Data through April 2026 · updated July 2026 · part of Japan Immigration Statistics
A change of status is how a life in Japan changes shape without leaving the country: the student who graduates into an Engineer/Humanities job, the dependent spouse who takes a full-time role, the employee who starts a company on a Business Manager visa.
Volumes have surged: a record 531,048 applications were filed in 2025 — more than double the level of the mid-2010s — with roughly 95% approved.
What the series shows:
- The graduation pipeline drives the spring spike. Change-of-status volume concentrates around March–April, when international students convert to work visas — the single largest flow within this category.
- Approval is high but meaningfully below extensions. ~95% versus ~98% for extensions: a change of status is a fresh eligibility test for the new category, not a rubber stamp. The 4–5% who fail usually misjudge the fit between degree/experience and the target status.
- 2026 is on a record pace again — 214,689 applications in January–April alone, consistent with record foreign-student cohorts entering the workforce.
The full data
| Year | New applications | Processed | Approved | Denied | Approval rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 147,511 | 146,303 | 138,427 | 2,283 | 94.6% |
| 2008 | 154,510 | 155,426 | 149,214 | 1,868 | 96.0% |
| 2009 | 150,552 | 154,896 | 149,046 | 1,753 | 96.2% |
| 2010 | 196,658 | 195,017 | 188,178 | 2,362 | 96.5% |
| 2011 | 137,172 | 140,303 | 132,834 | 2,483 | 94.7% |
| 2012 | 132,746 | 131,174 | 124,192 | 2,345 | 94.7% |
| 2013 | 145,132 | 144,624 | 135,289 | 2,658 | 93.5% |
| 2014 | 155,985 | 154,379 | 142,700 | 3,207 | 92.4% |
| 2015 | 171,213 | 169,141 | 159,235 | 2,861 | 94.1% |
| 2016 | 196,460 | 191,904 | 180,480 | 3,275 | 94.0% |
| 2017 | 235,416 | 232,880 | 215,599 | 5,001 | 92.6% |
| 2018 | 358,008 | 348,108 | 325,149 | 6,556 | 93.4% |
| 2019 | 286,445 | 290,496 | 269,153 | 6,272 | 92.7% |
| 2020 | 422,942 | 413,461 | 392,415 | 5,419 | 94.9% |
| 2021 | 405,285 | 388,849 | 367,189 | 4,915 | 94.4% |
| 2022 | 373,144 | 384,930 | 359,755 | 4,502 | 93.5% |
| 2023 | 472,024 | 454,973 | 429,562 | 3,354 | 94.4% |
| 2024 | 438,563 | 442,697 | 423,505 | 2,700 | 95.7% |
| 2025 (prelim.) | 531,048 | 514,192 | 490,754 | 3,101 | 95.4% |
| 2026 (Jan–Apr) | 214,689 | 209,520 | 198,743 | 1,735 | 94.9% |
“New applications” counts filings in that period; “processed” counts decisions issued (approvals + denials + withdrawals/other) — long-running applications mean a year's decisions include earlier filings. 2025 is our aggregation of the ISA's twelve monthly reports and may differ marginally from the official annual table when published.
Use this data
Download: change-japan.csv (CSV, free to reuse with attribution). Compiled from the Immigration Services Agency's 出入国管理統計 via e-Stat; annual tables 2007–2024 and monthly tables through April 2026. Updated July 2026.
Cite this page:
Oak Immigration Services, “Change of Status in Japan: Applications and Approval Rate, 2007–2026” (July 2026), https://oak-admin.jp/japan-immigration-statistics/status-changes/ — data: Immigration Services Agency of Japan.
Frequently asked questions
How many change-of-status applications does Japan receive each year?
A record 531,048 in 2025 (preliminary, from Immigration Services Agency monthly data) — more than double the volume of the mid-2010s. January–April 2026 alone saw 214,689 filings, on pace for another record.
What percentage of status change applications are approved?
Around 95% in recent years (95.4% in 2025). That is high, but consistently below the ~98% approval rate for extensions, because a change of status is examined as a fresh application against the new category's criteria.
What is the most common change of status in Japan?
Student to work status — typically Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services — which peaks every spring as graduates start jobs. Other large flows include dependent-to-work, working-holiday conversions, and changes into Business Manager status.
Where does this data come from?
From the Immigration Services Agency's official 出入国管理統計 on e-Stat: annual tables 2007–2024 plus monthly tables through April 2026, compiled by Oak Immigration Services. The CSV is free to reuse with attribution.