Foreign nationals living in Japan may need to submit various applications to the Immigration Services Agency of Japan depending on their status of residence and circumstances.

This article provides an overview of the main residence and immigration-related applications that foreign nationals may encounter while living in Japan.

1. Application for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) (Article 7-2 of the Immigration Control and Refugee-Recognition Act)

This is a procedure generally carried out before entering Japan when a foreign national living overseas plans to enter Japan and engage in a specific activity.

A Certificate of Eligibility (COE) is a document that certifies in advance that the foreign national meets the conditions for landing in Japan in relation to the activities they intend to carry out in Japan.

For example, this procedure may be used when a foreign national living overseas plans to enter Japan to work for a Japanese company or to study at a Japanese school.

After a Certificate of Eligibility is issued, the foreign national generally applies for a visa at a Japanese diplomatic mission or consular office overseas and then completes the procedures for entering and landing in Japan.

However, a Certificate of Eligibility itself is not a visa or permission to enter Japan.

【５　The Difference Between a Visa and a Status of Residence in Japan】

2. Application for Extension of Period of Stay (Article 21 of the Immigration Control and Refugee-Recognition Act)

This is an application made when a foreign national wishes to remain in Japan beyond the current period of stay while continuing the activities permitted under their current status of residence.

For example, a foreign national with the status of residence Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services may apply for an extension when they wish to continue living and working in Japan without substantially changing their current activities.

This procedure extends the period of stay under the existing status of residence. It does not change the status of residence itself.

3. Application for Change of Status of Residence (Article 20 of the Immigration Control and Refugee-Recognition Act)

This is an application made when a foreign national wishes to change their current status of residence, such as when they plan to engage in activities that fall under a different status of residence.

For example, an international student who graduates from a university or other educational institution and begins working for a Japanese company may need to change their status of residence from Student to a work-related status of residence such as Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services.

In simple terms, an extension of period of stay means continuing under the same status of residence, while a change of status of residence means changing the status of residence itself.

4. Application for Acquisition of Status of Residence (Article 22-2 of the Immigration Control and Refugee-Recognition Act)

This is an application made by a foreign national who has become subject to residence in Japan, such as a foreign national born in Japan, in order to obtain a status of residence under certain conditions.

For example, a foreign national born in Japan who wishes to continue living in Japan after birth may be required to apply for a status of residence.

This procedure is used when a foreign national is already lawfully in Japan but does not have a status of residence. It is therefore different from an Application for a Certificate of Eligibility, which is generally made before entering Japan from overseas.

A foreign national born in Japan or who becomes subject to residence in Japan for another reason generally cannot remain in Japan without a status of residence for more than 60 days.

If the person intends to remain in Japan beyond 60 days, they must generally apply for acquisition of a status of residence within 30 days from the date on which the relevant event occurred.

5. Application for Permission to Engage in an Activity Other Than That Permitted by the Status of Residence Previously Granted (Article 19 of the Immigration Control and Refugee-Recognition Act)

This is an application for permission to engage, within a certain scope, in activities involving the operation of a business that generates income or activities for which remuneration is received, when those activities are outside the activities permitted under the foreign national’s current status of residence.

For example, a foreign national with a Student or Dependent status of residence, under which employment is generally restricted, may apply for permission to work part-time under certain conditions.

The scope and conditions of permitted activities outside the status of residence vary depending on the status of residence and the nature of the activity.

6. Application for Permanent Residence (Article 22 of the Immigration Control and Refugee-Recognition Act)

This is an application made by a foreign national, such as someone who has lived in Japan for a long period of time, who wishes to obtain the status of residence of Permanent Resident.

Permanent residents can continue to live in Japan without a period of stay and without restrictions on their activities based on their status of residence.

However, permanent residence has certain requirements, and an application does not automatically result in permission being granted.

If the applicant’s current period of stay expires while the permanent residence application is being processed, a separate application for extension of period of stay may be necessary.

Changes to Permanent Residence from October 1, 2026

On October 1, 2026, the Immigration Services Agency of Japan revised its Guidelines for Permission for Permanent Residence and clarified the matters considered when examining permanent residence applications.

