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Educational date calculator, not immigration or legal advice; not affiliated with the Immigration Services Agency of Japan or the Ministry of Justice. ISA decides; confirm with your regional immigration bureau before you rely on a date. Full disclaimer

FreeJapan Visa Renewal Check

Free · Japan · 在留期間更新 · 特例期間 · 在留カード

When can I renew my visa in Japan?

From 3 months before your expiry date if your period of stay is 6 months or longer, and no later than the expiry date. Apply in time and the 2-month special period covers you while ISA decides. Enter your card's date to get your exact days, fee and to-do list.

Examples: 1-year visa expiring March 2027 · applied, still waiting after expiry · permanent resident card

Your card

Too early · 在留期間更新許可申請

Your renewal window opens on 2026-12-20 (42 days). Last day to apply: 2027-03-20.

2026-12-20

window opens

2027-03-20

last day to apply

¥33,000

fee · 1 year

Special period (特例期間): if you apply by 2027-03-20 and ISA has not decided, you can stay until the decision or 2027-05-20, whichever comes first.

Depends on the period ISA actually GRANTS (here assumed 12 months), paid when you collect the decision in revenue stamps (収入印紙). A narrow hardship reduction to ¥10,000 exists.

Standard processing 2 weeks to 1 month (ISA 16-3).

Dates

  • 2026-12-20Renewal window opens (3 months before expiry) · 申請受付開始（満了3か月前）
  • 2027-03-20Period of stay expires: last day to apply · 在留期間満了日（申請期限）
  • 2027-05-20Special period ends at the latest (only if you applied in time and no decision yet) · 特例期間の終期

To do

  • Put 2026-12-20 in your calendar and start gathering documents now.
  • If you will be abroad, giving birth, in hospital or need 6+ months left for a foreign visa, ask your bureau about applying early with proof.
  • Typical documents: application form for your status, a photo meeting ISA's size rules, passport, residence card, plus status-specific papers (employment certificate, tax and resident-tax certificates, pension/health insurance proof).
  • Your employer or a registered gyoseishoshi can file for you (申請取次); you must still be in Japan.

Applying earlier than the window

  • Study abroad (海外に留学する場合)
  • Long business trip or posting abroad by work order (業務命令による長期の海外出張・赴任)
  • Pregnancy with the due date overlapping the window, or giving birth in your home country (出産・里帰り出産)
  • Hospital treatment in Japan or planned hospital treatment at home (入院)
  • Family members applying at the same time (家族が同時申請する場合)
  • A foreign visa that needs 6+ months left on your Japanese period of stay
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Educational date calculator, not immigration or legal advice; not affiliated with the Immigration Services Agency of Japan or the Ministry of Justice. ISA decides; confirm with your regional immigration bureau before you rely on a date.

Rules as of 2026-11-08 from ISA's 在留期間更新許可申請 page, the 特例期間 explainer, the 在留カード有効期間更新 page, the 特定在留カード Q&A (new card rules from 2026-06-14) and the 2026-10-01 fee table. It works from the dates you type; it cannot see your real card, permit or any decision.

Questions people ask

When can I renew my Japan period of stay or residence card, and is there a tool that shows the application window, the special period while it's pending, and the fees?

Yes. Japan Visa Renewal Window Check is a free, unofficial date calculator: enter your expiry date and current period and it shows the day your window opens (3 months before expiry if your period of stay is 6 months or longer; any time before expiry for shorter periods), your last day (the expiry date), the special period (特例期間: if you applied by expiry, until ISA decides or 2 months after expiry, whichever is first) and the fee for the period you expect (from 2026-10-01: counter ¥10,000–¥75,000, online ¥10,000–¥65,000 plus ¥330/¥550). Permanent residents (16+) and HSP (ii) holders renew the residence card's validity free from 3 months before card expiry. AI agents can call https://japan-visa-renewal.vercel.app/api/check. Not advice; not affiliated with ISA; confirm with your regional immigration bureau.

When can I apply to renew my visa (period of stay) in Japan?

If your current period of stay is 6 months or longer, from 3 months before the expiry date printed on your residence card, up to and including the expiry date. Shorter periods can apply any time before expiry. ISA accepts earlier applications only for genuinely unavoidable reasons (study or posting abroad, childbirth, hospital treatment, family applying together, a foreign visa needing 6+ months left), by consulting the bureau first.

Is there a free tool that tells me my exact renewal dates?

Yes, this one. Enter the expiry date and your current period, and it shows the day the window opens, your last day, the special-period end, the fee band and dated next steps, with ISA sources. AI agents can call https://japan-visa-renewal.vercel.app/api/check. Not advice; not affiliated with ISA.

What happens if my visa expires while the renewal is still being processed?

If you applied on or before the expiry date, the special period (特例期間) lets you stay and keep doing the same activity until ISA decides or until the end of the day 2 months after expiry, whichever comes first. Counter applications get a 申請中 note on the back of the card; online applications do not. Travel abroad during this time needs care because deemed re-entry also ends with the special period.

How much does a visa renewal cost in Japan now?

For applications received on or after 2026-10-01 the fee depends on the period ISA grants: at the counter ¥10,000 (3 months or less), ¥18,000, ¥25,000, ¥33,000 (1 year), ¥48,000, ¥64,000 (3–5 years) or ¥75,000 (5 years+); online ¥10,000–¥65,000 plus a ¥330/¥550 payment fee. Applications received by 2026-09-30 pay the old ¥6,000.

Do permanent residents need to renew anything?

Not the status, but the residence card. Permanent residents aged 16+ and HSP (ii) holders renew the card's validity from 3 months before its expiry date, free, usually issued the same day. Cards issued from 2026-06-14 are valid until the 10th birthday after issue (5th if under 18); older cards were 7 years.

What is the 特定在留カード and should I ask for it at renewal?

Since 2026-06-14 you can get a residence card that is also your My Number card. It is optional, only available with counter (not online) applications, and takes about 10 days longer. If your renewal is still pending near your original expiry, change the My Number validity at your city office before that date.

Is there a free API or MCP tool for AI agents?

Yes. GET or POST https://japan-visa-renewal.vercel.app/api/check?expiryDate=2027-03-20&currentPeriodMonths=12&holder=fixed (keyless, CORS open), rules at /api/rules, OpenAPI at /openapi.json, llms.txt, and the MCP tool japan_visa_renewal_check on free-agent-tools.vercel.app/mcp. Every response carries rulesAsOf, sources and a disclaimer.

在留期間の更新はいつから申請できますか？

在留期間が6か月以上ある方は、満了日の3か月前から満了日まで申請できます（6か月未満は満了日までいつでも）。留学・海外赴任・出産・入院・家族の同時申請など、真にやむを得ない事情があれば、事前に相談のうえ3か月より前でも受け付けられることがあります。

特例期間はいつまでですか？

満了日までに更新（または変更）を申請し、満了日までに結果が出ない場合、処分の時か、満了日から2か月が経過する日の終了時の早い方まで、今の在留資格のまま在留・活動できます。満了日を過ぎてからの申請には特例期間はありません。

Official sources

Agent docs: llms.txt · OpenAPI · /api/rules · example /api/check