For Vietnamese international students and technical interns studying and working in Japan, the period of stay is an important matter that requires careful attention. In everyday conversation, many people refer to this as the “visa expiry date”. However, from a legal perspective, foreigners residing in Japan should pay particular attention to the period of stay (在留期間) and status of residence (在留資格) stated on their Residence Card.

When the period of stay is approaching its expiry date, you need to determine your next plan clearly: continue studying, continue working, change to another status of residence, or return to Vietnam. Depending on the circumstances, you may need to apply for an extension of period of stay or a change of status of residence.

1. First, Check Your Residence Card

The most important information can be found on your Residence Card (在留カード).

Check:

The expiry date of your period of stay.
Your current status of residence.
The activities you are permitted to undertake in Japan.
Your personal details stated on the card.

Do not rely solely on the expiry date of the visa in your passport. For foreigners already residing in Japan, it is particularly important to check their period of stay and status of residence.

2. If You Continue Studying or Working Under Your Current Status: Apply for an Extension

If you still meet the requirements of your current status of residence and wish to continue the same activities in Japan, you generally need to apply for:

Application for Extension of Period of Stay (在留期間更新許可申請).

For example, an international student who is continuing their studies and wishes to remain in Japan can apply to extend their Student status (留学). The Immigration Services Agency of Japan provides procedures for foreign nationals who wish to continue activities covered by their existing status of residence.

In general, applications for an extension can be submitted approximately three months before the expiry date of the current period of stay. In certain special circumstances, applications may be accepted earlier.

What should international students prepare?

Depending on the individual circumstances and the requirements of the Immigration Services Agency, documents may include:

Passport.
Residence Card.
Application form for extension of period of stay.
Photograph meeting the required specifications.
Certificate of enrolment or other proof of study.
Documents relating to academic performance.
Proof of financial support, where required.
Other supporting documents depending on the individual case.

Because the required documents vary according to the status of residence and individual circumstances, applicants should check the latest official requirements before submitting their application.

3. What If an International Student Graduates but Wants to Work in Japan?

This is a situation that many international students are concerned about.

If you have graduated and wish to move from studying to employment, you cannot simply continue using the Student status (留学) to work full-time.

When your activities in Japan change, you may need to apply for:

Application for Change of Status of Residence (在留資格変更許可申請).

The Immigration Services Agency of Japan provides this procedure for foreign nationals who are already in Japan and wish to change their activities and move to a status of residence appropriate for their new activities.

Depending on your qualifications, academic background and employment, possible statuses may include:

Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services (技術・人文知識・国際業務)
Specified Skilled Worker (特定技能)
Other appropriate work-related statuses of residence.

Changing to a work-related status is not automatic. The applicant must meet the requirements for the intended status and obtain approval from the relevant authorities.

4. What Should Technical Interns Do When Their Training Period Is Coming to an End?

When a technical intern's training programme is approaching completion, it is important to decide on the next step as early as possible.

Option 1: Continue under the current status

If you remain eligible to continue your activities under your current status of residence, you should complete the relevant extension procedures.

Option 2: Change to Specified Skilled Worker

This is an option chosen by many technical interns after completing their training programme.

Specified Skilled Worker (特定技能) is a status of residence for foreign workers who meet the required skill and other conditions. In certain cases, technical interns who have successfully completed their programme may be able to move to Specified Skilled Worker status without taking certain examinations, depending on their circumstances.

If you wish to change to Specified Skilled Worker status, you need to complete the relevant change of status of residence procedure before your current period of stay expires.

Option 3: Complete the programme and return to Vietnam

If you do not plan to remain in Japan, you should complete the necessary procedures relating to:

Your accepting company.
Your supervising organisation or relevant support organisation, where applicable.
Accommodation.
Insurance.
Tax.
Other procedures required before departure.

5. What Is the Difference Between an Extension and a Change of Status of Residence?

This is an important distinction for international students and technical interns.

