Foreign residents in Japan are usually granted visas lasting 1, 3 or 5 years. However, that does not mean that the foreign national must leave the country at the end of the visa term. In general, Japanese visas may be renewed continuously, which allows the visa holder to stay in Japan for extended periods.
When renewing a Japanese visa it is not necessarily the case that the new visa will have the same length as the expiring visa. A foreign national holding a 5 year visa might find that the visa granted upon renewal is only for 1 year. Or someone holding a 1 year visa might renew and receive a 3 year visa. The length of time granted is at the discretion of the immigration department and is a reflection of the strength of the foreign national’s visa application.
If you have any questions about visas in Japan, please contact our office for a legal consultation.