How long to leave Japan to renew VISA?

[SNMP]

I have heard all about flying to Korea before your Visitors VISA runs out and then coming back to Japan to renew the VISA, but how long must you be out of Japan before coming back for your VISA to be renewed?

[Mike Cash]

If you've heard all about it then how is it you didn't hear about that part?

Seriously, though, I've never heard of leaving the country to renew a tourist visa. I have heard of coming to Japan on a tourist visa, looking for and getting a job, working illegally while applying for a working visa, then going to Korea to pick up the working visa (which has to be done outside Japan).

[yukio_michael]

You can renew a tourist visa--- It's not necessarily a real formal thing, stay a few days in Korea and then come back... Once, that's it, don't push it. Some may, and you may, be able to do it more than once, but I wouldn't press my luck...

All hubris aside, if you have no other plans in Japan (spousal, work, etcetera), you are considered a "tourist" under all but the very most extreme situations, and the Japanese Immigration take this very seriously.

edit: I'll say that there are not a lot of reason why you would need to renew a tourist visa, my situation was that I was living with my gf, and neither of us had yet decided if we were to marry...

[Ewok85]

There is no such thing as a tourist "visa". What you have is a "visa" wavier for 90 days.

[Glenski]

Ewok beat me to the punch, but it's all semantics, I guess. People, even immigration agents, don't often use terminology correctly.

You have to be out of the country for at least 24 hours to "renew" your tourist "visa". [By the way, VISA is a credit card; visa is permission to enter Japan.]


Mike Cash wrote:
I have heard of coming to Japan on a tourist visa, looking for and getting a job, working illegally while applying for a working visa, then going to Korea to pick up the working visa (which has to be done outside Japan).
Old information, Mike. People don't have to leave Japan now to finalize their visa processing. And, as long as you have a "visa pending" stamp in your passport, you can work legally on it. When the final notice comes, go to immigration, pay your 4000 yen for the stamp, and get the final stamp in your passport.

Of course, there will always be people who try to do things illegally...

[SNMP]

Glenski, Thank you for your useful information. I appreciate getting the "up to date" facts, so many peole post what they think or assume, I could just go off of what I think or assume if thats the kind of input I really wanted. LoL, and thanks for the spell check on the VISA vs. visa!
Mike, I dunno, I have been looking and looking for that bit of info, and all I can find is "well I think it might be this way or that way", theres nothing written specifically about it, on embassy websites or anything. I'd think I would have it figured out by the time I posted that to, but if I had, I wouldnt have posted it.
Visa is the easiest way to describe it, even immigration calls it by that as well as the consolates in the US, and people typically understand what you are meaning by that.

[Mike Cash]

My info is at least a decade old, since that is the last time I worked around people for whom working visas were a pertinent issue in their lives. I've never been on one, so everything I knew about it was hearsay. And, to your benefit it would appear, woefully out of date.

[Elizabeth]

There is no such thing as a tourist "visa". What you have is a "visa" wavier for 90 days.
So then the only real advantage/purpose of going on a tourist visa status as opposed to, say, a regular 90-day passport is the expection it could be changed to 1-(or 3?) year working visa in the case a guarantee of employment was found ?

[Glenski]

So then the only real advantage/purpose of going on a tourist visa status as opposed to, say, a regular 90-day passport is the expection it could be changed to 1-(or 3?) year working visa in the case a guarantee of employment was found ?Let's not get confused with terminology here. With the exception of certain countries whose relationship with Japan requires that their citizens MUST have something called a tourist visa, everyone else just comes on their passport. Call that a tourist visa, if you will, or tourist status (my preference, so as not to get hung up on semantics).

In either case above, there is no "advantage". Either person could change their status to a work visa if immigration deemed it acceptable.

