Temporary Leave and Permanent Leave
Notice of Temporary Leave
When you plan to leave Japan temporarily, you are required to inform your supervisor about your travel, get the approval and submit "Notice of Temporary Leave" via email to the International Student Section.
Notice of Temporary Leave
Special Re-entry Permit (minashi sainyuukoku kyoka)
| When you have a valid passport and residence card and will re-enter Japan to continue your activities within one year after your departure, you are NOT required to apply for a re-entry permit. At departure airport, you need to put a tick on the appropriate check-box on the Embarkation and Disembarkation Card "ED Card", and hand it to the immigration officer at the passport control counter. When you leave Japan with a special re-entry permit, you can NOT extend your residence period outside of Japan. If your period of stay expires within one year after your departure, you need to confirm that you can re-enter Japan before the expiration of your residence period. |
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Re-Entry Permit
When you have a valid passport and residence card and do NOT plan to re-enter Japan to continue your activities within one year from the date of departure, you MUST apply for a re-entry permit at the immigration office before departure. If you have the permit, you do NOT need to apply for visa at Japanese Embassy/Consulate-general when re-entering Japan.
However, the re-entry permit does not guarantee your landing in Japan. You must be examined by an immigration officer at the landing airport even if you have obtained the permit before leaving Japan.
There are two types of re-entry permits, which allows one re-entry and multiple re-entry permit.
The period of validity for re-entry permits shall be determined within the current permitted period of stay for up to five years (or six years for special permanent residents).
For the application procedure, see the website of the Immigration Services Agency. (Click the language selection panel.)
Permanent Leave
When you do not have any plans to come back to Japan, you are required to return your residence card to an immigration officer at the passport control counter of the departure airport. If you want it as a memory, the officer will punch a hole in your residence card and give it back to you.
Please be sure to read "List of necessary procedures when you leave JAIST" (See the last page of this chapter) when you plan to leave Japan permanently.
