The Immigration Services Agency’s website states the following:
Regarding residence applications on the last day of your residence period (the day your period of stay expires)
Applications cannot be made through the online residence application system on the last day of the period of stay (the day the period of stay expires).
Please apply at your nearest regional immigration office.
No particular reason is given.
Just recently, when I applied online for permission to change status of residence on the day before the expiration date, I finally understood the reason.
After submitting any residence application online, including applications for permission to change residence status, the following email will be sent from the Online Residence Application.
- Immediately after applying: You will receive an email with the subject “Notice that your application has been accepted through the Online Residence Application System.” The email will include your temporary acceptance number.
- Around 2:10 AM on the day after you applied: You will receive an email with the subject “Notice of Application Reception Number – Online Residence Application System.” The “reception number” listed in the email is an important number that you will need to use when making inquiries about your application.
Assuming you are able to apply online on the last day of your residence period, your application will not be “officially” accepted between midnight and 2:10 AM the day after you applied.
I think this is the reason why you cannot apply for residence online on the last day of your visa period.
If you apply at the counter and your application is accepted, you will be given a reception number at that point, so you should apply at the counter on the final day.
Please note that the day before the last day of your residence period can be a weekend or public holiday. In fact, I applied at 8:00 PM on a Sunday.