Visiting your home country while living in Japan?

Possibly a stupid question, I have looked at the government websites but it always seems kind of jargony so just hoping to get a straightforward answer. I’m intending on visiting my home country (USA) for Christmas, this will be my first time leaving Japan since living in Japan. I just want to know if there is anything I need to be aware of before leaving or upon returning? For instance, do I just need to show my passport with Visa and residence card to be readmitted to Japan? Or anything else I need to do?

I assume probably don’t need to worry about much, but rather be safe than sorry. Thanks for any help.

3 comments
  1. When you leave, there is a small box on the outgoing passenger card to say that you’ll be returning. Tick it.

    When you come back there will be a specific customs line for residents returning. Go to that line, have your visa and passport ready.

  2. Yes, you will need to show your passport and residence card.

    If either of those would expire while you’re abroad, there are other steps.

  3. If you are leaving Japan for less than one year, which sounds like the case, you don’t need to do anything special in advance of your trip. At the airport, you’ll just need to fill out a “special re-entry permit” — you can find them just before you pass through exit immigration. The immigration officer will staple this into your passport, and you’ll use that along with your residence card when you return to Japan.

    If you were leaving Japan for more than one year, you would need to apply for a proper “re-entry permit” from your regional immigration bureau before your trip.

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