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Japan immigration

Japan to allow foreign residents to change or renew visa online

Justice Ministry will reform the procedure in fiscal 2021 for greater convenience

Foreign residents line up outside the Tokyo Regional Immigration Services Bureau in Minato Ward in May 2020.

TOKYO -- Foreign residents in Japan will be allowed to renew, extend or change visas online, starting in fiscal 2021.

The Justice Ministry plans to reform the system to make it more efficient and convenient for foreign residents. Currently, in most cases foreign residents have to visit a regional immigration services bureau to change their residency status. Online applications for changing residency status are permitted only when companies and organizations make them on behalf of applicants who belong to them.

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