For foreign nationals living and working in Kanagawa Prefecture, renewing or changing residence status is a procedure that affects work, housing, and family plans. Organize matters early, such as a job change, changes to employment terms, or an approaching period of stay expiry. This page refers to the prefecture’s official consultation and procedure guidance and explains points to check when seeking advice about work visas. Imai Administrative Scrivener Office accepts consultations from foreign nationals nationwide.
Plan Kanagawa extension and change deadlines around life changes
When preparing for an extension or change, do not focus only on the deadline. Organize chronologically the activities you undertake under your current status of residence, your employer and job duties, and any changes in your residence or family circumstances. If you plan to change jobs or move within Kanagawa Prefecture, check the relevant materials, such as your residence card, passport, and documents showing your employment terms, and compare them with the latest official guidance on required documents. As a general rule, you apply to the immigration office or other authority with jurisdiction over your address. Check the official guidance from the Yokohama Branch of the Tokyo Regional Immigration Services Bureau to confirm where to apply.
When changing jobs, check the actual duties, not just the job title
When changing jobs while working under a work-related status of residence, it is important to understand how the duties, employment type, compensation, and start date will differ from before. Even jobs with similar titles may involve different actual activities, in which case you may need to consider an application for permission to change your status of residence, not just an extension. Conversely, whether a procedure is required cannot be determined solely by job title. Organize your contract, job posting, and job description early, and check them against the latest immigration guidance and your individual circumstances.
How public consultations differ from hiring an immigration scrivener
Kanagawa Prefecture publishes information about consultation services for foreign residents. Its Yokohama office provides general consultations and information about legal and administrative-scrivener consultations, while information about general and legal consultations is also available for the Atsugi area. Yokohama residents can seek specialized consultations, including on status of residence and visas, through the Yokohama City Multicultural Coexistence General Consultation Center. These are public services for daily-life support and information, not services provided by this office. To find out whether you can engage an administrative scrivener for representation in an individual application or preparation of documents, check the consultation details and engagement terms.
Check that proposed duties match the foreign recruit’s status of residence
For companies in Kanagawa Prefecture considering hiring foreign nationals, checking a candidate’s status of residence, proposed duties, employment terms, and start date in a single table before rushing to hire can make it easier to identify discrepancies between the job posting and the work the person will actually do. When preparing job postings or discussing recruitment, it is important to consider the activities permitted under the relevant status of residence. Our office accepts inquiries from companies nationwide about hiring foreign nationals and recruiting for job openings. However, this does not mean we provide personnel placement or can introduce candidates immediately. Please also confirm in advance whether we are registered or authorized as a Registered Support Organization.
Frequently Asked Questions
I live in Kanagawa Prefecture. Where should I check information about an extension application?
As a general rule, applications related to status of residence are filed with the immigration office or other authority with jurisdiction over the applicant’s place of residence. Kanagawa Prefecture is stated to be under the jurisdiction of the Yokohama Branch of the Tokyo Regional Immigration Services Bureau. As counters, hours, and procedures handled may change, check the official website before applying.
If I change jobs, do I always need to apply for permission to change my status of residence?
This cannot be determined uniformly. The points to check vary depending on the actual duties in the new job, your current status of residence, and employment terms, among other factors. Gather the job posting, employment contract, and job description early, and check whether a procedure is required and which documents are needed based on the latest official guidance and your individual circumstances.
How do public consultation services for foreign nationals differ from engaging an administrative scrivener?
Prefectural and municipal offices provide information about daily life in multiple languages and direct people to specialized consultation services. By contrast, whether and to what extent you can engage an administrative scrivener, and the fees, vary by office and case. Public consultation services do not provide the services of our office, so check each separately according to your needs.
Official Resources and Related Consultation Services
Systems and public consultation services may change. Please check the latest official information when proceeding with an application. Public consultation services are separate from our office.
Tell us your current residence status and which procedure you are considering
We accept consultations nationwide on residence status renewals and changes, and work visas. We will confirm the details and advise you on consultation methods, fees, and whether we can assist.
Consult About Status of Residence and Visas