[Japan] Immigration Procedure - Change of Status of Residence

(source: http://iss-intl.osaka-u.ac.jp/supportoffice/eng/visa/change.php)

To change the status of residence that is currently authorized, the person must apply for permission at their regional immigration office. Note that not all applications will be approved. After you submit the application form to the immigration office, a notice is sent to the applicant in about 2 weeks. After you receive the notice, you visit the Regional Immigration Office with the notice, passport and 4,000 yen as fee. Then a new residence card with the new status of residence is issued.

Required Documents:

• Student
  1. Application for Change of Status of Residence（The application form is available at the Immigration Bureau, or it can be downloaded from the Ministry of Justice homepage. The Support Office also provides it.）
     *Organization part of the application has to be made by the office of each department.
  2. ID Photo (4cm×3cm) Attach on the 1st page of the application
  3. Passport, Residence Card(or Alien Registration Card)
  4. Certificate of enrollment, Certificate of acceptance, Student registration certificate, etc.
     In case of a research student; Certificate of the research activities
  5. Document certifying that you have the means to pay for all the expenses incurred during your stay in Japan, such as Bank statement, Certificate of Scholarship etc.
  6. Fee: 4,000 yen
     *The Immigration Bureau might require other additional documents for the application.
• Professor
  1. Application for Change of Status of Residence（The application form is available at the Immigration Bureau, or it can be downloaded from the Ministry of Justice homepage. The Support Office also provides it.）
     *Organization part of the application has to be made by the office of each department.
  2. ID Photo (4cm×3cm) Attach on the 1st page of the application
  3. Passport, Residence Card(or Alien Registration Card)
  4. 【In case of non-regular worker(part-time)】
     Certificate of employment, which includes the status at Osaka University, employment period at Osaka University, content of the research activities and amount of salary. This certificate has to be issued under the name of dean with the official seal.
  5. Fee: 4,000 yen
     *The Immigration Bureau might require other additional documents for the application.
• Cultural Activities
  1. Application for Change of Status of Residence（The application form is available at the Immigration Bureau, or it can be downloaded from the Ministry of Justice homepage. The Support Office also provides it.）
     *Organization part of the application has to be made by the office of each department.
  2. ID Photo (4cm×3cm) Attach on the 1st page of the application
  3. Passport, Residence Card(or Alien Registration Card)
  4. Researcher registration certificate, which includes the status at Osaka University, research period at Osaka University, content of the research activities. This certificate has to be issued under the name of dean with the official seal.
  5. Document certifying that you have the means to pay for all the expenses incurred during your stay in Japan, such as Bank statement, Certificate of Scholarship etc.
  6. Fee: 4,000 yen
     *The Immigration Bureau might require other additional documents for the application.
• Designated Activities (When graduates want to continue their job search in Japan)
  When an international student would like to continue their job hunt in Japan after graduation, the status of residence has to be changed from "Student" to "Designated Activities". If the application is approved, you can obtain a period of stay for 6 months. Extension is admitted only once. Therefore, it is possible to stay in Japan for job search for up to 1 year after the graduation.
  Ministry of Justice, Japanese Immigration Bureau HP(only Japanese)
  1. Application for Change of Status of Residence< U Others > (This application form is available at the immigration office, or it can be downloaded from the Ministry of Justice homepage. It is also provided by the Support Office.)
     *Only the first 3 sheets of the Applicant part are necessary. The Organization part is not necessary.
  2. ID Photo (4cm× 3cm) (Attach to the 1st sheet of the application)
  3. Passport, Residence Card or Alien Registration Card
  4. Document certifying that they have the means to pay for any expenses incurred during their stay in Japan, such as a bank statement, certificate of scholarship etc.
  5. Diploma or a graduation certificate of the last school
  6. A recommendatory letter from the last school
     A form of the recommendatory letter (Only Japanese)
     The university can issue this recommendatory letter for up to 1 year from their graduation
  7. Documents which show their job search activities
  8. Fee: 4,000 yen
     *The immigration office may require other additional documents for the application.
• Temporary Visitor
  When the period of stay is a little too short towards the end of the acceptance period, or when you want to travel in Japan before going back to their country, you can change their status of residence to" Temporary Visitor".
  After the application is approved, you have to return their residence card.
  
  1. Application for Change of Status of Residence（This application form is available at the immigration office, or it can be downloaded from the Ministry of Justice homepage. It is also provided by the Support Office.）
  2. Passport, Residence Card or Alien Registration Card
  3. A statement of reasons to show the reason why they need to change their status to" Temporary Visitor" (Free format)
  4. Document which shows that they plan to leave Japan, such as an air ticket.
  5. Fee: 4,000 yen
     *The immigration office may require other additional documents for the application.
• When you need to change your status of residence due to becoming employed after graduation
  You need to confirm a type of status of residence after becoming employed. Also, you need to prepare the appropriate type of application form and other necessary documents, and then apply to the immigration office. The immigration office usually starts accepting the application from December for the students who are going to be employed from April after your graduation in March. However your status will be changed after your graduation. In the application form, there is an Organization part. You need to ask the company to which you are being employed, to fill out this part of the application.
• When you want to change your status of residence from "Temporary Visitor" to others
  When you would like to change your status of residence from "Temporary Visitor" to another type of status of residence, it is not usually approved unless you have a particular reason.
  Therefore, in this case, you need to apply for the certificate of eligibility for status of residence (CESR) first, and then you can apply for changing of status of residence after your CESR has been issued. However, if your CESR is not issued by the current expiration date as a temporary visitor, you need to leave Japan before the expiration date. Once you return to your country, you need to apply for your visa after you receive your CESR. After you obtain the certain type of Japanese visa, you can enter Japan again.