Added Info – Process Change caused by Coronavirus re Residence Certificate (Visa)

Immigration Services Agency (new name from April 1, 2020) announced new extension policy. The renewal application form for foreigners having residence card which period ends March, April, May and June can be accepted three months after the expiration date. This extension policy applies to the foreigners which status is “Short Term” and the new born babies whose parents have to apply the residence certificate within March through June. Since each building and counter for Immigration Services Agency is extremely crowded and Agency has the separate counter for Gyosei shoshi and Lawyer having the license of application (Shinsei Toritsugishi), it is better not to go to the office immediately and ask Gyousei shoshi having license for the process.

Foreigners who has to proceed the extension or application for residence and want to know how coronavirus affects the procedure, please see this posting from Ministry of Justice. One of the news is “Measures to Ease Congestion at the Application Counters to Prevent the Spread of New Coronavirus Infection” It explains one month extension for the applicants whose period of residence will be ended in March. Another news is (1) 30 days extension of stay in Japan for the persons having difficulty to back to its home countries, and (2) the change of inspection of the documents for the applicants whose home countries are scope of entry restriction. Information will be changed or updated sometime, so recommend to visit the link frequently or check message tweeted by each region’s immigration bureau.