About Renewal of the Period of Stay
- We employ a foreign national on a one-year fixed-term contract, renewed every year. This year will be the third renewal. As long as the contract term remains one year, is it difficult to obtain a multi-year period of stay at renewal?
- When determining the period of stay to be granted, immigration authorities make a comprehensive assessment—not only the contract period, but also the individual’s prior stay/immigration record, the employer’s size and stability, and other factors. Therefore, it is not the case that “because the contract term is one year, a multi-year permission can never be granted.”
In practice, even with a one-year contract, if renewals have been made multiple times with the same employer and the employee’s activities are recognized as stable and continuous, a multi-year permission may be granted.
That said, as a general tendency, employment without a fixed term (open-ended employment) more readily demonstrates stable and ongoing activity from a contractual perspective, and multi-year permissions tend to be easier to obtain in such cases.
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.
Consultations are available via phone, email, online, or in person. English-language support is always available.
