Recontracting third-years, have a read of this guide on how to renew your visas. PLEASE read it soon, and act on it as soon as you get your employment contract (at the recontracting ceremony on the 23rd of July). Don't hesitate on it, or you may find yourself in trouble.

 Click to read the full guide.

Applying for an extension on your visa is a relatively easy, painless process. There are quite a few papers you need to get, but no worry, here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do it, from someone who did it only 3 hours ago!

Step 1: At school:

1. Make sure you have your passport and alien registration card handy.

2. Get a copy of the "gensen choshuhyo" (源泉徴収票) from your school office.

3. Make sure you have your school address and phone number. The address should be on your gaijin card.

Step 2: At your local city hall (shiyakusho):

Get a residence certificate, called a “gaikokujin touroku kisai shomeisho” (外国人登録記載証明書).

You can probably get the same thing by asking for a “jiminhyo” – this is a proof of residence that us gaikokujin don’t actually have, but the certificate up there is the closest thing, and what you’ll be needing.)

Step 3: At the kencho:

On the day of contract signing, you’ll be given your new employee certificate (the fancy paper with the green border, not the one on which you write your address). I suggest making a copy of this, and taking both the original and the copy with you.

Step 4: At the immigration office:

The Naha immigration office is here: 沖縄県那覇市樋川１丁目１５−１５

(if you’re good at Google maps, put that address in there)

Directions: Coming down Kokusai Dori, towards the kencho. At the big Paletto intersection, turn left. Stay in the left-hand land. On your right, you’ll pass the police headquarters (which doesn’t have a sign, but you’ll see the rather imposing building after the kencho. It has a red & white tower thing on top of it). At the intersection at right after the police headquarters, turn left. Go straight and you’ll see Naha High School (那覇高等学校) on your left. At those traffic lights, turn right (you’ll see the sign there that says Naha District Office). After a short while, you’ll see Naha Family Court on your left. It’s after that. It does have a big parking lot. The immigration centre is on the 7th floor, in the east building. It’s well sign-posted, so you shouldn’t get lost in the building. If you’ve applied for a re-entry permit, it’s the same place. This is open Monday to Friday, 9am-12pm and 1 to 4pm.

At the immigration centre, on your left you’ll see the information desk. The lovely man at the desk will give you the forms you need to fill out and help you if you have problems (though he doesn’t speak much English, he makes things very easy to understand). 

Once you’ve filled out these forms, he’ll direct you to the other desk to hand them in. This is where you’ll need a copy of your employment certificate – they do want to see the original, but you can give them the copy to keep, so that you don’t lose yours.

They’ll also ask you to get a 6,000yen revenue stamp. To do this, go back down to the 1st floor and exit the building. You’ll see some stairs on your right. Take these to the second floor, and as you go in the building again you’ll see a window with the sign “revenue stamps” – you can pay there. If you’re getting a re-entry permit, you’d do well to pay for that while you’re there too. 3,000 for a single and 6,000yen for a multiple.

Go back in and up to the 7th floor. Give that to the person attending you, and they’ll do the rest.

I got my extension immediately, but they told me that it can take up to TWO WEEKS, so DON’T procrastinate, just in case!

If you’re wanting a re-entry, that gets done after you get your extension, so if you’re lucky enough to get everything immediately, you can do both, but if not, they’ll post you your passport and you’ll have to go back for the permit.

Last step is going to your city office again. Show them your passport stamp, and they write a little note on your gaijin card to say you’ve extended it.

That’s it!

Here’s a quick checklist of the things you need to take to the immigration office

1. Passport

2. Gaijin card

3. Employee certificate (from the kencho)

4. Gensen choshuhyo (from your school office)

5. Gaikokujin toroku kisai shomeisho (from your city office)

6. Your school's address and phone number

Good luck! 

Jacqui Toulson