Do I Need to Renew After Obtaining Permanent Residence? Residence Card Renewal Procedures Explained

Does the Permanent Residence Visa Need to Be Renewed?

To put the conclusion first: the Permanent Residence visa itself does not require renewal.
This is because one of the advantages of the Permanent Residence visa is that the “period of stay is unlimited.”

If you already hold the Permanent Residence visa, unlike other medium- and long-term residents (such as those on work visas), no procedure to renew the period of stay or status is required.
However, even those holding the Permanent Residence visa must periodically renew their Residence Card.

While the Permanent Residence visa grants the status of being able to stay in Japan indefinitely, the Residence Card itself has a defined validity period of 7 years, so be sure to renew it before it expires.

What Is the Difference Between the Permanent Residence Visa and the Residence Card?

Long-Term Residents are granted periods of stay of 6 months, 1 year, 3 years, or 5 years.
For this reason, Long-Term Residents must complete renewal procedures before their period of stay expires.

In contrast, those holding the Permanent Residence visa — that is, Permanent Residents — have no restriction on their period of stay.
Therefore, no procedure for renewing the period of stay is required.

That said, the Residence Card has a validity period, and even Permanent Residents must renew it periodically.
The difference between the Permanent Residence visa and the Residence Card is easy to confuse, so please be careful.

The Validity Period of the Residence Card After Obtaining Permanent Residence

As noted above, the validity period of the Residence Card after obtaining Permanent Residence is 7 years.

This validity period runs for 7 years from the card’s issuance date, and forgetting to complete the renewal procedure constitutes a violation of the law. It is important to check the validity period of your Residence Card in advance and to complete the renewal procedure with plenty of time to spare.

Note that the renewal procedure can be carried out starting 2 months before the validity period expires. (If you will be absent from Japan during the application period due to a business trip, study abroad, or similar reasons and cannot renew during that window, renewal is possible earlier than the standard application period.) Also, if the expiration date of the Residence Card falls on the holder’s 16th birthday, the application can be made starting 6 months before that date. (This is because for Permanent Residents under 16 years of age, the validity period runs only up to the 16th birthday.)

Be sure to check the validity period of your Residence Card and complete the renewal procedure before it expires.

Who Can Apply for Residence Card Renewal

The following persons can apply for Residence Card renewal procedures.

Example: A lawyer or administrative scrivener who has received a request from the applicant and has been registered with the Director of the Regional Immigration Services Bureau, among others.

Documents Required for Residence Card Renewal

The documents required for the Residence Card renewal procedure are as follows.

There is no fee.

However, when the application is made by a relative, an authorized agent, or a representative, additional documents proving the relationship with the applicant (such as a certificate of residence) and a power of attorney are required, so please be careful.

Where to Apply for the Residence Card

Applications are filed with the Regional Immigration Services Bureau with jurisdiction over your place of residence.

The Residence Card Renewal Procedure

The Residence Card renewal procedure is carried out as follows.

① Prepare the application form and attach the required ID photograph.

The ID photograph must have a white background and measure 3 cm × 4 cm.
When filling out the application form, please make sure all information is accurate.

② Prepare your passport and current Residence Card.

Bringing copies of your passport and Residence Card along will make the procedure go more smoothly.

③ Submit your application to the Regional Immigration Services Bureau with jurisdiction over your place of residence.

At the time of submission, the applicant must appear in person. If a representative submits the application, a power of attorney is required.

④ After submission, a new Residence Card is issued.

Issuance is usually on the same day, but depending on how crowded the office is, it may take several days.

The application counter is not by appointment, so you can go directly without making a reservation.
However, to avoid congestion and reduce waiting time, making an advance reservation is the more reliable approach.

Also, please make sure that the documents you submit contain the most up-to-date information.
For example, if your address has changed, your certificate of residence must be updated to the latest version.
If there are deficiencies in the submitted documents, the procedure may be delayed, so please be careful.

Online Applications Are Now Also Available

At present, online applications are also possible for some procedures regarding the renewal of the period of stay and changes of Status of Residence. Those who find it difficult to go in person to the application counter may wish to consider this option.

How Long Does Residence Card Renewal Take?

As a general rule, the Residence Card renewal procedure results in the new card being issued on the same day.
Once the application is complete, the new Residence Card is issued that day, and you can take it home with you.

However, if same-day issuance is not possible for some reason, you will need to come back to receive it later, and the following documents will be required, so please be careful.

・The receipt slip from the time of application
・Passport
・Current Residence Card
・Documents proving identity

What Happens If You Forget to Renew Your Residence Card?

Forgetting to renew and letting the Residence Card’s validity period expire does not mean you will be treated as an overstayer (illegal resident) or deported from Japan.

This is because, for Permanent Residents (including Highly Skilled Professional (ii) holders), failing to renew the Residence Card does not make you an illegal resident.

