Checklist to Avoid Denial When Renewing Your Engineer Visa
Checklist to Avoid Denial When Renewing Your Engineer Visa
The “application for extension of period of stay” for an Engineer visa is often thought to be simple compared with the initial acquisition, but where there has been a job change or a change in job duties, there are not a few cases of denial. In this article, we explain a checklist and points to note so that you do not fail in your extension application.
Reference: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, “Application for Extension of Period of Stay”
Basics of the Extension Application
Timing of Application
Applications for extension of the period of stay begin to be accepted from three months before the expiry of the period of stay.
| Expiry of Period of Stay | Application Start Date | Recommended Application Timing |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | March 30, 2026 | Early April to early May |
| December 31, 2026 | September 30, 2026 | Early October to early November |
Important: Avoid applying at the very last minute. You need time to respond in the event that additional documents are requested. Note that while your application is pending (awaiting the result), you may stay lawfully for two months from the expiry date even after the period of stay has passed (Article 20, paragraph 6 of the Immigration Control Act).
Screening Period
The screening period for an extension application is normally two weeks to one month. However, where you have changed jobs or additional documents are requested, it may take two to three months.
Points to Note If You Have Changed Jobs
If you change jobs during your period of stay, the following procedures are necessary.
Notification Obligation Within 14 Days
If you change jobs, you are obliged to notify the Regional Immigration Services Bureau within 14 days after the job change (Article 19-16 of the Immigration Control Act). Failing to notify may work against you at the time of the extension application.
Notification methods:
- Submission at the counter of the Regional Immigration Services Bureau
- By post (addressed to the Tokyo Regional Immigration Services Bureau)
- Online (Immigration Electronic Notification System)
Making Use of the Certificate of Authorized Employment
If you are unsure whether the work at your new employer falls under the Engineer visa, we recommend applying for the issuance of a Certificate of Authorized Employment.
- You can confirm in advance whether the work at the new employer falls under the Engineer visa
- If you attach the Certificate of Authorized Employment to your extension application, the screening will go more smoothly
- The issuance fee is ¥900 (revenue stamp)
10-Item Renewal Checklist
Use the following checklist to check before your extension application.
| No. | Check Item | Confirmed |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Has the point three months before the expiry of your period of stay passed? | □ |
| 2 | If you changed jobs, did you make the notification within 14 days? | □ |
| 3 | Do your job duties fall under the Engineer visa (are they not unskilled labour)? | □ |
| 4 | Is your salary maintained at a level equal to or greater than that of a Japanese national? | □ |
| 5 | Are you enrolled in social insurance and employment insurance? | □ |
| 6 | Are you paying your resident tax properly? | □ |
| 7 | Does the address you notified match your actual place of residence? | □ |
| 8 | Are you refraining from activities outside your status qualification (side jobs, etc.) without permission? | □ |
| 9 | Are you free of criminal dispositions, traffic violations, or other legal violations? | □ |
| 10 | Are all the required documents in order? | □ |
What to Do If Your Job Duties Have Changed
Even if you remain at the same company, care is needed if your job duties have changed due to a departmental transfer or the like.
Cases That Become Problematic
- Transfer from the sales planning department to factory line management
- Transfer from the IT department to simple data entry work
- Change from interpretation work to in-store sales work
Countermeasures
- Prepare materials explaining that the work after the transfer also falls under the Engineer visa
- State the expertise of the new work in the statement of job duties
- Where necessary, obtain a document from the company certifying the job duties
Risks If Your Salary Has Decreased
If your salary has decreased due to a job change or a suspension of pay raises, there is a risk that you will no longer satisfy the requirement of “remuneration equal to or greater than that of a Japanese national.”
- If it is markedly low compared with the same occupation at other companies in the same industry, denial is possible
- Be prepared to explain the reasonable grounds for the decrease in salary
- A temporary reduction during a probation period may be permitted if explained in a letter of reason
Stepping Up the Period of Stay
The period of stay for the Engineer visa has three levels: “1 year,” “3 years,” and “5 years.”
| Period of Stay | Approximate Conditions for Being Granted |
|---|---|
| 1 year | First application, immediately after a job change, company stability somewhat lacking |
| 3 years | One year or more of employment at the same company, a stable employment record |
| 5 years | Three years or more of employment at the same company, high annual income, employment at a large company |
Point: To obtain a five-year period of stay, long-term employment at the same company and a stable income are generally required. Frequent job changes may lead to a shorter period of stay.
Cases Prone to Denial
- Failure to make the notification after a job change — This is evaluated unfavourably as a violation of laws and regulations
- The work at the new employer does not fall under the Engineer visa — Example: hall duties at a restaurant
- Unpaid resident tax — You will be judged as not having fulfilled your tax obligations
- A long period of unemployment — Where you are not working despite holding a residence status for the purpose of employment
- A criminal record — Even minor traffic violations may have an impact if there are several
Our Support
For consultations regarding Engineer visa applications, trust Kaneko Hidetaka Administrative Scrivener Office.
- 98% approval rate
- Languages: Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese
- Free initial consultation
- Serving Chiba, Tokyo, and nationwide (online consultation available)
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