Government Support for International Students and Foreigners Living in Japan During the Coronavirus

Various Ministries of the Japanese government have implemented support mechanism for residents of Japan during the pandemic, state of emergency, and recuperation of the economy thereafter. Foreigners who have residence status in Japan are eligible for all government services and support. Here is a list of support and services available and their respective links. 

・ If you are registered in your ward’s Basic Registration System (住民基本台帳) you are eligible to apply for the 100,000 yen support money from the government. 

・Click here to read the article about the details of qualifying and click here to learn how to apply. 

You can also visit the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Website for details on the government support money. 

https://kyufukin.soumu.go.jp/ja-JP/index.html Japanese only

There is also call centers set up for supporting residents in the application process in multiple languages ( English, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Portugues, Spanish, Bahasa, Thai, and Nepali) 

The phone number is as follows: 0120－260－020

https://kyufukin.soumu.go.jp/ja-JP/download/ Japanese only

・This program is designed to support students whose income from their part time jobs have decreased due to the pandemic and are unsure if they can continue studying due to the lost income.  

・Eligible candidates: University students (including graduate students), junior college students,  technical college students, vocational school students, Japanese language school students.  

・The requirements for this support vary, and the decision making process is with the school, so the first step is to consult the administration of the school you attend.

＜More information can be found on the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s Website＞

https://www.mext.go.jp/a_menu/koutou/hutankeigen/mext_00691.html Japanese only

・Those with loss of income can reduce their health insurance premium payments. 

・For more information ask the National Health Insurance desk at your local municipality. 

・The federal government has asked all companies that provide essential services like electricity and water to allow for delayed payments for these services. 

・For detailed information please consult your various service providers (E.g. Osaka gas, Kansai Dendryoku, etc.) 

・The list of companies that have accepted to delay payments for electricity and gas can be found below. 

＜For electricity (Includes companies who plan to accept delayed payments as well)＞

https://www.enecho.meti.go.jp/coronavirus/pdf/list_electric.pdf Japanese only

＜For gas (Includes companies who plan to accept delayed payments as well)＞

https://www.enecho.meti.go.jp/coronavirus/pdf/list_gas.pdf Japanese only

・The federal government has asked for public housing buildings to accept delayed rent payments 

・Applies to public housing residents and UR rental apartments residents, and those who plan to live in those properties.

・For detailed information check with the public housing office of your local municipality. 

・Households receiving allowance for child rearing will receive additional benefits. 

・Applies to families who have previously received financial support for child care. 

・Detailed information can be found on the Cabinet Office website.

　https://www8.cao.go.jp/shoushi/shinseido/taiou_coronavirus.html  Japanese only

・There is also a phone line set up for support inquiries 

＜Call center for special benefits for households with children＞ 0120－271－381

・Even if your part time job has been suspended because of the coronavirus there is a way for you to still receive some of your salary 

・The federal government has provided support money to businesses in order to protect workers. 

・For detailed information please check with your place of work. 

・If it is difficult to consult your employer you can consult your local labor bureau (労働局), labor standards office (労働基準監督署) or Hello Work

・More details available on the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare website. 

Ministry of Health Labor and Welfare Employment Adjustment Subsidy information is available in the following languages. ( English, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Portugues, Spanish, Bahasa, Cambodian, Mongolian, Burmese, Thai, and Nepali) 

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/10900000/000612098.pdf

＜To find the closest labor bureau (労働局), labor standards office (労働基準監督署) or Hello Work visit:＞

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/koyou_roudou/koyou/jigyounushi/page11_00001.html Japanese only

・Applications for permission to change status of residence and applications for permission to renew period of stay will be accepted until 3 months after the end of the designated period of stay.

・Applies to people who’s period of stay ends between March and July of this year. 

・Residence period extended by 3 months 

・This applies to people who have already submitted applications for change or renew their residence status and are waiting for the results. 

 ＜For detailed information visit the immigration bureau website＞

http://www.moj.go.jp/content/001315947.pdf Japanese only

・If you are unable to return home because of the pandemic, you can receive permission to remain in Japan

・Previously the Immigration Bureau was granting 3 months extensions of residence for those who could not return to their home country. If you are still unable to return home, you can now apply for a 6 month “Specific activity visa”

・Detailed information can be found here or contact your local immigration office. 

http://www.moj.go.jp/content/001320105.pdf Japanese only 

・The Validity of a Certificate of Eligibility will be extend by 6 months 

http://www.moj.go.jp/content/001316712.pdf Japanese only

・Those whose residence application was in process when they left Japan but have not been able to return because of the global pandemic can have their new residence card picked up by family or an acquaintance in Japan.  

Detailed information available on the Immigration Bureau Website

http://www.moj.go.jp/content/001315948.pdf Japanese only

The latest information is consistently being updated on the Ministry of Justice Website. 

http://www.moj.go.jp/hisho/kouhou/20200131comment.html Japanese only