do not pay through links in emails from any other address.
Reduced fees
The fee can be reduced for people in serious financial hardship, close to the level of public assistance, and for some people who need humanitarian consideration. The reduced fee is ¥10,000 for a change of status or a renewal regardless of the period, and ¥20,000 for permanent residence (for permanent residence, the reduction is limited to spouses or children of Japanese nationals, permanent residents or special permanent residents, and similar cases). Supporting documents are required, and the reduction is not available for online applications; apply at the counter.
How long it takes
| Application | Standard processing time (ISA) |
|---|---|
| Change of status | 1 to 2 months |
| Renewal (extension of period of stay) | 2 weeks to 1 month |
| Permanent residence | 4 to 6 months |
These are standards, not promises. The ISA notes that missing documents can delay the review considerably. For students changing to a work status for an April start, the ISA asks applicants to apply between 1 December and the end of January, because January to March is the busiest period.
The special period while you wait
If you hold a residence card and apply for a renewal or a change of status before your period of stay ends, and no decision has been made by the end date, you may stay in Japan on your current status, and keep doing your current activity, until the decision is made or until 2 months after the end date, whichever comes first. For counter applications, the back of the residence card is marked to show that an application is pending.
This protects you only if you apply in time. Applying early, with complete documents, is the simplest way to avoid stress.
Who can submit the application
You normally apply yourself at the regional immigration office for your address. Registered lawyers and administrative scriveners (gyoseishoshi) who have notified the immigration bureau, and approved staff of your employer or school, can submit it for you. Even then, you must be in Japan while the application is filed. Busy work schedules do not count as a reason you cannot appear in person.
When the next step is not a job
A change of status is needed when your activity changes into another status. If you hold a status with no work restriction, such as Permanent Resident, Spouse of a Japanese National or Long-Term Resident, you can change jobs, start a business or work under a contract without a change of status. The recruitment on this site, running a business hotel as a pair under a management contract, is open to people with those statuses without a change. Visa support: for applicants who meet the requirements of the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services status, including people living outside Japan, the hiring company supports the visa application (the selection is online, with only the final interview in person). Both members of the pair are checked individually. Our recruitment service does not file visa applications, and only the immigration authorities decide, so no visa is guaranteed. See Permanent Resident or Long-Term Resident: choosing work without a work restriction and the main routes to working in Japan.