- 10 March 2012
- Step 5
- 19 Comments
-
Tags: after arrival, alien registration, arrival in Japan, changes to immigration law, Japan, living in Japan, step 5, visa japan, working in Japan -
-
Tweet
All you need to know about the new residence management system in Japan – Part II
10 March 2012 Posted By Fab
Ok, we already told you that there’ll be some changes to the immigration law in our last post. A lot of you already in Japan might be wondering what they have to do and what’s gonna change for them, so we have the most important infos for you here.
1. What happens to my Alien Registration Card?
Your current Alien Registration Card stays valid for three years after the new law comes into effect – Mid of July 2015. If your Alien Registration Card expires, you need to apply for a new one, they will issue you a Resident card instead.
2. Do I have to wait for my Alien Registration Card to expire to get the new Resident Card?
No, you can apply for the new Resident card anytime. You can actually apply for it right now already although the new system has not been implemented yet. But even if you apply now they will issue your card in late July or even later. The application form is only a one page document and can be found together with other necessary information here.
3. Where do I get the new resident card?
The immigration bureau and not the local ward office will issue the new Resident Card. That means the authority you have to apply at is your local immigration bureau. There’s also lots of other administrative changes behind the scenes but that’s not really important.
4. My re-entry permit expires after July 9th this year and I am not planning on applying for the new Resident Card. Do I still need to obtain a re-entry permit before I travel abroad?
No, as the current Alien Registration Card will be treated as a Resident card from July 9th 2012, it also means you can obtain the re-entry permit when you travel abroad next time. Then you have to return to Japan within one year or before your visa expires to keep your resident status.
5. It sounds like everything is going to change for the better? Any downsides?
The new system definitely makes things easier and more convenient for foreign nationals. The only thing that seems kind of unnecessary and inconvenient is the new “move out/move in” procedure. Under the current system you simply need to go to your new ward office or city office after your moved into a new ward/city and update your address. But under the new system you will need a “notification of moving out”. That means you need to go to your old ward office you’re registered at, tell them that you are moving out and obtain a “notification of moving out”. Then you take the notification, submit it to your new ward office and report your new address.
Japanese people have to do the same the whole time already and actually the amendment of the residence management system would have been a perfect timing to reduce this unnecessary piece of paperwork. But instead of removing it for Japanese people they apparently preferred to add it to the paperwork foreign nationals have to do. Well, at least we get equal treatment.
(It goes without saying that even if you don’t move into a new ward/city but stay inside your ward, you still have to update your new address to the authorities)
6. Where do I get more information about the new system and the upcoming changes?
Check the links below for further and more detailed information. If you have any further questions just send us an e-mail and we’ll answer all your questions.
http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/newimmiact_1/en/index.html
http://www.soumu.go.jp/main_sosiki/jichi_gyousei/c-gyousei/pdf/eng_page.pdf
Please note that some details might still change and we do not responsiblity for the correctness of the information provided above. If you find any mistakes please let us know.
Related Posts via Categories
19 Responses to “All you need to know about the new residence management system in Japan – Part II”
Thank you for assembling all this information. Since you both seem to have a strong understanding of what’s happening, let me ask: Do I just fill out the application form and go down to the immigration office? I am a permanent resident. I’m really not clear what else I am supposed to do.
Thank you.
David,
Thanks for the comment. Yeah, you’re right. You just go down to the immigration bureau and submit your application form. If you want to apply for the new card before the new law will be enacted (July 9th) you can use the application form on this site.
http://www.moj.go.jp/nyuukokukanri/kouhou/nyuukokukanri07_00049.html
http://www.moj.go.jp/content/000083254.pdf
You also need a picture (4cm x 3cm) taken within the last 3 months and you have to show your passport and alien registration card.
Thanks for the information!
I’m currently living with my Japanese wife and my mother in law…in Japan.
I’m taking my wife to the states to visit my family and if we decide to extend our stay to the full 3 months of her visitors Visa it will bring us back to Japan after my card is due for renewal.
I cant seem to find any information on this.
the local immigration center said I can’t renew it early (tho this site says I can)
and they were plenty wrong many times when we got married.. they turned a 1-2 day process into a 1 week process with many travels back to Osaka’s U.S. embassy and many calls and trips back to the immigration center.
so what I came here to ask–
can I return after it expires? or will that cause major issues?
And can I really renew it early?
(I remember reading countless warnings not to let my card expire before I got married)
Thank you!
Sorry for writing a short book.
Shawn,
Thanks for the comment. You have to distinguish two different things.
1. Your visa and 2. your alien registration card.
Your visa (together with a valid re-entry permit!) is your ticket to re-enter Japan while holding your residence status. Your visa can only be extended while in Japan. That means. If your visa expires while you are in the states, you lose your residence status and have to apply for a new visa (spouse of Japanese national, I assume), alien registration etc. all over again. If I understand you correctly you have a US passport so luckily even in that case you can at least enter Japan with temporary visitor visa.
However, to avoid the trouble, apply for a visa extension while you are still in Japan. You can apply for your visa extension 3 months prior to the expiration date. The process shouldn’t take longer than 2-3 weeks. Note that you have to be in Japan when you apply for the extension and also to obtain the approval stamps.
