Immigration Information Center

The Japanese Ministry of Justice’s Immigration Information Center is the best place to call for all immigration related issues. It’s located in Tokyo inside the Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau, but you can call them from anywhere in Japan (or, presumably, from outside Japan). The staff there speak a variety of foreign languages.

Their phone number is (03) 5796-7112, and they’re open from 9am till 4pm, Monday to Friday. They have a lunch hour from noon to 1pm. According to the website, the services they offer are

• Guidance on procedures to apply for entry permission for spouses, employees and others.
• Guidance on procedures for acquiring or changing status of residence and extending periods of stay.
• Guidance on alien registration procedures.
• Guidance on various documents required for applications.
• Guidance on general immigration matters.

There are other Immigration Information Centres throughout Japan — see the Ministry of Justice’s list of immigration offices throughout Japan.