However, foreign nationals staying in Japan for the medium to long term are required by law to hold a valid Residence Card, so possessing a Residence Card past its expiration date constitutes a violation of the law.
In serious cases, there are penalties such as imprisonment for up to 1 year or a fine of up to 200,000 yen (Article 71-2 of the Immigration Control Act), so be sure to renew your Residence Card within the deadline.

If you have forgotten to renew, please contact the Regional Immigration Services Bureau promptly and complete the procedure.

When the Permanent Residence Visa May Be Lost

As a basic rule, the Permanent Residence visa itself does not lapse.
However, under certain conditions, you may lose your Permanent Residence visa.

Specifically, there are 3 such cases.

① Long-Term Stay Abroad

When a Permanent Resident leaves Japan, they must obtain either a “Re-entry Permit” or a “Special Re-entry Permit.” If you will be away from Japan for longer than the maximum 5 years (for Re-entry Permit) or 1 year (for Special Re-entry Permit), an application for permission is required.
Without this permission, you may lose your Permanent Residence rights upon attempting to re-enter Japan.

② Criminal Acts or Serious Violations of the Law

If you commit a serious criminal act within Japan, your Permanent Residence visa may be revoked. The same applies to failure to fulfill tax obligations and other serious violations of the law.

③ Failure to Renew the Residence Card

If you leave your Residence Card past its expiration date for a long period without action, you may be subject to investigation or warnings from the Immigration Services Agency. If the situation is still not corrected after that, revocation of your Permanent Residence visa may ultimately be considered.

As shown above, to continue enjoying the benefits of the Permanent Residence visa, it is essential to comply with the law and not neglect periodic Residence Card renewals.

If you have failed to renew your Residence Card, problems will arise in situations where the Residence Card is required as identification, such as opening a bank account or signing up for a mobile phone contract.

To maintain your Permanent Residence visa, please be sure to renew your Residence Card without fail.
In the unlikely event that a problem does arise, we recommend consulting a specialist administrative scrivener promptly.

Advantages of Asking a Specialist to Handle Your Residence Card Renewal

Asking a specialist to handle the Residence Card renewal procedure offers the following advantages.

① Accurate Document Preparation

The Residence Card renewal procedure requires accurate document preparation, as even small mistakes can cause delays. Submitting flawless documents avoids the hassle of procedural delays and requests for additional documents — a significant advantage.

② Smooth Progress

By engaging a specialist, the entire procedure proceeds smoothly.
From preparing the required documents to submitting the application, the specialist provides consistent support, so the applicant can leave the procedure in their hands with peace of mind. In addition, specialists are well versed in the latest legal regulations and procedural changes, allowing for prompt and appropriate responses.

③ Saving Time and Effort

The Residence Card renewal procedure takes considerable time and effort.
By engaging a specialist, however, the applicant can focus on their own work or daily life. For busy businesspersons or those with families in particular, the support of a specialist is a great help.

④ Handling Unexpected Issues

Unexpected issues can arise during the procedure — for example, when the Immigration Bureau requests additional materials. Specialists can respond promptly in such situations, helping to prepare and submit the necessary documents.

⑤ Legal Compliance and Peace of Mind

The Residence Card renewal procedure is carried out in accordance with the law.
Another advantage of engaging a specialist is that the applicant can be sure of complying with the legal requirements.

Are There Disadvantages to Engaging a Specialist for Residence Card Renewal?

To put the conclusion first: there are no disadvantages.
If anything, the only consideration is the cost involved.

However, since the time and effort required for Residence Card renewal can be greatly reduced, there is no question that the procedure can be completed more efficiently and reliably than doing it yourself.

If you feel even a little uneasy about the procedure, we encourage you to consider engaging a specialist.

How Our Office Can Help

Our office provides full support for Residence Card renewal procedures.

From preparing the required documents to drafting the application form, our office can handle the work on your behalf.
Filling out the application form in particular requires accuracy, and even small deficiencies can cause delays.
Our experienced administrative scriveners prepare reliable application forms, preventing such deficiencies.

In addition, we also handle the application procedure at the Regional Immigration Services Bureau on your behalf.
The applicant does not need to go in person; our office files the application as your representative and proceeds with the procedure swiftly and reliably. We also keep you informed of the progress of the application as it unfolds, so you can leave the matter in our hands with peace of mind.

We also respond to general consultations regarding Residence Card renewal.
If you have any questions or concerns about the renewal procedure, our specialist staff will answer carefully and provide appropriate advice.

For all of these reasons, if you are having difficulties with Residence Card renewal procedures, please feel free to consult “Administrative Scrivener Corporation Touch.”

Free consultation appointments can be arranged by telephone or via the inquiry form on our website. If you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.