I’ve been in Japan since September 2018, I haven’t left since and have no idea how leaving Japan and re-entering works. How do I make sure immigration doesn’t invalidate my visa (which is valid until Nov 2024)? Do I need to apply for a re-entry permit? And do you just apply for a re-entry permit at the airport?
Could someone explain to me how this works so that I don’t end up having multiple panic attacks? 🙃 I apologise if this is dumb, I’ve just literally never done it before and am super paranoid I’ll end up messing my visa up (even though that is unlikely).
Fortunately my home country (England) doesn’t have any covid related entry requirements, but I know I’ll have to take a PCR test before coming back to Japan.
Also kind of worried that Japan will shut its borders again but I guess there’s not really any way to predict that.
Thank you in advance!
5 comments
I went back to my home country back in February and returned back to Japan in April.
Are you planning to leave for more than a year? If not, you just need to fill out the re-entry form before going past the customs at the airport. I don’t know the requirements for entering Japan atm, but you can check that online.
Generally, if you have a valid visa, you can still come in, thats how its been from the start of the pandemic. Worst case scenario your carrier cancels your flight (Mine was rescheduled a week after the initial flight)
Ok first what country are you going to? What visa are you on?
No need to worry, it’s simple and thousands of people go through the process every day. Re-entry permit is a slip of paper you need to fill at the airport – you need to check a mark that you return and they’ll staple the slip in your passport (and take it upon your return).
There is unimaginably little chance that borders will be closed. Most of western countries operate with no border restrictions whatsoever, Asia is getting there too slowly.
The most stressful part is likely the crappy MySOS app where you need to submit forms before coming to japan. But it’s fine, it works, it’s just a crappily designed app.
The re-entry permit you need to get depends on how long you’re leaving for…
< 1 year = “special re-entry permit” of which you just tick the “I intend to return to Japan within 1 year” box on your departure card at the airport (not had an international flight since Covid but they are often before literally right before the immigration counters).
> 1 year = a re-entry permit for immigration in advantage. ¥3,000 for single entry, or ¥6,000 for multiple entry: https://www.isa.go.jp/en/applications/procedures/16-5.html. If greater than 1 year, then you should also file your moving out paper work too.
Look up the Return to Japan Support Group on Facebook.
Short answer is as long as you have a valid visa and re-entry permit (which you can easily get at the airport) + negative PCR test you can re-enter fine. But you should check the status regarding your specific country to be sure.
About Japan shutting the borders again, nothing you can do about that but personally I’d be surprised if they do it again as it *seems* like they really want to put the strictest part of the border controls behind them. Granted you never know with this government. I myself cancelled multiple trips in 2020/2021 because I was so concerned about getting locked out.