My original plan was to go for permanent residency as a sort of ‘backup’ but reading some information (along with some of these posts) I am starting to reconsider. For one, I’m still nearly a year away from being eligible for it, and secondly there’s no guarantee how long it’ll take, or if I’ll even be granted it. Additionally, there’s a fairly decent chance that I might not even come back to live longterm.
It looks like I might have an opportunity elsewhere come next year (plus I am frankly burnt out and seeking a change). Since I have a visa which is good until 2027, I am thinking of keeping it should I decide to return (which wouldn’t be out of the question considering how long I’ve been here I suppose).
Might re-entry stamps (good for up to 5 years) be a possibility? I think they are, though I have heard mixed things about whether or not immigration would cancel my residency after 3 months of unemployment. I’m also wondering whether or not anyone here has ever been denied these 5 years stamps, or whether anyone has had their visa taken away after 3+ months of unemployment.
Cheers.
2 comments
As far as I know if you are not fulfilling the purpose of your status of residence, then there is no reason for you to have it, according to immigration.
TLDR: My advice is, that if you are proper burnt out and can’t take it anymore then, maybe quit your job. Start the application for hello work, which if you quit takes like 3 months to process. You can then remain a resident of Japan,
So can use the 1 year special re-entry permit, and go traveling overseas , and then return to Japan and start job hunting. That way the “3 month rule” won’t apply because you’re only traveling for just under 3 months. But you also you won’t affect your “continuous residency” for PR (should you still decide to pursue it) and then also you can get unemployment insurance whilst job hunting when you return.
Downsides of remaining a registers resident means maintaining an address and paying NHI and national pension. Also being a registered resident as of January 1st 2023 means paying resident tax for 2022 in June 2023.
Now down to it:
*Before you do this is worth noting that if you leave Japan for >90 days in one trip, or an aggregated total of >150 days per year, then you run the risk of your “consecutive residency” being affected, which means, even if you remain a resident and take 1 year special re-entry permit, and return, but don’t get hit by the “3 month rule” then your chances of PR are negatively affected because even though you remained a resident, your “consecutive residency” was reset*
If you apply for a re-entry permit on your current visa and they grant it, then all good to cease residency (remove yourself from the resident register) and leave for >1 year.
Of course that means your “consecutive residency” is then 100% reset.
In that circumstance though, No need to worry about the “3 month” rule. The 3 month rule only applies to residents of Japan on a work visa not engaging in their status of residency for >3 months.
Those who need to worry are those who on a work visa who quit their job get a special re-entry permit (free one at the airport) and leave for >3 months or traveling around Japan for >3 months without looking for work.
Because on that occasion, they would still be residents of Japan but not actively engaging in their status of residency for >3 months.
Also to add to this if someone ceases residency then they lose their right to 1 year special re-entry permit because that is only for foreigners residing in Japan as mid to long term residents, which you would not be, if you remove yourself from the resident register.
You could technically get away with it because the process between immigration and municipalities is not streamlined enough for immigration to check if you’re still a registered resident or not. And if you don’t really plan to return then I guess it’s no big deal for you.
But if you did return, you’d have to return within a year. And then also if you did then decide to stay, when you come to renew your visa you may encounter issue because immigration may question why for the <1 year you were out you have no resident tax, and no income tax paid to Japan.