Staying in Japan for sightseeing or arranging your affairs
If you are a first or second year, you may stay in Japan on your current visa (as long as you do not engage in other employment). As for third year JETs, your visas will expire on the same day that your contracts come to an end. You must be careful, as you are required to either leave Japan before your current visa expires OR you must apply for a ‘temporary visitor’ visa before your current visa expires. This means that you must apply for a ‘temporary visitor’ visa to cover the days you will probably stay in Japan to arrange your affairs after your employment has ended. See Temporary Visitor Visa for more details about how to apply for one.
Staying in Japan for employment
If you are staying in Japan for employment, you must ask your new employer whether you need to extend your period of stay or change your status of residence. Your CO, the PAs, Hyogo Prefecture, or CLAIR cannot provide visa advice or support for you. If you want to stay in Japan and renew your visa with a new employer, make sure you hold on to your Letter of Appointment (人事通知書). If your new employer asks you for a Taishoku Shomeisho (退職証明書), your Letter of Appointment should do.
Leaving Japan
If your visa is still valid, you can leave and re-enter Japan by showing your Residence Card at the airport. However, in order to become a non-resident and collect your pension refund you have to submit a moving-out notice to your municipality, and tell the immigration officer at the airport that you are leaving permanently. The immigration officer may take away your Residence Card or punch a hole through it, marking it invalid.
