Change Of Status Applications Now Only Accepted Under Limited Circumstances

At a Glance

• Foreign nationals in Japan who hold Temporary Visitor Visas can no longer apply to change their status to a Long-Term Work Visa except where the application is based on humanitarian reasons (such as medical emergencies, childbirth, etc.).
• Change of Status applications under such circumstances can only be filed by foreign nationals who enter Japan under Temporary Visitor Visa status who obtain a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) in Japan.
• If the application is rejected, the applicant's COE would be cancelled and the applicant would need to restart their work authorization process.
• The government is working to eliminate this immigration practice to standardize the work visa application process and to streamline the process.