[Elizabeth]

Let's not get confused with terminology here. With the exception of certain countries whose relationship with Japan requires that their citizens MUST have something called a tourist visa, everyone else just comes on their passport. Call that a tourist visa, if you will, or tourist status (my preference, so as not to get hung up on semantics).
Thanks for the clarification, Glenski ! :) In that case...SNMP must be referring to the application for an extension of period to stay in Japan through immigration which is different than "renewal" that assumes an expired passport which could take weeks in the US. It probably wouldn't even be possible to gain entry to the country with a tourist status of less than 3 months remaining...

[Mike Cash]

I'll stick my neck out again and opine that in the case of tourists (from certain countries) it is the application process that is waived. Actual visas (landing status) are issued at the point of entry by and at the discretion of an Immigration official.

[Ewok85]

So then the only real advantage/purpose of going on a tourist visa status as opposed to, say, a regular 90-day passport is the expection it could be changed to 1-(or 3?) year working visa in the case a guarantee of employment was found ?

If we want to play the semantics game :)

A visa is basically a stamp in your passport that is provided by embassies or consulates under the control of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign affairs that you meet the conditions on entry. When you arrive in Japan the immigration officer will inspect your passport, and can give you landing permission enabling you to enter Japan, and hopefully a status of residence that matches the visa you have previously acquired. Having a visa does not guarantee you entry into Japan, but it is generally one of the requirements.

Visa's cannot be obtained in Japan.

What you can do is change your status of residence to something different to that acquired when you first arrived, or to extend the period of stay.

Some countries have bilateral agreements with Japan that for people staying a short period of time can receive landing permission without having a visa. Some countries do not have agreements, and people from these countries need to have a Temporary Visitors visa to be able to get landing permission and enter Japan.

In cases where the visa exemption agreement is more than 90 days (ie. visitors from the UK get 6months), immigration generally gives you a 90 days and you have to apply for an extension of stay to get another 6months.

[SNMP]

First off, thank you everyone for your input! I have gotten more out of this than I expected, glad to see there are so many knowledgeable people checking up on my question!
Ok..... What I have learned since I posted this initially... There is no clear guideline on the time you have to leave Japan in order for your visa to renew. [Theoretically] You can leave for one day and come back and your visa would be renewed. This coming from US consulates and immigration in Japan, However, this is not to say you will not be questioned upon reentry, but, if you have a valid reason for returning, you will likely be allowed in.
A bit of information I am trying so hard to research now (and if anyone has info on this, it would be Greatly appreciated!) is a thing called Alien Registration, you appy for it while in Japan at the city hall of the town where you are living, and it allows you to stay between 1 and 5 years. It is for foreigners wishing to stay longer than the 90 day period allowed on a visa. I am having real dificulty finding out what aquiring one entails, there is limited information on the web, immigration knows nothing about it, and none of the city halls I have called have English speakers :( I will continue searching though.

Hahaha, I didnt realize it would put a jumping smiley in there!

[Mike Cash]

Alien registration has nothing to do with facilitating your visa. The two are entirely separate matters. If you are going to be in Japan over 90 days you are required to go to the city hall where you live and register. And thenceforth you are by law required to have the credit card sized registration card with you at all times while out and about.

The card records:

1. Name
2. Date of Birth
3. Nationality
4. Place of Birth
5. Passport Number
6. Landing Date
7. Address in Japan
8. Head of Household
9. Visa Status
10. Period of Stay
11. Occupation
12. Employer
13. Alien Registration Number
14. Name of city where registered

You are required to keep the city hall updated with any changes to any of the items (except place of birth, of course, which would be a neat trick to change). The card must be renewed every 5 years. Again, the card has no bearing on what sort of visa you get or how long you are allowed to stay.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=japan+alien+registration+card&btnG=Google+Search

[Elizabeth]

