Applications are accepted three months before the expiration date of the present visa. You need to go in person to the regional immigration office in charge of your department’s address and apply for the extension. The required documents for the application include an application form issued by Sokendai as well as an application filled out by yourself. Please read the following instruction for the details.

How to apply for the application form issued by Sokendai

1. Download an Application Form for Extension of Period of Stay and fill out the form according to the sample.
2. After completing the form, please send the file and an Application Form for Certificates to your department office.
3. The departmental staff will forward the documents to the International Affairs Section in Hayama.
4. You will receive the sealed application form from Sokendai about one week after your submission of the file. Please go to the regional immigration office and submit the form and other required documents.

Required Documents

1. Application for Extension of Period of Stay (For applicant)
2. For Current Students: Certificate of Enrollment
   For Prospective Students: Acceptance Letter from Sokendai
   *You may be required to submit other documents such as an Admission Permit issued after your payment of registration fee. If you submit the application after your enrollment, you should submit a Certificate of Enrollment instead.
3. For Current Students: Academic Transcript in Sokendai
   For Prospective Students: Certificate of (Expected) Graduation and Academic Transcript of the last university attended
4. Copies of your passport (The copy should show your basic information, photograph, and latest visa and landing permit.)
5. A copy of your Alien Registration Card (Both sides)
6. 4,000 yen for fee (You should pay the fee by revenue stamp when your application is approved.)
7. Documents to certify that you can defray all the expenses incurred during your stay (Please see here.)

*NOTE

A special exception shall be made for those who has filed an application by his/her expiration date of residence, yet has received no official decision on the application by the said date. In such case, he/she is allowed to stay until the day the decision is made for the application or two months after the expiration date, whichever comes earlier. However, you will be considered as an illegal resident if you continue to stay in Japan more than two months after the expiration date of your current visa, even if you haven’t received the result of your application by then. The application can be filed three months before the expiration date of your current visa. Please try to submit applications ahead of time.