YAMAGUCHI UNIVERSITY

Changing your Status of Residency

Application for Change of Status of Residence

List of Necessary documents

If you stop undertaking the activities that are stipulated by your status of residence, and plan to continue living in Japan doing other activities, you must change your status of residence. After you successfully change your status of residence, you must report your new status to City Hall within 14 days

Changing from “Family Dependent” to “College Student” Status

You will need the following:

• Application form for change of status of residence
  *Page 4-5 of the application form should be filled out by your faculty or graduate school. *Processing time is about one week.
  *Hard copies are available at your faculty or graduate school and the International Student Support Office.
• Photo (4cm×3 cm)
  *Write your name on the back of the photo and glue it to the application.
  *The photo must have been taken within the past 3 months. You may not wear a hat, and the photo should be clear with a plain background.
• Certificate of enrollment
  (A certificate of acceptance or certificate of planned enrollment may be accepted if applicable)
• Certificates of scholarships you are receiving (if applicable) or bank account statement
• Permit to engage in activity other than that permitted by the status of residence previously granted (if applicable)
• Passport
• Residence card
• Fee in the form of revenue stamps (available at the post office)
  ￥4,000 (necessary only after application when you successfully change status)

Changing from “College Student” to “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” status (for those who find a job before graduation)

You will need the following:

• Application form for change of status of residence
  *Pages 4-5 should be filled out by your employer.
  *Hard copies are available at your faculty or graduate school and the International Student Support Office.)
• Photo (4cm×3 cm)
  *Write your name on the back of the photo and glue it to the application.
  *The photo must have been taken within the past 3 months. You may not wear a hat, and the photo should be clear with a plain background.
• Certificate of expected graduation or completion, and certificate of enrollment if you have not yet graduated (you will need to submit your diploma after graduation before the change can be approved). If you have already graduated, a diploma or a certificate of graduation
• Copies of the company registration and a statement of profit and loss of the recipient organization (provided by your employer)
• Document showing official job offer (provided by your employer)
• Passport
• Residence card
• Fee in the form of revenue stamps (available at the post office)
  \4,000 (necessary only after application when you successfully change status)

Changing from “College Student” to “Designated Activities” status (for those who wish to continue looking for employment after graduation)

If as a degree student you plan to reside in Japan after graduation to look for employment, you must change your status of residence from “College Student” to “Designated Activities.” You can apply for this change after getting your diploma post-graduation. If your period of stay as a College Student expires on the same date as your graduation ceremony, completion ceremony, or degree awarding ceremony, you can apply for the change in advance by submitting a certificate of expected graduation or expected completion. It takes about 3 weeks to process after you apply. After changing your status of residence, you can stay for another 6 months. After 6 months, the period of stay can be extended once more, for a total period of up to one year for job-hunting in Japan.
E.g. Changing to “Designated Activities” status just after graduation, extending for another six months, and finding a job in Japan.

You will need the following:

• Application for change of status of residence
  *Page 4-5 should be filled out by your faculty or graduate school.
  *Processing time is 1 week.
  *Hard copies are available at your faculty or graduate school and the International Student Support Office.
• ?Photo (4cm×3 cm)
  *Write your name on the back of the photo and glue it to the application.
  *The photo must have been taken within the past 3 months. You may not wear a hat, and the photo should be clear with a plain background.
• Letter of recommendation (available at the following locations )
  Yoshida Campus : International Student Support Office,
  Kogushi Campus : Education/Student Support Section, Educational Affairs Division,
  School of Medicine, Tokiwa Campus : Student Section, Educational Affairs Division, Faculty of Engineering
• Copy of your diploma, certificate of graduation, or certificate of completion
  (For certificate of graduation and certificate of completion, apply at your faculty or graduate school.)
  When applying before graduation:
  Certificate of expected graduation or completion
  (Apply at your faculty or graduate school.)
• Materials that show you are job-hunting (Preferably documents with your name)
• Documents which verify that you have enough funds to cover living expenses during your stay in Japan (Copy of bankbook, etc.)
• Residence card
• Passport
• Fee in the form of revenue stamps (available at the post office.)
  \4,000 (necessary only after application when you successfully change status)