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）
Even during the period for preparing to leave Japan (「特定活動」, 30 days), applying to change to another status of residence is itself legally possible. In practice, though, the hurdles are very high, and you need to act carefully and quickly. What decides it is whether you can explain in documents that there is a strong and reasonable ground for staying in Japan.
An enquiry from a person granted 30 days to prepare to leave Japan, asking whether there is any way to stay.
It is 30 days of grace given so that you can prepare to leave Japan.
When a sumo wrestler retires, the sumo association they belonged to reports that the 「興行」 activities have ended, and 30 days of grace are given as a period to prepare to leave Japan. This is 「特定活動（出国準備期間）」.
This period assumes that you will leave the country. However, there is no provision in the 入管法 (Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act) that prohibits applying to change to another status of residence. Making the application itself is possible.
The 「特例期間」 cannot be used, so either the result must come by the 30-day deadline, or you must leave the country once.
This is the most important point to watch. With an ordinary application to extend or change a work status of residence, if you apply before the deadline, the 「特例期間」 (grace period), which lets you stay for up to 2 months until the result comes, applies.
However, 入管法第20条第6項, which sets out this grace period, states expressly that it does not apply 「三十日以下の在留期間を決定されている者から申請があつた場合を除く」 ("except where the application is made by a person who has been granted a period of stay of 30 days or less"). 「特定活動」 for preparing to leave Japan is granted with a period of stay of 30 days or 31 days, so where 30 days has been granted, this grace period does not apply. In other words, the schedule is extremely tight: either the result of the examination must come before the 30-day deadline arrives, or you must leave the country once before it arrives.
The 30-day clock keeps running and never stops. If you are going to act, you need to decide your course today or tomorrow.
Where you can show with supporting documents that there is a strong and reasonable ground for staying in Japan.
An application to change from the period for preparing to leave is looked at strictly: "it was settled that you would go home once, so why have you changed your mind now?" You must not only submit documents, but also show unavoidable circumstances, or a strong and reasonable ground for staying in Japan.
In practice, going home once and applying for a 在留資格認定証明書 is the surer route.
Even if you wish to stay on in Japan, rather than forcing a change within 30 days, the following route is often the surest, and the one that does least harm to later screening.
3 points: the accepting organisation's preparation, a prior consultation, and how long is left on your passport.
Filing an application simply because "I want to stay in Japan", with no specific job or marriage planned, only raises the risk of illegal overstaying, and we cannot recommend it. First be clear about which status of residence you want to obtain next, and check whether the documents for it can be in your hands right away.
This article is based on information as at April 2026 (2026年4月). For current practice, please check the public notices of the 出入国在留管理庁 (Immigration Services Agency of Japan), or consult a specialist.
Making the application itself is legally possible. There is no provision in the 入管法 that prohibits an application to change during the period for preparing to leave. In practice, though, the hurdles are very high.
No. 入管法第20条第6項, which sets out the 「特例期間」, states expressly that it does not apply 「三十日以下の在留期間を決定されている者から申請があつた場合を除く」 ("except where the application is made by a person who has been granted a period of stay of 30 days or less"). 「特定活動」 for preparing to leave Japan is granted with a period of stay of 30 days or 31 days, so where 30 days has been granted, the grace period does not apply. Either the result must come by the 30-day deadline, or you must leave the country before it.
Where you have a job offer from a company in Japan, where you are marrying a Japanese national, or where you are moving to 「特定活動」 based on a public notice, among others. In every case you need to show with supporting documents that there is a strong and reasonable ground for staying in Japan.
There is. You go home once within 30 days, the application for a 在留資格認定証明書 is made in Japan, and once it is issued you apply for a 査証 at the Japanese embassy or consulate in your country and re-enter Japan.
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Get a free consultationThis article provides general information. Immigration rules change, and outcomes depend on individual circumstances. Please check the Immigration Services Agency website or consult a qualified specialist.
This page is a translation of the Japanese original. Where the two differ, the Japanese version prevails.