Extending Period of Stay

Last update: March, 2013




Visa - Landing Permit

When you use your student visa to enter Japan, a "landing permission" (jyoriku kyoka) stamp is placed in your passport. This landing permission shows how long you are allowed to stay in Japan with your current visa status (as a "College Student"). Your landing permission may be valid for one year or up to two years and three months. You must check and be aware of the expiration date of your landing permission. Your landing permission expiration date will also be written on your Alien Registration Card or Residence Card as "period of stay."


You must apply for an extension before your landing permission expires. Landing permission extension (zairyu kikan koshin kyoka) applications can be made starting 90 days prior to expiration. The Office of Student Services (OSS) can make this application on your behalf so long as you have maintained a minimum GPA of 2.0 and do not have a financial, academic, or visa hold on your account.


Important Notes

  • If you plan to travel abroad, you must return to Japan prior to the expiration date of the landing permission or obtain an extension in advance. You are strongly encouraged not to travel until after your landing permission application is completed and approved by the Immigration Bureau of Japan.
  • If you are outside of Japan, you must return to Japan to apply for an extension before your landing permission expires. If you leave without extending your landing permission and it expires while you are outside of Japan, you will be unable to re-enter Japan as a "College Student" and must re-apply for a student visa from outside of Japan. You will not be permitted to extend your landing permission from outside of Japan. Consult with the Visa Coordinator concerning extensions and changes to your visa or landing permission well in advance of their expiration dates.
  • If you have a work permit, it is issued under your current landing permission and expires when your landing permission expires. You may extend your work permit at the same time you extend your landing permission.
  • Staying in Japan even one day past your landing permission's expiration date is considered "overstaying" and a violation of Japanese law. Pay close attention to your visa and landing permission expiration dates.

Applying for a Landing Permission Extension


Applying through the OSS
To have the OSS apply for a landing permission extension on your behalf, visit the OSS to obtain the necessary forms and make an appointment with the Visa Coordinator (visa@tuj.temple.edu) at least 30 days in advance and absolutely no later than 2 weeks prior to your landing permission's expiration.


Applying on Your Own
If you plan to apply for an extension on your own, you will still need TUJ's signature and a TUJ stamp on the last page of your application form. Background checks for visa and landing permission extensions take a considerable amount of time, and the OSS requires that you come to the OSS at least 2 weeks prior to the expiration of your landing permission. So be sure to plan ahead. If you are applying on your own, please see the requirements in the pdf (Landing Permission Extension Application Requirements) below. See map to the Immigration Bureau here.



Please note that a fine for failure to timely submit a request for extension of landing permission to the Visa Coordinator will be assessed as described in the Visa Holds and Related Sanctions section.

Application Form

For more info...

If you have further questions, please contact TUJ's visa coordinator at visa@tuj.temple.edu.