Due to some changes in my plan, I was hoping to enter Japan to collect my residence card first before heading back home for a period of time (3 months later) after which I would enter Japan again. As such I would most likely not have a fixed address for the short duration during my first entry into Japan.
From my understanding, a fixed address is needed as things such as social security, national healthcare insurance payment and Mynumber card will require an address to make things work.
I’m asking because the visa (J-find) which I was approved for has a 3 month validity from the date which it was approved and I wouldn’t not be able to re-apply for the same visa at a later time because I would not longer meet the requirements in terms of my graduation date.
Just wondering…. Is there any possibility to somehow make this work or would I have consider giving up even entering Japan as I would prefer to not run afoul of any immigration laws.
Any advice would be extremely helpful. Thanks in advance.
3 comments
This is a copy of your post for archive/search purposes.
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**Is it absolutely necessary to register an address after entering Japan for your residence card ?**
Due to some changes in my plan, I was hoping to enter Japan to collect my residence card first before heading back home for a period of time (3 months later) after which I would enter Japan again. As such I would most likely not have a fixed address for the short duration during my first entry into Japan.
From my understanding, a fixed address is needed as things such as social security, national healthcare insurance payment and Mynumber card will require an address to make things work.
I’m asking because the visa (J-find) which I was approved for has a 3 month validity from the date which it was approved and I wouldn’t not be able to re-apply for the same visa at a later time because I would not longer meet the requirements in terms of my graduation date.
Just wondering…. Is there any possibility to somehow make this work or would I have consider giving up even entering Japan as I would prefer to not run afoul of any immigration laws.
Any advice would be extremely helpful. Thanks in advance.
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Yes, you’re legally required to register an address. You don’t have to do it *immediately* after arriving, but waiting 3 months is definitely well beyond the acceptable time frame.
>I’m asking because the visa (J-find) which I was approved for has a 3 month validity from the date which it was approved and I wouldn’t not be able to re-apply for the same visa at a later time because I would not longer meet the requirements in terms of my graduation date.
Gotta be honest: This plan sounds like you’re trying to game the system. That’s not a great look if you run into questions from immigration.
>would I have consider giving up even entering Japan as I would prefer to not run afoul of any immigration laws.
You don’t have to give up, but… Frankly you should sort out whatever is requiring you to return home ***before*** you go to Japan. Or if that’s not possible, do the legwork and get a visa-sponsoring job rather than trying to game the J-FIND visa.
OP, I think your intuition is right to be worried about address reporting being a potential issue.
The rule most relevant to your situation would be the immigration law rule that you need to complete procedures to report your address to the immigration services bureau (indirectly via the city hall/ward office) within 90 days after entering Japan (which is a serious rule, since after 90 days your status may be revoked).
Since you’re saying you plan to be away for 3 months, it sounds like there is a good chance you would exceed the 90 day line. Is there any modification to your schedule that would allow you to come back to Japan in less than 90 days after you first pass through landing permission procedures and receive your residence card? If this would be possible for you, I would highly recommend arranging your schedule so that you can return to Japan and also report your address before you cross the 90 day line.
If you do cross the 90 day line, it is not like your status being revoked would be instantaneous or automatic, but I have seen immigration services react to this kind of case fairly proactively, opening investigations and seeking out the individual in question through any connection they are aware of in order to summon them and demand an explanation (and potentially kick off the revokation process).