Contents
- 1. What is the special period?
- 2. Counter applications and online applications are different
- 3. What changed in the residence card design (June 14, 2026)
- 4. The email that proves your online application is pending
- 5. How to show you are in the special period: a checklist
- 6. Practical tips while your application is pending
Key points
- If you apply online for an extension or change of status, your residence card is not stamped “application pending”. Your proof is the “申請受付番号のお知らせ” email (Application Receipt Number Notification) together with your residence card.
- Since June 14, 2026, new-format residence cards no longer show the period of stay, type of permission, date of permission or date of issuance on the card face. These are stored on the IC chip only.
- The expiration date is still printed on the card, so the basic check for the special period is unchanged: within 2 months of that date, card not punched, and proof of a pending application.
- Employers and others can also use the ISA’s expiration inquiry, which shows “not expired” while your application is pending.
- Keep the email until you receive your new card. Save it, print it, and carry it with your card.
Please read first
This article updates our earlier post on the same topic. Two things have changed since then: the residence card has a new format (from June 14, 2026), and the email the Online Residence Application System sends has a new name and layout (for applications from January 5, 2026). If you read our earlier post, please use this one instead.
1. What is the special period?
If you apply for an extension of period of stay or a change of status of residence before your current period of stay expires, you can stay in Japan legally while the application is being processed, even after the expiration date has passed. This is called the special period (特例期間, tokurei kikan).
The special period lasts until the decision is made, or until 2 months after the original expiration date, whichever comes first. During this time you keep the same status and the same work permissions as before.
The problem is that your residence card still shows the old expiration date. Your employer, city office, bank or landlord may see a date that has already passed. You need to be able to show that your application is pending.
2. Counter applications and online applications are different
| Applied at the immigration office counter | Applied online | |
|---|---|---|
| Mark on the residence card | The office stamps the back of the card to show the application is pending (old and new-format cards alike) | No mark on the card |
| Proof to show others | Residence card (and the receipt slip you were given) | Residence card + “申請受付番号のお知らせ” email (on your phone or printed) |
| When you get the proof | On the day you apply | By email, normally the day after the application is received |
The ISA states clearly that, unlike counter applications, online applications do not get a “申請中” (application pending) mark on the residence card. Instead, you should always carry the email with your application receipt number together with your card.
3. What changed in the residence card design (June 14, 2026)
From June 14, 2026, the ISA started issuing new-format residence cards and the optional Specified Residence Card (特定在留カード), which combines the residence card with the My Number card. Both use the new layout.
According to the ISA, the new card face shows:
- Name, date of birth, sex, nationality/region
- Address
- Status of residence and expiration date of the period of stay
- Residence card number and the card’s own validity date
- Work restrictions, and permission to engage in activities other than those permitted (if granted)
The following items are no longer printed and are recorded only on the IC chip:
- Period of stay (for example, “3 years”)
- Type of permission (for example, extension or change of status)
- Date of permission
- Date of issuance of the card
These can be checked with the ISA’s free Residence Card Reader app (在留カード等読取アプリケーション). The app was updated in August 2026 to show the period of stay, type of permission and date of permission on new-format cards. As far as we can confirm, the date of issuance is still not shown.
What this means for the special period
The expiration date is still on the card face, so counting the 2-month special period works the same way as before. What has changed is that people checking your card can no longer see your period of stay or permission date at a glance. Old-format cards, new-format cards and Specified Residence Cards will all be in use for some time, so expect people to be unfamiliar with the new layout.
4. The email that proves your online application is pending
For online applications made on or after January 5, 2026, the ISA’s guidance refers to the following email as your proof:
| Sender | info@rasens-immi.moj.go.jp |
|---|---|
| Subject | 【入管庁】申請受付番号のお知らせ (Application Receipt Number Notification) |
| Main contents | Date of receipt, provisional receipt number, application type, the applicant’s residence card number, and the application receipt number |
| Sent to | The user who submitted the application (for example, an employer or a gyoseishoshi), and the applicant if the applicant’s email address was also entered |
| When | Normally the day after the application is received |
The email itself says that it serves as proof that your application is pending, and asks you not to delete it and to print it and carry it as needed.
If someone else applied for you
When your employer, school or a gyoseishoshi submits the application online, they can enter your email address as well as their own. If they do, the email is also sent directly to you. We recommend asking them to include your address.
If your address was not entered, or if you used someone else’s address because you do not have one, make sure the email is forwarded to you or given to you in printed form. The ISA specifically asks users to pass this information on to the applicant. Without it, you may have nothing to show while the expiration date on your card has passed.
5. How to show you are in the special period: a checklist
The ISA’s reference material lists the following points. You can share this list with your employer or anyone who needs to check.
- Within 2 months of the expiration date: today’s date is no more than 2 months after the expiration date printed on the card.
- The card is not punched: a card that has been invalidated is punched with a hole. A card under a pending application is not.
- Proof of a pending application: for counter applications, the “application pending” stamp on the back of the card; for online applications, the “申請受付番号のお知らせ” email on your phone or printed.
The ISA notes one exception to the card check: if the card’s validity date is the holder’s 16th birthday and that birthday has passed without a new card being issued, the card cannot be used in this way.
For employers: the expiration inquiry
The ISA’s residence card number expiration inquiry (失効情報照会) is available online and in the Residence Card Reader app. According to the ISA, while an extension or change application is pending, the result shows “失効していません” (not expired), even after the expiration date on the card has passed. This is a useful second check alongside the email.
6. Practical tips while your application is pending
- Save the email in more than one place. Take a screenshot, save a PDF, and keep a printed copy in your wallet with your card.
- Do not rely on the “Check Application Status” screen alone. The ISA’s guidance names the email as the proof. A screenshot of the status screen can help as a supplement.
- Tell your employer early. Send them the email (or a copy) when you receive it, before the expiration date on your card arrives.
- Travelling abroad: you can leave and re-enter during the special period, but you must come back before the special period ends. If you plan to travel, check the conditions carefully before you go.
- When you receive your new card after approval, note your new period of stay and date of permission, or check them with the Reader app. They will not be printed on a new-format card.
For details on online payment of the new fees, see our article Paying the new visa fees from October 1, 2026.
Sources
- Immigration Services Agency, “【お知らせ】オンライン申請を行った場合に申請中（特例期間を含む）であることを証明することについて” (Japanese)
- Immigration Services Agency, “オンライン申請で申請中であることの確認方法（令和８年１月５日以降）” (PDF, Japanese)
- Immigration Services Agency, “特定在留カード等交付申請について” (Japanese)
- Immigration Services Agency, “在留カードとは？” (Japanese)
- Immigration Services Agency, “在留カード等読取アプリケーション／失効情報照会 サポートページ” (Japanese)
Disclaimer: This article is provided for general information only and is not legal advice on any individual case. The information is based on sources available as of October 7, 2026. Laws, guidelines and their application may change without notice. The design and contents of residence cards, the online system and its emails may also be updated by the Immigration Services Agency. TKG Immigration Consulting Office accepts no liability for any loss or damage arising from the use of this information. In case of any difference between our English descriptions and the original Japanese texts, the Japanese texts prevail.