I’m currently in Japan under a HSFP visa and I have to leave next year mainly because of working reasons. My idea is to be back in Europe for around 5-7 years to then come back to Japan to live, but I would like to keep visiting regularly Japan as a tourist while I’m living in the EU.
My plan is to get the permanent residence before I leave to be able to come back without needing to handle a working visa again.
From what I’ve read in this subreddit I can get a re-entry permit for 5 years as long as I’m planning to come back (which I do), but:
1) Is it a problem that I’m planning to come back in such a big span of time? Would I have a problem to get 2 re-entry permits (5+2)?
2) What’s the best way of keep entering Japan while I’m living in the EU? Should I get a multiple re-entry permit? Are there any differences between the normal and multiple re-entry permits (apart form the obvious) that I should know?
3) From what I read, as a permanent resident, but not as an actual resident, I won’t have any tax duties in Japan (I’m planning to visit Japan a max of 1 month per year maybe while I’m living in the EU). Am I missing any extra tax I should be aware of that only triggers under PR?
Thanks!
5 comments
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> 1) Is it a problem that I’m planning to come back in such a big span of time?
No.
> Would I have a problem to get 2 re-entry permits (5+2)?
You go to immigration and get a 5 year reentry permit. You come back around the time it expires and get another 5 year reentry permit. You cannot get a reentry permit that lasts longer than 5 years. If your reentry permit expires before you renew it, you lose PR.
> 2) What’s the best way of keep entering Japan while I’m living in the EU?
Most people come by airplane… You could come by ship, I guess?
> Should I get a multiple re-entry permit?
Yes, that is what you will get when you go to immigration and ask for a 5 year reentry permit.
> Are there any differences between the normal and multiple re-entry permits (apart form the obvious) that I should know?
All 5 year reentry permits are multiple use.
> 3) From what I read, as a permanent resident, but not as an actual resident, I won’t have any tax duties in Japan (I’m planning to visit Japan a max of 1 month per year maybe while I’m living in the EU).
As long as you have established tax residency somewhere else and are paying taxes there, you should not owe income or resident taxes in Japan. Of course if you have land or investments in Japan, you could owe tax on those. You can ask in /r/japanfinance if you have specific questions.
> Am I missing any extra tax I should be aware of that only triggers under PR?
Nope.
I find your questions intriguing and cannot answer them from my own knowledge, I decided to google “reddit reentry 5 years permanent resident”
and I found what other people say (so still taking it with a grain of salt):
1. for the re-entry permit you need a Japanese address, which makes you eligible for taxes [5 years re-entry? Taxes? : japanlife (reddit.com)](https://www.reddit.com/r/japanlife/comments/bg1ihn/5_years_reentry_taxes/) (and paying NHI as well probably) (starkimpossibility is posting there as well)
2. ” Best thing is to actually go to Immigration and ask ” ( [How long can a resident stay outside Japan? : japanlife (reddit.com)](https://www.reddit.com/r/japanlife/comments/us2rad/how_long_can_a_resident_stay_outside_japan/) )
3. hard to read, cause original post deleted [I’m a PR status and 5-year reentry permit holder who has been living permanently overseas. Questions about 海外転出/deregistering my address/Juuminhyo/住民票 : JapanFinance (reddit.com)](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanFinance/comments/14hjbnw/im_a_pr_status_and_5year_reentry_permit_holder/)
4. pretty important regarding managing dates and expirations [Is permanent Resident visa really permanent? : japanlife (reddit.com)](https://www.reddit.com/r/japanlife/comments/13msbay/is_permanent_resident_visa_really_permanent/)
5. extensive discussion on an Australian example, but has some interesting bits [Pension and Permanent Resident Questions : japanlife (reddit.com)](https://www.reddit.com/r/japanlife/comments/9g5vbq/pension_and_permanent_resident_questions/) (user starkimpossibility has several strong comments, seems to imply that you can reapply for a 5-year, but be careful about dates) – here people also discuss how to apply for the 5-year thingy
I think one thing I cannot find explicitly addressed, but was thinking reading your OP: when people say you have to re-enter once every 5 years. I am not sure they mean as a tourist. Inferring from the 5 threads above, it seems you need a japanese address for the re-entry application. You dont have a japanese address when you are visiting as tourist…
so in short and not as an expert
1. 5+2 seems possible but you need a better plan than tourism
2. multiple re-entry (I got this once in my first year here) is for travelling a lot and IIRC was obsolete with the special re-entry system (1-year), and seems not relevant to your case (5+ years, assumed PR holder)
3. seems you will have to pay taxes and NHI and basic pension (and whatever else is expected of a resident) if it is true that you must have a Japanese address… you should double-check this with more official sources than reddit
ETA you will also run into trouble with holding your bank accounts
trying to conjour u/starkimpossibility can you share your wisdom for OP and onlookers?
if it helps. I know a few PR holders who have been out of Japan over 10 years and keep PR status here. So they must have had more than re-entry permits issued more that twice.
When they apply they just say they are working overseas. Because they are.
Just wanted you to know this is a rather common situation.
IIRC your zairyuu card must still be renewed every 7 years even if your PR status doesn’t have to. This is apart from your 5 year re-entry permit.
I read somewhere you need a valid Japanese address for at least 6 out of the 7 years if not they will not renew your zairyuu card. Meaning in effect your PR is revoked. If you are outside Japan when your 5-year re-entry permit expires, your PR is also revoked.
I don’t think they will accept a hotel address. Or airbnb.