# Japan Re-Entry Permit: Who Needs One and How to Apply
> Step-by-step guide to Japan's re-entry permit in 2026: who needs one, special re-entry rules, fees, documents, and where to apply.
**URL:** https://migaku.com/blog/language-fun/japan-re-entry-permit-who-needs-one-and-how-to-apply
**Last Updated:** 2026-05-30
**Tags:** resources, culture, deepdive
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If you hold a Japanese residence card and plan to travel abroad, you need either a Special Re-entry Permission (free, valid up to one year) or a regular Re-entry Permit from the Immigration Services Agency (paid, valid up to five years). Leaving Japan without one cancels your residence status automatically.
*Last updated: May 30, 2026*
## Who actually needs a re-entry permit
Any mid- to long-term resident of Japan who plans to leave the country and come back on the same residence status needs to think about re-entry permission. This includes holders of work visas, student visas, dependent visas, spouse-of-Japanese-national status, Highly Skilled Professional status, and permanent residence.
Two systems run in parallel:
- Special Re-entry Permission: For most residents who will be away for one year or less (two years for Special Permanent Residents). You do not apply in advance. You simply tick a box on the ED Card when leaving Japan and show your residence card at immigration. There is no fee.
- Regular Re-entry Permit: Required if you will be away for more than one year, or if your remaining period of stay is short and you want flexibility. This must be obtained from a Regional Immigration Services Bureau *before* you leave Japan.
A few groups should pay particular attention to the regular permit:
- Researchers, postgraduate students, or assignees on long overseas projects.
- Permanent residents who travel for extended family or business reasons.
- Anyone whose residence card expires within a year of their planned return.
People on Temporary Visitor (tourist) status are not eligible for re-entry permission at all. Tourists who leave Japan simply apply for a new short-term visa next time.
If you leave Japan without either form of re-entry permission, your status of residence and period of stay lapse the moment you depart. You would need to apply for a fresh visa from scratch through a consulate abroad.
## Special Re-entry Permission: the default for short trips
The Special Re-entry Permission system was introduced on July 9, 2012, alongside Japan's residence card framework. It is designed to remove paperwork for ordinary short trips.
You qualify if you:
- Hold a valid passport.
- Hold a valid residence card (在留カード) or, for Special Permanent Residents, a special permanent resident certificate.
- Will re-enter Japan within one year of departure (two years for Special Permanent Residents), and before your current period of stay expires, whichever comes first.
### How to use it
1. At the airport, fill in the Embarkation/Disembarkation Card for Re-entrants (the ED card given to residents, not the tourist arrival card).
2. Tick the box indicating you intend to return under Special Re-entry Permission.
3. Show your passport and residence card to the immigration officer at departure.
4. Return to Japan within the validity window with the same passport and residence card.
### Important limits
- The one-year clock starts from the date you leave Japan, not the date you booked.
- It cannot be extended from abroad. If a family emergency, illness, or work assignment keeps you outside Japan past the deadline, your residence status is lost.
- If your period of stay expires before the one-year mark, the earlier date is the real deadline.
Because of that last point, anyone whose period of stay is close to expiring should either renew first or use a regular re-entry permit instead.
## When you need a regular Re-entry Permit
Apply for the regular permit at a Regional Immigration Services Bureau if any of the following is true:
- You expect to be outside Japan for more than one year.
- You want a buffer against unexpected delays abroad.
- You hold a long period of stay (3 or 5 years) and want a multiple-entry permit covering several trips.
- You may need to extend re-entry permission while you are abroad (only regular permits can be extended at an Embassy or Consulate).
Validity rules:
- Maximum 5 years for ordinary residents (6 years for Special Permanent Residents).
- Cannot exceed your remaining period of stay.
- Issued as either single (one trip) or multiple (unlimited trips within validity).
## Document checklist
Bring the following to the Regional Immigration Services Bureau with jurisdiction over your address:
| Item | Notes |
|---|---|
| Application for Re-entry Permit form | Download from the ISA site (https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/16-5.html) or pick up at the counter |
| Passport | Must be valid for the intended travel period |
| Residence card (在留カード) | Must match your current address registration |
| Revenue stamps (収入印紙) | Used to pay the fee; buy at post offices, convenience stores, or the bureau itself |
| Reason for travel | Brief written or oral explanation, especially for multiple-entry permits |
Minors under 16, applicants who are ill, and applicants represented by an authorized attorney or licensed gyoseishoshi (administrative scrivener) may apply without appearing in person. Everyone else must show up personally.
## Step-by-step: how to apply
### 1. Confirm you actually need it
If the trip will be under one year, your period of stay is comfortably valid, and you have no plan to extend abroad, Special Re-entry Permission is enough and costs nothing.
### 2. Download and fill in the form
The Application for Re-entry Permit is available on the Immigration Services Agency website. Fill it in carefully in Japanese or English block letters. List the countries you plan to visit and the expected duration.
### 3. Decide single vs. multiple
- Single: One departure and return. Cheaper.
- Multiple: Unlimited trips during validity. Worth it if you travel two or more times in the next few years.
### 4. Buy revenue stamps
Buy the correct denomination of 収入印紙 at a post office or konbini before arriving, or at the bureau's on-site counter. Affix them to the form when instructed.
### 5. Visit the Regional Immigration Services Bureau
Locate the bureau that covers your registered address. Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka, Sapporo, and other major cities each have their own. Bring everything from the checklist.
