①If it is necessary for continuously keeping track of information on mid- to long-term residents, the Commissioner of the Immigration Services Agency may have an officer inquire into facts with regard to the information which is to be notified pursuant to the provisions of this Subsection.

②The immigration inspector or immigration control officer may require persons concerned to appear, ask them questions, or request them to present documents or electronic or magnetic records, if it is necessary for the inquiry set forth in the preceding paragraph.

③The Commissioner of the Immigration Services Agency, immigration inspector or immigration control officer may make inquiries to public offices or public or private organizations and require submission of reports on necessary information in relation to the inquiry set forth in paragraph (1).

①A foreign national with a status of residence may have their status of residence (including the period of stay for the status; hereinafter the same applies from this paragraph to paragraph (3) and in the following Article) changed (in the case of a foreign national residing with the status of residence of "Highly Skilled Professional" (limited to those pertaining to item (i), sub-items (a) through (c) in the right-hand column under "Highly Skilled Professional" of the Appended Table I (2)), including a change to a different public or private organization in Japan designated by the Minister of Justice, in the case of a foreign national residing with the "Specified Skilled Worker" status of residence including a change in the public or private organization in Japan designated by the Minister of Justice or specified industrial field, and in the case of a foreign national residing with the status of residence of "Designated Activities," including a change in the activities specifically designated by the Minister of Justice regarding the person concerned).

②A foreign national who seeks to have their status of residence changed pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph must apply to the Minister of Justice for the change of the status of residence in accordance with the procedures provided for by Ministry of Justice Order; provided, however, that if the foreign national wishes to have their status of residence changed to that of "Permanent Resident," they must comply with the procedures pursuant to the provisions of Article 22, paragraph (1).

③If an application for a change of status of residence has been filed as set forth in the preceding paragraph, the Minister of Justice may grant permission only if the Minister finds that there are reasonable grounds to grant the change of the status of residence based on the documents submitted by the foreign national; provided, however, that in the case of an application submitted by a person whose status of residence is "Temporary Visitor," permission is not to be granted unless the application is made based on special unavoidable circumstances.

④If the Minister of Justice has decided to give permission pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the Minister is to have the Commissioner of the Immigration Services Agency notify the foreign national to that effect. In this case, the notification is to be made by the Commissioner by having the immigration inspector take the measures specified in the following items in accordance with the categories set forth in the following items:

⑤The permission of the Minister of Justice pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (3) becomes effective if the measures specified in each respective item of the preceding paragraph have been taken.

⑥If an application pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (2) is filed (excluding an application filed by a foreign national who was granted permission for a period of stay of not more than 30 days), and the disposition for the application has not been made by the expiration date of the period of stay for the status of residence which the foreign national had at the time of the application, the foreign national may, even after the expiration date of the period of stay, continue to reside in Japan until the disposition is made or the day on which 2 months have passed from the date of the expiration of the previous period of stay, whichever comes first.

①Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, the change to the status of residence of "Highly Skilled Professional" (limited to those pertaining to item (ii) of the right-hand column under "Highly Skilled Professional" in the Appended Table I (2)) may not be granted, unless it is for a foreign national residing in Japan with the status of residence of "Highly Skilled Professional" (limited to those pertaining to item (i), sub-items (a) through (c) in the right-hand column pertaining to "Highly Skilled Professional" in the same Table).

②If the Minister of Justice receives an application from a foreign national for a change to the status of residence of "Highly Skilled Professional" (limited to those pertaining to item (ii) in the right-hand column pertaining to "Highly Skilled Professional" in the Appended Table I (2)) pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (2) of the preceding Article, the Minister may not grant permission for the change unless the foreign national conforms to the standards provided for by Ministry of Justice Order.

③The Minister of Justice is to consult with the heads of the related administrative organs in advance, when seeking to establish the Ministry of Justice Order set forth in the preceding paragraph.

①A foreign national residing in Japan may, without changing their existing status of residence, have their period of stay extended.

②A foreign national who seeks to have their period of stay extended pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph must file an application to the Minister of Justice for an extension of that period in accordance with the procedures provided for by Ministry of Justice Order.

③If the application set forth in the preceding paragraph has been filed, the Minister of Justice may grant permission only if the Minister finds that there are reasonable grounds to grant the extension of the period of stay based on the documents submitted by the foreign national.

④The provisions of Article 20, paragraph (4) and paragraph (5) apply mutatis mutandis to the permission granted pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, and the provisions of the same Article, paragraph (6) apply mutatis mutandis to an application filed pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (2), respectively. In these cases, "new status of residence and period of stay" in items (ii) and (iii) is deemed to be replaced with "status of residence and new period of stay".

①A foreign national who seeks to change their status of residence to that of "Permanent Resident" must file an application to the Minister of Justice for permission for permanent residence by taking the procedures provided for by Ministry of Justice Order.

②If an application as set forth in the preceding paragraph has been filed, the Minister of Justice may grant permission only if the Minister finds that the foreign national conforms to all of the following items and that their permanent residence conforms to the interests of Japan; provided, however, that in the case of spouses or children of Japanese nationals, of residents with permanent residence status or of special permanent residents, they do not need to conform to any of the following items, and in the case of a person whose need for protection has been recognized by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees or any other international organization and who meets the requirements provided for by Ministry of Justice Order, they do not need to conform to item (ii):

③If the Minister of Justice decides to grant the permission provided for in the preceding paragraph, the Minister is to have the Commissioner of the Immigration Services Agency notify the foreign national to that effect. In that case, this notification is to be made by the Commissioner of the Immigration Services Agency by having an immigration officer issue a residence card to the foreign national pertaining to the permission.

④The permission of the Minister of Justice pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (2) becomes effective when the residence card under the provisions of the preceding paragraph has been issued.

①Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 2-2, paragraph (1), a person who has renounced Japanese nationality, or a foreign national who is to stay in Japan without following the procedures for landing provided in the preceding Chapter, through birth or for any other grounds, may continue to stay in Japan without acquiring a status of residence for a period not exceeding 60 days from the date of their renouncement of Japanese nationality, birth, or the day other grounds arose.

②A foreign national prescribed by the preceding paragraph who seeks to stay in Japan beyond the period set forth in the same paragraph must file an application with the Minister of Justice for the acquisition of a status of residence within 30 days from the date of their renouncement of Japanese nationality, birth, or the day other grounds arose, pursuant to Ministry of Justice Order.

③The provisions of the main clause of Article 20, paragraph (3), paragraph (4) and paragraph (5) apply mutatis mutandis to the procedures for filing an application to acquire a status of residence prescribed in the preceding paragraph (except for an application to acquire the status of residence of permanent resident). In this case, "change of a status of residence" in the main clause of paragraph (3) of the same Article is deemed to be replaced with "acquisition of a status of residence."

④The provisions of the preceding Article apply mutatis mutandis to the procedures for an application to acquire the status of residence of permanent resident, out of the applications to acquire the status of residence as prescribed in paragraph (2). In this case, "seeks to change" is deemed to be replaced with "seeks to acquire"; and "change their status of residence to that," is deemed to be replaced with "acquire their status of residence," in paragraph (1) of the same Article.

The provisions of paragraphs (2) through (4) of the preceding Article apply mutatis mutandis to a foreign national who has been granted permission for landing for the temporary refuge prescribed in Article 18-2, paragraph (1), only if the foreign national is to reside under any status of residence set forth in the left-hand column of the Appended Table I or II.In this case, "within 30 days from the date of their renouncement of Japanese nationality, birth, or the day other grounds arose" in paragraph (2) of the preceding Article is deemed to be replaced with "within the period of landing pertaining to the permission for landing."