Complementary Protection Status

You submit your complementary protection application to the immigration bureau or office that has jurisdiction over your place of residence. You can apply even if you don't have resident status. The application uses the same form as refugee status applications, and if you apply for refugee status, you'll be automatically examined for complementary protection as well. If you apply directly for complementary protection only, the agency will examine only your complementary protection eligibility.

Getting the Application Form

Download the Application Form for Recognition of Refugee Status / Eligibility for Complementary Protection from the Immigration Services Agency website. The form is 8 pages, size A4, and available in 30+ languages including English, Ukrainian, Arabic, Spanish, French, Vietnamese, Burmese, Korean, and Chinese.

Documents You Must Submit

Prepare one copy of each:

• Application form (the 8-page form mentioned above)
• Personal statement (not mandatory, but critical to your case — see below for what to include)
• One photograph of yourself: 4cm × 3cm, without a hat, front view, taken within the last six months
• Any supporting materials that prove you are eligible for complementary protection (see "Evidence to Gather" below)

You must also bring originals of any of these documents you possess:

• Passport, travel document, or certificate of residence status
• Residence Card (Zairyu Card)
• Permission statement for provisional release (Kari Houmen)
• Permission statement for monitoring measures
• Any landing permission documents (such as temporary refuge permission)

Translation Requirements

You are responsible for translating all documents into Japanese. The Immigration Services Agency expects Japanese translations of every document you submit. Professional translation can be expensive, so budget accordingly. The government may translate some English-language materials themselves if they consider them critical, but there is no guarantee they will read materials in other languages.

Your Personal Statement: What to Include

Your personal statement is one of the most important parts of your application. Write in as much detail as possible, starting from your birth and continuing to the present. Include:

• Specific reasons why you cannot return to your country — not general statements about human rights violations or instability, but details about why you specifically are in danger
• Details of the persecution you face or fear
• Why you are being persecuted — the specific reason or circumstances
• State protection issues — why the government cannot or will not protect you
• Your current situation — where you are now and what you are doing
• Evidence of membership in any organizations relevant to your claim

The more detailed and specific you are, the stronger your case. Vague statements that "the government violates human rights" or "the country is unstable" will not be sufficient.

Evidence to Gather

Do everything possible to substantiate your claim. Collect:

• Newspaper or magazine articles about events relevant to your persecution
• Documents showing intent to persecute you
• Proof of membership in relevant organizations
• Identification documents related to your claim
• Reports from governments, international agencies, or human rights groups about conditions in your country
• Medical records if you have been tortured or injured
• Photographs or videos documenting threats or harm
• Communications (emails, messages, letters) showing persecution or threats

Submitting Your Application

Take your completed application and all documents to the immigration bureau or office in your jurisdiction. Find your local office on the Immigration Services Agency website. You can submit in person or by mail. Keep copies of everything you submit.

What Happens After You Submit

Within two months of receiving your application, the Immigration Services Agency will sort you into one of four case groups (A, B, C, or D). You will not be told which group you are in, but your category determines your residence status and work permit eligibility during the application period. Your category may change during the process.

The Interview

After you submit your application, you will be summoned to an interview with a Refugee Inquirer (Nanmin Chousa-kan), an officer of the Immigration Services Agency. You may have one interview or several.

Important rules about interviews:

• If you are an adult, other people (lawyers, friends, family) generally cannot be present — exceptions exist only for children under 16 without parents and those with severe disabilities or serious illnesses
• If you need an interpreter, the agency will arrange one at no cost to you
• You can request a change of interpreter if you believe the interpreter is unreliable or biased
• Avoid inconsistencies between what you wrote in your personal statement and what you say in the interview — the Inquirer will notice and may view this negatively

If Your Application Is Denied

If you are denied complementary protection status, you have the right to request an administrative review from the Minister of Justice. You must submit your request within seven days of receiving the denial notice. If you cannot meet this deadline due to unavoidable circumstances, you may still request a review after the seven-day period.

After you submit a request for administrative review, you must generally submit a Statement of Objection within 2–4 weeks of submitting your review request. This statement should explain why you believe the decision was wrong.

Important Recent Changes (June 2024)

Be aware of these restrictions:

• If you apply for refugee status three or more times, you can be deported while your application is pending unless you submit materials showing reasonable grounds for refugee or complementary protection recognition
• If your refugee application has been denied twice, you can be deported unless you submit documentation showing reasonable grounds for recognition
• If you are sentenced to imprisonment for life or three or more years in Japan, you can be deported while your application is pending

Item	Cost
Application submission	No government fee
Document translation (applicant responsibility)	Varies; typically ¥100–300 per page for professional translation
Legal representation (optional)	¥200,000–500,000+
Interpreter fees (if hiring privately)	Additional cost
Guarantee deposit for provisional release or monitoring	Up to ¥3,000,000 (actual amount varies by case)

Total estimate: ¥0 (government fees) + translation and legal costs as needed.

Does not include: Costs for obtaining documents from your home country, travel to interviews, living expenses while your application is pending, or medical examinations if required.

Initial examination: Approximately 1 year and 10 months on average, though some cases take more than 5 years.

Administrative review (appeal): Approximately 10 months on average.

Total time from application to final decision: Typically 2–6+ years, depending on case complexity and whether you appeal a denial.

Residence permit validity during application: Your residence status is typically granted for 1, 3, 5, or 6 months at a time and must be renewed. The Immigration Services Agency will notify you when to apply for renewal.