Part of our Visas & Moving to Tokyo guide. Last reviewed: October 2026.
Booking flights home for the holidays is exciting — but for families living in Japan on a status of residence, there’s one step at the airport that matters more than any other. If a family member leaves Japan without re-entry permission, their status of residence ends, and they can’t simply come back on it. For most short trips the fix takes ten seconds. This guide explains what to do, and the situations where families get caught out.
Important: immigration rules and fees change. This guide explains how the system generally works; check the Immigration Services Agency’s current information or ask a qualified immigration specialist about your situation.
Two kinds of re-entry permission
1. Special re-entry permission (most holiday trips)
If you hold a valid passport and Residence Card and will return within one year, you can usually leave and come back without applying for anything in advance. This is called special re-entry permission (みなし再入国許可, minashi sai-nyūkoku kyoka).
- How to use it: at departure, fill in the embarkation card for re-entrants, tick the box saying you intend to use special re-entry permission, and show it with your passport and Residence Card at immigration.
- Cost: free — no application or fee.
- Validity: one year from departure, or until your period of stay expires if that’s sooner.
- It can’t be extended from abroad. If you’re not back in time, the status of residence is lost.
2. Re-entry permit (longer absences)
If you’ll be away longer than a year, or want more certainty, apply for a re-entry permit (再入国許可) at a regional immigration bureau before you leave.
- Valid for up to five years, but never beyond the expiry of your period of stay.
- Single-use and multiple-use versions are available. Fees were raised in April 2025 (to 4,000 yen single and 7,000 yen multiple, with online applications slightly cheaper), and further changes have been discussed — check current fees before applying.
Every family member needs it
Re-entry permission is individual. Each parent and child with a status of residence must have their own passport and Residence Card with them, and each must indicate special re-entry permission on their own embarkation card. Children’s Residence Cards are easy to leave at home — pack them with the passports.
Common traps for families
- A card that expires while you’re away. Special re-entry permission only lasts until the end of your period of stay. If anyone’s card expires during the trip, renew before you leave. A Dependent visa usually runs alongside the sponsor’s status, so check every card in the family, not just one.
- A renewal still being processed. If you’ve applied to extend and are waiting for the result, special rules apply to travel during that period. Get advice before booking.
- A baby born in Japan. A foreign baby born in Japan needs to apply for a status of residence within 30 days of birth. Until the baby has a status of residence and a passport, they can’t use re-entry permission. Allow time for the immigration application and the embassy passport before booking travel.
- Long absences on a Dependent visa. The Dependent status assumes the family lives together in Japan. Extended time abroad can raise questions at your next renewal, even if your re-entry permission was valid. Keep trips reasonable, and keep a record of their purpose and length.
- Japanese-national children. Children who hold Japanese nationality (for example, with one Japanese parent) enter and leave Japan as Japanese citizens and don’t need re-entry permission — but they generally should travel on their Japanese passport when entering and leaving Japan.
Before you leave: a family checklist
- Check every family member’s passport expiry and Residence Card expiry date.
- Renew any status of residence that expires during or soon after the trip.
- Confirm everyone will return within one year (or get a re-entry permit).
- Pack all passports and Residence Cards in your carry-on.
- At the airport, fill in and sign an embarkation card for re-entrants for each person and tick special re-entry permission.
- For long trips, tell your daycare or school, and ask the ward whether anything changes for health insurance or benefits.
What doesn’t change on a short trip
For a normal holiday you don’t need to tell the ward office. Your resident registration, health insurance and child allowance continue. If you’ll be away for a year or more, or are leaving Japan permanently, you generally need to file a move-out notification at the ward office before you go.
FAQ
What happens if we forget to tick the box?
If you leave without re-entry permission, your status of residence generally ends when you depart, and you’d need a new Certificate of Eligibility and visa to return. Take your time at the departure counter and check everyone’s card.
Does the year count from when we leave or when our card was issued?
From your departure date — but never beyond the expiry of your period of stay.
Can we extend special re-entry permission from abroad if our flight is cancelled?
No. Special re-entry permission can’t be extended overseas. If there’s any risk of a long delay, get a full re-entry permit before you go.
Sources and official information
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan — Special re-entry permission
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan — Re-entry permits, fees and procedures
TokyoParents is not a law firm and this isn’t legal advice. See our editorial policy.
Featured image: Departure lobby of Tokyo-Narita Airport Terminal 2 by Nanashinodensyaku, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
