What is Status of Residence and period of stay?

Status of Residence is a category of 38 legal statuses that categorize the activities a foreigner may engage in or the status of residence he/she may have in Japan. The period of stay is the period during which a foreigner with Status of Residence can stay in Japan. Foreign nationals may engage in activities within the scope of Status of Residence and period of stay granted.　An application for a change of Status of Residence or extension of the period of stay must be made in person at the regional immigration office that has jurisdiction over the applicant’s place of residence. The applicant’s legal representative may file the application on the applicant’s behalf, or an employee of the receiving institution, an administrative scrivener who can act as an intermediary, or a relative may file the application documents.