Early Filing Before the Expiry Date
- The spouse of our foreign employee still has just under one year remaining on their period of stay. They plan to return to their home country soon to give birth and will not be back in Japan before the current period expires. They would like to file the extension now. Is this possible?
- According to the Immigration Services Agency website, those who have a period of stay of six months or longer may generally file an extension application from approximately three months prior to the expiry date up to the expiry date itself. In principle, the Bureau begins accepting filings once the remaining period has fallen below three months.
On the other hand, the website also notes that “if special circumstances are recognized (e.g., hospitalization or a long business trip), applications may be accepted more than three months in advance; please inquire with the competent Regional Immigration Services Bureau in advance.” While childbirth might appear to qualify as a special circumstance, in practice—even when told upon inquiry that an early filing “may be accepted”—we frequently see cases where the application is not actually accepted. Therefore, wherever possible, it is advisable to file in line with the standard window.
For reference, an extension need not be approved by the expiry date; it is sufficient that the application is received by that date. After filing, even if the expiry date passes, the foreign national may continue to stay in Japan under the same status until the earlier of (i) the date a decision is made on the application, or (ii) the end of the day two months after the original expiry date. As long as the application has been duly received, there is no issue.
Related Service Page:
Extension of Period of Stay (Renewal)
This is the procedure required when a foreign national wishes to remain in Japan beyond the current period of stay in order to continue the same authorized activities.
Free Consultation for Corporate HR Teams
Since 1986, ACROSEED has specialized in immigration and visa services for foreign employees in Japan. For nearly 40 years, we have advised corporate HR teams on compliance, procedures, and workforce planning.
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