Traveling outside of Japan before getting flight home.

[earth-intruder]

Morning, everyone!

I had a bit of a browse around but I couldn't find any other threads that answered my specific query.

I'm a second year JET finishing my contract in July. Ideally, I want to get my paid flight back at the latest possible time (so one month after my contract ends) because I would like to travel around a bit before I head home. However, I was also hoping to leave Japan for maybe a week or two during this period in order to travel around a different country and then return to Japan in order to get my flight back home. Is it ok to do this without causing any issues upon re-entry? My JET visa is still valid for a year after my contract ends and I have a 3-year reentry permit but will any of that change after my contract ends?

I hope this made sense and thanks in advance for any advice!!

[Jeff_KyotoPA]

Just a question, which country are you from? Depending on which country you are from, it might be easier to turn in your alien registration card when you initially leave Japan and re-enter on a tourist visa. I am saying this because In Kyoto, we encourage JETs to change their status of residence to tourist if they plan on traveling after their contract. Also with the new residency management system (comes into effect on July 9th), you will no longer need a re-entry permit to re-enter the country (if you have a valid Alien Registration card/ Resident card).

see below link for more information.
http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/newimmiact_1/en/index.html

[earth-intruder]

Thanks a million for the speedy reply!

I'm from Ireland. Ideally, what I would like to do after I finish my contract is first travel around Japan for a bit; say my goodbyes and clear up some last-minute affairs. Then if possible, I would like to leave Japan for a week or two to travel around a different country and then come back to Japan in time for my paid flight back to Ireland.
Can I do this on my current JET Visa? Or should I hand in my Residency Card and just pick up a tourist Visa upon re-entry into Japan?

[fiona_heffernan]

Your visa is valid for one month after your contract ends, which is basically the grace period for you to leave the country. After you leave, even though you may have a 3 year visa it is actually no longer valid from what I have read. Coupled with the law changing at this time regarding visas I think the customs officials are going to have less patience for accidental mistakes. I think it would be better to hand in your registration card and come back into Japan as a tourist rather than as a resident. Irish tourists are allowed to stay in Japan for up to 90 days without a visa. It sounds like a lot more hassle but it'll probably turn out to be the easiest thing to do in the long run.

[Jeff_KyotoPA]

I agree and think it would be easier to turn in your card when you initially leave Japan (since you are from Ireland, you will not need a visa to enter the country).

Here is some good information about entering Japan from the Japanese Embassy of Ireland.
http://www.ie.emb-japan.go.jp/visiting%20japan.htm

[Jeff_KyotoPA]

Your visa is valid for one month after your contract ends, which is basically the grace period for you to leave the country.

Our period of stay (visa) is NOT valid for one month after our contract ends. Unfortunately, immigration does not give us a grace period to leave the country. We must go strictly by the period of stay on our Alien Registration card (soon to be Resident card). For example, if you are a third year JET and returning home, you would have to change your status of residence to "tourist" or apply for an extension to your period of stay before your period of stay expires. If you stay past your period of stay, you would technically be in Japan illegally and may face serious consequences when you leave. Do NOT stay past your period of stay.

[Jen_KyotoPA]

Yes, if your period of stay is ending you definitely do not get a grace period after that. However, if you still have time left on your period of stay (i.e. you are a 1-year or 2-year JET and leaving), in general you are allowed to remain in Japan for 90 days for the purpose of sightseeing without changing your status of residence. I did check on this with the local immigration office and they confirmed it.

That said, I think leaving and re-entering makes this a different situation, so I would also recommend turning in your Alien Registration Card and re-entering as a tourist.

[EhimeDave]

I did this when I left

I was a third year JET so my visa was ending on the day my contract ended. I stayed in Japan two weeks after my contract, traveled around South Korea and Taiwan for a week, then came back to Japan for three days and left for good on the BOE paid flight.

1. I had to get a 90 day visa extension to stay in Japan those extra two weeks
2. Didn't buy a re-entry permit
3. When I left for Korea, I turned in my gaijin card and my 90 day visa was canceled
4. When I came back to Japan, I entered on a regular tourist visa

That was about it. I think step 1 cost about 4000 yen in revenue stamps.