Residence Procedures

Immigration Procedures

Residence Card

Foreign nationals with a period of stay of three months or more will be issued a residence card upon entry from Narita, Haneda, Chubu, or Kansai airports. Once your card is issued, please keep it in a safe place and always carry it with you when you go out. You must present this when asked by an administrative officer of a government agency, such as an immigration inspector, immigration control officer, or police officer. Please note that a residence card will not be issued for short-term stays of less than 3 months.

Extension of Period of Stay

The maximum period of stay in Japan as an international student is 4 years and 3 months. This period can be extended by following the prescribed procedures. Applications are accepted at the Immigration Bureau from before the expiration of the period of stay (approximately 3 months before the expiration of the period of stay for those with a period of stay of 6 months or more).

• Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Application for permission to extend period of stay
• Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Comprehensive Immigration Information Center for Foreign Residents

Change of Status of Residence

When you graduate from your current university, Japanese language school, or other institution, or when you enter (transfer to) a new school, you must submit a “Notification of Activity Status” to the Immigration Services Agency of Japan  within 14 days. Please refer tothe Immigration Services Agency of Japan website for details. You can also submit notifications online using the Electronic Notification System.​

Also, upon graduation or completion, you will lose your “Student” status of residence, so even if your period of stay remains, you must promptly return to your home country. The same applies in cases of withdrawal, expulsion, or leave of absence. If you plan to remain in Japan after graduation for job hunting or other purposes, you must apply for a change of status of residence at the Immigration Services Agency. For more details, please contactthe relevant office at your campus.​

<For those graduating or completing their studies> Change of residence status to "Designated Activities" to continue job hunting

* This system only applies to regular students who graduate with their degree. It does not apply to non-degree students, including undergraduate research students, graduate research students, and special research students.

International students who are graduating or expected to graduate from Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology and wish to continue job hunting in Japan after graduation must change their residence status from "Student" to "Designated Activities" (for continued job hunting).

For those who wish to stay in Japan for job hunting after graduating from university or other educational institution:
When international students who have graduated from a Japanese university or equivalent institution conduct job-seeking activities

Before submitting your application, please be sure to check the " Important points to note when applying ".

Regarding a letter of recommendation issued by TUAT

Please print the following request form for a letter of recommendation, fill in the required information, and submit it along with any other necessary documents to the relevant office at your campus.

Temporary Departure and Re-entry

If you plan to leave Japan temporarily during summer vacation, etc., you will need to notify the university.

In addition, when an international student leaves Japan who has a residence card or a passport with a statement stating that "a residence card will be issued at a later date," and re-enters Japan to continue activities in Japan within one year of departure, in principle Although you do not need a re-entry permit, you must present your residence card when leaving the country.
International students who leave Japan with this re-entry permit cannot extend its validity period overseas. Please note that if you do not re-enter Japan within one year after leaving the country, you will lose your status of residence. Additionally, if your period of stay expires less than one year after leaving Japan, you will need to re-enter the country before that period of stay.

Permission to Engage in Activity Other Than That Permitted by the Status of Residence (Part-time Work)

If your residence status is "Student," you are only permitted to engage in activities related to study and research as an international student residing in Japan. If you wish to work part-time, you will need to apply to the Immigration Bureau and obtain permission to engage in activities other than that permitted under the status of residence previously granted. For application details, please refer to the Immigration Services Agency website below.

• Immigration Services Agency of Japan: For Foreign Nationals Entering Japan — Guidance for New Entrants
• Immigrqation Services Agency of Japan: Regarding permission to engage in activities other than those permitted under the "Student" status of residence

On-campus TAs, RAs, tutors, etc. do not need to apply for permission to engage in activities other than that permitted under the status of residence previously granted.

Part-time work is allowed for up to 28 hours per week, and up to 8 hours per day during summer, winter, and spring holidays. Part-time work at establishments engaging in adult entertainment businesses or related places is prohibited and not permitted during leaves of absence from the university (as the "Student" residence status is based on the premise that international students are engaged in studies at an educational institution).

Additional information

Other Immigration Procedures

Please refer to the following Immigration Services Agency of Japan pages:

• Immigration Services Agency of Japan Official Website
• Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Q&A on the Immigration Control System

Inquiries

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