What happens if you overstay your visa in Japan?

Is overstaying a crime in Japan?

Staying on after the period of stay has expired without obtaining a renewal or change is overstaying. It is a ground for compulsory deportation and also a criminal offence, punishable by up to 3 years' imprisonment or a fine of up to 3,000,000 yen, or both.

If an extension or change application is filed in time, the person may keep staying under the old status until the decision or until 2 months after the old period expired, whichever is earlier. This does not apply to stays of 30 days or less.

Can I report myself and leave without being detained?

The departure-order system lets an overstayer leave without detention. It is open to a person who reports to an immigration office voluntarily, intending to leave promptly, before any violation investigation starts, or who states that intent after it starts but before being notified of the deportation finding.

The agency lists 5 conditions that must all be met: a voluntary report or timely statement of intent to leave, no deportation ground other than overstay, no prison sentence for specified crimes, no earlier deportation or departure order, and a firm prospect of leaving promptly. The chief inspector sets a departure deadline of no more than 15 days.

Self-reports are investigated in principle at 8 regional bureaus or 3 branches, and report to departure under an order takes roughly 2 weeks. Reporting does not cure the overstay: unless the Minister grants special permission, the person remains in violation, is generally not allowed to work, and can still be arrested at a workplace.

How long is the ban on coming back?

A person deported from Japan for overstay or similar grounds, with no earlier deportation or departure order, is barred from landing for 5 years from the date of removal. A repeat case is barred for 10 years. A person who left under a departure order is barred for 1 year from the date of departure.

The 1-year ban after a departure order does not apply to a short-stay (tourist) entry by someone who stated the intent to leave only after being investigated; that entry is banned for 5 years. A first-time deportee who leaves at own expense, with permission and by the date set, can have the ban cut to 1 year by the Minister, except for short-stay activities.

Anyone sentenced to imprisonment of 1 year or more in Japan or abroad, or convicted under drug-control laws, has no fixed ban period and in principle cannot land at all. The Minister of Justice can still grant a special landing permit in limited cases.

How does deportation work?

Compulsory deportation runs in 3 stages: a violation investigation by an immigration guard, a violation examination by an immigration inspector, then an oral hearing by a special inquiry officer and the Minister's ruling on an objection.

A detention order can hold a suspect for up to 30 days, extendable by a further 30 days at most when there is unavoidable reason. Supervision lets a person go through the proceedings living in the community under a supervisor instead; the chief inspector may require a deposit of up to 3,000,000 yen.

A suspect who disagrees with a finding of a deportation ground has 3 days from the notice to request an oral hearing, and 3 more days after the hearing upholds it to file a written objection with the Minister of Justice.

What about illegal work and other violations?

Working outside the permitted status without permission is punishable by up to 1 year's imprisonment or a fine of up to 2,000,000 yen, or both; if clearly the main activity, up to 3 years or 3,000,000 yen applies. An employer or broker who has foreigners do unauthorized work in business faces up to 3 years or 3,000,000 yen.

Refusing to show a residence card when an officer asks is punishable by up to 1 year's imprisonment or a fine of up to 200,000 yen. Failing to notify an address or a change of address is punishable by a fine of up to 200,000 yen.

A status can also be revoked. A Schedule I status can be revoked if the holder does not carry out its activity for 3 continuous months without a justifiable reason (6 months for Highly Skilled Professional category 2). A newly arrived or newly authorized medium- to long-term resident who reports no address within 90 days of landing or permission can also lose the status, unless there is a justifiable reason.

Can the Minister allow me to stay anyway?

Special permission to stay is an exceptional, discretionary measure by which the Minister of Justice allows a person who is deportable to remain in Japan. An application can no longer be filed once a deportation order has been issued against the person.

The Minister considers the reason for wanting to stay, family ties, conduct, how the person came to Japan, length and legal status of stay, the deportation ground, humanitarian need and other conditions. Under the agency guideline, permission is considered when positive factors clearly outweigh negative ones.

In 2025, special permission to stay was granted in 1,026 cases. The number of overstayers in Japan on 2026-07-01 was 65,229, down 3,259 from 68,488 on 2026-01-01.

