Prospective international students

Various procedures to go through during your stay

1.- Extending the period of your stay

If the period of your stay expires while you are still in university, and you would like to stay longer, you must apply for a permit to extend the period of your stay. There are some documents that the university has to provide for you, besides the ones that you have to provide yourself. They will be issued on the next school day after you apply, so make sure you have enough time to go through the necessary application procedures.

Necessary documents

  1. Application to extend the period of stay
    • For the applicant: 3 copies
    • For the relevant institution (the University): 2 copies
  2. 1 ID picture (4 cm x 3 cm)
  3. Passport
  4. Residence Card
  5. 1 certificate of student status
  6. 1 copy of your academic transcript
  7. Proof of your ability to pay your expenses during your stay (bankbook, balance certificate, etc)

2.- Changing your visa status

After you graduate from Surugadai University, or if you drop out of school, you must change your visa status from “international student” to the relevant status. If you wish to continue looking for a job after you graduate, you will need to change your status to “designated activities.” You will need a recommendation letter from the university in order to do this, so please follow the instructions to have it issued.

Necessary documents

  1. Application to change visa status
    • For applicant: 2 copies
    • Recommendation letter (from the University): 1 copy
  2. 1 ID picture (4 cm x 3 cm)
  3. Passport
  4. Residence Card
  5. Proof of your ability to pay your expenses during your stay (bankbook, balance certificate, etc)
  6. 1 copy of your graduation certificate
  7. Documents that prove that you are looking for a job (Hello Work card, etc)

3.- Applying for Permission to engage in activity other than permitted under the status of residence previously granted

If you are staying under an “international student” status, you are not allowed to work. At Surugadai University, all international students (even if they have no plans of working part-time immediately after entering the university) are required to apply for the “Permission to engage in activity other than permitted under the status of residence previously granted.” However, please note that not any kind of work is allowed upon obtaining this permit. The following restrictions apply:

  1. Max. of 28 hours a week (8 hours a day, 40 hours a week during long-term vacation periods)
  2. Excludes the following types of work: in the entertainment and amusement trades (pachinko, game centers, clubs,) special entertainment trades in or out of a shop, special entertainment by means of picture transmission, and introduction via telephone of members of the opposite sex, whether this is operated from a shop or not.

4.- Applying for a reentry permit

In the event that you plan on leaving Japan to go back to your country or study abroad and you wish to come back to Japan within a year, you are eligible for a Reentry Permit. When you leave the country with a reentry permit, check the field stating your wish to reenter the country on the Reentry ED card to indicate your intentions to the immigration officer.
Please be careful, as the reentry permit is no longer valid if you do not come back to Japan within one year after you leave the country.

Necessary documents

  1. Reentry permit application: 1 copy
  2. Residence card
  3. Passport

5.- Inviting your family over for your graduation

If you wish to invite your family to Japan for your graduation, they may need a visa for a short-term stay. The procedures to follow may vary depending on their nationalities, so please check the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Website / Chart of Procedures to Apply for a Visa for a Short-Term Stay