Visa and Alien Registration 　　This section provides general information concerning application for Alien Registration, visa extension, change of visa status and others. 　　* Click here for the MAP & Contact information of Komatsushima Branch Office of Immigration. 　　　How to Get to the Branch Office: 　　　・ Go to the Tokushima Station Bus Terminal (Terminal No. 5) 　　　・ Get on the Tokushima Shiei Bus bound to Tachibana, Nyuudani or Katsuura 　　　・ Get off the bus at the bus stop "Nisseki Byouin Mae" 　　　・ Walk to the Branch Office (about 10 minutes)     About Visa Visa is the official permit for a foreigner to stay in Japan for the period stated on the permit. Every foreigner has to get an appropriate visa by official immigration authority. Range of activities in Japan is limited depending on the types of visa, and nobody cannot stay in the country longer than the period stated on his/her visa. Foreign students studying in a Japanese college are advised to get student visa (College Student). Valid period of the visa is one or two years. (Getting a College Student Visa is strongly advised to foreign students.) Please note that if you are studying at UT with other type of visa, you cannot apply for scholarship. Researchers need to have another type of visa (Cultural Exchange). Cultural Exchange Visa is valid for 6 months or 1 year. In case you bring your family members into Japan, they also need take another type of visa (Family/Spouse Visa). (The Division of International Affairs can help you apply for Family/Spouse Visa for your family members. For details, please contact the Division of International Affairs.) Alien Registration Foreign residents need to complete alien registration within 90 days after they enter Japan. You may apply for Alien Registration at the city hall or town hall where you reside. Alien registration is usually completed within 10 days. Please visit the city hall or town hall to get your Alien Registration Card. Alien Registration Card acts as an ID card. Since you need to show Alien Registration Card to open a bank account, to purchase the National Health Insurance, to apply for Japanese Driver's License, or buy a cell phone, please be careful NOT to leave the card somewhere Foreign residents in Japan are required to carry the Registration Card with them all the times. In case you are found NOT to carry the card with you, you can be regarded as an illegal immigrant. 　　　　　Alien Registration Card (Sample) 　　　　　 　　Application Procedure: 　　(1) Go to City Hall or Town Hall 　　　　　　* Tokushima City Hall and Kitajima Town Hall 　　　　　　　　・ Tokushima City Hall　【MAP】　088-621-5134/5135 　　　　　　　　・ Kitajima Town Hall　　【MAP】　088-698-9801 　　（2） Fill Out Application Form 　　　　　　* When apply, you also need your passport and face photo (4.5cm*3.5cm). 　　　　　　* Download Application Form (Front Page/Back Page) 　　　　　　　You can get the card at the City Hall or the Town Hall about 10 days after application. 　　Other Important Notes When you move ... Please be surer to change the address on your alien registration card at the City Hall or Town Hall where you moved in within 14 days after the first day when you moved. You need to show your alien registration card and passport to change your current address. Please remember to ask an officer to write your new address on the back of your card. When you need to reissue your registration card ... Please follow the procedures below when you need to reissue your registration card: In case you have your old registration card Go to the City Hall or Town Hall where you reside with your old registration card, passport and a face photo (4.5cm*3.5cm) Fill out application form for new alien registration card Visit the City Hall or Town Hall again about 10 days later and get your new registration card In case you do not have old registration card Go to the nearest police station to apply for Notification of Stolen/Lost Items and get Certificate of Receipt there Go to the City Hall or Town Hall where you reside with passport and a face photo (4.5cm*3.5cm) Fill out application form for new alien registration card Visit the City Hall or Town Hall again about 10 days later and get your new registration card Renewal of Alien Registration Card You need to renew your alien registration card within 30 days after the date of expiry. Application procedure is as follows: Go to the City Hall or Town Hall where you reside with your old registration card, passport and a face photo (4.5cm*3.5cm) Fill out application form for new alien registration card Visit the City Hall or Town Hall again about 10 days later and get your new registration card How to Change your Visa Status Foreign students studying at a Japanese university are basically advised to take College Student visa. If you do not have College Student visa, you cannot apply for any scholarships. Documents for Visa Status Change Download application form for visa status change (Application for Change of Status of Residence)　　Download Here Valid Passport Copy of your Alien Registration Card Application Fee　(\4,000) Certificate of Enrollment (Check Office Counter here) 　　* In case you have already been accepted by a graduate school, you also need to submit a Letter of Acceptance issued by 　　　 the graduate school you will enroll. Academic Transcript (Check Office Counter here) 　　* Non-matriculated students (Research Student and Exchange Student) need to submit your research plan (in Japanese). Certificate to Prove your Current Financial State In