### 6. Same-day issuance
Re-entry permits are typically issued the same day you file the application at the bureau. The permit is stamped or stickered into your passport. Check it before leaving the counter.
### 7. Use it when you depart
At the airport, present the permit along with your passport and residence card. Do not tick the Special Re-entry box on the ED card if you are using a regular re-entry permit.
## Fees and processing time
Fees were revised effective April 1, 2025, and remain in force as of May 2026. Online filing is slightly cheaper than counter filing.
| Permit type | Counter fee | Online fee |
|---|---|---|
| Single re-entry | JPY 4,000 | JPY 3,500 |
| Multiple re-entry | JPY 7,000 | JPY 6,500 |
For context, related ISA fees also rose in April 2025:
- Change of Status / Extension of Period of Stay: JPY 6,000 (counter) / JPY 5,500 (online).
- Permanent Residency application: JPY 10,000.
On March 10, 2026, the Japanese government approved a bill amending the Immigration Control Act to raise the *statutory upper limits* for immigration fees (up to JPY 300,000 for permanent residence and JPY 100,000 for changes/extensions). The actual amounts charged will be set by Cabinet Order at a later date. The re-entry fees above are still the current rates, but check the Immigration Services Agency site (https://www.isa.go.jp/en/) before applying in case a new Cabinet Order has been issued.
Processing time is generally same-day at the counter. Online applications via the Immigration Online portal may take longer; allow several business days before any planned departure.
## Extending a re-entry permit from abroad
Unlike Special Re-entry Permission, a regular Re-entry Permit can be extended at a Japanese Embassy or Consulate-General overseas. Key rules:
- A multiple re-entry permit can be extended for a maximum of one year, one time only.
- Total extended validity cannot exceed 6 years from original issuance (7 years for Special Permanent Residents).
- You must apply at the Embassy or Consulate before the original permit expires.
If you realize after leaving Japan that you used Special Re-entry Permission and now need more time, the Embassy cannot help. The status will lapse on the one-year anniversary of your departure.
## Common pitfalls
- Trusting old fee figures. University and law-firm pages still list the pre-2025 amounts (JPY 3,000 / JPY 6,000). The current figures are JPY 4,000 / JPY 7,000 at the counter.
- Ticking the wrong box on the ED card. If you have a regular re-entry permit, do not tick the Special Re-entry box, or it can cause confusion at re-entry.
- Letting period of stay expire abroad. Re-entry permission does not extend your residence status. If your residence card expires while you are overseas, you cannot simply come back and renew. Extend your period of stay before leaving.
- Wrong bureau jurisdiction. Apply at the bureau covering your *registered* address, not your workplace or where you happen to be that day.
- Forgetting to update your address first. If you moved recently and have not updated your residence card at the city office, sort that out before applying.
- Assuming permanent residents are exempt. Permanent residents still need re-entry permission to leave and return without losing status.
## Frequently asked questions
Can I get a re-entry permit at a Japanese Embassy abroad?
No. The initial permit must be obtained from a Regional Immigration Services Bureau inside Japan before departure. Embassies and Consulates can only extend an existing permit.
What happens if I miss the one-year Special Re-entry deadline?
Your status of residence is lost on the deadline date. You would need to apply for a fresh visa through a Japanese Embassy or Consulate to return as a resident.
Do children need their own re-entry permit?
Yes, each individual residence-card holder needs their own. For applicants under 16, a parent or guardian can file on their behalf without the child appearing in person.
Can I apply online?
The Immigration Services Agency operates an online portal for many residence procedures, including some re-entry-related notifications. Online filing fees are JPY 500 lower than counter fees. See https://www.isa.go.jp/en/ for current procedures.
Is the re-entry permit a visa?
No. It is permission to keep your existing residence status active while you are outside Japan. Your residence card and period of stay remain the legal basis for your stay.
What if my visa application related to my stay was rejected previously?
A prior rejection on a different application does not bar you from re-entry permission, but you should make sure your current status is valid. For context on rejections, see [Japan Visa Rejected: Reasons and What to Do](https://migaku.com/blog/language-fun/japan-visa-rejected-reasons-and-what-to-do-next).
I'm a freelancer or on a less common status. Does this still apply?
Yes. Anyone with a valid residence card needs re-entry permission to leave and return. For status-specific issues, see [Japan Visas for Freelancers and Independent Contractors](https://migaku.com/blog/language-fun/japan-visas-for-freelancers-and-independent-contractors) and [Japan Designated Activities Visa: When and How](https://migaku.com/blog/language-fun/japan-designated-activities-visa-when-and-how-it-applies).
## Quick decision guide
- Trip under 1 year, period of stay safely valid → Special Re-entry Permission (free, tick box at airport).
- Trip over 1 year, or period of stay expiring soon → Regular Re-entry Permit before departure.
- Multiple trips planned in next few years → Multiple Re-entry Permit (JPY 7,000 counter / JPY 6,500 online).
- Already abroad and approaching deadline → Visit the nearest Japanese Embassy or Consulate, but only if you had a regular permit to begin with.
Handling immigration paperwork in Japan is much smoother when you can read official forms, follow staff instructions at the bureau, and understand notices like 在留期間更新 or 再入国許可 without guessing. If you are building a life in Japan, learning to read and listen to real Japanese content will pay off every time you walk into a government office. [Try Migaku](https://migaku.com/signup) to study Japanese directly from the kinds of materials you'll actually encounter.