Quick Answer
The Immigration Services Agency (ISA / 出入国在留管理庁) handles all residence-related procedures for foreign nationals in Japan. Visit regional bureaus for visa renewals, status changes, and re-entry permits. Many applications can now be started online.
What the ISA Does
The ISA is a division of the Ministry of Justice responsible for managing immigration and residence of foreign nationals. It replaced the former Immigration Bureau in 2019, gaining agency-level status to reflect the growing importance of immigration policy.
ISA Regional Bureaus
| Bureau | Jurisdiction | Key Location |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo | Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Nagano, Niigata | Konan, Minato-ku (Shinagawa area) |
| Nagoya | Aichi, Shizuoka, Mie, Gifu, Fukui, Toyama, Ishikawa | Nagoya Port area |
| Osaka | Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo, Nara, Wakayama, Shiga | Nanko area, Osaka |
| Fukuoka | Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Oita, Miyazaki, Kagoshima | Chuo-ku, Fukuoka |
| Sapporo | Hokkaido | Chuo-ku, Sapporo |
| Sendai | Miyagi, Fukushima, Yamagata, Iwate, Akita, Aomori | Aoba-ku, Sendai |
| Hiroshima | Hiroshima, Okayama, Yamaguchi, Tottori, Shimane | Naka-ku, Hiroshima |
| Takamatsu | Kagawa, Tokushima, Ehime, Kochi | Takamatsu, Kagawa |
Online vs In-Person Services
| Procedure | Online | In-Person |
|---|---|---|
| Visa renewal application | ✅ Submit online (pickup in-person) | ✅ |
| Status change application | ✅ Submit online (pickup in-person) | ✅ |
| Re-entry permit | ❌ | ✅ |
| Residence card replacement | ❌ | ✅ |
| COE application (by sponsor) | ✅ | ✅ |
| Work permission for dependents | ❌ | ✅ |
FRESC: Foreign Residents Support Center
ℹ️ Free One-Stop Support
FRESC (Yotsuya, Shinjuku-ku) brings together ISA, Legal Aid, Labor Bureau, and multilingual counselors in one location. Services available in English, Chinese, Vietnamese, and more. No appointment needed for general consultation.
Tips for Shorter Wait Times
- Go early: Arrive 30 minutes before opening (offices open 9:00 AM). Wait times can exceed 3 hours by midday.
- Avoid Mondays and month-end: These are the busiest days at every bureau.
- Use branch offices: Smaller branch offices (支局) often have much shorter wait times than the main bureau.
- Submit online: Use the online system to submit renewal and status change applications — you only visit once for pickup.
- Bring complete documents: Missing documents mean a wasted trip. Use our document checklists before visiting.
⚠️ Legal Notice
This is not legal advice. Please consult a licensed immigration consultant (行政書士 / gyoseishoshi) for advice specific to your situation.
Last updated: April 2026. Office hours and services may change. Check ISA for the latest.
