According to yesterday’s press release by the Ministry of Justice, the number of revocations of the status of residence (在留資格取消し/zairyushikaku torikeshi) in 2018 was 832, more than double from the previous year.
Do you know when the status of residence gets revoked in Japan?
The cases are prescribed in Article 22-4, paragraph (1) of the Immigration Control Act.
There are ten cases / rules in total, but the most popular cases are:
When a foreign national with the following status of residence (*) does not continue to engage in the activity corresponding to their status of residence for more than 3 months without a justifiable reason. (Article 22-4, paragraph (1) Ⅵ, Immigration Control Act)
For example,
International student continues to stay in Japan with a status of residence “Student” for more than 3 months after being expelled from school.
A person holding a status of residence “ Technical intern training” continues to stay in Japan without engaging in activities as a technical intern for more than 3 months after he/she left designated training organization.
When a foreign national with the following status of residence (*) is not engaging in the activity corresponding to that status and stays Japan while engaging in another activity without a justifiable reason. (Article 22-4, paragraph (1) Ⅴ, Immigration Control Act)
For example,
International student continues his/her part time job after being expelled from school.
A person holding a status of residence “Engineer/ Specialist in Humanities/ International Services” engages in activities that does not correspond to that status. (An English teacher who used to work at a language school quits and starts to work at a bar without changing the status of residence etc..)
*Diplomat; Official; Professor; Artist; Religious Activities; Journalist; Highly Skilled Professional (1); Business Manager and Administrator; Legal/Accounting Services; Medical Services; Researcher; Instructor; Engineer and Specialist in Humanities/International Services; Intra-company Transferee; Entertainer; Skilled Labor; Technical Intern Training; Cultural Activities; Temporary Visitor; Student; Trainee; Dependent; Designated Activities
Other cases include when a mid-to-long term foreign resident fails to notify his/her residential address to the Ministry of Justice within 90 days from the day he/she moved out of his/her previous residence without a justifiable reason.
Note that every mid-to-long term resident is required to notify his/her residential address to the Ministry of Justice within 14 days from the day he/she moved out of his/her previous residence (Article 19-9, Immigration Control Act). This is important when you renew your status of residence / change your visa status, and especially if you are planning to apply for a Permanent Residence in the future! Don’t let this affect your future immigration status!
If you have questions and/or want to know what can be a justifiable reason, please feel free to contact us! We specialise in all immigration issues, from student visas to business visas. We can help you with your immigration concerns.
(For those interested in reading more about this immigration visa issue in Japan, an English article is also available on the JAPAN TODAY website as linked below.