Immigration Application Processing Time | Latest Average Days and Points to Note for 2026

“How long will I have to wait after submitting my application?” This is one of the most frequently asked questions at our office. The Immigration Services Agency (hereinafter, the Immigration Services Agency) publishes the average Immigration application processing time for each Status of Residence on a monthly basis.

Looking at the latest Reiwa 8 (2026) June approvals by “days until disposition,” the shortest was 6.7 days for Extension of Period of Stay for Temporary Visitor, and the longest was 289.1 days for Application for Permission for Permanent Residence, a difference of more than 40 times. In this article, we will clarify the latest figures, the correct way to interpret statistics, and how to check progress for foreign nationals themselves and For HR Professionals at companies.

The concept of “when to apply” is covered in “When to apply for Extension of Period of Stay? 45 days prior is a guideline.” This article discusses the prerequisite of “how many days it actually takes.”

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1. Conclusion: Waiting Times Vary Significantly by Status of Residence

First, please note the following three points:

• Average days vary significantly by Status of Residence. For “days until disposition” for Reiwa 8 (2026) June approvals, the shortest was 6.7 days for Extension of Period of Stay for Temporary Visitor, and the longest was 289.1 days for Application for Permission for Permanent Residence.
• The published figures are national averages for “approved cases only.” Denials and application withdrawals are not included in the statistics.
• The published figures are a guideline and do not guarantee the duration for individual cases. If additional documents are requested, the days until their submission are also included in the period.

In other words, the published figures are not a promise of “when your application will be completed,” but rather a measure for preparation and scheduling.

2. The Immigration Services Agency Publishes Average Days “Monthly”

Since fiscal year 2017, the Immigration Services Agency has published the average Immigration application processing time at regional immigration bureaus nationwide. Initially, it was published quarterly (every three months), but starting from Reiwa 6 (2024) October approvals, it changed to monthly publication, allowing for more up-to-date figures to be checked.

The following four procedures are subject to publication:

• Application for Certificate of Eligibility
• Application for Extension of Period of Stay
• Application for Change of Status of Residence
• Application for Permission for Permanent Residence

The statistics are based on the date of disposition, and Status of Residence “Diplomat” and “Official” are excluded from the scope.

3. [Latest] Average Processing Days for Reiwa 8 (2026) June Approvals

Below are selected Status of Residence with frequent inquiries to our office, from the figures for Reiwa 8 (2026) June approvals published by the Immigration Services Agency (unit: days).

Status of Residence	Certificate of Eligibility Issuance	Extension of Period of Stay	Change of Status of Residence
Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services	51.4	41.7	56.8
Business Manager	212.3	46.8	199.6
Specified Skilled Worker (i)	68.2	45.9	63.0
Specified Skilled Worker (ii)	51.5	43.5	55.6
Nursing Care	27.5	29.2	26.6
Intra-company Transferee	46.1	43.1	37.0
Skilled Labor	97.1	32.5	28.6
Student	43.0	42.2	50.3
Dependent	68.7	38.2	41.6
Spouse or Child of Japanese National	111.5	49.8	55.7
Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident	107.3	47.5	57.0
Long-Term Resident	85.9	41.7	60.2
Permanent Resident (Application for Permission for Permanent Residence)	—	—	289.1

All figures represent “days until disposition (issuance/notification).” Application for Permission for Permanent Residence is published under the “Change of Status of Residence, etc.” category, and there are no figures in the Certificate of Eligibility Issuance and Extension of Period of Stay columns.

Business Manager has a long processing time, 212.3 days for Certificate of Eligibility Issuance and 199.6 days for Change of Status of Residence, second only to Application for Permission for Permanent Residence. On the other hand, Nursing Care takes around 30 days for all three procedures, showing a significant difference even among work-related Status of Residence.

From the figures for Reiwa 8 (2026) June approvals

4. What Can Be Understood from a 3-Month Trend

Looking at single-month figures alone can be influenced by long-term cases that happened to be processed in that month. By comparing the three months of Reiwa 8 (2026) April, May, and June, trends become visible (days until disposition, unit: days).

