Japan to allow some visa renewal, application procedures online from July

UK immigration much worse than here....

The US too and that was back in the noughts. Can't imagine things have improved in the age of Trump. I had to go to the immigration office in Kobe twice in recent months, standard procedure for my visa renewal, and I was in/out in less than 10 mins. each time. Would I prefer doing all this online, sure, but compared to what my wife and I went through in the US to get and maintain her green card, Japan is cake.

UK immigration much worse than here....

Still find the lunacy of what the Immigration Bureau does and does not do online a little annoying, 

Try dealing with the UK Border and Immigration Agency. It is housed in Lunar House in Croydon (London).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_House

With good reason anyone who has dealt with the UK Border Agency there refers to it as Lunacy House.

As usual, Japan moving on, full steam ahead, into the Edo period!

@bullfighter,

Since it was first introduced in 2009 the zairyu card has been usable as a reentry permit. When you leave Japan with the intent of returning, there's a box on the departure card that you tick and declare that you are using your zairyu card in lieu of a reentry permit.

Fair point. And, actually, given my specific situation and the reason why I cannot use this approach, my comment obviously did not make sense to the majority of people of who do use this approach.

Still find the lunacy of what the Immigration Bureau does and does not do online a little annoying, but.....

So, wait, let me get this straight. If I want to apply for a Reentry permit, that can be done on the system, but I cannot do it myself??? You mean I still have to go to the Immigration Bureau if I want to do it myself?!?! For a Reentry Permit??!?! If that is the case, what stupidity!!!!

Since it was first introduced in 2009 the zairyu card has been usable as a reentry permit. When you leave Japan with the intent of returning, there's a box on the departure card that you tick and declare that you are using your zairyu card in lieu of a reentry permit.

This is all explained in this and numerous other documents that can be found if you search on zairyu card reentry.

http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/english/tetuduki/zairyuu/specialre-entrypermit.html

*Persons who intend to re-enter Japan within 1 year of expiry of their departure do not need to apply for a re-entry permit. **When you leave Japan, you should show your residence card and indicate the intention of departure by ticking the column on an Embarkation Document for a special re-entry permit. The maximum validity of the re-entry permit is 5 years. However, if you fail to re-enter within 1 year of your departure, you will lose your residence status in Japan.*

https://jpninfo.com/39297

Five years is very generous. In the case of Britain, it is only two years.

Foreign residents are not permitted to independently lodge their applications via the new system, according to the ministry, rather they must request a legal representative or someone at their workplace do so on their behalf.

*in other words we only trust gaijin if there is a Japanese person holding their hand during the process.

another one of Japans 1 step forward 1 step back, decison making process

If I was people smuggler, I would employ hackers.

This system is not aimed the folks who read this site. It is aimed at all of the companies who want to manage visas for all of the new temp manual workers. Otherwise they have to send a local down to immigration every time one of their factory workers needs visa paperwork.

So, wait, let me get this straight. If I want to apply for a Reentry permit, that can be done on the system, but I cannot do it myself??? You mean I still have to go to the Immigration Bureau if I want to do it myself?!?!

This system sounds more like it is for people who are making initial applications for the "new" visas that will come into effect in April.

The re-entry one's are something different!

Foreign residents are not permitted to independently lodge their applications via the new system, according to the ministry, rather they must request a legal representative or someone at their workplace do so on their behalf.

So, wait, let me get this straight. If I want to apply for a Reentry permit, that can be done on the system, but I cannot do it myself??? You mean I still have to go to the Immigration Bureau if I want to do it myself?!?!

For a Reentry Permit??!?!

If that is the case, what stupidity!!!!

Foreign residents are not permitted to independently lodge their applications via the new system, according to the ministry, rather they must request a legal representative or someone at their workplace do so on their behalf.

This also explains why the site will be probably be predominately in Japanese, at least all the important parts, and not the languages of the countries where these new applicants will be coming from!

The English is just for cosmetics sake!

Foreign residents are not permitted to independently lodge their applications via the new system, according to the ministry, rather they must request a legal representative or someone at their workplace do so on their behalf.

Once again, pulled in to the idea that maybe, just maybe, Japan is finally getting things moving into the 21st Century!

Then POP, the bubble burst! You got me, (who ever wrote this article) next time give me a kiss first please!

Key takeaway:

> Foreign residents are not permitted to independently lodge their applications via the new system, according to the ministry, rather they must request a legal representative or someone at their workplace do so on their behalf.