筑波大学スチューデントサポートセンター

Extension of Residence Card (Master’s and Doctoral Student)


▼Click for the details

Step1 Collect the Required Documents

  The Division of Students Exchange will send you a notice around 3 months before the expiration of your residence card. Check the List and start collecting them. Some documents should be requested from the university and may take some time to be issued. Please start preparing as soon as possible.

Step2 Go to the Immigration Bureau

  Once you have all the required documents, please go to the Immigration Bureau and apply for an extension
before your period of stay ends. (Depending on the case, the immigration process may take anywhere from
about 3 weeks to a few months to screen your documents.)  
  
  There are several immigration offices. You should go to the immigration office that has jurisdiction over the address registered on your residence card. (Immigration Offices)  
    If you live in Ibaraki→Tokyo Shinagawa Office, Ibaraki Mito Office 
    If you live in Tokyo or other Kanto areas→Tokyo Shinagawa Office etc.

  You can also apply online using the Immigration’s Online Application System. 
   ※You will need My Number card and IC card reader.   
  (The university does not lend out card readers.)
 

Step3 Notify the Division of Student Exchange

  Once you submit the documents at the immigration office, please notify the university.
  If you are unable to use the link, you can also notify the office by Email (visa-shien@un.tsukuba.ac.jp).

Step4 Get the New Residence Card

  When the screening process is completed, you will receive a postcard from the immigration office.
Please go to the immigration office by the deadline indicated on the postcard to receive your new residence card.
Be sure to bring a revenue stamp with you (⑥ from the list of required documents).

  ※For those advancing within the University of Tsukuba (e.g., from undergraduate or research student to graduate school)
  If you receive your new residence card after your new enrollment at the University of Tsukuba, you need to submit a “Certificate of Enrollment” at the immigration office. You can get the certificate from the certificate issuing machine at your academic service office or the Student Plaza (2nd floor).

Step5 Submit a Copy of the New Residence Card (Front and Back Sides)

  ■How to submit (upload PDF files)
  In case you cannot submit via our system, please email the copies(visa-shien@un.tsukuba.ac.jp) or bring the copies to our office.
  ※We do not make copies at our office. Please make a copy yourself.

  ■If you are changing your address, register your new address on your residence card at the city hall and on TWINS.


Below are the required documents you need to submit to the immigration office. Generally, students are responsible for preparing the documents themselves. However, some documents should be requested from the university and may take some time to be issued. Please start preparing as soon as possible.

Documents ①~⑧ are required for everyone.
If you fall under one of the following categories, documents ⑨~⑪ are also required.


▼Click for more details.

➀Application Form (Applicant Part)

  Form

②Application Form (University Part)

  Request the division of student exchange to issue following below flow. It takes 1-2 weeks for issuance. Please apply as soon as possible.
  
  【How to receive the “Application Form (University Part)”】
  1. Please fill the yellow part and email the form (JP, EN) to your supervisor.
  2. Your supervisor should fill the blue part and email the form to the Division of Student Exchange
   (E-mail: visa-shien@un.tsukuba.ac.jp)
  3. The Division of Student Exchange will issue the 【Application Form (University Part)】and send you an email to pick it up.
  4. Please come to the Division of Student Exchange to pick up the document.

  ※If you do not know who your supervisor is, please ask at your academic service office.

➂Certificate of Enrollment

  Available from the certificate issuing machine at your academic service office or the Student Plaza (2nd floor).

④Transcript

  Available from the certificate issuing machine at your academic service office or the Student Plaza (2nd floor).
  ※Not required if you have just started your academic year and do not have grades yet.

⑤Proof of Financial Resource(s)

  MEXT Scholarship Recipient:
  Certificate of Scholarship.
  (Available from the certificate issuing machine at your academic service office or the Student Plaza (2nd floor).)

  Self-Financing Students or Recipient of Other Scholarship:
  Please prepare documents that clearly indicate the source of your living and tuition expenses, using the following as a reference. If a single document does not fully explain the flow of funds, please provide multiple documents. If the documents are not written in Japanese or English, please attach a Japanese or English translation. Your own translation is acceptable.

