Application for Extension of Validation Period of Residence Card Japan : Immigration Bureau

Organization : Immigration Bureau of Japan
Type of Facility : Application for Extension of Validation Period of Residence Card
Country: Japan

Website : http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/english/tetuduki/zairyukanri/whatzairyu.html

Application for Extension of Validation Period of Residence Card :

Residence Card:
A residence card shall be issued to a foreign national who has stayed in Japan for a mid- to long term as a result of having obtained permits relating to the status of residence, such as a new landing permit, a permit for a change of the status of residence, and a permit for the extension of the period of stay (a mid- to long term resident).

Related : Immigration Bureau Revocation Status of Residence Japan : www.statusin.org/8904.html

Therefore, a residence card has the nature of a certificate with which the Minister of Justice proves that the relevant foreign national legally stays in Japan with the status of residence that permits him/her to stay in Japan for a mid- to long term, up to the permitted period of stay. At the same time, a residence card, which is issued upon obtaining permits relating to the status of residence other than a landing permit, also has the nature of being a written permit, acting as a formal permit in lieu of seals for various permits previously affixed on a passport.
A residence card contains the important part of the personal information held by the Minister of Justice, such as name, birth date, gender, nationality/region of origin, address, status of residence, period of stay, and whether or not he/she can work. If there is any change in these matters, the relevant person is obliged to notify the change. Therefore, the latest information shall always be reflected in a residence card. A residence card for a person aged 16 or over also contains a photograph of his/her face.
A conventional alien registration certificate held by a mid- to long term resident shall be deemed equivalent to a residence card for a certain period of time, in procedures for departure from Japan with a Special Re-entry Permit or for other various applications to be filed at immigration bureaus, as well as in procedures for notification of domicile, etc. to be carried out at municipal government offices.

Notification of a change in an item on the residence card (other than the address) :
This is a notification to be made when there has been any change in a mid- to long term resident’s name, birth date, gender, or nationality/region of origin. When there has been any change in these items, the relevant person must notify the change to the Minister of Justice through procedures specified by the Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice, within 14 days from the day on which the said change occurred.

Application for Extension of Validation Period of Residence Card:
A permanent resident or a mid- to long term resident for whom the validation period of the residence card is to expire on his/her 16th birthday must file an application for the extension of the validation period of his/her residence card to the Minister of Justice through procedures specified by the Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice, during the following application period.

However, in the case where it is difficult to file an application for the extension of the validation period of a residence card during the following application period due to a long-term medical treatment, a long-term overseas business trip, or other unavoidable reasons, the relevant person may file an application for the extension of the validation period of his/her residence card prior to the application period.

a. A person for whom the validation period of the residence card is to expire on his/her 16th birthday; From six months before his/her 16th birthday to the said birthday

b. A permanent resident (excluding a person falling under a. above): From two months before the expiration date to the said expiration date (Note) When a mid- to long term resident’s birthday is February 29, his/her birthday shall be deemed to be February 28 in years other than leap years.

Application for reissuance of the residence card due to loss etc.:
This is an application to be filed when a person has lost his/her residence card due to loss, theft, robbery or destruction, or other reasons. When a person has lost his/her residence card due to these reasons, he/she must file an application for reissuance of a residence card to the Minister of Justice through procedures specified by the Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice, within 14 days from the day on which he/she noticed the fact (or from the day on which he/she first entered Japan when he/she noticed the fact while being out of Japan).

Application for reissuance of a residence card in cases the cardholder wishes to have the card exchanged:
This is an application to be filed when a person wants to have his/her residence card exchanged, and can be filed even when a residence card has not been damaged. Applicable cases include those where a person wants to change the photograph of his/her face indicated on his/her residence card, or where a person wants to have his/her name written in Chinese characters (an application for indication of name using kanji characters on the residence card needs to be filed separately). During the validation period of a residence card, an application for reissuance may be filed at any time to the Minister of Justice through procedures specified by the Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice. However, when receiving issuance of a residence card through these procedures, the relevant person must pay a fee of 1,300 yen.