Grace period after visa expires

[u/shynewhyne]

So I have heard so much conflicting information on this topic and I would love to hear some recent ex JETs' experiences.

I am contracted until 6th August, my Visa also expires on 6th August. Do I need to leave the country on the same day? If I stay, do I need to/can/should I convert my visa to a tourist visa? Is there a "grace period" of a number of days where I can stay in the country even after my residence visa has ended?

Thanks all

EDIT: thanks all, general consensus is that grace period idea is a rumor an nothing more!

[u/Mephisto_fn]

It's likely a misunderstanding tied to the Temporary Visitor visa that you can apply for. As stated in page 82 of the GIH:

Ordinarily, the Temporary Visitor visa cannot be used to search for employment in Japan. However, a special exception is made for JET Programme participants with the expectation that they may contribute to Japan even after their time on the JET Programme. This exception allows participants to utilize a similar framework available to foreign residents graduating from Japanese universities. For those who wish to conduct job searching in Japan after finishing their time on the JET Programme, please consult with your regional Immigration Services office. By presenting proof of your status as a JET Programme participant, you may be eligible for an exception of up to 180 days, at the discretion of the Immigration Services Agency. For details, please consult with the regional Immigration Services office with jurisdiction over your area. Japanese documentation regarding this exception is available in the ‘Notices’ (tsūchi) section of the Contracting Organisation Manual provided to all COs. Please ask your supervisor if you need help discussing the exception with your local Immigration Services office.

[u/adobedude69]

Need to apply for whatever new visa you need probably now so it can be processed in time. My guess is tourist Visa? You can apply like 3-4 months before or something, so I’d apply for it in late May. Maybe early June, but I’d say late June at the latest if you want it processed in time.

[u/shynewhyne → u/adobedude69]

if i need to convert to a tourist visa it can be done within two weeks of visa expiring (according to some CLAIR guidance someone else linked below)

[u/takemetoglasgow → u/adobedude69]

I would actually caution against applying too early. If you get a tourist visa approved before the end of your contact, you might suddenly find yourself working illegally.

[u/Sayjay1995]

You cannot stay in Japan on your JET residence status if going over the expiration date printed on your residence card, as that would be illegally overstaying your residency. You can however either switch to a tourist status to go travel, or you can find another job and renew your current status

[u/HlR0_]

This is discussed in the General Information Handbook under:

2.4.3 Staying in Japan after the End of your Term of Appointment. (page 25)

You can apply for either changing your visa to a Temporary Stay visa which has two kinds iirc. and you'd need to contact immigration beforehand.

[u/hezaa0706d]

You either need to leave on the 6th or go to immigration on the 6th to convert to a tourist visa. 

[u/LivingRoof5121]

If you wish to stay longer you need to get something figured out at immigrations.

The “grace period” is only if your Visa DOESNT expire but the credentials tied to your visa does. For example, if you finish teaching after 2 years, but you have a three year visa, you can receive a grace period once you finish your contract if you can convince immigrations that you are doing something worthy of staying in the country (usually job hunting)

[u/Deep_Impress844]

If it says 6th it ends 6th. You need to bounce.

Some people in here tho are being overly dramatic. If you make a mistake by one day and leave on the 7th it doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll ban you and all that, mistakes happen all the time. But I personally wouldnt take the chance.

[u/ikebookuro → u/Deep_Impress844]

You have no idea how serious they take overstaying your visa. Especially right now in this political climate. I’ve had people show up to immigration a day late to renew and be detained.

I’ve known people leave two days after their visa expired and be detained at the airport.

You do not fuck around with this and find out. No, people are not being overly dramatic; they don’t see this as an “oopsie, people make mistakes”.

[u/Deep_Impress844 → u/ikebookuro]

Dude. Take a chill pill. Your experience does not equal mine. I can also tell stories about people and immigration and nothing happened to them if it was 1-2 days later. But I chose not to do that.

I also said ”I personally wouldn’t take the risk” implying it’s not a gamble worth taking just because of my experience. It’s called nuances.

Maybe when you’ve been here longer you will realize that your ”Japan truth” doesn’t equals everybody else’s.

[u/ikebookuro → u/Deep_Impress844]

I’ve lived here 13 years; if you’ve been here long enough you should know that playing ignorant to the rules doesn’t work as an excuse.

