You will get to the immigration bureau and Information will have no idea what to do with you. There will be no information posted regarding online applications.
If you received an email from immigration saying your application was complete and you can pick up your card: Go straight to the A Counter which is “Permission”.
The descriptions of each counter are all directly translated and incredibly difficult to understand.
It should just say “Residence Card Pickup” or “Online Application Pickup Counter”.
Instead, it just says “Permission”.
Once you get to the counter finally someone will recognize that you have an online application from the email you show them. Then, Japanese style, they will hand you a piece of paper to write down your online application number and all of your information again 😅
Anyway, hope this helps someone in the future. I tried to search for more information and couldn’t find anything.
10 comments
When I lived in Tokyo I endured the Shinagawa Immigration Office for many years but 6 years ago I moved out of Tokyo. My local office has counter space for 3 people and I’ve never waited more than five minutes before being seen.
Your immigration has different areas? Mine has a singular counter and a ‘waiting area’ with 3 chairs.
>you have an online application from the email you show them. Then, Japanese style, they will hand you a piece of paper to write down your online application number and all of your information again
Classic.
Cant wait till online applications makes it as simple as walking in, and picking up your new visa.
Why did you have to go to immigration? They can mail your residents card to you, right?
Was there a reason you didn’t select the option to receive your new card by mail?
Where were you before I picked up my RC earlier via Online Application?
lol
But it’s true, itwas horrible getting my RC, I first went to D2 and wait for 1hr just for them to tell me it’s on A1, and then wait another 2 hours just to get my RC, SMH.
BTW, D2 has a 在留カード sign, while A1 as OP said, Permission. Where’s the logic in that?
rant over.
I don’t understand why people stress so much about this, been here for 6 years, done it twice 3years and 5years, always went around 8, they open at 9:30 and left around 10:30, it’s a little bit of time you have to put, but it’s not that terrible.
Is it still possible to apply in a prefecture other than where you live? Five or six years ago I renewed a visa in Saitama and remember it being less crowded and faster than Tokyo or Chiba. When I told the staff that, they laughed (or semi-smiled, the bureaucratic equivalent) and said go to Ibaraki next time.
This… isn’t a PSA. It’s just you bitchin’.