For example, the following matters may be considered:

Proper payment of taxes, pension contributions, health insurance premiums, and other public obligations

Having, in principle, the maximum period of stay available under the applicant’s current status of residence

The applicant’s residence history in Japan and any prolonged stays outside Japan

Japanese language ability

Understanding of Japanese systems and rules

School attendance of school-age children, where applicable

These matters are considered as part of the examination of a permanent residence application, and each application is assessed comprehensively based on the individual circumstances and other relevant factors.

In addition, for permanent residence applications submitted on or after October 1, 2026, the application fee was changed from JPY 10,000 to JPY 200,000.

Difference Between Permanent Resident and Long-Term Resident

Permanent Resident and Long-Term Resident are different statuses of residence, although both generally allow the holder to work without restrictions based on the type of work.

A Permanent Resident is a foreign national who has been granted permanent residence, and the period of stay is unlimited.

A Long-Term Resident, on the other hand, is a status of residence granted by the Minister of Justice to foreign nationals who are permitted to reside in Japan for a specified period based on special circumstances, such as certain people of Japanese descent, persons covered by special arrangements concerning Chinese nationals left behind in China, and certain refugees.

Therefore, Long-Term Residents have a specified period of stay and generally need to apply for an extension when they wish to continue residing in Japan.

In addition, Long-Term Residents who meet certain requirements may be eligible for an exception to the general residence-period requirement when applying for permanent residence.

Thus, Long-Term Resident and Permanent Resident are separate statuses of residence, but in some cases a Long-Term Resident may later obtain permanent residence.

【６　 The Difference Between Permanent Residence and Naturalization in Japan】

7. Application for a Certificate of Authorized Employment (Article 19-2 of the Immigration Control and Refugee-Recognition Act)

This is an application made by a foreign national residing in Japan to obtain a document certifying the employment activities that are permitted under their status of residence.

A Certificate of Authorized Employment specifies the income-generating business activities or remunerated activities that the foreign national is permitted to engage in.

For example, when a foreign national changes jobs, the certificate may be used to confirm that the work to be performed for the new employer falls within the activities permitted under the foreign national’s current status of residence.

However, a Certificate of Authorized Employment itself does not grant permission to work.

Whether a foreign national can work in Japan is basically determined by their status of residence and, where applicable, whether they have permission to engage in activities outside that status.

Therefore, a Certificate of Authorized Employment can be understood as a system that makes it easier for the foreign national and the employer to confirm the employment activities that the foreign national is permitted to perform.

8. Application for Re-entry Permit (Article 26 of the Immigration Control and Refugee-Recognition Act)

This is a system used when a foreign national residing in Japan plans to temporarily leave Japan and return to Japan.

Even if a foreign national has a valid status of residence in Japan, leaving Japan without taking the necessary procedures may result in the loss of the ability to return to Japan under the same status of residence.

By obtaining a Re-entry Permit before departure, a foreign national may return to Japan under certain conditions without having to go through the same procedures as a new entrant.

In addition, certain mid-to-long-term residents may be eligible to use the Special Re-entry Permit System when leaving Japan.

Under the Special Re-entry Permit System, a foreign national generally does not need to obtain an ordinary re-entry permit before departure and may return to Japan within one year from the date of departure while maintaining their current status of residence.

However, if the period of stay expires before the one-year period, the foreign national must return to Japan before the expiration of their period of stay.

The validity period of a special re-entry permit also cannot be extended while the foreign national is outside Japan.

Therefore, even when temporarily traveling overseas, it is important to confirm whether the foreign national is eligible for an ordinary re-entry permit or the Special Re-entry Permit System and to check the exact deadline for returning to Japan.

Summary

In actual applications, the required documents and examination process vary depending on factors such as the applicant’s status of residence, current activities, family relationships, employer, income, and residence history.

Therefore, when making an application, it is important to confirm which procedure applies to your individual circumstances and which documents are required.

This article has provided an overview of the main residence and immigration-related applications that foreign nationals may encounter while living in Japan.

Future articles will explain each procedure in greater detail, including required documents and important points to consider when applying.

【１　Types of Status of Residence in Japan】

【４　Application Fees in Japan】

【７　The Process of Obtaining a New Status of Residence and Entering Japan】

【８　Where Should You Submit Your Residence Application in Japan?】

【９　Submitting Immigration Applications on Behalf of Foreign Nationals in Japan】