April 2026
Launch of the "Specified Residence Card" System Starting June 14, 2026New!!
Based on the "Act to Partially Amend the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act," which was promulgated on June 21, 2024, the new "Specified Residence Card" (Tokutei Zairyu Card) system will officially begin on June 14, 2026.This Specified Residence Card integrates the My Number Card with the Residence Card. Previously, after renewing a period of […]
Residency Requirement for Naturalization Revised from 5 to 10 Years
Previously, one of the key requirements for naturalization was the residency requirement of "having resided in Japan continuously for at least five years." In other words, if an applicant had lived in Japan for five consecutive years and met other necessary criteria, they were eligible to apply for Japanese citizenship.In contrast, applying for Permanent Residency […]
What to Do After Renewing Your Residence Card
Foreign residents living in Japan hold a Residence Card (Zairyu Card), which has an expiration date (with the exception of Special Permanent Residents). To continue staying in Japan beyond this date, you must apply for and receive an "Extension of Period of Stay." Once your extension is successfully granted and you receive your new Residence Card, […]