Hi All,
I’m currently a teacher at a school in Tokyo. I’m planning on taking a sabbatical in 2027 and moving with my family to another country for a year or so. My concern is my PR status. I looked on Immigration’s website but, shockingly, I’m still not clear on everything that needs to happen. Has anyone done something similar? Can you walk me through the process?
My chief concern is that I won’t necessarily have an institution or company sponsor in the country we’re traveling to. My plan was to use savings to cover rent and teach English privately to cover daily living expenses. Will a lack of a sponsor present a major roadblock?
I suppose the easiest thing is to call an immigration attorney, but I thought I’d check here first and see what people on this sub have to say.
Thanks so much.
3 comments
As long as you intend to return to Japan, you can maintain PR. There’s no real limit.
If you plan to stop residency during this time, you do need to apply for a 5-year reentry permit though as the special reentry permit is only for residents. Some threads with likely better worded information:
* https://www.reddit.com/r/japanlife/comments/utirod/leaving_japan_temporarily_with_pr/
* https://www.reddit.com/r/japanlife/comments/em2hd1/leaving_japan_with_permanent_residence_status/
* https://www.reddit.com/r/japanlife/comments/dxk1nb/leaving_japan_with_pr_while_maintaining_an_online/
>Will a lack of a sponsor present a major roadblock?
Roadblock to what?
From Japan’s side, you simply apply for a re-entry permit (not the special one at the airport) and explain you’re taking a sabbatical and will definitely return.
From the other country’s side, can you actually stay in that country for a year, receive remuneration, etc, without a proper job? *I dunno but not really a question for here*.
What might snag you though is it’s not entirely clear whether you will become a tax resident of the other country based on your description. Will you remove yourself from the residence registry? (this is a really complicated question with tax implications that are pretty major)
I left Japan for two years (on a spouse visa) from 2007-2009. When I returned, I was on the hook for two years of insurance/pension payments. So, that is definitely something to look into before going – the law may have changed, but I doubt it.