①If a foreign national who has filed the application set forth in Article 20, paragraph (1) seeks to propose changing the application to an application for the extension of period of stay, they must appear at a regional immigration services bureau and submit a copy of the written proposal pursuant to the Appended Form No. 30-3.

②If the proposal set forth in the preceding paragraph is made, the application set forth in Article 21, paragraph (1) is deemed to have been filed on the day on which the application set forth in Article 20, paragraph (1) pertaining to the proposal was filed.

③If the director of the regional immigration services bureau who has received the proposal set forth in paragraph (1) finds it necessary, the director may request the foreign national to submit a photograph and a copy of each of the materials listed in the right-hand column of Appended Table III (7) in accordance with the status of residence pertaining to the application listed in the left-hand column of the same Table, and a copy of each of any other materials to be used as reference.

④The provisions of Article 19, paragraph (3), Article 20, paragraph (4) and the preceding Article apply mutatis mutandis to the proposal set forth in paragraph (1). In this case, the term "paragraph (1)" in Article 19, paragraph (3) is deemed to be replaced with "Article 21-3, paragraph (1)" and the term "and carry out the procedures provided for in the preceding paragraph" is deemed to be replaced with "submit the materials provided for in Article 21-3, paragraph (3) and the procedures provided for in Article 20, paragraph (4), as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 21-3, paragraph (4)," respectively.

⑤Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1), when the foreign national is unable to appear in person due to disease or for other grounds, the foreign national is not required to appear at the regional immigration services bureau. In this case, a relative of the foreign national, a person living with the foreign national, or an equivalent person whom the director of the regional immigration services bureau finds appropriate may submit the written proposal provided for in paragraph (1) and the materials provided for in paragraph (3), and carry out the procedures provided for in Article 20, paragraph (4), as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraph (4) of this Article on behalf of the foreign national staying in Japan.

⑥If a mid- to long-term resident has made the proposal set forth in paragraph (1), the indication made on the residence card pursuant to the provisions of Article 20, paragraph (5) is to be deleted, and an indication is to be made on the residence card to the effect that the application pursuant to the provisions of Article 21, paragraph (2) of the Act has been filed.