Japan’s Foreign Ministry is considering extending the period of stay it granted to Afghan nationals who fled their country after the Taliban retook power in August.

About 400 have arrived in Japan so far. They include staff from the Japanese Embassy in Kabul and a Japanese aid agency, as well as family members.

They’re staying on short-term visas valid for 90 days, but some are about to expire.

Ministry officials are taking the ongoing uncertainty in Afghanistan into consideration, and may grant the Afghans a longer “specified visa for designated activities,” if they wish.

The ministry says many of the evacuees hope to return home in the future. The government plans to continue offering support to that end.