Tomorrow I'll be applying for my first renewal since I moved to Japan.
My current one expires on September 5 – three months from now. After the renewal application, I'll wait for the postcard to arrive in the mail and pick up my new residence card once it's approved. I know this can take more than a month, and that's fine because I still have plenty of time.
I've read that the new residence card's validity begins on the day you pick it up (not the day after the expiration of the current card), even if you still have some time left on your previous one. So that means if I pick it up in two months from now, I'll be basically throwing away the remaining month on my current card.
Can I put off picking up the new card to maximize the use of the remaining time on my current one? If so, how long can I put it off from the day I receive the postcard in the mail?
Thanks!
by Kangy1989