Hi,
I am a PR holder and might go out of Japan from a few months to a few years (but less than 5 years for sure).
I will get a Special Re-Entry Permits with multiple entries so I can go back to Japan from time to time for work / pick up letters etc.
I will also likely keep my Japanese job during that period of time and continue paying for pension / inhabitant tax etc.
The idea would be to rent a super cheap apartment in order to keep an address and receive letters (from the bank essentially so they don’t close my account) but I won’t virtually be living in Japan anymore and will go around the world visit multiple countries and eventually come back to Japan.
Is that even possible? Any tips to make it work smoothly?
5 comments
Pretty sure you can be outside Japan for up to 5 years as long as you get the special re-entry permit
I am not sure if it’s possible but you may be able to rent a PO Box and use it as an address?
To prevent confusion: the [**special** re-entry permit](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/minashisainyukoku_00001.html) is the one-year permit you get at the airport. The 5-year one you have to apply for in advance is just called a [re-entry permit](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/sainyukoku_00002.html). The former is *special* because you don’t have to apply for it.
From an immigration point of view, probably no issues at all. However, you will need to figure out where you owe your taxes, which will probably depend on the tax treaties between Japan and all countries you are spending time in during the year.
If you’re keeping a residency in Japan (address, tax, pension, etc) just move/register your address to your friend’s at the city hall. You both will get a separate juminhyou so you won’t be registered as their family. You don’t have to rent an apartment just for this.
Source: I’ve helped some friends with the exact same scenario. They used my address so I get all their mails. But since the juminhyou is separated no problem at all.