case somebody other than the student takes responsibility for his/her tuition and life expenses 　・ Statement of Financial Responsibility (should be endorsed by the person who will take the responsibility) 　・ Certificate of Employment of the person who will take the responsibility 　・ Certificate of Income of the person who will take the responsibility 　・ Back Certificate of the person who will take the responsibility 　・ Copy of the Student's Bank Book (Whole Pages) In case the student takes full responsibility for his/her tuition and life expenses 　・ Certificate of Scholarship 　・ Income Certificate (should be endorsed by the employer) 　・ Certificate of Employment (should be endorsed by the employer) 　・ Copy of the Student's Bank Book (Whole Pages) Application Counters: 　　　Jousanjima Campus: Section of International Exchange, The Division of International Affairs 　　　Kuramoto Campus: 　Section of Academic Affairs of Each Faculty/Department 　　　 * Check the location here. 　　* At least one month is needed to complete the whole paperwork for the status change. Early application is 　　　 strongly advised in case you need to change your visa status. Extension of Period of Stay College Student visa is valid for either one or two years. To extend the period of stay on your visa, you need to apply for the extension at the nearest Immigration Bureau by the date of expiry. extension application is accepted from two months prior to the date of expiry. Documents for the Extension of the Period of Stay Download application form Valid Passport Copy of your Alien Registration Card Application Fee　(\4,000) Certificate of Enrollment (Check Office Counter here) 　　* In case you have already been accepted by a graduate school, you also need to submit a Letter of Acceptance issued by 　　　 the graduate school you will enroll. Academic Transcript (Check Office Counter here) 　　* Non-matriculated students (Research Student and Exchange Student) need to submit your research plan (in Japanese). Certificate to Prove your Current Financial State In case somebody other than the student takes responsibility for his/her tuition and life expenses 　・ Statement of Financial Responsibility (should be endorsed by the person who will take the responsibility) 　・ Certificate of Employment of the person who will take the responsibility 　・ Certificate of Income of the person who will take the responsibility 　・ Back Certificate of the person who will take the responsibility 　・ Copy of the Student's Bank Book (Whole Pages) In case the student takes full responsibility for his/her tuition and life expenses 　・ Certificate of Scholarship 　・ Income Certificate (should be endorsed by the employer) 　・ Certificate of Employment (should be endorsed by the employer) 　・ Copy of the Student's Bank Book (Whole Pages) In case the student receives a scholarship from Japanese Government 　・ Certificate of Scholarship Application Counters: 　　　Jousanjima Campus: Section of International Exchange, The Division of International Affairs 　　　Kuramoto Campus: 　Section of Academic Affairs of Each Faculty/Department 　　　 * Check the location here. 　　* At least one month is needed to complete the whole paperwork for the status change. Early application is 　　　 strongly advised!! Re-entry Permit In case you temporarily leave Japan, you need to get this Re-entry Permit before you leave Japan. Before you return to your home country during summer/winter break, you need to apply for this Re-entry Permit. 　　* If you leave Japan and return to your home country without getting this permit, you are regarded to have given up resuming your 　　　 study in Japan and have to reapply for your College Student visa from the beginning. 　　* Basically, Re-entry Permit is valid only one time, but you may also apply for Multiple Re-entry Permit. Documents for Re-entry Permit Download Application Form Valid Passport Copy of your Alien Registration Card Application Fees (Foreign people staying with Family/Spouse Visa need to put the signature of their supporter.) 　・ Single Re-entry Permit　　　　　\3,000 　・ Multiple Re-entry Permit　　　　\6,000 Application Counters: 　　　Jousanjima Campus: Section of International Exchange, The Division of International Affairs 　　　Kuramoto Campus: 　Section of Academic Affairs of Each Faculty/Department 　　　 * Check the location here. 　　　 * Re-entry Permit is usually issued on the same day of application. Permission to Engage in Activity Other Than That Permitted Under the Status of Residence Previously Granted Although College Student Visa does not allow foreign students to work, it permits part-time work in following conditions: Work-hours should be less than 28 hours a week　(including Research Students and Exchange Students) Work-hours should be less than 8 hours per week while the school is in vacation Should NOT work for illegal businesses and for sex industries. NOTES: In case a student works as a TA/RA, there is no need to apply for the permission. If a students works part-time other than as a TA/RA, the student needs to apply for the permission. Documents Download Application Form Additional Application Forms (Available at Division of International Affairs or Section of Academic Affairs of your department/faculty) Passport Copy of your Alien Registration Card Application Counters: 　　　Jousanjima Campus: Section of International Exchange, The Division of International Affairs 　　　Kuramoto Campus: 　Section of Academic Affairs of Each Faculty/Department 　　　 * Check the location here.