RetireJapan

Ben talks about re-entry permits here: https://www.retirejapan.com/blog/immigration-stuff/

I understand the following:

• these could be useful to protect and preserve PR status in both foreseen and unforeseen circumstances. 

• the re-entry permit would be valid for 5 years from date of issue or until date of expiry of residence card, whichever is earliest. 

• permanent residents need to renew their resident cards every 7 years and that passports generally need renewing every 10 years.

• A renewed passport requires a trip to immigration to stamp in your permission to reside in Japan. 

Questions:
1. What physical form does the re-entry permit take? 
2. What is the procedure when leaving/re-entering Japan with the re-entry permit? 
3. What happens if you renew your passport during the validity of the re-entry permit? 
4. What happens if you plan to move abroad for a couple of years? Presumably you need to submit Notice of Moving Out (転出届), and state that you will be residing outside of Japan. A change of address ordinarily triggers an updated address being entered on the reverse of the zairyu card. If that address is outside of Japan, would the Japanese residence card paradoxically state ‘not resident in Japan’ on the reverse? Or do you retain PR status but lose your zairyu card... and if so, how does that work?

Don't know all the answers, but I'll try a couple.

kuma wrote: ↑Tue Dec 01, 2020 2:53 pm

• A renewed passport requires a trip to immigration to stamp in your permission to reside in Japan. 

I don't think this is true. Your residence card is the only form of documentation. The only thing that gets stamped in your passport is landing permission, which you already have, and any restrictions on your residence, which you don't have. Just use your new passport with your residence card. Not sure about a re-entry permit though, but I recall RetireJapan was told it wasn't necessary to have it transferred to the new passport.

kuma wrote: ↑Tue Dec 01, 2020 2:53 pm 4. What happens if you plan to move abroad for a couple of years? Presumably you need to submit Notice of Moving Out (転出届), and state that you will be residing outside of Japan. A change of address ordinarily triggers an updated address being entered on the reverse of the zairyu card. If that address is outside of Japan, would the Japanese residence card paradoxically state ‘not resident in Japan’ on the reverse? Or do you retain PR status but lose your zairyu card... and if so, how does that work?

Good question. I don't know, only guessing. Your Residence Card is updated during the Moving In notification, so my guess is it will just hold your old address until you use move back. It's probably much safer to avoid "Moving Out" if possible, and somehow maintain a residence record at a relative's address, for example. Would be interested in seeing an authoritative answer, though.

No specific advice to add, and I'm not at all an expert on this, but would wonder that if you're not officially moving away (maintaining your residency, your card, your residence status, your right to return to that), you may also still need to file/pay taxes, pension, and health premiums.

Maybe, maybe not.

Thanks, Adamu, for your correction:

The only thing that gets stamped in your passport is landing permission, which you already have, and any restrictions on your residence, which you don't have. Just use your new passport with your residence card.

Captainspoke, I'd wondered the same in this case:

No specific advice to add, and I'm not at all an expert on this, but would wonder that if you're not officially moving away (maintaining your residency, your card, your residence status, your right to return to that), you may also still need to file/pay taxes, pension, and health premiums.

It seems to be a grey area. If you leave Japan temporarily (to study, to take care of relatives, or to take up a short-term work appointment or something) you can keep your PR, but if you leave indefinitely you'd be expected to give it up. How this is enforced seems to be up to individual immigration officers.

Moving out of Japan is closer to the latter, while keeping an address and paying taxes, etc. is closer to the former.

RetireJapan wrote: ↑Wed Dec 02, 2020 5:03 am It seems to be a grey area. If you leave Japan temporarily (to study, to take care of relatives, or to take up a short-term work appointment or something) you can keep your PR, but if you leave indefinitely you'd be expected to give it up. How this is enforced seems to be up to individual immigration officers.

Moving out of Japan is closer to the latter, while keeping an address and paying taxes, etc. is closer to the former.

I was abroad with my wife for 11 months while on a spousal visa.

I was advised to pay all required nenkin, insurance and tax while abroad. I registered as a dependant under my wife to reduce this load.

If you are staying MORE than a year things do get a little grey. They can decide at any time to reassess your residency status.

Reentry Permits Explain -> http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/english/tetud ... ui/06.html check the Japanese sight too, the English on is sometimes outdated. http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/tetuduki/zair ... ukoku.html

Keep your old passport if you get a new one.

OkLah! wrote: ↑Wed Dec 02, 2020 9:34 am How can you pay tax if you are outside country for more than 6 months? Don’t you have to pay tax in the country you were staying for 11 months? Or maybe you have to pay residential taxes if you own a place in Japan even if living abroad but if you have income in the country where you stayed 11 months you pay income tax there no?

When it comes to Nenkin and health insurance you can pay upfront. You should be able to handle taxes online I believe if you are set up with a My number card and reader.

If you have PR you are a permanent resident for tax purposes anyway. You need to file every year I beleive. If you are American, I assume things are more complicated.

Kanto wrote: ↑Wed Dec 02, 2020 10:07 am If you have PR you are a permanent resident for tax purposes anyway.

Is this true? My understanding is that immigration status and residency for tax purposes are completely separate, and that PR for tax purposes = 5 years residence. You can have immigration PR after a year + processing time with the points system.

adamu wrote: ↑Wed Dec 02, 2020 1:09 pm

Kanto wrote: ↑Wed Dec 02, 2020 10:07 am If you have PR you are a permanent resident for tax purposes anyway.

Is this true? My understanding is that immigration status and residency for tax purposes are completely separate, and that PR for tax purposes = 5 years residence. You can have immigration PR after a year + processing time with the points system.

My understanding was PR visa triggered PR tax status. However, they use the terms interchangeably, which is a bit frustrating.

There might be a small subset of people who would need to enquire.

Kanto wrote: ↑Wed Dec 02, 2020 1:27 pm

adamu wrote: ↑Wed Dec 02, 2020 1:09 pm

Kanto wrote: ↑Wed Dec 02, 2020 10:07 am If you have PR you are a permanent resident for tax purposes anyway.

Is this true? My understanding is that immigration status and residency for tax purposes are completely separate, and that PR for tax purposes = 5 years residence. You can have immigration PR after a year + processing time with the points system.

My understanding was PR visa triggered PR tax status. However, they use the terms interchangeably, which is a bit frustrating.

There might be a small subset of people who would need to enquire.

Maybe not so small given that those on a spouse visa can also apply for PR after a year in Japan, provided they’ve been married a while. Am sure some on the forum are, or have been, in this position. Since I am about to apply for PR through this route myself, it would be interesting to hear if anyone has clarified.