Hello,
I’m a Canadian citizen who was in Japan on a working holiday visa starting from January 7, with the visa expiring on July 7. I stayed in Japan for about 4 months and I returned to Canada over a month ago without obtaining an extension, but I had secured a re-entry permit before leaving.
If you’re unaware, the way the Japan working holiday visa for Canadians works is that you are initially granted 6 months, but it can be extended for another 6 months to a total of 12.
I’m now considering a return to Japan, but if I do return, l’lI only have a few days to get an extension. I’d like to know if the extension process is more like a one-stop sort of thing where I can just go to an immigration office for a few hours, fill out the necessary forms, pay 4000¥, and then be on my way, or if it will involve potentially waiting multiple days if not weeks like the original application for the working holiday visa.
Some resources online make it seem like it’s relatively straightforward, while others make it seem like I would have to wait for mail. There seems to be some conflation with different, more common types of visa extensions.
It is also my understanding that I must be in Japan in order to get the extension, which is my fault for not doing the necessary research.
If the process to get the extension is not like a one-stop visit to the immigration office, returning to Japan might not be viable, as I can’t guarantee I would get the approval before my visa expires.
I’ve called my local consulate and they don’t know, and advised me to email an immigration office in Tokyo, which I did several days ago, and they have yet to get back to me.
Any help in this matter would be greatly appreciated! Thanks for reading
UPDATE:
The info center finally got back to me. They said: “After submitting the application forms, it takes approximately 2 to 3 weeks to get the Working Holiday visa renewed. You just need to present a valid passport and valid residence card.
Once your application is received, you don’t need to worry if your period of stay will be expired.”
It seems I don’t need to worry about it, but I’m curious as to how I’m allowed to stay without the updated visa. Perhaps they grant me some sort of temporary permit there to cover this issue.
3 comments
This is a copy of your post for archive/search purposes.
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**Working holiday extension question**
Hello,
I’m a Canadian citizen who was in Japan on a working holiday visa starting from January 7, with the visa expiring on July 7. I stayed in Japan for about 4 months and I returned to Canada over a month ago without obtaining an extension, but I had secured a re-entry permit before leaving.
If you’re unaware, the way the Japan working holiday visa for Canadians works is that you are initially granted 6 months, but it can be extended for another 6 months to a total of 12.
I’m now considering a return to Japan, but if I do return, l’lI only have a few days to get an extension. I’d like to know if the extension process is more like a one-stop sort of thing where I can just go to an immigration office for a few hours, fill out the necessary forms, pay 4000¥, and then be on my way, or if it will involve potentially waiting multiple days if not weeks like the original application for the working holiday visa.
Some resources online make it seem like it’s relatively straightforward, while others make it seem like I would have to wait for mail. There seems to be some conflation with different, more common types of visa extensions.
It is also my understanding that I must be in Japan in order to get the extension, which is my fault for not doing the necessary research.
If the process to get the extension is not like a one-stop visit to the immigration office, returning to Japan might not be viable, as I can’t guarantee I would get the approval before my visa expires.
I’ve called my local consulate and they don’t know, and advised me to email an immigration office in Tokyo, which I did several days ago, and they have yet to get back to me.
Any help in this matter would be greatly appreciated! Thanks for reading
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When I extended my working holiday many years ago it was around an hour in & out at my local regional immigration center. Fill out the form, affix the revenue stamp, bob’s your uncle.
>I stayed in Japan for about 4 months and I returned to Canada over a month ago without obtaining an extension, but I had secured a re-entry permit before leaving.
Just so we’re clear: You’re planning on returning to Japan either this week or next week?
Because your reentry permit ***does not extend your status of residence***. So you need to return to Japan before your status of residences (Your Zairyu card) expires in order to get an extension.
If your status of residence expires on July 7 you’ve got a grand total of *nine days* to return to Japan and get your extension.