Japan Re-entry Permit Guide: Regular vs. Special Re-entry Permission

A re-entry permit lets foreign nationals residing in Japan leave and re-enter Japan with the same status of residence. Without one, your status ends when you leave, and you need a new visa to come back.

There are two options. A regular re entry permit lasts up to 5 years and costs ¥4,000 (single entry) or ¥7,000 (multiple entry). The special re entry permit is free and lasts up to 1 year.

This guide explains both, whether you're temporarily leaving Japan or permanently moving abroad. It covers fees, the airport form, and what happens if your permit expires overseas.

Regular vs. special re-entry permit at a glance

Do I need a re-entry permit for Japan?

Yes, if you're a foreign national living in Japan and want to keep your status. You need re-entry permission each time you leave Japan temporarily.

If you leave without it, your status of residence ends at departure. To come back, you would need a new visa, and usually a new Certificate of Eligibility.

You have two options:

• Regular re-entry permit: for trips longer than 1 year, or when you want more flexibility. It lasts up to 5 years.

• Special re-entry permit: a free system for trips under 1 year. You don't apply in advance.

Regular re-entry permission

What is a re-entry permit?

Japan Re-entry Permit Stamp example

A regular re-entry permit lets you leave Japan and re-enter with your current status of residence and period of stay. Immigration adds it to your passport as a sticker or stamp.

You can choose between two types:

• Single entry: use it once. It's good for one long trip.

• Multiple entry: use it as many times as you want while it's valid. It's good for frequent travelers.

The permit lasts up to 5 years, or 6 for special permanent residents. It can't last longer than your period of stay. Processing is often the same day.

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Where do you apply for a reentry permit in Japan?

Apply before departing Japan at the regional immigration bureau or branch office that covers your address. You can also apply online through the Immigration Services Agency's online system.

Have questions first? Your local Immigration Information Center can answer them, but it doesn't process applications.

Documents for Japan's reentry permit

Bring these to the immigration bureau:

• Re-entry permit application form

• A valid passport

• Your residence card

• Revenue stamps on the fee payment slip

Fees (since April 1, 2025):

Immigration places the permit in your passport once it approves the application. For online applications from October 1, 2026, check the ISA's online fee page for the current payment method.

Can you extend a regular re-entry permit from abroad?

Yes, if you have a valid reason, such as illness or a natural disaster. Apply at a Japanese embassy or consulate before your permit expires.

• Each extension adds up to 1 year.

• The total can't exceed 6 years from the original permit (7 for special permanent residents).

• You can't extend past your period of stay.

• A multiple re-entry permit becomes single entry once extended.

Special re-entry permission

What is a special re-entry permit?

The special re-entry permit (みなし再入国許可, minashi sainyūkoku kyoka) lets you leave Japan temporarily without applying in advance. It's a free system for trips under 1 year.

It lasts 1 year from your departure date, or until your status of residence expires, whichever comes first. For special permanent residents, it lasts 2 years.

How to fill out Japan’s special re-entry permit paper slip

Important: You cannot extend a special re-entry permit from abroad. If your plans might change, get a regular re-entry permit granted prior to your trip.

Who can't use the special re-entry permit?

The free system doesn't cover everyone. You need a regular re-entry permit if you:

• Hold a period of stay of 3 months or less, or Temporary Visitor status

• Are in status revocation proceedings, or have a detention order

• Have applied for refugee status and hold "Designated Activities" status

• Have been told by immigration that you need a regular permit

If you're unsure, ask your regional immigration bureau before departing Japan.

How do you use the special re-entry permit at the airport?

You use special re-entry permission at departure immigration, not at security. Follow these steps when departing Japan:

1. Pick up the Embarkation and Disembarkation Card for Re-entrants (再入国EDカード) near departure immigration.

2. Fill in your details and tick the correct box. It says you're leaving temporarily and will re enter Japan within 1 year.

3. Hand the card to the immigration officer with your valid passport and residence card.

4. Tell the officer you're using special re-entry permission.

Keep your passport and residence card together. You'll need both again when reentering Japan.