  ■Certificate of Scholarship
   Some certificates are available from the certificate issuing machine at your academic service office
or the Student Plaza (2nd floor). If you cannot issue the document from the machine, please request directly from the foundation.
  ■Copy of the bankbook
   The past one year’s records to the day of application, the front page of the bankbook, and the page with the account number.
  ■Remittance certificate
   Request at your bank.
  ■Written oath by financial your supporter
   Ask your financial supporter (e.g. parents) to write the oath following this format (sample).
  ■Letter of reason
   If you brought cash into the country and have no official proof of it, please explain the situation (A4-size, free format) sample.

⑥Revenue Stamp ※Fees will be revised on 2025/4/1

  You will need a revenue stamp to receive the new residence card. You can buy the revenue stamp at a post office, convenience store or at the immigration office. Put the revenue stamp on the form (exl, pdf) and submit at the immigration.

  ※Fees will be revised on 2025/4/1
  For applications applied to the Immigration Bureau by March 31, 2025
    →4,000 Yen
  For applications applied to the Immigration Bureau on or after April 1, 2025
    →6,000 Yen (5,500 Yen for Online application)

⑦Passport

  Present a valid passport at the immigration office. Photocopies are not accepted.

⑧Residence Card

  Present your Residence Card at the immigration office. Photocopies are not accepted. Make sure your current address is officially written on the card. If not, register your newest address on your residence card at the city hall.

⑨Letter of Reason for an Extra Extension

  You can apply for visa extension only up to the month of the initial graduation date (e.g. 2years for master’s. 3 years for doctor’s). In case you need to extend your stay longer than the standard period of enrollment, the immigration requires “Letter of Reason” for an extra extension. (In case you already know that you will need to apply for extra extension in the future, the letter is still required.)
  
  Send the format (EN, JP) and sample to your supervisor and ask to write for you.

  The division of student exchange needs a copy of the “Letter of Reason” to issue the ②Application Form (University Part). Please send the copy of the letter to visa-shien@un.tsukuba.ac.jp or bring it to our office.

⑩Documents of previous schools and universities in Japan

  If this is your first time renewing your visa and right before entering the University of Tsukuba you were enrolled in a school or university (including the University of Tsukuba) in Japan, the following documents are required.
  
  ■Certificate of Graduation
  ■Transcript
  ■Attendance Record (If you have graduated from a Japanese language school)

  If you have graduated from the University of Tsukuba: request from following URL.
   Those who have graduated from an undergraduate program
   Those who have graduated from a graduate program

  If you were a research student of the University of Tsukuba:
   Two documents are required: the “1.Certificate of Completion for Former Research Student” and the “2.Statement on Student.”
   1.【Certificate of Completion for Former Research Student】
     Apply online to the Division of Student Exchange.
     It takes around one week to be issued, so please apply as soon as possible.
   2.【Statement on Student】
     Send the format to your supervisor (when you were a research student) and ask to write for you.

  If you have graduated from a different school in Japan:
   Please request from your school by yourself.

⑪Proof That Your Next Higher Education Has Been Decided

  If you have passed the entrance examination for the University of Tsukuba and will start your study in less than 3 months, the following 3 documents are required.

  ■Two copies of【Letter of Acceptance】
   One is for the Immigration Office, the other one is for the Division of Student Exchange. We need it to issue the “②Application Form (University Part).” Please submit by email or in person at our office.

  ■Certificate of Intension to Enter University
   Request at the “Graduate School Admission Section, Division of Admission, Department of Educational Promotion”
    ✉ dai.daigakuinka@un.tsukuba.ac.jp
    ☎ 029-853-2230 or 029-853-2231

  ■Certificate of Expected Graduation
  Available from the certificate issuing machine at your academic service office or the Student Plaza (2nd floor).


International Student Support
Division of Student Exchange
University of Tsukuba

(101, 1st Floor, 1A-Building)
1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8577 Japan MAP
visa-shien@un.tsukuba.ac.jp
☎ 029-853-6084
Office hour: weekdays 9:00-17:00 (closed 12:15-13:15)

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