Changing Your Status of Residence

Generally, international students attending Japanese universities are granted the "Student" visa. Those with a different status are recommended to change it to "Student" visa. Also, those who wish to search for or take up employment after graduation need to change their "Student" visa to a different one. Changing visa status from "temporary visitor" to "Student" is usually not permitted in principle. Some courses and scholarship programs require students to have “Student” visa status. In case you have questions regarding your visa status, please make sure to contact the office in charge, such as the office of the graduate school you plan to enroll in.  International Offices in Faculties and Graduate Schools

［Items required for application when changing your status to "student" from another.］
ーIf the student applies in personー
［1］ Application for Change of Status of Residence （available at Immigration Services Bureaus, and downloadable from Immigration Services Agency's website link below. Forms "For organization part 1 and part 2" must be completed by your faculty / graduate school. Follow the instruction of your faculty/graduate school regarding the documents required for the issuance.）
https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/16-2.html
*Temporarily in Japanese only as the website is under construction.
［2］ ID photo (4cm x 3cm)
［3］ Passport 
［4］ Residence Card
［5］ List of submitting documents and Confirmation form (downloadable from the Immigration Services Agency’s website link below)
https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/status/student.html
［6］ A letter of reason for change
［7］ Fee (Required when receiving your new residence card)
※If you are already student at University of Tokyo, please get the Certificate of Enrollment.
※Additional documents may be required by the Immigration Services Bureau.

［Notes］
・ Students awarded the Japanese Government（Monbukagakusho） Scholarships must acquire a "Student（ryugaku）" visa before entering Japan and enter Japan with the "Student（ryugaku）" residence status. Please note that students who change their visa status to one other than "student" after arrival in Japan will lose their qualification to be Japanese Government Scholarship recipients from the date their visa status is changed, and they will not be able to receive the scholarship.
・If you wish to work in Japan or continuing to search for employment after you leave university, you must change your residency status of "Student（ryugaku）."  (See the following section.）
・If you need to stay for a while after you complete your studies, please check with the immigration bureau before you graduate.
・If you change your status to "Temporary Visitor (Short-Term Stay)" after graduation, you may lose eligibility for social insurance as you will no longer be considered a mid- to long-term resident. Please check with your municipality. 
・If your period of stay already includes a period corresponding to preparation for departure from Japan after graduation, (e.g., one to two months after graduation/completion of study), in principle, you will not be able to change your status of residence to "Temporary Visitor (Short-Term Stay)" for the purpose of preparing to leave Japan.

～Designated Activities (Job Hunting/Entrepreneurial Activities after Graduation)～
For details, please see "Looking for Work after Graduation (Changing Your Status of Residence)"
→Please refer to the page: Career Support