Status of Residence / Procedure	April 2026	May 2026	June 2026
Application for Permission for Permanent Residence	317.9	292.1	289.1
Business Manager (Certificate of Eligibility)	194.4	153.4	212.3
Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services (Certificate of Eligibility)	68.7	62.9	51.4
Student (Certificate of Eligibility)	45.6	70.6	43.0
Spouse or Child of Japanese National (Certificate of Eligibility)	89.7	111.5	111.5

The following points can be gathered from this data:

• Processing time for Application for Permission for Permanent Residence has shortened for three consecutive months (317.9 days → 289.1 days). Nevertheless, it still remains at a level of over 9 months.
• Business Manager continues to show significant monthly fluctuations (153.4 days to 212.3 days).
• The Certificate of Eligibility for Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services has shortened by 17.3 days over three months (68.7 days → 51.4 days).
• Student has fluctuated: 45.6 days → 70.6 days → 43.0 days. The Immigration Services Agency notes that the processing time for the “Student” Status of Residence tends to be longer due to an increase in applications leading up to the start of Japanese language school courses (April and October).

Regarding seasonal factors, it is also noted that processing times for work visas tend to be longer due to an increase in applications leading up to the April employment season. A high figure for a particular month does not necessarily indicate a stricter system.

5. “Days Until Disposition” and “Days Until Completion of Review” Are Different

The publicly released data includes two types of figures for Extension of Period of Stay and Change of Status of Residence. Misinterpreting these can lead to a misunderstanding of the actual situation.

Type of Figure	Meaning
Days until disposition (notification)	From the date of application acceptance until the date of permission notification (the day you visit the immigration office to complete the procedure)
Days until completion of review	From the date of application acceptance until the review itself is completed

In other words, “Days until disposition” includes the period from the completion of the review until the actual visit to the immigration office for collection. The Immigration Services Agency also explicitly states that the actual review itself may be shorter than the displayed number of days.

For permissions granted in June 2026, for example, a Change of Status of Residence for Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services took 56.8 days until disposition and 48.1 days until completion of review, a difference of 8.7 days. For Application for Permission for Permanent Residence, it was 289.1 days and 276.0 days, a difference of 13.1 days.

6. Five Points to Note When Reading These Statistics

The notes in the publicly released data contain important practical conditions. To avoid misunderstanding by taking figures out of context, please always check the following five points together:

1. Denials and application withdrawals are not included. These are strictly the average for “cases that resulted in permission.” The actual average, including cases that were denied, would differ from this.
2. If additional documents are requested, the days until their submission are also included. If document submission is delayed, the number of days will increase accordingly. Conversely, the speed of your response to requests for additional documents is one of the few factors you can control.
3. “Change of Status of Residence, etc.” includes Application for Permission for Permanent Residence. However, this only applies to general permanent residence and excludes applications for acquisition of Status of Residence.
4. The figures for Specified Skilled Worker (i) are calculated excluding the food service industry sector. This is due to measures taken based on the “Operation of Acceptance Cap in the Specified Skilled Worker ‘Food Service Industry Sector'” dated March 27, 2026.
5. The processing time for “Designated Activities” varies depending on the activity to be performed. Since Designated Activities encompass a wide range of contents, when applying the average figures to your own case, you need to be more cautious than with other Status of Residence categories.

Furthermore, there is a note that for changes of Status of Residence to Technical Intern Training (iii), cases where permission was granted after a temporary return to their home country for more than one month after application are included, meaning the figures do not necessarily represent the actual length of the review.

For a detailed explanation of what to do in case of a Denial, please refer to “If Your Certificate of Eligibility is Not Issued.”

7. What Foreign Nationals and Corporate HR Professionals Should Do

For Foreign Nationals

• Act early for extensions. Applications for Extension of Period of Stay are accepted approximately three months before the expiration date of your Period of Stay. Many Status of Residence applications currently take around 40 days on average for an extension, so applying with ample time leads to stability in your daily life.
• Plan for Application for Permission for Permanent Residence assuming it will take “9 months or more.” As of June Reiwa 8 (2026) for approved applications, it was 289.1 days. If your Period of Stay expires during this period, please remember to file an Application for Extension of Period of Stay separately from your Application for Permission for Permanent Residence.
• Respond to requests for additional documents with top priority. The number of days until submission is included in the Processing time.
• Report changes in employment or residence. Changes in circumstances during the immigration review may lead to requests for additional documents.

For Corporate HR Professionals

• Calculate recruitment schedules backward from the number of days for Certificate of Eligibility. As of June Reiwa 8 (2026) for approved applications, it was 51.4 days for Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services and 68.2 days for Specified Skilled Worker (i). If you aim for an April start date, applying from the new year might not be sufficient.
• Expect particularly long processing times for Business Manager acceptance. A level of 212.3 days for Certificate of Eligibility issuance directly impacts the startup schedule of your business plan.
• Design start dates with ample time, not just the “permission date.” Employment cannot commence before permission is granted.
• Communicate internally that “the average is not a guarantee.” It is common for individual cases to take longer than the average.

