All the official terms and clauses online indicates that: any foreigner who has stayed more than 6 months should not be eligible for tax-refund.
However, in a scenario where a foreign student will leave for good after the student visa expires and not extended, does anyone know whether they could claim tax-refund for shopping?
3 comments
No you can’t (*). It’s only for the first 6 month, not the last 6 month.
(*) For standard tax-free shopping that the tourist use. There are another type of tax-free shopping that everyone, even the Japanese citizens, can use for high-value gifts to be exported.
You… just answer your question yourself.
Less than 6 months : OK. More than 6 months : NO.
And as far as I know, it’s not any foreigners, it’s basically tourists.
Edit : Not just foreigners. Under certain conditions, Japanese nationals can claim tax refunds too.
I don’t think you can claim with a residence card. Possibly if you switch to tourist after student you could during that period?