What it is

• A foreign national who falls under any item of Article 24 of the Immigration Control Act can be removed from Japan by the compulsory deportation procedure, or, in certain cases, ordered to leave under Article 55-2.
  出入国管理及び難民認定法（e-Gov法令検索 現行版） 第24条柱書 · Checked on 2026-10-22
• A special landing permit under Article 12 is a discretionary decision of the Minister of Justice for someone who does not meet the landing conditions, decided case by case on the overall circumstances (purpose of entry, the ban ground, time elapsed, family situation and so on).
  上陸を特別に許可された事例及び上陸を特別に許可されなかった事例について（出入国在留管理庁、令和8年7月） 上陸特別許可 · Checked on 2026-10-22
• Supervision (kanri sochi) lets a person go through deportation proceedings living in the community under a supervisor, instead of being detained; it exists both before a deportation order (Art. 44-2) and after it (Art. 52-2).
  監理措置制度について（出入国在留管理庁） 監理措置制度の概要 · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2024-06-10
• Provisional release (karihomen) temporarily lifts the detention of a person held under a detention order or a deportation order, when health, humanitarian or comparable reasons make that appropriate (Article 54).
  仮放免制度について（出入国在留管理庁） 仮放免制度の概要 · Checked on 2026-10-22
• Special permission to stay (zairyu tokubetsu kyoka) is an exceptional, discretionary measure by which the Minister of Justice allows a person who is deportable to remain in Japan.
  退去強制手続・出国命令制度・上陸拒否期間の短縮決定Q＆A（出入国在留管理庁） Q31 · Checked on 2026-10-22
• Under the ISA guideline, special permission is considered when positive factors clearly outweigh negative ones; having a particularly weighty positive factor does not guarantee permission.
  在留特別許可に係るガイドライン（出入国在留管理庁、令和6年3月改定） 第3 · Checked on 2026-10-22
• The ISA describes three cases of illegal work: working while unlawfully staying, working without permission where the status does not allow work, and working beyond what the status or permission allows.
  外国人を雇用する事業主の皆様へ（出入国在留管理庁リーフレット） 不法就労とは · Checked on 2026-10-22
• The Zero Plan for Illegal Residents, announced on 23 May 2025, organises measures in three stages: entry control, residence control and refugee screening, and departure and removal.
  「国民の安全・安心のための不法滞在者ゼロプラン」について（出入国在留管理庁） 概要 · Checked on 2026-10-22

Who qualifies

• The departure-order system (exit without detention) is open to an overstayer who voluntarily reports to an immigration office intending to leave promptly before any violation investigation starts, or who states that intent after it starts but before being notified of the deportation finding.
  出入国管理及び難民認定法（e-Gov法令検索 現行版） 第24条の3第1号 · Checked on 2026-10-22
• A person who has previously been deported, or has previously left under a departure order, cannot use the departure-order system again.
  出入国管理及び難民認定法（e-Gov法令検索 現行版） 第24条の3第4号 · Checked on 2026-10-22
• The ISA lists five cumulative conditions for a departure order: voluntary report or timely statement of intent to leave, no deportation ground other than overstay, no prison sentence for specified crimes, no earlier deportation or departure order, and a firm prospect of leaving promptly.
  退去強制手続・出国命令制度・上陸拒否期間の短縮決定Q＆A（出入国在留管理庁） Q4 · Checked on 2026-10-22
• To be eligible for the shortening decision the person must hold a deportation order, have permission to leave at own expense, and never have been deported or left under a departure order; applying does not guarantee the decision.
  退去強制手続・出国命令制度・上陸拒否期間の短縮決定Q＆A（出入国在留管理庁） Q38・Q39 · Checked on 2026-10-22
• Before a deportation order is issued, a supervised person may be permitted to work only to the extent needed to support his or her livelihood, at an employer designated by the chief inspector and with the supervisor's consent.
  出入国管理及び難民認定法（e-Gov法令検索 現行版） 第44条の5第1項 · Checked on 2026-10-22
• Because supervision is now the default way to release a detainee, provisional release needs health or humanitarian reasons strong enough to justify temporary release even though supervision would otherwise be available.
  仮放免制度について（出入国在留管理庁） 仮放免許可の要件 · Checked on 2026-10-22
• A person on provisional release cannot work unless he or she holds a residence status that permits work; conditions such as a ban on work are attached.
  退去強制手続・出国命令制度・上陸拒否期間の短縮決定Q＆A（出入国在留管理庁） Q30 · Checked on 2026-10-22
• A person sentenced to life or to more than one year of imprisonment (other than a fully suspended sentence), or falling under certain grave deportation grounds, can be granted special permission to stay only if there are special circumstances under which refusing it would be lacking in humanitarian consideration.
  出入国管理及び難民認定法（e-Gov法令検索 現行版） 第50条第1項ただし書 · Checked on 2026-10-22

