When the official pages leave you unsure, you can ask the Immigration Services Agency directly. Its information centre (外国人在留総合インフォメーションセンター) and the Foreign Residents Support Center in Tokyo (FRESC) both take questions about residence procedures.
The information centre
The agency has consultation counters at its regional bureaus and branch offices. They answer questions by phone, at the counter and by email, in several languages.[1]
What they can answer is general guidance on immigration and residence procedures, based on what the agency's website says. Depending on the question, they may refer you to the examining section or to another ministry.[1]
They cannot answer questions about the progress of a procedure or an individual case, or about the outlook for a permission. They also cannot tell you how far an examination has progressed.[1]
Calling the information centre
The agency's page lists the following.[1]
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Number | 0570-013904 (from anywhere in Japan) |
| From IP phones or abroad | 03-5796-7112 |
| Hours | 8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m., except weekends, public holidays and 29 December to 3 January |
| Languages | Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Nepali, Thai, Burmese, Sinhala |
The lines are busiest on the first working day after a holiday and between 11 a.m. and noon.[1]
Email questions go through a form on the same page and are answered in Japanese or English only.[1]
FRESC in Tokyo
The Foreign Residents Support Center (FRESC) brings together government counters that support foreign residents. It takes questions from foreign residents and also supports employers and local governments.[2]
At FRESC you can ask the Tokyo Regional Immigration Services Bureau about things such as changing your status of residence or extending your period of stay. Consultations need a reservation.[2]
You cannot do residence card procedures or hand in notifications at FRESC.[2]
Other offices at FRESC include a labour consultation counter for problems such as working hours, wages and dismissal.[2] The Japan Legal Support Center (法テラス) there introduces legal systems and consultation services for legal trouble, free of charge.[2]
One-stop centres
The agency also runs one-stop consultation centres together with local government counters. They help foreign residents with administrative procedures such as immigration procedures, and with everyday life.[1] The agency's page lists their addresses, days and languages.
Before you call
Have your residence card and the name of the procedure ready. If you are working through a procedure, find your procedure in Clerfy to have its checklist and dates in front of you while you ask.