Understanding Your Visa & Residence Status
Your Status of Residence (e.g., "Instructor") is the foundation of your life in Japan. Understanding its rules is crucial, especially when it comes to renewal.
Permitted Activities
As an ALT, your status is typically "Instructor" (教育 - kyōiku). This allows you to engage in language instruction and related activities at public educational institutions.
- What's Allowed: Working as an ALT in elementary, junior high, or high schools. Private tutoring can be a grey area and may require special permission from Immigration.
- What's Not Allowed: Working in jobs unrelated to your visa status (e.g., working in a restaurant or convenience store) is strictly prohibited and can jeopardize your status.
Changing Jobs After Brain Power
If you find a new job that is still within the "Instructor" category (e.g., another ALT position), the process is straightforward. However, if you wish to change to a different job type (e.g., an office job that falls under "Specialist in Humanities"), you must apply for a Change of Status of Residence. This is a separate, more complex application and is not guaranteed to be approved.
Visa Renewal Checklist (Change/Renewing to Instructor Visa)
Please use this checklist to gather all necessary documents for your visa renewal. After you submit them to us, they will be sent for processing with our visa lawyer. We will contact you if any additional documents are required.
Provided by Brain Power
| 1. Application for extension of period of stay OR Application for change status of residence | |
| 2. Copy of Employment Contract | |
| 3. Degree Certificate (copy) | |
| 4. Resident Card & Passport (在留カード / パスポート) |
Provided by Applicant/Self
| 5. Picture (40mm by 30mm, must be taken within 3 months) | |
| 6. Teaching certificates as TESOL, CELTA, etc., if any. | |
| 7. Most recent resume (make sure to note period/term of employment month/year) |
Provided by Local Ward/City Hall
| 8. Last year's and this year's city tax paid certificate (Nozei-shomeisho) (昨年と今年の市民税の納税証明書) |
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| 9. This year's city taxations certificate (Kazei-shomeisho) (今年度の市民税の課税証明書) |
※ If it is too early in the year to get this year's document, last year's statement only is fine.
Provided by Brain Power (Will post directly to immigration upon request)
| 10. Financial statement (Brain Power) | |
| 11. Certificate of full registry records (Brain Power) | |
| 12. Hoteichosho Gokeihyo (Brain Power) |
※ No. 10, 11, & 12 will be provided by Brain Power if requested by immigration. This is usually requested if this is your first renewal under Brain Power Co., Ltd.
Online Visa Application Helper
Our step-by-step guide will help you complete your visa extension application form correctly. Once finished, you can generate a printable PDF.
Start Visa Application GuideAfter Submission
When immigration has completed your visa processing, we will provide you with a processing completion number. You will then be required to send your expiring residence card to our office in a provided prepaid envelope. We will then post your new residence card to you. Trips to the immigration office are no longer necessary.
Keep Your Residence Card Info Updated!
Once you receive your new card, please inform us of the new expiry date using the official update form.
Update Your Details Now