Change of Status of Residence
If you are employed as a university researcher after graduation, you will need to change your status of residence to match your activities during your stay. Eligible applicants (international students/researchers) should prepare all required documents and visit the Osaka Regional Immigration Services Bureau Kyoto Branch Office in person to submit their applications. A new residence card will be issued once the application for renewal of the residence period is approved. Once the change of status of residence is approved, a new residence card will be issued.
Examples of when a change of the status of residence is required:
- When an international student has been appointed as a researcher at a Japanese university
⇒ status of residence “Professor”
- When graduates continue to stay in Japan to seek employment
⇒ status of residence “Designated Activities”
Required documents / Application Form Preparation System
| Status of Residence |
Items required for application |
"Professor"
"Cultural Activities"
"Student"
"Designated Activities"
"Temporary Visitor" |
Application for change of status of residence (ISA application forms)
|
| One ID photo(4 x 3 cm, taken within six months prior to the date of application) |
| Passport |
| Residence card |
Processing fee:
For further details, please see the following URL and attached files.
Fees for residence procedures for foreign nationals will be revised from October 1, 2026.
Leaflet（English）
*Revenue stamps are available at post offices and convenience stores.
|
【Examples of documents required in addition to the above for each status of residence】
| Status of Residence |
Items required for application |
| "Professor"
(Part-time staff only) |
Certificate of acceptance/employment issued by Kyoto University indicating your salary/fee
and period of teaching/research activity
*The certificate must have been issued within three months prior to making the application. |
| "Cultural Activities" |
Certificate of acceptance issued by Kyoto University indicating your new period of research
activity |
| Documents certifying your financial ability during your period of stay in Japan, such as a
certificate of bank balance, certificate of scholarship award, etc. |
| "Student" |
Certificate of student registration indicating your new period of enrollment |
| Academic transcript or certificate of research activity
*Please ask the academic affairs office to issue the above documents. |
| Documents certifying your financial ability during your period of stay in Japan, such as a
certificate of bank balance, certificate of scholarship award etc. |
| Temporary Visitor |
A statement of reasons to show why you need to change your status to” Temporary
Visitor”(Free format) |
| Document which shows that you plan to leave Japan, such as an air ticket. |
Important Notes
-
As a general rule, please submit certificates issued in Japan that were issued within three months prior to the date of submission.
-
Depending on the decision of the Immigration Services Agency of Japan, you may be asked to submit documents that are not listed in the examples above. Please contact your nearest Regional Immigration Services Agency or Immigration Information Center directly to confirm which documents are required.
-
In principle, changing to another status of residence after entering Japan with a Temporary Visitor visa is not permitted unless there are unavoidable special circumstances.
-
If you use the Immigration Services Agency's online application system, please carefully review the following pages and submit your application well in advance:
Before Applying
Regarding the amount of fees and payment methods for online applications (Applicable only to applications submitted on or after October 1, 2026.)
* A My Number Card is required to use the online application system.
** Please have the “For Completion by the Affiliated Organization” page of the application form completed by the person in charge at your affiliated department, as with an in-person application, and be sure to upload it as a supporting document.
*** If you need the supplementary sheets (Excel) for the respective statuses of residence, please refer to the following page:
Appendix Form No. 19
[!!Important!! For International Students]
The Application Form Preparation System provided by the Kyoto University International Support Center is NOT linked to Kyoto University Management System of International Education and Student Mobility (KUIESM), the system which manages the current enrollment status of international students.
- When preparing your application forms, please ask the student affairs office of your faculty/department to submit the “Organization” section of the application via [Function 1] of KUIESM. After the procedure has been completed, you will receive the completed Organization” section.
- After you have completed the procedures to change your status of residence or extend your stay in Japan at the Immigration Services Bureau, please be sure to update your details on KUIESM using [Function 2].
If you submit an application for an extension of period stay or change of status of residence before the current period of stay expires, you may continue to reside in Japan until a decision is made on your application or until two months have passed since the expiration of your period of stay, whichever is earlier. This period is called the special grace period.