Can I extend my stay in Japan?

Many students finish one term and decide they want to study for another term. Most of these students are in Japan on a tourist or short-term visa, which allows them to stay for up to 90 days.

If they want to continue studying, they must leave Japan before their 90 days are over. To do this, they usually change their return ticket and buy a round-trip ticket either to their home country or to a nearby country, such as South Korea. They spend a few days there sightseeing or visiting friends, and then return to Japan for another 90-day stay.

In the past, some students have done this several times. A few were warned by immigration officers not to continue resetting their visa this way after their third or fourth time. We have never had a student denied reentry for doing this once or twice. However, please understand that Japanese immigration authorities — like those in the United States — have the right to refuse entry for any reason.