Hello,
My husband and I are residents of Japan and we have re-entry permits for allowing us to use the automatic gates at Japanese airports in our passports.
Unfortunately my husband thinks he left his resident card at home ☹️ we just realized at the airport. We are going on holiday today for a couple of weeks and he filled in a form he was given at the immigration gate declaring he left his resident card at home and he was given the re-entry permit in his passport as normal. The immigration officer asked how long he was leaving Japan for.
Do you know if the stamped re-entry permit in his passport is enough for him to be allowed back into Japan on our return? He has his Japanese my number card and his Japanese health insurance card with him as additional proof of residents. He is on a dependent visa as my dependent. We also have a photo of his residents card the front and the back of it on our phones. I do have my resident card.
If anyone has been in this situation and can advise I would be eternally grateful 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Ps we are returning to Narita if that makes any difference?
Thank you in advance
7 comments
Never been in this situation, however when I return to Japan (multiple times this year) they only ever ask for my passport at the 再入国 lane, they always say ‘don’t need the residence card’, so, shouldn’t be an issue
Yes he can return. He might have some issues at airport check in with the airline though on the way back to Japan.
P.S you need to better educate your husband. he should have it on his person at all times (at least until MyNumber cards replace zairyu cards). Because if the police immigration check him, at the airport, or to/from the airport… or just out and about in general, they have the authority to detain him and/or fine him ¥200,000 for not having it on his person.
AFAIK not required, everytime they just want a passport
What if he says his wallet was stolen BUT you have a Photo????
Hey, I lost my card during Golden Week just before leaving the country for two weeks
Also had a my number card and photos
Re-entry just took a bit longer so nbd there 🙂
Japanese immigration is much kinder than Australia’s XD
You don’t need the card to get back in, but you might have issues at the check in counter as they will want to see proof of your visa in Japan, as I assume your ticket is one way back to Japan.
If you have a photo of the card that might be sufficient as it’s just a check by the counter staff.
Yes, I have had exactly the same situation – and there was no issue at all getting back into the country.
I had to fill out the form when leaving and (this was a couple of years ago) I seem to remember handing in the copy when I returned.
Many people must do this as the staff were quite calm in departing and returning. No tilting of head or sucking of breath.