Hi,
I am on spouse visa and it will be my first traveling abroad (4 days), then come back to Japan. I read an article about needing a re-entry permit?
Do I need to get a re—entry permit as a spouse? If so where can I file for one?
Thank you in advance.
4 comments
Yeah, the one you fill out at the airport, right before immigration. You won’t miss it. Since you’re coming back in a few days, you don’t need the ~~special~~”long term” one (> 1 year) which you need to apply for at immigration office and pay for.
edit: the < 1 year is the “special” permit.
Do you want to come back to Japan on your current visa? If so, then yes, you need a reentry permit. Just check the box on the form you fill out at exit immigration at the airport that says you will be coming back.
If you don’t want to come back on your current visa then don’t check that box. You will give up your Residence Card when you leave the country and you will be unable to return without a new visa.
1. yes
2. when you fill out your disembarkation card before going through immigration at the airport check the box that you will be returning – they will remove 1/2 and staple the other 1/2 inside – fill that out before going back through immigration on your return (where they should remove it) – congratulations you have a reentry permit…
Yes every foreigner needs a reentry permit if you are planning to come back. I made a mistake when I first got permanent residency back in the day where you actually had to go to the immigration office and get the paid reentry permit stamped in your passport (single or multiple use).
When I arrived at Narita to leave the country, the immigration officer asked if I was coming back. I said yes and he asked me where my reentry permit was. I said I didn’t need one because I was a permanent resident right? Wrong. They made me go into an office and write an apology note promising that I would never make this mistake again. They gave me a re-entry stamp at the airport and told me that this was the one and only time I would get the reentry stamp at the airport.
Thank God they’ve changed the rules and made it much easier. Just fill out the card at the airport and check the box that says you’re coming back. No need to go to immigration and pay unless you want the longer reentry as opposed to the free one year reentry