Numbers and tests

• A student with permission to work outside the status may work in principle up to 28 hours a week; working more than the permitted hours counts as illegal work.
  外国人を雇用する事業主の皆様へ（出入国在留管理庁リーフレット） 不法就労とは · Checked on 2026-10-22

Periods

• If a status-change or renewal application is filed in time, the person may keep staying under the old status until the decision or until two months after the old period expired, whichever is earlier (not for stays of 30 days or less).
  出入国管理及び難民認定法（e-Gov法令検索 現行版） 第20条第6項・第21条第4項 · Checked on 2026-10-22
• When a departure order is issued, the chief immigration inspector sets a departure deadline of no more than 15 days.
  出入国管理及び難民認定法（e-Gov法令検索 現行版） 第55条の85第1項 · Checked on 2026-10-22
• A foreign national deported from Japan for overstay or similar grounds, who has not been deported or left under a departure order before, is barred from landing for five years from the date of removal.
  退去強制手続・出国命令制度・上陸拒否期間の短縮決定Q＆A（出入国在留管理庁） Q2(2) · Checked on 2026-10-22
• A repeat case, meaning someone deported or who left under a departure order before, is barred from landing for ten years from the date of deportation.
  退去強制手続・出国命令制度・上陸拒否期間の短縮決定Q＆A（出入国在留管理庁） Q2(1) · Checked on 2026-10-22
• A person who left Japan under a departure order is barred from landing for one year from the date of departure.
  出入国管理及び難民認定法（e-Gov法令検索 現行版） 第5条第1項第9号ホ · Checked on 2026-10-22
• The one-year ban after a departure order does not apply to a short-stay (tourist) entry by someone who only stated the intent to leave after being investigated: for such short-stay entry the ban is five years.
  不法滞在者ゼロプラン～強力推進パッケージ～【解説】（出入国在留管理庁、2026年8月） 脚注3 · Checked on 2026-10-22
• Anyone sentenced to imprisonment of one year or more in Japan or abroad, or convicted under drug-control laws, has no fixed ban period and in principle cannot land at all (the Minister of Justice can still grant a special landing permit in limited cases).
  退去強制手続・出国命令制度・上陸拒否期間の短縮決定Q＆A（出入国在留管理庁） Q2 · Checked on 2026-10-22
• A detention order can hold a suspect for up to 30 days, and the chief immigration inspector may extend it by a further 30 days at most when there is unavoidable reason.
  出入国管理及び難民認定法（e-Gov法令検索 現行版） 第41条第1項 · Checked on 2026-10-22

