Can you renew your zairyu card sooner than 3 months before expiring?

5 comments

1. I think you’re supposed to surrender it if you will be out of Japan longer than one year.

2. Are you a permanent resident(永住者)? If yes, then the validity period of your physical zairyu card has nothing to do with permanent resident status. You can let it expire while being abroad and still be a permanent resident of Japan. But you will lose permanent residency if you let expire your re-entry permit. That’s a big no-no.

   If you do not have PR, then likely no chance. Your workplace should have a department in charge of overseas assignments, so should ask them.

3. To answer the question in your title, it is possible to renew your status of residence more than 3 months in advance, according to this link.

   https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/16-3.html

   > ただし、入院、長期の出張等特別な事情が認められる場合は、３か月以上前から申請を受け付けることもあります。事前に、申請される地方出入国在留管理官署へお問い合わせください。

   However, you need to contact immigration to plead your case. And there is no guarantee that they will accept your reason.

   I guess you might be able to convince them to let you renew it early, get another 3 or 5 years stay, then apply for a 2 years reentry permit. So just call immigration and ask, the worst they can say is no anyway.

4. Yes.

   I did this in the past (in 2022).

   You have to have an extenuating （やむを得ない） reason though.

   In my case, I was going to be out of the prefecture on a three month business trip, so they let me renew earlier before departing.

   It was very easy to do. The whole thing took about 15 minutes.

5. Some people in the comments said can and some said can’t. Each situation will be evaluated case by case basis by immigration.

   In my case it was for my wife’s zairyu card. My plead was rejected by immigration when I went to apply 5 months in advance (I even called in advance and they told me as long as I can provide evidence from my company, they will accept my plead).

   Their reason was, as my whole family will be transferred overseas for 3 years, if it’s for my zairyu card they might accept my plead as I have a reason or possibility of visiting my company in Japan within 3 years time frame. But, they don’t see any reason for my wife or family to enter Japan within the 3 years time frame. Therefore, if my family’s zairyu card expires whilst in overseas, they need to re-apply from COE. (Note: wife is non-japanese and we do not own a house in Japan).

   In conclusion, I believe if you can convince immigration and provide a written statement from your company that within that 2 years, you will be re-entering Japan for work purposes, they might accept your application. Good luck !