renewvisa

Do I need to renew my Visa?

*The information on this page applies to sightseeing after JET - if you are remaining in Japan to work or study, please see Work Visas or Study Visas*

When finishing your time as an ALT in Sendai, it’s extremely important to make sure you aren’t violating immigration laws - you must have a valid visa for as long as you remain in Japan. If you try to leave the country after your visa has expired and don’t have a replacement visa, you will be classed as an illegal alien and probably be detained/interrogated at the airport - which will then mean you have to pay for your own flight home when you are deported (and you will not be allowed to come back to Japan!) There are several options available, depending on whether your visa expires at the same time as your contract or not.

When does your visa expire?
Check the date that your visa expires. Do this by looking at the “period of stay” on your visa. Alternatively, if you don’t have your passport handy, check on your alien registration card (if you’ve extended your period of stay and updated the card, it will be an amendment on the back).
Note: It’s also a good idea to check how long your passport is valid for and when it will expire.

Staying longer in Japan: Instructor visa not due to expire
If your visa is not due to expire when you finish your ALT contract (i.e. you have a 3-year visa but only worked 1 or 2 years on it), then you can stay for up to 90 days for the purpose of sightseeing (i.e., you are not allowed to work) after your contract finishes without changing your visa.

Please note that Sendai BOE will not pay for your flight home if you stay in Japan longer than one month after your ALT contract ends.

Also, if you stay beyond the 90 day “sightseeing” period, even though your Instructor visa says that it will cover you for longer, the visa is only valid if you are still working in the job for which the visa was first issued. Therefore, if you stay for more than 90 days, you must change your Status of Residence to match your current activities, e.g. Temporary Visitor status. Changing your visa will cost 4000 yen (see Visitor and Extension Visas).

*If you have Temporary Visitor status you are eligible to use a Japan Rail Pass*

You may also leave the country and return on your visa as long as it is valid and you have a re-entry permit. However, you must cancel your visa upon leaving the country for good or you will not be eligible for your pension refund.

Instructor visa DUE to expire (Third/upper year ALTs):

If you are a third-year ALT, your current work visa will expire on the same day as your contract. Unless you can leave before your visa expires, you MUST apply for a visa status change or an extension. If you try to leave the country after your visa has expired and don’t have a replacement visa, you will be classed as an illegal alien and probably be detained/interrogated at the airport - which will then mean you have to pay for your own flight home when you are deported (and you will not be allowed to come back to Japan!)

If your current visa is set to expire but you want to stay in Japan a bit longer（to pack, to help your successor, to sightsee, etc.）you have two options:
? You can apply for a Temporary Visitor Visa (短期滞在資格ビザtanki taizai shikaku bisa). Depending on your reason, you’ll be granted either a 15-, 30-, or 90-day Temporary Visitor visa status. Note: Sendai Immigration Office usually issues departing ALTs with the 30-day Temporary Visitor visa status when the reason is “packing”.
? Alternatively, If you just need a few extra days then you can apply for an Extension Visa (出国準備 shukkoku junbi), which will cover you for 15 days. Applying for this visa is a bit more complicated and you must provide a very good reason (e.g., need more time to pack, taking an exam, your school has asked you to stay longer to train your successor, etc.)