Deadlines

• A suspect who disagrees with the inspector's finding of a deportation ground has three days from the date of notice to request an oral hearing before a special inquiry officer.
  出入国管理及び難民認定法（e-Gov法令検索 現行版） 第48条第1項 · Checked on 2026-10-22
• After an oral hearing upholds the finding, the suspect has three days from the notice to submit a written objection to the Minister of Justice.
  出入国管理及び難民認定法（e-Gov法令検索 現行版） 第49条第1項 · Checked on 2026-10-22
• If a person accepts the deportation finding but does not apply for special permission to stay within three days, the chief inspector must promptly issue the deportation order.
  出入国管理及び難民認定法（e-Gov法令検索 現行版） 第47条第5項第2号 · Checked on 2026-10-22
• A supervised person must report in person to the immigration office on a date set within three months of being placed under supervision or of the last report, to state compliance with conditions.
  監理措置制度について（出入国在留管理庁） 被監理者の届出義務 · Checked on 2026-10-22
• A supervisor must notify the chief inspector within seven days of events such as the supervised person absconding, breaching conditions, or dying, as well as certain changes in the supervisor's own details.
  監理措置制度について（出入国在留管理庁） 監理人の責務 · Checked on 2026-10-22
• An application for special permission can no longer be filed once a deportation order has been issued against the person.
  出入国管理及び難民認定法（e-Gov法令検索 現行版） 第50条第3項 · Checked on 2026-10-22
• A medium- to long-term resident must notify the municipality of the new address within 14 days of settling in Japan and within 14 days of moving.
  出入国管理及び難民認定法（e-Gov法令検索 現行版） 第19条の7・第19条の9 · Checked on 2026-10-22
• A newly arrived or newly authorised medium- to long-term resident can have the status revoked if no address is reported to the Minister within 90 days of the landing stamp or permission, unless there is a justifiable reason.
  出入国管理及び難民認定法（e-Gov法令検索 現行版） 第22条の4第1項第8号 · Checked on 2026-10-22

Fees

• As a condition of supervision the chief inspector may require a deposit (bond) of up to 3,000,000 yen, in an amount and by a deadline set by Ministry of Justice ordinance.
  出入国管理及び難民認定法（e-Gov法令検索 現行版） 第44条の2第2項 · Checked on 2026-10-22
• No deposit is required when provisional release is granted.
  退去強制手続・出国命令制度・上陸拒否期間の短縮決定Q＆A（出入国在留管理庁） Q28 · Checked on 2026-10-22
• A reward for tipping off the immigration authorities about a deportable foreigner is between 1,000 and 50,000 yen per case under Ministry of Justice ordinance rules.
  退去強制手続・出国命令制度・上陸拒否期間の短縮決定Q＆A（出入国在留管理庁） Q45 · Checked on 2026-10-22

How it works

• Investigation of people who report themselves is done in principle at eight regional bureaus (Sapporo, Sendai, Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Hiroshima, Takamatsu, Fukuoka) or three branches (Yokohama, Kobe, Naha); from report to departure under an order takes roughly two weeks.
  退去強制手続・出国命令制度・上陸拒否期間の短縮決定Q＆A（出入国在留管理庁） Q5・Q7 · Checked on 2026-10-22
• Even someone who does not qualify for a departure order but reports voluntarily to an immigration office can sometimes have the procedure handled under supervision (kanri sochi) without being detained.
  出頭申告のご案内～不法滞在で悩んでいる外国人の方へ～（出入国在留管理庁） 出国命令制度 · Checked on 2026-10-22
• Reporting oneself to the immigration office does not by itself cure the overstay: unless the Minister grants special permission the person remains in violation, is generally not allowed to work, and can still be arrested at a workplace.
  退去強制手続・出国命令制度・上陸拒否期間の短縮決定Q＆A（出入国在留管理庁） Q1 · Checked on 2026-10-22
• A person holding a deportation order may apply to leave at his or her own expense, and the head of the detention centre or the chief inspector may permit it and designate the destination.
  出入国管理及び難民認定法（e-Gov法令検索 現行版） 第52条第4項 · Checked on 2026-10-22
• For a first-time deportee who leaves at own expense, with permission, by the date set under Ministry of Justice ordinance, the Minister can decide to cut the re-landing ban caused by the deportation to one year, except for short-stay activities.
  出入国管理及び難民認定法（e-Gov法令検索 現行版） 第52条第5項 · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2024-06-10
• Compulsory deportation runs in three stages: a violation investigation by an immigration guard, a violation examination by an immigration inspector, then an oral hearing by a special inquiry officer and the Minister's ruling on an objection.
  不法滞在者ゼロプラン～強力推進パッケージ～【解説】（出入国在留管理庁、2026年8月） 脚注5 · Checked on 2026-10-22
• If a person under a deportation order cannot be sent out immediately, the chief inspector decides between supervision and detention, and if detention is chosen the person may be held until removal becomes possible.
  出入国管理及び難民認定法（e-Gov法令検索 現行版） 第52条第8項 · Checked on 2026-10-22
• If a person under a deportation order is hard to send to the destination because the person says he or she will not leave (and the destination is not on the Minister's notified list of cooperating countries), or has obstructed removal by deceit or force and may do so again, the chief inspector may, after hearing the person, order the person to leave Japan within a set period.
  出入国管理及び難民認定法（e-Gov法令検索 現行版） 第55条の2第1項 · Checked on 2026-10-22