If we want to play the semantics game :)
A visa is basically a stamp in your passport that is provided by embassies or consulates under the control of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign affairs that you meet the conditions on entry. When you arrive in Japan the immigration officer will inspect your passport, and can give you landing permission enabling you to enter Japan, and hopefully a status of residence that matches the visa you have previously acquired. Having a visa does not guarantee you entry into Japan, but it is generally one of the requirements.
Visa's cannot be obtained in Japan.
What you can do is change your status of residence to something different to that acquired when you first arrived, or to extend the period of stay.
Some countries have bilateral agreements with Japan that for people staying a short period of time can receive landing permission without having a visa. Some countries do not have agreements, and people from these countries need to have a Temporary Visitors visa to be able to get landing permission and enter Japan.
In cases where the visa exemption agreement is more than 90 days (ie. visitors from the UK get 6months), immigration generally gives you a 90 days and you have to apply for an extension of stay to get another 6months.I'm still confused though about the visa SNMP keeps talking about since she is presumably American and the US and Japan do have this agreement to allow for passport-only entry. :blush:

[SNMP]

So, Mike, whe I read that anyone wanting to stay longer than 90 days must register for an ARC, this does not mean that by registering you are allowed to stay longer than 90 days? Why then do they do a 1 year to 5 year ARC? and what steps must you take to stay longer than 90 days? Still must leave the country? to leave the country when you have an ARC, you must apply for a reentry permit, right? does having an ARC complicate things for reentry?

Yes, it is passport only entry, as I am a US citizen and we have visa exemption, but when you are asking about related issues, the consulates, immigration, and pretty much whoever you speak with will call it a tourist visa. Im just refering to my "visitors status" as such, so if it is confusing, just implant "visitors status" in place of "tourist/visitors visa", as Glenski suggested.

[thistle]

I'm sure you must be starting to get pretty confused by now, SNMP, I can
also only give you old information, but I see no reason why you cannot go to the Immigration office here in Okinawa, when you want to extend your visa after 90 days. Of course, you will have to have a good and valid reason, but compared to mean, nasty people in Immigration in Tokyo, they are quite nice here. Go in plenty of time, then if it is refused, you can leave the country for a few days, go to Taiwan or Korea and come back and get another stamp for 90 days.
If you don't need to get the ARC for the first 90 days, then don't worry about it. If you have it and you have to leave the country for a few days, you cannot get a re-entry permit, you will just have to give the ARC up when you leave the country and get a new one when you come back.

[SNMP]

thistle, thank you for that helpful information! Encouraging advice always beats discouraging advice. It is all confusing, and over discussing a phrase doesn't get anywhere in answering a question.

[Ewok85]

I'm still confused though about the visa SNMP keeps talking about since she is presumably American and the US and Japan do have this agreement to allow for passport-only entry. :blush:
He is just taking advantage of the visa-waiver for temporary visitors (the "tourist visa").
Doing it more than twice is going to raise suspicion, after the third time without a valid reason they might not let you in, or worse, black mark you passport and you cannot re-enter Japan for 5-10 years.
So, Mike, whe I read that anyone wanting to stay longer than 90 days must register for an ARC, this does not mean that by registering you are allowed to stay longer than 90 days?
You are back to front. If you posses a landing permission (visa) that allows you to stay in Japan more than 90 days you must register for the ARC. You cannot apply for the ARC on a "tourist visa" - they will not let you do it. The ARC is only an identification card.
Why then do they do a 1 year to 5 year ARC?
Some people on working holidays or one year working visas only require the card for one year. People who are permanent residents who have been here for a long time (like Mike) and do not intend to leave have 5 year ARC's.
and what steps must you take to stay longer than 90 days?
You need to have a valid visa before coming to Japan.
to leave the country when you have an ARC, you must apply for a reentry permit, right? does having an ARC complicate things for reentry?
If you do not have a valid visa and re-entry permit, your ARC is taken away and becomes invalid. Even if you sneak it away it becomes invalid. Immigration does not care what your ARC says - it is only an ID card.