8. How to Check Progress

The Immigration Services Agency states that they cannot answer inquiries regarding the progress of individual applications. Furthermore, due to the high volume of inquiries about progress, which makes phone lines difficult to connect and affects immigration review operations, they request that you refrain from calling to check on progress. Once the immigration review is complete, you will receive notification from the Immigration Services Agency via postcard or email.

On the other hand, if you are using the Online application system, you can check the progress of your immigration review yourself. By looking at the “Application Status” column in the “Application Information List” of the online residence application system, you will see statuses such as “Application Completed,” “Under Review,” “Waiting for Issuance (if mailed),” or “Completed.” If additional documents are required, “Waiting for Additional Documents” will be displayed in the “Attached Documents” column.

The ability to check progress yourself is one of the practical benefits of choosing Online application. The mechanism of the Online application system is explained in “Online Residence Application System | New System in 2026 and Points to Note.”

9. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1. I haven’t heard anything even though the published average number of days has passed. Does this mean Denial?

Exceeding the average does not immediately mean Denial. The published values are the national average for approved cases, and it is common for individual cases to take longer than this. If you have been asked to submit additional documents, the days until that response is processed will be added to the Processing time.

Q2. Is there a difference between applying from Miyazaki and applying from Tokyo?

The published figures are the average across all Regional Immigration Services Bureaus nationwide, and a breakdown by individual office is not disclosed. Therefore, regional differences cannot be inferred from the published data.

Q3. My Period of Stay is about to expire while my Application for Permission for Permanent Residence is pending. What should I do?

Application for Permission for Permanent Residence and Application for Extension of Period of Stay are separate procedures. If your Period of Stay expires while your permanent residence immigration review is ongoing, you must file an Application for Extension of Period of Stay separately. The Application for Permission for Permanent Residence for June Reiwa 8 (2026) approvals was 289.1 days, so it is quite possible for the Period of Stay to expire during the application process.

Q4. Should I look at “days until disposition” or “days until immigration review completion”?

If you want to estimate when you will receive permission, look at “days until disposition.” If you want to know the length of the immigration review itself, look at “days until immigration review completion.” For Extension of Period of Stay and Change of Status of Residence, this difference represents the period from the end of the immigration review until your visit to the office.

Q5. Does Online application speed up the immigration review?

The published data does not show a breakdown by application method, so it is not possible to determine from the published figures whether Online application is faster. However, the ability to check progress yourself and the reduced burden of visiting the office are clear advantages.

Q6. Where can I check the figures?

Monthly PDFs are published on the “Immigration application processing time” page of the Immigration Services Agency website. The source URLs are listed at the end of this article.

10. Summary: Use Numbers for ‘Planning,’ Not ‘Anxiety’

The average processing time for immigration review, based on “days until disposition” for approvals in June Reiwa 8 (2026), varies significantly, from 6.7 days for an Extension of Period of Stay for Temporary Visitor to 289.1 days for an Application for Permission for Permanent Residence. More important than the numbers themselves is to understand what those numbers include and exclude, and then incorporate them into your own plans.

• The published values are national averages for “approved cases” and are not guarantees.
• The speed of responding to requests for additional documents is a factor you can personally shorten.
• Plan for extensions early, and for permanent residence, assume a long-term process.
• Businesses should calculate their hiring schedule backward from the number of days for the Certificate of Eligibility.

Our office provides comprehensive support, from designing application schedules based on the latest published values to responding to requests for additional documents.

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This article is written based on publicly available information as of September 2026. Details of the system and implementation dates may change in the future. For actual applications, please confirm with official information from the Immigration Services Agency or our office.

Author of this article: Administrative Scrivener Authorized to File Applications, Satoshi Nakayama
Representative, Administrative Scrivener Corporation Miyazaki International Legal Office
Location: Miyazaki City, Miyazaki Prefecture

Sources (Primary Information)

• Immigration Services Agency “Immigration application processing time” https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/resources/nyuukokukanri07_00140.html
• Immigration Services Agency “Immigration application processing time (days) for approvals in June Reiwa 8 (2026)” https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/content/001468644.pdf
• Immigration Services Agency “Immigration application processing time (days) for approvals in May Reiwa 8 (2026)” https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/content/001466245.pdf
• Immigration Services Agency “Immigration application processing time (days) for approvals in April Reiwa 8 (2026)” https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/content/001466244.pdf
• Immigration Services Agency “Regarding Confirmation of Progress for Various Status of Residence Applications” https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/10_00210.html