If only your alien registration card expires during your stay in the US there is not much you had to worry about. That is simply your ID in Japan and not necessary to re-enter Japan. In fact, you can only apply of a new alien registration card AFTER the card expired. They expect you to renew the card within 30 days from the expiration date.
This year, as they will introduce the resident card, you will not apply for a alien registration card renewal but the new resident card instead.
Does that help?
Sure does!! thanks for the speedy reply and load of info!
looks like at worst I’ll have minor inconveniences.
Thank you very much!
Wow, I have to say that you really made a great job explaining what the changes will be, and how they will effect foreign nationals in Japan. I’ve been somewhat dreading the whole process, as I’ll be coming to Japan this September. Now however, everything seems more manageable!
Anyways, I just wanted to let you know, that I really appreciate this, and everything else you guys do on this fantastic site! It means a great deal to many people – Thanks so much!
Hello,
I’m a permanent resident with a valid multiple re-entry permit, although I do not currently reside in Japan. I travel back to Japan at least once a year, but do not plan to spend more than a month or so each time for the forseeable future. I have been obtaining new re-entry permits as required since I left Japan in order to maintain my PR status, but I am wondering how the new residency management system will affect me. Will I be able to obtain a new resident card during my next stay in August-September 2012 (less than 90 days), and/or will the fact I do not currently reside in Japan preclude me from applying? Having gone through a lengthy process to obtain PR, I do not want to lose it as we intend to return to Japan at some point. I would really appreciate any information you may be able to provide.
David,
I assume you have a valid re-entry permit when you come back to Japan in August. Then I would apply for the new resident card. How long it will take to receive the card is hard to say at this point but should be definitely within a few weeks. However, you need an address in Japan where you will be registered. When you leave Japan again you need to submit a “move-out notification” or in Japanese 転出届.
Then you can re-enter Japan within 1 year from the day you left Japan. If you plan on staying overseas longer, you still need to apply for a re-entry permit.
I strongly recommend applying for the new card as soon as you get back to Japan.
Thank you so much for your reply. I will do as you suggest and would be happy to convey my experience once I return from Japan if it would be of assistance to others who may be in a similar situation. Much appreciated.
Hello again,
I just wanted to let you know that I went to my nearest regional immigration office as soon as I arrived back in Japan and applied for a residence card, and within about 40 minutes had it in my hand. The validity of the card is 7 years and I applied for a new re-entry permit at the same time which is now of 5 years’ validity. As soon as the officer saw that I had permanent residency he ticked all the boxes and processed my application straight away without asking a single question about why I am not currently residing in Japan and/or why I wouldn’t be returning within the one year now allowed without needing a re-entry permit. Such a relief that I now have 5 years before I need to re-apply for anything…
how long it will take to recieved the card?? estimate only.. thanku
That’s really hard to estimate. The original plan is to issue the card right upon arrival at the airport and hand it over to the foreign resident. Due to bad preparation, that’s not gonna happen for a while and you will have to go to the immigration bureau yourself to pick it up. How long that is gonna take, no idea.
I just have a query about my current situation, and was wondering if you could help me out.
I am planning to move apartment after the new resident card rules come into affect. Will I be required to get the new “resident” card”, or will taking my current “alien card” to the local city office and having my address changed suffice?
Thanks for your time, and all the helpful information.
Regards,Ed.
Theoretically you will be able to use your alien registration card until it expires. However, they might ask you to apply for the new resident card when you go there to update your alien registration card.
Honestly, to me it seems like they are totally not prepared for the introduction of the new card but have to do so due to the new law. A lot of details will be sorted out somehow along the way.
Thank you for the speedy reply. The information released by the immigration authority was pretty grey in this area – a change of address prior to getting the new resident card wasn’t clearly explained. But I’ll certainly give changing my address at the city office a try first before making the long journey to the immigration office
Hello,
As I could not find any information about this so far, I thought you might know about this:
Do you know if there is a specific deadline to give notice of departure to the ward office? Is is the usual 2-weeks-time frame?
Thank you very much for your support already in advance.
Vera
That’s a very good question actually. To my understanding foreigners now have to follow the same rules Japanese have to follow when they move. That means they also have to tell their ward office when they are leaving the country (it’s the same 転居届 – tenkyotodoke you have to submit when you move out of your current ward/city). Main reason behind that is taxes because based on the registration as of January 1st of every year they calculate your resident tax.
If you are just leaving you current ward and moving to another ward/city then you have to inform your old ward office first before you can register at the new one. I’d say it’s the regular 2 weeks but as we all know there is no real fee/penalty if it takes a bit longer anyway.
But if you leave Japan for good, I don’t think it really matters. I’d surprised if they charge you if come back some time later.
My question is the same as David above. I am a permanent resident, and reside outside of Japan. My re-entry permit is valid, but I am afraid that when I return to Japan and register in this new system, that my permanent resident visa might be rejected. David, who is more-or-less in the same situation as I am, said that there was no problem at the immigration office, and he was able to maintain his permanent resident status.
Under what circumstances can immigration revoke someone’s permanent residency when registering in the new system? I will be in Japan in 2 weeks, hopefully my trip to the immigration office will be just like David’s.
Why would they cancel your visa?
As long as you have a valid visa and return to Japan before your re-entry permit expires, there will be no issue. You can even keep your alien registration card until it expires before you change to the new resident card.
But as under the old system you have to make sure you report your new address to the responsible ward office/city hall.