Documents for the special re-entry permit

You only need three things:

• A valid passport that will remain valid for your trip

• Your residence card (mid- to long-term residents)

• The completed disembarkation card for re-entrants

Special permanent residents show their special permanent resident certificate instead. If they don't have one yet, they can use their old alien registration card.

Can I leave Japan after 90 days and come back?

It depends on your status.

• Residents: You can leave and come back at any time, as long as you have re-entry permission. Without it, you lose your status when you leave Japan.

• Tourists: Temporary visitors can't use re-entry permits. Each visit is a new entry, so you may need a visa depending on your nationality. Immigration can also refuse entry if repeated stays look like living in Japan.

What happens if your status of residence expires abroad?

Your re-entry permission ends when your period of stay ends. For the special permit, that can happen before your "1 year" is up. This catches many foreign nationals residing in Japan by surprise.

• Check your residence card's expiration date before you leave Japan.

• If it expires during your trip, renew your status before departing Japan. You can usually apply from about 3 months before it expires. If your renewal is still pending, ask immigration before you travel.

• Embassies can't renew your status abroad, so a regular permit can't save an expiring status.

If you miss the deadline, your status ends. You would need to start again, usually with a new Certificate of Eligibility and a new visa.

What if you renew your passport or lose your residence card abroad?

Your re-entry permission stays valid, but you need proof of it when you return.

• Renewing your passport: If your regular permit is in your old passport, keep it and carry both passports home.

• Lost passport or residence card, or old passport collected: A relative living with you, or an agent with a letter of authorization, can request a certificate of your re-entry permit's validity. They apply at a regional immigration bureau for you.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a re-entry permit to leave Japan temporarily?

Yes, if you want to keep your status of residence. Without a re-entry permit or special re-entry permission, your status ends when you leave Japan. You would then need a new visa to return. For trips under one year, the free special re-entry permit usually covers you.

What is the difference between a re-entry permit and a special re-entry permit?

A regular re-entry permit lasts up to 5 years and requires an application and a fee. The special re-entry permit is free and needs no application, but it lasts only 1 year. You can extend a regular permit from abroad, but you cannot extend the special permit. Both end early if your period of stay expires first.

How much does a re-entry permit cost in Japan?

Since April 1, 2025, a single entry re-entry permit costs 4,000 yen at the counter or 3,500 yen online. A multiple re-entry permit costs 7,000 yen at the counter or 6,500 yen online. The special re-entry permit is free.

How long is a special re-entry permit valid?

The special re-entry permit lasts 1 year from your departure date, or until your status of residence expires, whichever comes first. For special permanent residents, it lasts 2 years. You cannot extend it from abroad.

Can I extend a re-entry permit while I am outside Japan?

You can extend a regular re-entry permit at a Japanese embassy or consulate if you have a valid reason, such as illness. Each extension adds up to 1 year, within 6 years of the original permit, or 7 years for special permanent residents. It cannot go past your period of stay. The special re-entry permit cannot be extended.

Where do I get the special re-entry form at the airport?

Pick up the Embarkation and Disembarkation Card for Re-entrants in the departure immigration area. Tick the correct box to show you will return within 1 year. Then hand it to the immigration officer with your valid passport and residence card, and say you are using special re-entry permission.

Do permanent residents need a re-entry permit?

Yes. Permanent residents lose their status if they leave Japan without a re-entry permit or special re-entry permission. For trips under 1 year, the special re-entry permit works. For longer stays abroad, get a regular re-entry permit of up to 5 years before departing Japan.

What happens if I do not return before my re-entry permit expires?

Your status of residence ends, even if your residence card shows a later expiration date. To return, you would need to start again, usually with a new Certificate of Eligibility and a new visa. If you might stay abroad longer than planned, get a regular re-entry permit before you leave.

In closing

Before leaving Japan, choose your permit. Use the free special re-entry permit for trips under 1 year. Get a regular re-entry permit for longer trips, or if your plans might change.

Check your period of stay before you go. As long as your permit and your status remain valid, you can re enter Japan without a new visa.