[SNMP]

Ewok, Thank you for your time! You answered every question I could come up with! Quite the grand finale. I'm speechless! :-)

Thanks everybody for your input, I hope you are all around the next time I have a question! (which will be soon Im sure)

[Ewok85]

Its a confusing system, I get myself mixed up all the time ;)

[Elizabeth]

Yes, it is passport only entry, as I am a US citizen and we have visa exemption, but when you are asking about related issues, the consulates, immigration, and pretty much whoever you speak with will call it a tourist visa. Im just refering to my "visitors status" as such, so if it is confusing, just implant "visitors status" in place of "tourist/visitors visa", as Glenski suggested.
So if I finally get this straight....it's only an issue of immigration-speak semantics and there isn't a visa stamp of any sort on your passport, right ?
A "visa waiver/exemption" is the default for US citizens so that isn't an option I've ever seen offered. Calling it a tourist visa streamlines the terminology which is probably why everyone does it but creates a host of other confusions for us native travelling public. :blush:

[Mike Cash]

The ARC is, as Ewok indicated, merely an identification card issued as part of a system to keep track of foreigners who are in Japan on other than tourist (90 day) visas. It is a tracking system, and has nothing to do with the sort of visa you get or it's length.

The card is valid until the expiration of your visa or the expiration of your passport (I believe), whichever comes first, up to a maximum of 5 years. It is a photo ID, so you can see why they would like to have you in for a fresh photo every 5 years.

Give not another thought to the ARC. Take care of the visa first and the ARC administrative junk will follow on naturally.

[Glenski]

Elizabeth wrote:
So if I finally get this straight....it's only an issue of immigration-speak semantics and there isn't a visa stamp of any sort on your passport, right ?
A "visa waiver/exemption" is the default for US citizens so that isn't an option I've ever seen offered. Calling it a tourist visa streamlines the terminology which is probably why everyone does it but creates a host of other confusions for us native travelling public.Essentially correct. Look here if you want the heavy terminology.
http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/01.html

[SNMP]

LoL, yes, Elizabeth, youve got it now :)
"Give not another thought to the ARC. Take care of the visa first and the ARC administrative junk will follow on naturally."
Thanks Mike, thats what I will do, now onward with the visa quest... :cool:

Jeez, if anybody ever reads this in the future, feel free to email or PM me to figure out how this all panned out (make sure to put Japan something in the subject), Im learing a lot, and have a lot more to go Im sure.

[Elizabeth]

Thanks Mike, thats what I will do, now onward with the visa quest... :cool:

Apply at the post office for a passport. Ooops....is that "visa" before or after you've actually landed a job ? lol


Jeez, if anybody ever reads this in the future, feel free to email or PM me to figure out how this all panned out (make sure to put Japan something in the subject), Im learing a lot, and have a lot more to go Im sure.
Threads seem to get buried pretty quickly around here nowadays. Better check back in to educate us all yourself when you have a chance ;).

[Glenski]

is that "visa" before or after you've actually landed a job ? lolPassport first. Willing employer second. Visa next.

[SNMP]

Thanks everybody who offered information from my original post 'How long to leave Japan to renew visa?'
Checking in to let you know what I have learned:
Ok, so I did not go through all the old posts again, but I just wanted to check back in to say that I ended up living in Japan for a year, while I ended up being sponsored and didnt need to leave and come back to renew my visa, I met MANY people who had done this, and yes, it is still an option. I have heard mixed reviews on how long you need to leave for, and I'm sure you can read more about that here, but if you leave for a weekend, it is supposedly sufficient. If you try it multiple times, they may question you and you need a valid reason to support you returning, like visiting family, or whatnot. but it can be done.

