I want to leave my Japanese language school and return to my home country 🙁
I would like to see some sights in Japan before I go, but doing that indefinitely is visa fraud (lol). How much time do I have in Japan exactly after informing my school of my intent to cancel?Do they report that to immigration and want me gone the same day?The specific grace period would be nice to know, whether it’s 0 days, 14, or something else.
(Phrased another way, if I wanted to maximize my time in Japan, would it be better to miss school for a week before telling the school about my intent to leave, and sightsee then?)
Related questions:
\-There’s no way I can transfer to a tourist visa, right? Those aren’t being issued right now?
\-Also, will cancelling my student visa negatively affect my ability to travel to Japan in future?
Thank you
5 comments
Apply for a tourist visa
Call immigration and talk to them, but 14 days after withdrawing from classes is pretty normal.
You’ll get 3 months grace period. At least that what I got back in 2018. After I finished school I stayed in Japan for about a month (for travel). My student visa was still valid for another 7 months or so.
Before departure, at the immigration line the staff asked me if I’m gonna return, I said no, and he was like “are you sure, your zairyu card is still valid till the end of the year”. I said yes (edit: at that time I didn’t know that I’d return here in 2021) and he punched a hole in my card.
So I guess even if you “overstayed”, as long as your zairyu card is still “valid”, immigration probably wouldn’t find out. But to be safe, the grace period is 3 months (cmiiw).
Here’s a crazy idea: check the immigration site. It’s got all visa related information you could possibly need.
Legally you must report changes to your residence status within two weeks after the change.
They have the option to change your status to a tourist visa.