FOR INDIVIDUALS
For foreign residents and families
The right procedure depends on your goal and which office has jurisdiction. Use the table, then open the detail page for documents and steps.
Sugimoto Office in Chuo-ku, Kumamoto handles COE, change and extension of status, permanent residence, naturalization, and spouse visas. Permanent residence keeps your nationality and removes the time limit. Naturalization is a Legal Affairs Bureau process to become Japanese. Student-to-work transitions are a change of status.
Which procedure you need
| Procedure | Typical situation | Office | Typical timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa certification, change, renewal | Invite someone to Japan, extend stay, or change status (e.g. student to work) | Immigration Services Agency | Change/extension about 2 weeks–2 months; COE about 1–3 months |
| Permanent residence | Keep your nationality but remove the time limit and work restriction | Immigration Services Agency | About 6 months–1 year |
| Naturalization | Acquire Japanese nationality (you generally lose your current nationality) | Legal Affairs Bureau | 2–4 months to prepare, then about 8 months–1.5 years |
| Marriage & spouse visa | Married to a Japanese national and need Spouse of Japanese National status | Immigration Services Agency | Similar to COE or change of status |
Common forks
- Finishing school and starting work— usually achange of status(Engineer / Humanities). Employer papers are also on thework visapage.
- Stay long-term without changing nationality—permanent residence. For a Japanese passport or voting rights, seenaturalization.
- Married to a Japanese national—spouse visa. Later PR depends on cohabitation and tax records.