[Clee]

Hello there,
Sorry if I am reiterating anything; the comments left here seems the same....but I'm actually wondering if it's necessary to have a Multiple Re-entry permit to re-enter Japan IF one is a *tourist* (thus no gaijin card)- I currently have a 90 day tourist waiver from the U.S. and I'm seeking to renew my status at the end of March. (So it will be good for April-June).
From what I've read and been told, all I need to do is fly to Korea/ Taipei/ Hong Kong for a weekend and it will renew my tourist status.
I believe I do not need a Multiple Re-entry permit to get back in from Korea- or do I?
Some ppl have said it's "better" to get it even though I am a tourist, but I'm confused because the Tokyo Immigration Office states that in order to apply for the re-entry permit, one needs a Gaijin card- so why would it be "better" for me to have one, since it's impossible to get one in the first place?
Disregarding the re-entry (single/ multiple) permits, I'm trying to see how hard it is to come back after spending one weekend in another country?
Has anyone tried this (as Visitor) and was your experience mild/ extreme?
Thank you so much in advance!!
Sincerely,
C. Lee
Oh! This is going on another tangent, but....I'm also wondering if anyone has advice on applying for a student visa? or the ARC thing (sorry if I am missing the obvious- I will reread the thread).
My tourist status will expire on April 5th... if I wanted to stay longer 6 months (and avoiding re-entering for a 2nd/3rd time- too risky)
how do I go about applying for a student visa? Can one do it separate from the school (I do not think so- but my school only authorizes minimum of 1 yr students- it's weird, I know...the Immigration Office was confused too, but I asked my school about this specifically so there is no doubt)
But then if this is the case, how does one apply/ obtain a visa (not working, not teaching) without sponsorship? I cannot get a Cultural visa.... is there another visa available for people who wish to study the language, but are not working and cannot get sponsored? :relief:
Any information is appreciated!!!
In any case, if you answer whether or not I need a re-entry permit - being visitor- to come back in Japan....that would be great!
Thanks! :-)

[tokyosubway]

Temporary Visitors don't get re-entry permits.

Essentially if you are leaving and coming back you are getting a new temporary visitor permit, not a renewed/extended one.
The people working at immigration are not dumb and they can spot a visa runner when they see one, as you know its all digitized now, they have your fingerprints and photos and know exactly when you first came and the last time you left.

Also this is up to the discretion of the Immigration Officer to let you back in or not, they can deny you entry if they wanted to. Temporary Visitor's permits are not as "secured" as having another visa with a re-entry permit.

I don't know who told you it was "better" to get an Alien Registration card only as a temporary visitor, because you still have to surrender it when you leave the country, you are still a temporary visitor status and it doesn't help at all.

As for student visas, you need a school to be your sponsor, and for a school to be your sponsor that usually means admission and paying tuition (typically for language schools up to six months worth of admission).

You need a sponsor for a visa. You can be self sponsored if you have lived in Japan for a few years, and show you have sufficient income and contribute to Japanese society. But you probably don't fit into this category.

The only other way to get a visa...get married. Otherwise you're quite out of luck. Of course, why not apply to the school for one year, but leave early after 6 months (since thats how long you stated you wanted to stay).

[Glenski]

Thanks everybody who offered information from my original post 'How long to leave Japan to renew visa?'
Checking in to let you know what I have learned:
Ok, so I did not go through all the old posts again, but I just wanted to check back in to say that I ended up living in Japan for a year, while I ended up being sponsored and didnt need to leave and come back to renew my visa, I met MANY people who had done this, and yes, it is still an option.Who actually says people have to leave? The telling is in the details here. Since I last posted on this thread, and perhaps a year or two earlier, most people have not had to do that.

Fess up. I am willing to bet that some rookie immigration clown is to blame.
I'm actually wondering if it's necessary to have a Multiple Re-entry permit to re-enter Japan IF one is a *tourist*Only certain countries actually have tourist visas. You're American, Clee, so you don't. Your passport is enough to qualify you as a tourist, and no, you don't need a reentry permit.

