Changing Visa status and other procedures within Japan

From Tourist visa:

If you are in Japan and have a tourist visa, your options are fairly limited. If you have previously completed an application for a student or other visa, then you can change to that visa in Japan if the certificate of eligibility is awarded to you. If it is not, then you cannot change to the student visa. If you get a full-time job with a company in Japan, then it is possible to go through the paperwork for a work visa application in Japan, provided you complete the official application process well before the end of your tourist visa - the application for a work visa generally takes 4 to 6 weeks to come through. You can also change to other visas such as child or dependent of a Japanese national, spousal visa, and so on provided you do so while your tourist visa is still valid. As mentioned elsewhere, being in Japan on a tourist visa does not necessarily mean that you will be able to change to a student visa. There is no shortcut to the student visa.

From Student visas:

You can change to a tourist visa when you finish your studies, if you want to travel in Japan for a brief duration before returning home. This is a discretionary award and will be made on a case-by-case basis. In most cases you will be issued a two-week visa or similar. You can also change to a work visa provided you have found full-time employment. Details are otherwise as for the tourist visa.

From Work visas:

From a work visa you can change to a tourist visa for a brief period. Again, this is discretionary and will be made on a case-by-case basis. You can change from a work visa to a student visa (pre-college or college student) at any time by going to the immigration office with the following:

• your passport
• a letter of acceptance from a language school
• proof of payment of tuition fees to that school
• two passport photographs
• proof of savings to fund your studies

Some schools may have further requirements (guarantors, etc). In some cases you may be asked for a letter from your employer stating that you are leaving their employment, although this is rare. The change takes from two to six weeks.

Re-entry permit:

Most visas are single-entry visas, meaning that when you leave the country, they are invalidated and to return to Japan, you need to apply again for the visa. In the case of a tourist visa, there is no option for a multiple-entry visa, but in other cases, you need to apply for a re-entry permit if you are going to come and go from the country. This is done at the nearest immigration office. You will need to pay a charge (usually 3,000 yen for one year and 4,000 yen for the entire period of your visa). Also take two passport photos to the immigration office with your documentation and passport. The application form is available at the immigration office. The permit is usually issued on the spot.

Other procedures:

If you (or more likely, a dependent) arrive in Japan without going through immigration, then you need to acquire a status of residence. This might happen in either of the following cases:

• if you renounce Japanese citizenship in Japan
• if a child is born of foreign parents in Japan

If you leave within 60 days, there is no need to register, but if staying longer than 60 days you should apply to the immigration office for a status of residence.

If you get a new passport in Japan, you need to take the old and new passports to the immigration office to have your visa transferred.

If you no longer need a visa, for example in cases where you become a Japanese citizen, then you should go to the Immigration Office to have your visa cancelled.