This article is a translation of the Japanese original. Where the two differ, the Japanese version prevails. Read the Japanese original（日本語版を読む）
The student visa assumes that you continue your studies, so taking a leave of absence lightly carries serious risks, including revocation of your status of residence. If you stop studying for at least 3 months without a proper reason, your status of residence may be revoked, and for a long leave of absence you need to consider changing to another status of residence.
A guide for students who are thinking of taking a leave of absence for financial reasons, to go home for a while, or for similar reasons.
If you stop studying for at least 3 months without a proper reason, your status of residence may be revoked.
When you tell the university that you are taking a leave of absence, the university notifies the 出入国在留管理庁 (Immigration Services Agency of Japan) that you have stopped studying. On the basis of that information, the 出入国在留管理庁 decides whether your status of residence should continue. If you carry out no study activity for at least 3 months without a proper reason, your status of residence may be revoked. In addition, if you are judged to be mainly engaged during your leave of absence in activities unrelated to study, such as full-time part-time work, this counts as activity outside the purpose of the visa and the status of residence cannot be maintained. If it is settled that your leave of absence will be long (half a year to 1 year, for example) and you need to stay in Japan during that time, you must consider changing to another status of residence rather than keeping the student visa.
Keeping track of the deadline for the みなし再入国許可, and applying to extend your period of stay in advance if it will expire.
While your student visa is still valid, you can re-enter Japan without an application by using the みなし再入国許可 (Special Re-entry Permit), provided you re-enter within 1 year of leaving. However, if your leave of absence is long and your status at the university has been notified, screening on re-entry may become stricter. The みなし再入国許可 lapses 1 year after departure or at the expiry of your period of stay, whichever comes first, so if your leave of absence means that your period of stay is close to expiring, you must obtain a 再入国許可 (Re-entry Permit) in advance. If your student visa will expire during your leave of absence, you must file an 在留期間更新許可申請 (Application for Extension of Period of Stay) inside Japan before you go home. You will need to submit documents from the university showing that the leave of absence has been formally approved, together with documents showing that you genuinely intend to return to your studies (a 理由書, a written explanation, a plan for after your return, and so on).
With documents issued by the university, and by confirming again who will cover your costs.
Even if your leave of absence is approved, at your next visa renewal (or on re-entry) you must prove that you intend to end the leave and resume your studies without fail. Prepare a document issued by the university that sets out in detail the period of your leave, the date you plan to return, and your study plan after you return. If you have continued to bear part of your tuition or your living costs during the leave, submitting the financial evidence for this strengthens the case that your intention to return is genuine.
The student visa is handled very strictly, and deciding things on your own can force you to give up your studies in Japan altogether. Before you decide to take a leave of absence, always speak to the relevant office at your university, and also consult a 行政書士 (certified administrative procedures legal specialist, gyoseishoshi) about the procedure.
It is said that if you carry out no study activity for at least 3 months without a proper reason, your status of residence may be revoked.
Watch the deadline of the みなし再入国許可 (1 year from departure, or the expiry of your period of stay, whichever comes first), and obtain a 再入国許可 in advance if the deadline is near.
It is said to be effective to prepare a document issued by the university setting out in detail the period of the leave, the date you plan to return and your study plan, and to show how your costs are being covered where necessary.
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This page is a translation of the Japanese original. Where the two differ, the Japanese version prevails.