Multiple Entry Visa

[Half-n-Half]

I apologize in advance if this has been asked/answered already.

On my student visa under No. of Entries it says Multiple. Does this mean I can travel outside the country during my stay (i.e. take a trip to Korea/China) and come back legally? The reason I'm not sure is because I think I read somewhere that you have to apply for a multiple re-entry permit separately. As far as I can tell, nothing is on my CoE about it, either. Thanks in advance.

 

[Graytrouble]

I don't know if you've had this answered already, but you do need a re-entry permit.

Even though your passport says "multiple entry" you won't be allowed back into Japan. You would have to apply for your visa all over again.

 

[epigene]

I don't know if you've had this answered already, but you do need a re-entry permit.

Even though your passport says "multiple entry" you won't be allowed back into Japan. You would have to apply for your visa all over again.

Yes, to elaborate further on what Graytrouble said, you need to get a re-entry permit at your local immigration office to travel outside Japan during your stay here. This is relatively easy to get.

If you leave Japan without the permit, your student visa will be invalidated with a stamp of departure. Then, you'll have to apply for a student visa all over again.

Re-entry permits are issued for either single trip or multiple trips (meaning you can leave Japan as many times as you wish while the re-entry permit remains valid, which is usually a year).

 

[Half-n-Half]

Thank you both for your help.

Yes, to elaborate further on what Graytrouble said, you need to get a re-entry permit at your local immigration office to travel outside Japan during your stay here.

I take it this means I have to wait until I'm actually in Japan to get a re-entry permit?

 

[epigene]

I take it this means I have to wait until I'm actually in Japan to get a re-entry permit?

Yes, I'm 99.9% sure it is.
I've never heard of re-entry permit being issued at Japanese embassies and consulates.

 

[Ginkgoo]

Yup - to confirm with what everyone else was saying, I did this exactly - was there on a student visa which listed multiple entries but the school told us that we had to get re-entry permits if we ever wanted to travel outside the country during the term.