Penalties

• Breaching supervision conditions by absconding or ignoring a summons without good reason is punishable by up to one year of imprisonment or a fine of up to 200,000 yen, or both.
  監理措置制度について（出入国在留管理庁） 法第72条 · Checked on 2026-10-22
• Absconding, or ignoring a summons without good reason, in breach of provisional-release conditions is punishable by up to one year of imprisonment or a fine of up to 200,000 yen, or both.
  仮放免制度について（出入国在留管理庁） 仮放免の条件 · Checked on 2026-10-22
• Illegal entry, landing without permission, and overstaying are punishable by up to three years' imprisonment or a fine of up to 3,000,000 yen, or both.
  出入国管理及び難民認定法（e-Gov法令検索 現行版） 第70条第1項柱書 · Checked on 2026-10-22
• Overstaying, meaning remaining after the period of stay without a renewal or change (including the Article 20(6) continued-stay period), is itself a criminal offence, punishable by up to three years' imprisonment or a fine of up to 3,000,000 yen, or both.
  出入国管理及び難民認定法（e-Gov法令検索 現行版） 第70条第1項第5号 · Checked on 2026-10-22
• Working outside the permitted status without permission is punishable by up to one year's imprisonment or a fine of up to 2,000,000 yen, or both; if the person is clearly engaged mainly in such work, the heavier penalty of up to three years or 3,000,000 yen applies instead.
  出入国管理及び難民認定法（e-Gov法令検索 現行版） 第70条第1項第4号・第73条 · Checked on 2026-10-22
• Forging or altering a residence card, or using, supplying or receiving a forged or altered one, is punishable by one to ten years' imprisonment; the 2026-10-01 text also covers the card's electromagnetic record.
  出入国管理及び難民認定法（e-Gov法令検索 現行版） 第73条の3第1項 · Checked on 2026-10-22
• Refusing to show a residence card when an immigration officer, police officer or other designated official asks, or refusing the electronic read-out check, is punishable by up to one year's imprisonment or a fine of up to 200,000 yen.
  出入国管理及び難民認定法（e-Gov法令検索 現行版） 第75条の2第2号 · Checked on 2026-10-22
• Failing to notify an address or a change of address is punishable by a fine of up to 200,000 yen; filing a false notification is punishable by up to one year's imprisonment or a fine of up to 200,000 yen.
  出入国管理及び難民認定法（e-Gov法令検索 現行版） 第71条の5第1号・第2号、第71条の2第1号 · Checked on 2026-10-22

