Job Discussion Forums

tumdurgal · Joined: 17 Jan 2006 Posts: 10

Does anyone know how long it takes to obtain a re-entry permit? Is there a waiting period or is it available the same day? Also can the application form be filled in in English or only in Japanese?

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

tumdurgal · Joined: 17 Jan 2006 Posts: 10

Thanks, but one other thing. Revenue stamps? Are they to do with the re-entry permit? Not seen anything mentioning them. As far as I'm aware I need, Passport, Gaijin Card, 6000 yen, and the application form.

earthmonkey · Joined: 18 Feb 2005 Posts: 188 Location: Meguro-Ku Tokyo

The revenue stamp is how you pay. At the Tokyo immigration office in Shinagawa they are sold at the convienience store on the first floor.

tumdurgal · Joined: 17 Jan 2006 Posts: 10

Hmm, any idea where they can be bought in Mito? Although I could ask in broken Japanese, I rarely understand the answer.

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

angrysoba · Joined: 20 Jan 2006 Posts: 446 Location: Kansai, Japan

You can in fact get re-entry permits at airports. But you will make yourself very unpopular at immigration and be sternly told you can only do this one time.

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

angrysoba · Joined: 20 Jan 2006 Posts: 446 Location: Kansai, Japan

Brooks · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1369 Location: Sagamihara

the only purpose it serves is giving the Japanese government money.
What I also don`t like are those 5 questions on the back.
I am sure people fill out the main side without realizing there is more to write.

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

Tumdurgal, not sure where you are going to get your re-entry permit- do Ibaraki residents also have to go to the Shinagawa office? If you don't have to trek all the way to Shinagawa, then the revenue stamps should be available a counter somewhere near the immigration office you go to- perhaps on a different floor of the same building. Ask when you go to apply for your permit. They aren't something you buy completely separately on a different day from when you apply.

madeira · Joined: 13 Jun 2004 Posts: 182 Location: Oppama

Brooks...

questions on the back? OMG, you're right. (Just checking my re-entry permit.)

I have never filled those out. Never noticed them before.

Neither has Immigration, apparently.

The questions, for the curious:

1) Have you ever been found guilty in a criminal case in Japan or in another country?

2) Do you presently have in your possession narcotics, marijuana, opium, stimulants or other drugs, swords, explosives or other such items?

3) Do you have in your keeping the living expenses of relatives or acquaintance (sic) in Japan? (Fill in amount if yes)

4) Fill in the question 4 if you have the status of residence 'Cultural Activities, College student, pre-college, trainee, or dependant.

How much money in cash do you presently have in your possession?

No question 5 on my form. Don't really understand question 3. Is question 2 a 'get into jail free' kind of thing? Question 4 is going to be tough. I'm an English teacher, dammit, not a mathematician.

injapantoday · Joined: 26 Apr 2005 Posts: 40 Location: japan

Those questions do not appear on the back of the re-entry permit. They appear on the disembarkation card for re-entrant.

Brooks · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1369 Location: Sagamihara

madeira,
I was at Narita in late March and I saw a couple people who didn`t fill out the other side so the immigration officers insisted that they fill it out.

madeira · Joined: 13 Jun 2004 Posts: 182 Location: Oppama

injapantoday, as NOTHING can possibly be on the back of the re-entry permit (glued quite firmly to my passport, and the size of a stamp) I figured the embark/disembark paper was what we were talking about.

sorry about that..

Going to leave the country soon. Interested to see if they make me fill out this stuff.