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Renewing Your Residence Period: You Can Apply From 3 Months Before It Expires

Renewal applications typically take two weeks to a month to process — applying just a week before your deadline puts you at serious risk.

Renewing Your Residence Period: You Can Apply From 3 Months Before It Expires
  • You can apply from 3 months before expiry if your residence period is 6 months or longer.
  • Since October 1, 2026 the fee depends on the period granted: 10,000–75,000 yen at the counter, less online (a 1-year renewal is 33,000 yen at the counter, 27,000 yen online).
  • Standard processing takes 2 weeks to 1 month; file at the immigration office covering where you live.

When to apply

With two weeks left before their residence card expires, many people think there's still plenty of time and put off applying until the next day.

But processing takes anywhere from two weeks to a month. Sometimes the card expires before a decision even comes back.

Few people realize this, but you're allowed to apply much earlier than that.

If your current period of stay is six months or longer, you can file for renewal starting three months before it expires.

Applying early costs you nothing — your new period still starts counting from your current expiry date.

Fee and where to apply

Since October 1, 2026 the fee has changed: it depends on the length of the period granted, from 10,000 to 75,000 yen at the counter.

Applying online is cheaper. For example, a 1-year renewal costs 33,000 yen at the counter but only 27,000 yen online.

The old 6,000-yen fee only applies to applications accepted by September 30, 2026 — any guide still quoting 6,000 yen is out of date.

You file at the immigration office that covers where you live — not where you work, and not your company's address.

Reception hours are weekdays, 9am–noon and 1pm–4pm.

Words in this article

在留期間ざいりゅうきかん
period of stay
更新こうしん
renewal, update
申請しんせい
application
審査しんさ
screening, examination
手数料てすうりょう
fee
収入印紙しゅうにゅういんし
revenue stamp (used to pay fees)
窓口まどぐち
service counter
受付うけつけ
reception

Notes

Procedures and fees in Japan change from time to time. Before you go, check the official website again to confirm the latest figures.

Source: 出入国在留管理庁 (20 Sept 2026)