Lists and tables

• Entering Japan in breach of Article 3 and landing without the permission of an immigration inspector are both grounds for compulsory deportation.
  出入国管理及び難民認定法（e-Gov法令検索 現行版） 第24条第1号・第2号 · Checked on 2026-10-22
• Staying on after the period of stay has expired without obtaining a renewal or change (overstay) is a ground for compulsory deportation; the continued stay permitted by Article 20(6) while an application is pending counts as part of the period of stay.
  出入国管理及び難民認定法（e-Gov法令検索 現行版） 第24条第4号ロ · Checked on 2026-10-22
• A person who is clearly found to be engaged mainly in income-earning business or paid activity in breach of Article 19(1) (activities outside the permitted status) is deportable, except victims of trafficking under another person's control.
  出入国管理及び難民認定法（e-Gov法令検索 現行版） 第24条第4号イ · Checked on 2026-10-22
• A resident foreigner sentenced to life imprisonment or to imprisonment for more than one year since 1 November 1951 is deportable; a fully suspended sentence, or a partly suspended sentence whose unsuspended portion is one year or less, is excepted.
  出入国管理及び難民認定法（e-Gov法令検索 現行版） 第24条第4号リ · Checked on 2026-10-22
• Having an illegal worker work in the course of business, keeping foreigners under one's control for that purpose, or brokering illegal work as a trade is itself a deportation ground for the foreign employer or broker, including inciting or aiding it.
  出入国管理及び難民認定法（e-Gov法令検索 現行版） 第24条第3号の4 · Checked on 2026-10-22
• In deciding on special permission the Minister considers the reason for wanting to stay, family ties, conduct, how the person came to Japan, length and legal status of stay, the deportation ground, humanitarian need, domestic and international conditions and the effect on illegal residents.
  出入国管理及び難民認定法（e-Gov法令検索 現行版） 第50条第5項 · Checked on 2026-10-22
• The Minister can revoke a status obtained by fraud or other improper means at landing or in a later permission, or obtained by submitting documents containing false entries.
  出入国管理及び難民認定法（e-Gov法令検索 現行版） 第22条の4第1項第1号〜第3号 · Checked on 2026-10-22
• A Schedule I status can be revoked if the holder is not doing the activity the status allows and is doing, or about to do, some other activity, unless there is a justifiable reason.
  出入国管理及び難民認定法（e-Gov法令検索 現行版） 第22条の4第1項第5号 · Checked on 2026-10-22

Recent changes

• The March 2024 revision of the guideline made explicit that a long period of unlawful stay counts against the applicant, while the interest of a child in living with the family and ties built with the local community count in favour.
  在留特別許可に係るガイドライン（出入国在留管理庁、令和6年3月改定） 第1の3 · Checked on 2026-10-22
• The 2023 amendment (Act No. 56 of 16 June 2023) took effect on 10 June 2024, which is also the cut-off date for the one-time policy of considering special permission to stay, for this occasion only, for minors under a deportation order who were born in Japan and attended school here.
  退去強制手続・出国命令制度・上陸拒否期間の短縮決定Q＆A（出入国在留管理庁） Q36 · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2024-06-10
• In 2025 special permission to stay was granted in 1,026 cases; from the start of the new application procedure on 10 June 2024 to the end of 2024 there were 469.
  令和７年における入管法違反事件について（出入国在留管理庁 報道発表） 7 在留特別許可 · Checked on 2026-10-22
• There were 1,446 status revocations under Article 22-4(1) in 2025, 262 more than the 1,184 of 2024 and a record high.
  令和７年の「在留資格取消件数」について（出入国在留管理庁 報道発表） 令和7年の取消件数 · Checked on 2026-10-22
• The number of overstayers in Japan on 1 July 2026 was 65,229, down 3,259 (4.8 percent) from 68,488 on 1 January 2026.
  本邦における不法残留者数について（令和８年７月１日現在）（出入国在留管理庁 報道発表） 1 不法残留者数 · Checked on 2026-10-22
• In 2025 the authorities started deportation or departure-order procedures against 18,442 foreign nationals, of whom 9,483 were handled under the departure-order procedure.
  令和７年における入管法違反事件について（出入国在留管理庁 報道発表） 1 入管法違反事件の推移 · Checked on 2026-10-22
• Of those handled in 2025, 13,435 people (72.9 percent) were found to have worked illegally; overstay was the ground for 92.3 percent of cases.
  令和７年における入管法違反事件について（出入国在留管理庁 報道発表） 2 不法就労事件 · Checked on 2026-10-22
• In 2025, 7,563 people were removed under deportation orders (6,677 at their own expense) and 9,789 left under departure orders, 17,352 in total; 318 were removed under escort.
  令和７年における入管法違反事件について（出入国在留管理庁 報道発表） 4 退去強制令書による送還 · Checked on 2026-10-22