Tokyo residence status changes, extensions, and work visa advice

Shinagawa Government Building: Confirming where to apply and how to get there

The Shinagawa Government Building of the Tokyo Regional Immigration Services Bureau is located at 5-5-30 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo. Counter hours are 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. on weekdays; it is closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. From the Konan Exit of Shinagawa Station, take a Toei bus to “Tokyo Immigration Services Bureau.” Parking is limited, so please use public transportation.

The Tokyo Regional Immigration Services Bureau’s jurisdiction extends beyond Tokyo to the Kanto-Koshinetsu region. However, applications such as extensions of period of stay and changes of status of residence are generally handled based on the applicant’s place of residence. For an application for a Certificate of Eligibility, the general basis is the location of the accepting organization that acts as the application agent, or the address of the relative concerned. Do not choose where to apply solely because your employer is in Tokyo.

Tachikawa Branch Office is in Kunitachi; the Shinjuku Branch Office handles different matters

Although its name includes “Tachikawa,” the Tachikawa Branch Office of the Tokyo Regional Immigration Services Bureau is located at the Tachikawa Legal Affairs Joint Government Building, 3-31-2 Kita, Kunitachi-shi, Tokyo. It handles general residence screening matters, with counter hours of 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. on weekdays. The official directions advise taking a bus from the north exit of Tachikawa Station to “Tama Vehicle Inspection Center,” then walking five minutes after getting off. To be sure the office handles your procedure, you may wish to confirm in advance by calling 042-528-7179. The Shinjuku Branch Office, on the other hand, handles deportation procedures and does not conduct screening for residence-related matters. Take care not to go there for an extension or change of status of residence.

FRESC in Yotsuya: Free residence consultations and how to book

At the Tokyo Regional Immigration Services Bureau’s FRESC counter, foreign nationals and representatives of businesses wishing to hire foreign nationals can consult about status of residence and immigration procedures. The office is on the 13th floor of Yotsuya Tower, 1-6-1 Yotsuya, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo. Consultations are by appointment on weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; the office is closed on holidays and during the year-end and New Year period. Consultations are free, including when an interpreter is provided, and you may consult anonymously.

To book an in-person consultation, call 03-5363-3025 or use the reservation form on the official website. This number is for appointments only; consultations by phone are not available. Online consultations can be booked only online and use Microsoft Teams. If using a smartphone or tablet, install the app in advance and join the meeting five minutes before the consultation starts. Data charges are the responsibility of the person consulting.

For naturalization consultations, contact the Tokyo Legal Affairs Bureau, not Immigration

Consultations and applications for naturalization—the process of acquiring Japanese nationality—are handled by the Legal Affairs Bureau with jurisdiction over your place of residence, not by Immigration. Naturalization consultations at the Tokyo Legal Affairs Bureau are by appointment. Check the official guidance to confirm which office has jurisdiction, then book by phone before visiting. The Nationality Division of the Tokyo Legal Affairs Bureau handles the 23 wards and island areas; the Tama region is divided among the Hachioji, Fuchu, and Nishitama Branch Offices. For example, naturalization consultations for residents of Tachikawa City are handled by the Hachioji Branch Office—not the Tachikawa Branch Office of Immigration or the Tachikawa Branch Office of the Legal Affairs Bureau. For your initial consultation, complete and bring the naturalization consultation questionnaire available on the official website.

Preparing for procedures in Tokyo and consulting an administrative scrivener

Organize your residence card and passport, your current activities, your period of stay, and any changes in your workplace or family situation, then confirm which procedure you need and where to apply. If you hire an administrative scrivener, confirm in advance the scope of their work, such as document preparation and application submission on your behalf, as well as fees and consultation arrangements. Government offices are separate from our office. We accept consultations on status of residence, visas, and hiring foreign employees from businesses nationwide, not only in Tokyo. Simply choosing whom to consult does not extend your period of stay.