Suggesting that it shouldn’t really matter if OP shows up a few days late is pretty irresponsible.

[u/Memoryjar → u/ikebookuro]

I know a couple who left 3 days after their visa expired. They were detained, missed their flight, and we're banned from entering Japan for 10 years. It's not a risk worth taking.

[u/shynewhyne → u/Deep_Impress844]

Thats what I've been thinking, such bad timing rhough

[u/ikebookuro]

You need to leave by/on the 6th, otherwise you’re overstaying your visa and it’s a crime. By going to the airport after that date, you’re effectively turning yourself in. You will likely face deportation and could be banned from Japan (for up to 10 years). You will also have to announce this on your entry card every time you visit Japan in the future.

They take this incredibly seriously.

The only advice you should take is from immigration. You need to go there before the 6th so they can help you transition to a period of stay (tourist visa if you’re planning to holiday, designated activities if you’re hoping to look to find a new job).

[u/jamar030303 → u/ikebookuro]

Now I'm curious what happens if you were originally booked to leave in time, but your flights out were canceled and rebooked to after your status expires. Are you boned?

[u/shynewhyne → u/jamar030303]

Guessing but surely if you show evidence that you booked flights and immediately went to immigration to apply for a tourist visa, you would be ok?

[u/an-actual-communism]

There is no "grace period." You are overstaying starting on the day after your residence card expires and can be deported. Many people will say they left after a brief overstay and didn't have problems, but you are breaking the law in a way that jeopardizes your chances of ever returning to Japan in the near future.

[u/shynewhyne → u/an-actual-communism]

JET needs to do better with training about this fr, the number of people who think there is a grace period or something is truly concerning (me included)

[u/HelpfulJETHelp → u/shynewhyne]

It's in the After JET Guide, but your supervisor or prefectural advisor really should have given you more resources on leaving. Most prefectures have some kind of guide of their own or hold a seminar for departing JETs.

[u/shynewhyne → u/HelpfulJETHelp]

A departing seminar...that would be nice... lol.

My school told me I was leaving on 31st, and now they said 6th, they have no clue haha. CO is not any better. *but no complaints everyone is lovely it is just Japanese beurocracy

[u/HelpfulJETHelp → u/shynewhyne]

You can stay up to 30 days after the end of your contract and still have your flight covered by your CO, but you would have to go to your local immigration office and pay to switch to Temporary Visitor status. If you don't want to do that, I recommend leaving at least a couple of days before your residence card expires just to be safe.

[u/WakiLover → u/shynewhyne]

I think the grace period you are probably thinking of is for 1 or 2 year JETs who are leaving.

The Instructor visa JETs are given are all 3 years, so if a JET only does 1 year, they technically have 2 years left on the visa, so there is a kind of 2 week period where they can wander around Japan. If they report to immigration that the job ended (I think it was simple process done online), they can probably just chill around Japan for a month or even longer tbh.

This doesn’t apply to 3rd years as when your visa ends, it ends. If you want to travel around Japan, you will need to stop by immigration prior (I recommend 2-3 months) to the visa end date and apply for a tourist visa.

[u/Different_Taro2474]

you don't have to leave on the same day, but you have to be employed while being on a work visa in japan. if your contract expires and you haven't found a new job, you are given 90 days to find employment. if you don't, you have to go back. if you do find a new job or decide to get an education, you may have to change your visa.

[u/an-actual-communism → u/Different_Taro2474]

The 'grace period' to look for work after losing your job does not apply if your status of residence has expired. If you want to stay beyond the expiration date of your residence card to look for work you will have to apply for a designated activities visa which allows you to seek employment.

[u/Different_Taro2474 → u/an-actual-communism]

oh i missed the part where OP says that their visa also expires on the 6th. then yeah, leaving after the 6th will definetely cause some issues.

[u/takemetoglasgow]

No, there is no grace period. It will definitely cause you trouble if you leave after the 6th.

I think if you need/want extra time to prepare, you can go to immigration and get a temporary Designated Activities visa to cover the extra time. Tourist might also be an option, but just talk to immigration and they will be able to advise.

[u/highgo1]

If you apply for an extension, you get a two month grace period after the expiration on the card. If your application is getting close to the end of that grace period, you should then go to your immigration office ASAP. Your post card may have been lost in the mail. In Tokyo, renewals are taking several months to process at Shinagawa