Visa Validity with New Passport (US)

Hello everyone!

I am currently residing in Japan on a student visa and will be applying to renew my passport as I am nearly out of empty pages.

I have two long-term valid visas in my current passport (one 10-year validity tourist visa for China, and one 2-year validity student visa for Japan).

My question is, if I mail my current passport to renew, will I receive it back and will those two visas remain valid? My understanding is that passports are hole-punched when not in use and I am concerned that will affect my ability to use the visas.

This is likely specific to those with experience with the US embassy in Tokyo since I am a US citizen.

Any help is appreciated; thank you!

5 comments
  1. The Japanese visa is now your resident card. The one in your passport has no use anymore.

    I don’t know the rule about Chinese visa.

  2. For a resident, the visa only matters on your first entry. Once you entered, your visa was consumed and you were given a status of residence (as a student). Your resident (zairyu) card is your proof, and the Japan visa in your passport now means nothing at all.

    Talk to the Chinese embassy or consulate or whatever about the China visa.

  3. If you’re in Japan already and in possession of a zairyu card, the Japanese visa is no longer required. You should probably mark the page with the China visa and ask them to spare it from the hole punch. They should check this themselves but it won’t hurt to put a post it on the cover with a note and a paperclip on the page, just to make sure.

  4. Yes, you will get the old passport back with hole punched (IIRC, there is a place on the form where you mention that you want old passport back). When you travel, just carry old passport with valid visa along with new passport. We have done this quite a lot in our travels.

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