Disregarding the re-entry (single/ multiple) permits, I'm trying to see how hard it is to come back after spending one weekend in another country?
Has anyone tried this (as Visitor) and was your experience mild/ extreme?Picture immigration. How do you think an immigration official will think if he sees you were here, then gone for a weekend, then back again. I'm sure he will be a little suspicious. Depending on how much time you were here initially, the whole issue may be moot, as you are allowed 90 days total time as an American tourist. Don't be surprised if someone asks you, though, what you did in Korea. Have a sound answer, and an answer as to why you are back instead of adjusting your schedule differently to avoid this bouncing back and forth.

Student visa stuff.
If you want one, you will need to be accepted by a school first. Once that is done, you will apply together to get the visa. I really don't think your timing is good, but give it a shot.

You want to stay 6 months more. Is it asking too much to inquire why? That will certainly be something an immigration officer would want to know! As for your school "authorizes only a minimum of 1 yr students", why can't you sign up for that? You don't have to stay the whole 12 months, you know. What do you mean by "my school", too?

how does one apply/ obtain a visa (not working, not teaching) without sponsorship? I cannot get a Cultural visa.... is there another visa available for people who wish to study the language, but are not working and cannot get sponsored?Why can't you get a cultural activities visa? Get a master craftsman to sponsor you to study under him. That's all it takes.

If you want to study the language, get a student visa.
If this is somehow out of the question, then ask immigration if it is ok for you to study (please explain where!) on a Temporary Visitor's Visa, which is good for 90 days or 15 days, immigration's discretion).
http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/04.html
The description doesn't say that is what it is for, and in fact you would really have to apply for the Precollege Student visa (which, in case "your school" doesn't realize it, is valid for either 6 months or a year) if you want to attend a language school. You could do it on a tourist status, too, but obviously you seem to need to stay longer to do that, so get the visa.

Work visas require sponsorship from employers. Same with trainee visas.

You don't seem to have any other choices.

[Clee]

Thank you Glenski for your information. To clarify a few things (my question was two-fold and a little complicated to phrase which is why I didn't explain earlier):
I actually am attending a language school. I started Jan 6th and it will end March 19th. I plan to depart the country for 5 days, and come back to start the 2nd term on April 6th- June 19th.
When I applied to the school back in December, I asked them all about the student visa, and that it was a minimum of 6 months; but they told me that Kichijoji Language School (the school I'm attending now) only sponsors students that are attending their school for 1 year.
I wasn't sure if I wanted to stay the whole year; the complication was that if I had paid for the year's tuition and changed my mind, I would not get a refund. Their policy is once tuition is paid, there are no refunds, period.
This is why I couldn't do what Tokyosubyway was suggesting.

I know immigration are clever people; this is why I'm trying to figure out how difficult/easy it is to go away and come back- because unfortunately, this is exactly what my school was suggesting and now I am a bit worried. They said people do it all the time, but it seems more like a hit or miss, depending on which officer I run into...
Anyway, thank you for your advice and I will keep this in mind.

[Glenski]

I actually am attending a language school. I started Jan 6th and it will end March 19th.Ok, so you already have a pre-college student visa, right?

What is the expiration date on it?

I plan to depart the country for 5 days, and come back to start the 2nd term on April 6th- June 19th.For which you will need a reentry permit that you can buy at immigration, if you haven't already done so. Cost about 4000 yen. This lets you return to Japan without losing your visa status.

When I applied to the school back in December, I asked them all about the student visa, and that it was a minimum of 6 months; but they told me that Kichijoji Language School (the school I'm attending now) only sponsors students that are attending their school for 1 year. Well, fine, that's who they sponsor, but the fact is that the student visa is issued by immigration and not your school, and the school has no authority in asking for a 1-year or a 6-month student visa. They can ask, but that's all. You get what immigration decides.

So, I ask again... what is the expiration date on your visa? That will tell us whether you got a 1-year or 6-month student visa.

I wasn't sure if I wanted to stay the whole year; the complication was that if I had paid for the year's tuition and changed my mind, I would not get a refund.Ok, fine. That's finances and tuition, and it has nothing to do with the visa you get.