Long-term Resident Visa

Explanation of necessary documents and points to note when applying for long-term resident visa renewal

Updated: July 2024, 8

The most difficult part of renewing a long-term resident visa is preparing and collecting the necessary documents.
Since the documents required differ depending on the category, many people may find the procedure complicated.

In this article, we will explain in detail the documents required for renewing your long-term resident visa by category.
We will also explain the points to note when updating.

List of documents required for long-term resident visa renewal

The documents required to renew your long-term resident visa will vary depending on the classification you fall into.
Below are the documents that are common to all.

Application for Extension of Period of Stay
Photo (4 cm long x 3 cm wide)
Passport
Residence card

Next, the documents required for each category.

3. Third generation Japanese

Here we will introduce the documents you will need if you are applying for renewal for the first time.
If the applicant is of third generation Japanese descent, the required documents are as follows:

Documents to be obtained from city/ward/town/village offices

Applicant's residence card
Resident tax (or exemption) certificate and tax payment certificate of the applicant or spouse (the one with the higher income)
A copy of the family register or removal from the family register of Japanese grandparents

Proof of occupation and income

If you work for a company	Certificate of employment of the applicant or spouse (higher earner)
In the case of self-employed	A copy of the tax return of the applicant or spouse (the person with the higher income)
In the case of self-employed	A copy of the business license of the applicant or spouse (the person with the higher income)
If you are unemployed	Copy of bank account
From a dependent (parent, etc.) If you are receiving support	If the dependent is employed at a company ⇒ Certificate of employment
	If the dependent is self-employed ⇒ Copy of tax return and business license
	If the dependent is unemployed ⇒ Copy of bankbook

② Spouse of a second-generation Japanese

If the applicant is a spouse of a second-generation Japanese, the required documents are as follows:

Documents to be obtained from city/ward/town/village offices

Applicant's residence card
Resident tax (or exemption) certificate and tax payment certificate for second generation or applicant (high-income earner)
A copy of the family register or removal from the family register of Japanese grandparents

Proof of occupation and income

If you work for a company	Employment certificate for second generation immigrants or applicants (those with higher incomes)
In the case of self-employed	A copy of the final tax return of the second generation or the applicant (with a higher income)
In the case of self-employed	A copy of the business license of the second generation or applicant (with higher income)
If you are unemployed	Copy of bank account

3) Spouse of a third-generation Japanese

If the applicant is a spouse of a second-generation Japanese, the required documents are as follows:

Documents to be obtained from city/ward/town/village offices

Applicant's residence card
Resident tax (or exemption) certificate and tax payment certificate for second generation or applicant (high-income earner)
A copy of the family register or removal from the family register of Japanese grandparents

Proof of occupation and income

If you work for a company	Employment certificate for second generation immigrants or applicants (those with higher incomes)
In the case of self-employed	A copy of the final tax return of the second generation or the applicant (with a higher income)
	A copy of the business license of the second generation or applicant (with higher income)
If you are unemployed	Copy of bank account

4) In the case of a minor, unmarried biological child receiving support

If the applicant is a minor, unmarried dependent biological child, the required documents are as follows:
A dependent can be either a "permanent resident," "long-term resident," "spouse of a Japanese national," or "spouse of a permanent resident."

Documents to be obtained from city/ward/town/village offices

Applicant's residence card
Resident tax (or exemption) certificate and tax payment certificate for second generation or applicant (high-income earner)
A copy of the Japanese person's family register (certificate of all details) (if supported by a Japanese spouse)

Proof of occupation and income

If the dependent is employed at a company	Supporter's employment certificate
In the case of self-employed	A copy of the dependent's tax return
In the case of self-employed	Copy of the business license of the dependent
If you are unemployed	Copy of bank account

⑤ In the case of an adopted child under the age of 6 who receives support

If the applicant has an adopted child under the age of 6 who will be supported by the applicant, the required documents are as follows:
A dependent can be either a "permanent resident," "long-term resident," "spouse of a Japanese national," or "spouse of a permanent resident."

Documents to be obtained from city/ward/town/village offices

Applicant's residence card
Resident tax (or exemption) certificate and tax payment certificate for second generation or applicant (high-income earner)
A copy of the Japanese person's family register (certificate of all details) (if supported by a Japanese spouse)

Proof of occupation and income

If the dependent is employed at a company	Supporter's employment certificate
In the case of self-employed	A copy of the dependent's tax return
In the case of self-employed	Copy of the business license of the dependent
If you are unemployed	Copy of bank account

Important points regarding long-term resident visa renewal

The period of stay for a long-term resident visa is five years, three years, one year, or six months, or a period designated by the Minister of Justice.
If you wish to continue residing in Japan after your period of stay has expired, you will need to apply for an extension.

Important points of the review

Renewal will be assessed comprehensively based on the documents submitted.
The following points are of particular importance:

There is no contradiction in the contents
The documents submitted are genuine (not forged or altered)
Being good
Have enough income to maintain a living
In the case of a spouse, the person must be in a marriage relationship
If the person has been taking care of or raising a biological child, that fact must have been there for a considerable period of time.
If you are eligible for non-notified permanent residence, you must have a level of Japanese language proficiency that will not cause you any trouble in your daily life.

In addition, the following points will be taken into consideration:

The activities you plan to undertake after the renewal must match those specified in your application for residence status.
Meet the landing permission criteria
You have engaged in activities that correspond to your current status of residence
Have the assets or skills to support yourself
Employment and working conditions are fair
Fulfilling tax obligations
Fulfilling the notification obligations stipulated in the Immigration Control Act

When deciding when to apply, you must take into account the number of days remaining on your current period of stay and the time it will take to review your application.
The review period for renewal usually takes between two weeks and one month.

Deadline applications and special exemptions

Applications can be made up to three months before the expiration of your period of stay.
If you continue to stay in Japan after your period of stay has expired, you will be charged with illegal residence.
Therefore, you must apply before the deadline expires.

If your current period of stay is set to expire during the review process for renewal, you will be granted a special exemption to the period of stay.
The period during which you may continue to reside in Japan is up to two months after the expiration date of your current period of stay.
For example, if you use the special system, you can apply up until the day your residence permit expires.
However, there is no guarantee that the review will be completed within the two-month grace period, so you need to make preparations well in advance.

There are many different documents required to renew a long-term resident visa.
It is recommended that you allow at least a month to prepare and complete all the paperwork.

Conclusion

The documents required to renew a long-term resident visa vary depending on the following classification:

Fourth-Generation Foreign National of Japanese Descent
Spouse of Japanese Native 2
Spouse of Japanese Native 3
A minor, unmarried biological child receiving support
Adopted dependent children under the age of 6

The documents submitted must be complete and authentic.
Other important points in the screening process include good conduct and whether or not the applicant has the assets and skills to support himself or herself.

Depending on the document, some certificates may need to be issued by a government office or your employer, while others may need to be issued by an institution in a foreign country.
It takes time and effort to get all of these documents done correctly.

Support Administrative Scriveners Corporation has supported many long-term resident visa applications to date.
If you are having trouble gathering the necessary documents or have tried to apply on your own but are having trouble, please feel free to contact us.

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