How to renew my family stay visa?

What is visa period renewal?

Except for some statuses of residence, most statuses of residence haveValid periodIs provided.
The same applies to family stay visas, where you can only stay in Japan for a specified period of time, and you will not be able to stay in Japan unless you renew it.
Therefore, if you want to know the period of your family stay visa and want to stay in Japan after that period, you need to renew it by the period.

I want to be carefulNot everyone who has a family stay visa can renew, That is.
Even if you meet the conditions when you get it for the first time, if you can not meet the conditions after that, you may not be able to update and it will end.

The conditions under which an application for permission to renew a family visa is permitted are as follows:

The applicant must be in Japan with the support of a person with one of the following status of residence (visa).
　“Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services”, “Intra-company Transferee”, “Skilled Worker”, “Management/Management”, “Professor”, “Art”, “Religion”, “Journalist”, “Legal/Accounting Service”, “Medical Care”, “Research”, “Education”, “ Industry, Specified Skilled Worker No. 2, Cultural Activities, Study Abroad

In order to obtain a family stay visa,Continued dependence on dependentsThere is a need.
Also, in principleLiving with dependentsAlso note that is required.

In summary, you can renew your family stay visa“Spouse or child of a foreigner working for a Japanese company with a specific status of residence (visa)”.

Now, let's see what you should be careful about when applying for renewal in the next item.

Things to keep in mind when applying for a family stay visa

There are a few things to keep in mind when renewing your family stay visa.
In addition to the above-mentioned conditions such as "continuously dependent on the supporter" and "living with the supporter", the points to be noted are summarized below.

• ● Apply with “Application for permission to extend period of stay”
• ● Renewal application is possible from 3 months before the deadline
• ● Renewal application takes about 2 weeks to 1 month examination period
• ● Even if the period of stay expires during the renewal examination, it will not be an illegal stay.
• ● Prepare necessary documents in both Japan and your home country
• ● Documents required for renewal application have an expiration date
• ● The result of the renewal application will be delivered by postcard
• ● If the renewal is not permitted, go to the Immigration Bureau to ask.

Let's take a closer look at some points.

① It takes time to review the renewal application.

The first thing to keep in mind when applying for a family stay visa renewal isExamination period.
If you apply for renewal, the latest status of residence will not be issued immediately, but normally2 weeks to 1 monthIt takes a long time to review.
Please note that it may take longer if there are many applicants.

what if,Even if the period of residence expires during the renewal examinationSpecial period (60 days)Because a grace period is granted, it will not be an illegal stay.So don't panic.
However, once that period has passedIllegal stayIt will become.
Additional documents may be requested during the examination, so if you are unsure, it is best to apply for renewal at the same time as acceptance of applications begins.

② Renewal application can be made from 3 months before the expiration date

Renewal of family stay visaFrom 3 months before the expiration dateAvailable
As mentioned above, it takes about 2 weeks to 1 month for the examination, so we recommend applying as early as possible.
Depending on the application status, it may take longer, so it is safer to act early.

However, even if the examination takes a long time and you do not meet the period of stay, there is no problem as long as it is under examination.
If you have a sudden schedule and the application schedule does not match, you can apply ahead of schedule, so please inquire once.

③ Advance preparation for renewal application

It is very important to prepare in advance for the renewal application.
It's quite possible that you've missed the deadline for your application because it took a long time to gather the necessary documents.
When applying for renewal, there may be documents to be prepared not only in Japan but also in your home country, so it is recommended that you move as soon as possible.

On the other hand, the documentsexpiration dateis provided, and if it is valid for 3 months from issuance, it is possible that the deadline had expired at the time of the important application.
When applying for renewal of a family stay visa, it is a good idea to start about three months before the expiration date.

Also, when applying for renewal, please note thatDependent visa types.
For example, if a dependent changes from a work visa to a permanent resident visa after obtaining a dependent visa, the visa will be changed to a permanent resident spouse visa, not a renewal to a dependent visa.
Dependent visas vary depending on the type of visa for your dependents, so be sure to check in advance.

④ What is the result of the examination?

The examination results will be sent by postcard (notice).
In order to issue a new residence card, you need to go to the Immigration Bureau (in some cases, you can receive it by mail).
There is a set period for this as well, so be sure to go during that period.
Don't forget to bring cash or stamps, as a separate revenue stamp fee of 4,000 yen will be charged for renewal.

Can I get a 3 or 5 year visa?

Dependent visa has a period of stay11 typeIt is provided, and basically, the longer the period, the less frequent the renewal procedure.

3 months / 6 months / 1 year / 1 year 3 months / 2 years / 2 years 3 months / 3 years / 3 years 3 months / 4 years / 4 years 3 months / 5 years

Although it is subdivided as above, I think that there are many people who want a long period of stay such as 3 years or 5 years when renewing.
Although the clear examination criteria have not been published, it is considered as a guideline for the period of stay.Dependent's income.

Dependent visas apply to dependent family members (spouse and children), so it is possible to determine whether the spouse and children can carry out daily activities.
If you have a low income, even if you apply for renewal of your family stay visa 1 year → 1 year → 1 yearAnd there is a possibility that you have to do the procedure every year.

A family stay visa is a status of residence that is based on the premise that you have the dependent ability (economic power) of a foreigner who is a dependent, so when you apply for it, you will be examined more carefully than a working visa.
Therefore, if you want to receive a long-term visa such as 3 or 5 years with a family stay visa, above all, the supporter foreignereconomic powermust be worn.

In addition to economic ability, whether or not you can obtain a visa will also depend on the type of visa your supporter has and the period of stay.
In addition, it is not guaranteed that you will be able to obtain it, as it is also related to the contents such as "expected period of stay (when applying for certification)" and "desired period of stay (when applying for change/renewal)" to be filled in the application form.

In conclusion, it is possible to obtain a 3-year or 5-year period of stay for a family stay visa, but there is no sure way to obtain it as it is judged comprehensively based on various information at the time of application.

Required documents for renewal application

The documents required to renew your family stay visa will vary slightly depending on whether the family you are renewing is your spouse or child, but please have the following:

• ● Application for extension of period of stay: 1 copy
• ● Applicant's (family) photo (length 4 cm to width 3 cm): 1 leaf
  　* A clear, uncapped, no-background image taken from the front within 3 months before application.
  　* Enter the applicant's name on the back of the photo.
• ● Passport and residence card: present
• ● Any of the following documents proving the identity of the applicant (family member) and the supporter
  • ・ A copy of the family register
  • ·Marriage acceptance certificate
  • ・Marriage certificate (copy) *In the case of a spouse
  • ・Birth certificate (copy) *For children
• ● A copy of the dependent's passport and residence card: 1 copy
• ● Documents certifying the occupation and income of the dependent (one of the following)
  • ・ Certificate of employment or copy of business permit (certificate of occupation)
  • ・ Resident tax taxation certificate and tax payment certificate (states the total income and tax payment status for one year)
  • ・ Certificate of deposit balance in the name of dependents or certificate of scholarship benefits clearly stating the amount and period of benefits
  • ・ Those that can cover the living expenses of the applicant

Basically, the above documents are required.
However, it does not mean that the examination can be done smoothly if all these are prepared, and depending on the examination situation, you may be required to submit additional materials.

Regarding the period of stay certificate, it is also possible to download it from the regional immigration office or the website of the immigration office.
From October 2022My number cardFrom your computer if you haveOnline applicationis now available, so it might be a good idea to try it from there.

If you have any questions about family stay visas, please contact Climb
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