Renewing Japanese student visa – Things to remember to avoid failure

Job extend japanese student visa is a mandatory procedure if you want to continue studying and living legally in the land of cherry blossoms. However, not everyone understands the conditions, procedures and important notes to avoid visa rejection. This article will help you understand the entire process, conditions, how to prepare documents and answer common questions related to extending student visas in Japan.

Duration of first-time student visa in Japan

When you first come to Japan to study, your visa is usually valid for 6 months to 2 years depending on the course and school. This period is clearly stated on the Zairyu Card (residence card) you receive upon entry. 

• College and university students: 2-year visa
• Students of long-standing Japanese language schools: 1 year
• Students of newly established Japanese language schools: 6 months

Keeping track of your visa expiration date is extremely important because it determines when you need to renew your Japanese student visa.

Conditions for extending Japanese student visa

To successfully extend your Japanese student visa, you need to meet strict academic and financial requirements. The Japanese Immigration Bureau will carefully review your application to ensure that you are serious about your studies and have the ability to sustain your life in Japan.

Conditions of study

Attendance is one of the key factors affecting the approval of Japanese student visa extensions. Schools in Japan usually calculate this rate based on the total number of classes that students attend in a month, not the number of classes. If the attendance rate drops below 80%, the possibility of visa rejection is very high. For university students, the requirement is even stricter - the attendance rate must be 90% or higher. In addition, being late to class or leaving class early can also be counted as absence, affecting attendance points.

In case of a valid reason such as illness, you should proactively call the school to be recorded and not have your attendance rate deducted. Develop the habit of attending school regularly and on time to avoid being negatively evaluated during the visa renewal process.

Tuition conditions

Financial conditions are an indispensable factor in extending a Japanese student visa. You need to prove your financial ability to pay for tuition and living expenses during the extension period. This includes having paid the tuition fee for the current semester in full and having no debts to the school.

In addition, one of the mandatory requirements for extending a Japanese student visa is that you must complete the payment of tuition for the second year of study 3 months before the end of the first year. This proves that you have the financial ability to continue studying in Japan. 

For students with income from part-time work (baito), it is also important to declare their income fully and pay taxes properly. Income from baito can be counted towards financial capacity, but must comply with regulations on maximum working hours for international students.

Procedures for extending student visa in Japan

Renewal of Japanese student visa should be done about 2 months before the visa expires. Here are the specific steps:

Prepare renewal documents

Preparing documents is the most important step in the process of renewing a Japanese student visa. The application must include the following documents: 

• Application for extension of status of residence (在留期間更新許可申請書)
• Original passport and photocopy
• Thẻ cư trú (residence card)
• ID photo (3×4 or 4×3, white background)
• Latest academic certificates and transcripts
• Certificate of tuition payment (or tuition receipt)
• Financial documents (savings book, salary slip, guarantee letter...)
• Confirmation letter from school (may be provided by the school)

Note that each school may require additional documents. You should check with the international student office.

Submit

After preparing all the documents, you need to submit them directly to the competent immigration office in the area where you live. Submitting the application for a Japanese student visa extension must be done during office hours and you should arrive early to avoid long waiting lines.

When you submit your application, the officer will check the completeness of your documents and may ask some basic questions about your academic situation. You should answer honestly and confidently. If there are any deficiencies in your application, you will be asked to supplement and resubmit it.

Pay visa extension fee

The current cost of renewing a Japanese student visa is 4.000 yen, payable with revenue stamps purchased at post offices or convenience stores. You need to buy the revenue stamp before submitting your application and stick it on the renewal application in the correct place.

Please note that this fee may change over time and is payable only by tax stamps, no cash is accepted. In addition to the official fee, you should also calculate additional costs such as translation fees, photocopying fees, travel expenses to prepare a suitable budget.

Important notes to renew visa on time, not be rejected

To ensure a successful extension of your Japanese student visa, you need to strictly follow the following regulations and notes. Small mistakes can lead to a rejection of your visa extension, seriously affecting your study plan.

Don't miss too much school

You are absolutely not allowed to miss more than 20% of the total number of classes in a semester. Specifically, if a semester has 200 classes, you are only allowed to miss a maximum of 40 classes. Absences without a valid reason will be counted as absenteeism and directly affect the ability to extend a Japanese student visa.

In addition, you also need to pay attention to attending school on time and participating fully in school activities. Being late or leaving early can also be counted as partial absences and affect the review results.

No debt

Paying tuition fees on time is a criterion to demonstrate the financial capacity and seriousness of the international student's learning attitude. If you encounter financial difficulties, you should proactively contact the school's administrative office to find solutions such as extending payment or supporting scholarships. Delaying or avoiding tuition payment will leave a bad record and seriously affect the ability to renew a Japanese student visa.

Renew visa before expiration

The timing of your Japanese student visa extension is extremely important. You need to start the renewal process 3 months before your visa expires and complete the procedure at least 2 weeks before the expiration date. Letting your visa expire before you renew it will result in an illegal status and possible deportation.

In special cases, if your application for a Japanese student visa extension is under review and your visa is about to expire, you can apply for a certificate of pending review from the Immigration Bureau. This will help you maintain your legal status until the result is available.

Some frequently asked questions (FAQ)

How long does it take to renew a visa?

The processing time for Japanese student visa extensions usually ranges from 2-8 weeks depending on the complexity of the application and the amount of work at the Immigration Bureau. During peak months such as March-April and September-October, the processing time may be longer due to the high number of applications.

Can I extend my visa online?

Currently, the extension of a Japanese student visa cannot be done entirely online. You still need to submit your application directly to the competent immigration office. However, some supporting procedures such as pre-appointment registration can be done through the immigration office's website.

Can I extend my visa after it expires?

If your visa has expired, it will be extremely difficult to renew your Japanese student visa and may be refused. In this case, you have stayed in Japan illegally and may be subject to severe penalties such as deportation and a ban on entry for a certain period of time.

Visa extension is an important step that cannot be skipped in the journey to study abroad in Japan. Do not be subjective with this procedure because even a small mistake can cause you to be rejected or affect your study and living plans. Hopefully with detailed instructions on extend japanese student visa In this article, you have clearly understood how to prepare and perform the correct procedure to avoid falling into a passive situation.

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