Free · Japan · みなし再入国 · 再入国許可
When do I have to be back in Japan?
Going home for New Year or a long trip on a work, student, spouse or permanent resident visa? Your deemed re-entry permit lasts 1 year from the day you leave, but only until your residence card expires if that comes first, and it cannot be extended from abroad. If your renewal is still pending, you have until 2 months after your old expiry date, and you must pick up the decision in Japan by then. Enter your dates to get the exact last day.
Examples: renewal pending, trip over New Year · permanent resident away 1 year+
Your trip
Be back in Japan by
2027-03-15
OK: return by 2027-03-15. Your planned return on 2027-02-10 leaves 33 day(s) of margin. Then collect your decision by 2027-03-15.
Application pending: the earlier of 1 year from departure or 2 months after your old expiry date (2027-03-15) (ISA Q&A Q61).
Special period ends 2027-03-15
You applied for an extension (在留期間更新) before 2027-01-15. If no decision is made by then, you may stay on your current status until the decision or until 2027-03-15 (2 months after expiry), whichever comes first. You must be back in Japan AND receive the decision at the immigration office by 2027-03-15; after that you are overstaying even though you applied.
What to do
- Carry a valid passport and your residence card (special permanent residents: SPR certificate).
- At departure, tick the box on the re-entry ED card (再入国用EDカード) saying you are leaving temporarily and will return (一時的な出国であり、再入国する予定です), show it to the officer and say you want deemed re-entry (みなし再入国). If you don't, your status ends when you leave.
- Be back in Japan by 2027-03-15. A deemed re-entry permit cannot be extended from abroad (art. 26-2(3)); if you might be away longer, get a regular re-entry permit before you leave.
Watch out
- ISA may contact you about the pending application while you are abroad; keep reachable (Q&A Q61). If your application is refused, you may get only a short stay to prepare to leave.
- Long absences can count against future renewals, permanent residence or naturalization (e.g. the revised PR guideline looks at long and repeated absences). See japan-pr-check.vercel.app.
The rules in one table
| Situation | Be back by | Extend abroad? |
|---|---|---|
| Deemed re-entry (residence card holders, PR) | 1 year from departure, or card expiry if sooner | No |
| Deemed re-entry, special permanent resident | 2 years from departure | No |
| Renewal / change pending past expiry (deemed) | Earlier of 1 year from departure or expiry + 2 months; get the decision by then | No |
| Regular re-entry permit (¥4,000 / ¥7,000) | Permit expiry (max 5 years, within period of stay) | Yes, up to 1 year at an embassy |
| Temporary visitor / period of 3 months or less | No re-entry: leaving ends the stay (3-month statuses can get a regular permit) | — |
Official pages: moj.go.jp/isa/immigration/procedures/minashisainyukoku_00001 · moj.go.jp/isa/immigration/procedures/16-5.html · moj.go.jp/isa/immigration/faq/kanri_qa.html · moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/tokureikikan_00001.htm
For AI agents and developers
Keyless JSON, CORS open, GET or POST: /api/check?status=mid_long&departureDate=2026-12-20&periodExpiry=2027-01-15&pending=renewal. Rules: /api/rules. Docs: OpenAPI, llms.txt, MCP tool japan_reentry_deadline_check on free-agent-tools.
Re-entry questions
How long can I leave Japan without a re-entry permit?
With a valid passport and residence card you can leave on a deemed re-entry permit (みなし再入国許可) by ticking the box on the re-entry ED card. You must come back within 1 year of the day you leave, or by the expiry date of your period of stay if that comes first. Special permanent residents get 2 years. Example: leave on 2026-12-20 with a residence card expiring 2027-06-30 → back by 2027-06-30, not 2027-12-20.
Can I extend a deemed re-entry permit from abroad?
No. A deemed re-entry permit cannot be extended outside Japan (Immigration Control Act art. 26-2(3)). If you don't return in time, your status of residence ends. If you might be away longer than a year, apply for a regular re-entry permit (up to 5 years within your period of stay) at your immigration office before leaving; that one can be extended at a Japanese embassy by up to 1 year.
Can I travel abroad while my visa renewal is being processed?
Yes, if you leave on a deemed or regular re-entry permit. If you applied before your expiry date and no decision has been made yet, you may stay in Japan until the decision or 2 months after your old expiry date (the special period, art. 20(6)). With deemed re-entry you must return by the earlier of 1 year from departure or the end of that 2-month period, and you must receive the decision at the immigration office before the 2 months end (ISA Q&A).
My residence card expires on January 15 and my renewal is pending. What is my deadline?
The special period ends at the end of March 15 (2 months after the expiry date, counted under the Civil Code). Leave on December 20 → be back by March 15 and collect the new card by then. If the expiry is December 30, the 2 months end on February 28 (there is no February 30).
How long can a permanent resident stay outside Japan?
On a deemed re-entry permit: 1 year from departure. With a regular re-entry permit: up to its validity (max 5 years), extendable at an embassy by up to 1 year (max 6 years from when it took effect). Miss the date and permanent residence is lost. Long absences can also hurt other applications.
Can tourists get a re-entry permit?
No. Temporary visitors (短期滞在) and people with a period of stay of 3 months or less have no deemed re-entry, and ISA does not in principle grant re-entry permits to temporary visitors. Leaving ends the stay. The only exception is a short-term visitor on a designated cruise ship (15 days, art. 26-3).
How much does a regular re-entry permit cost?
At the immigration counter ¥4,000 for single use or ¥7,000 for multiple use (revenue stamps), cheaper online (¥3,500 / ¥6,500). A deemed re-entry permit is free and needs no application, just the ED card tick box.
How is the date counted?
Japan counts periods under the Civil Code (art. 140-143): the day you leave is not counted, and the period ends on the same date one year later. Leave 2026-10-24 → back by 2027-10-24. If that date doesn't exist (e.g. February 29), the period ends on the last day of the month.
Is there a free API for AI agents?
Yes. GET or POST https://japan-reentry-check.vercel.app/api/check?status=mid_long&departureDate=2026-12-20&periodExpiry=2027-01-15&pending=renewal (keyless, CORS open), rules at /api/rules, OpenAPI at /openapi.json, llms.txt, and the MCP tool japan_reentry_deadline_check on free-agent-tools.vercel.app/mcp. Every response carries rulesAsOf, sources and a disclaimer.
みなし再入国許可で出国した場合、いつまでに戻ればいいですか？
出国の日から1年以内です。ただし在留期限が1年より前に来る場合は在留期限までです（特別永住者は2年）。みなし再入国許可は海外で延長できません。期限までに戻らないと在留資格がなくなります。
在留期間更新申請中に海外へ行けますか？
みなし再入国許可または再入国許可で出国できます。審査中で在留期限を過ぎた場合（特例期間）、出国の日から1年と「在留期限から2か月」のいずれか早い日までに再入国し、特例期間内に結果を受け取る必要があります。