Situation	Procedure to consider
International student continues studying	Extension of period of stay
Technical intern continues activities under the current status	Extension of period of stay, if eligible
International student graduates and starts employment	Change of status of residence
Technical intern changes to Specified Skilled Worker	Change of status of residence
Programme ends and the person returns to Vietnam	Complete procedures and leave Japan
Activities in Japan change	Check the appropriate new status of residence

In simple terms:

Continuing activities covered by your current status → Consider an extension.

Changing to activities covered by a different status → Consider a change of status of residence.

The Immigration Services Agency of Japan provides procedures and guidance according to each status of residence and type of activity.

6. What If You Have Already Submitted Your Application but the Decision Has Not Been Made by the Expiry Date?

This is an important issue.

If a foreign national has submitted an application for an extension of period of stay or a change of status of residence before the current period of stay expires, Japanese law provides a special provision under which the person may continue to remain in Japan while awaiting a decision, subject to the applicable conditions.

Therefore, it is not correct to assume that “the day shown on the Residence Card has arrived, so the person immediately becomes an overstayer” when a valid application has already been submitted within the required period.

However, applicants should keep proof that their application has been submitted and must comply with the relevant rules while waiting for the decision.

If the expiry date is approaching and the application has not yet been processed, it is advisable to confirm the situation with the Immigration Services Agency or the organisation assisting with the application.

The most important point is not to wait until after the expiry date to start the procedure.

7. Never Be Careless When Your Period of Stay Is About to Expire

A common mistake is:

“There are still a few days left. I will deal with it when the expiry date gets closer.”

This is a risky approach.

If you want to remain in Japan, start preparing your application well in advance. For extension applications, the Immigration Services Agency generally accepts applications from approximately three months before the expiry date in applicable cases.

Preparing early gives you time to:

Check whether you meet the requirements.
Prepare the necessary documents.
Provide additional documents if requested.
Resolve issues relating to your school, employer, tax or insurance.
Avoid being rushed as the expiry date approaches.

8. Documents You Should Prepare Early

The exact documents required depend on your status of residence and your plans in Japan. However, you should consider preparing the following in advance:

Passport.
Residence Card.
Documents relating to your school or employer.
Certificate of enrolment or graduation certificate.
Employment contract if changing to a work-related status.
Proof of financial support, where required.
Relevant tax, insurance and residence documents, where applicable.
Application forms and other documents required by the Immigration Services Agency.

Do not assume that the same set of documents applies to every applicant. Your documents must be based on your current status of residence and the status you intend to obtain.

9. When Should International Students and Technical Interns Start Preparing?

You can remember the process as follows:

Check your Residence Card → Decide your next plan → Identify the required procedure → Prepare the documents → Submit the application on time → Monitor the result.

For international students:

Continue studying → Extend Student status

Graduate and start working → Consider changing to an appropriate work-related status

For technical interns:

Continue under the current status → Consider an extension if eligible

Change to Specified Skilled Worker → Apply for a change of status of residence

Complete the programme → Complete the necessary procedures and return to Vietnam

10. Do Not Let Your “Visa Expiry” Become a Risk to Your Future in Japan

For Vietnamese international students and technical interns, checking the period of stay should be done several months before the expiry date, rather than waiting until the final days.

Remember these four important steps:

1. Check the expiry date on your Residence Card.

2. Decide whether you will continue studying, continue working, change your status of residence or return to Vietnam.

3. Identify the correct procedure: extension or change of status of residence.

4. Prepare and submit your application on time.

In particular, if you are an international student approaching graduation or a technical intern approaching the end of your programme, speak with your school, accepting company, supervising/support organisation or the Immigration Services Agency of Japan as early as possible to determine the most appropriate option.

Being proactive not only helps you avoid problems with your immigration status but also gives you more time to choose the right educational and career path in Japan.

Important: “Visa expiry” is a commonly used expression in everyday conversation. However, while residing in Japan, foreign nationals should pay particular attention to their period of stay (在留期間) and status of residence (在留資格) stated on their Residence Card. Regulations and procedures may vary depending on the circumstances and may change over time. This article is based on official information from the Immigration Services Agency of Japan checked in August 2026. For individual cases, applicants should confirm the latest requirements directly with the relevant authorities or a qualified professional before taking action.

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