Tourist Visa renewal

[mdvfox]

Hi everyone,
I'm planning to stay in Japan on a tourist visa this January for just under 3 months/90 days, however towards the end of that period I'd like to break up the stay and travel to Taiwan for a week or so. I would then return to Japan for a few days to catch my return flight home. However, due to the timing of this excursion, my tourist Visa would expire during the period I would be in Taiwan. Does anyone know if I would be granted another 3 months/renewal upon re-entering Japan? Or could I even be refused entry and get into some sort of trouble? (I.e. Be perceived to be abusing the tourist visa system)
Just to clarify, I'm not doing this to deliberately receive an extension, and certainly will not go on to repeat this strategy every 3 months. I simply would want to re-enter Japan for a few days, stay with a friend and catch my return flight home. Also, I should make clear that although I say 'tourist visa', UK nationals are exempt from having to obtain a visa for a period of stay of 90 days or less, and up to 6 months with an extension. So I would be there under the visa waiver scheme.
If anyone can help me out on this I'd be very grateful.

 

[Mike Cash]

Isn't there something like a transit visa which would take care of that latter bit? Being able to show your return ticket and booked flight reservations may help.

 

[Glenski]

It's not a tourist visa. Brits come on a tourist visa WAIVER.

Also, it lasts 180 days, not 90. You should have no problems, especially if you describe even a rough itinerary and show you have enough funds to pay your way.

 

[mdvfox]

Isn't there something like a transit visa which would take care of that latter bit? Being able to show your return ticket and booked flight reservations may help.

Thanks for the reply . Ill look into a transit visa but it looks like that may not even be necessary as the next poster said. Do you think a transit visa would cover a period of days though?

---------- Post added at 19:06 ---------- Previous post was at 18:55 ----------

It's not a tourist visa. Brits come on a tourist visa WAIVER.

Also, it lasts 180 days, not 90. You should have no problems, especially if you describe even a rough itinerary and show you have enough funds to pay your way.

And Glenski, I was checking on the Japanese ministry of foreign affairs website and it says:

"Nationals of countries and regions with
visa exemptions recognizing stays of six
months or less who wish to stay in Japan
for more than 90 days must apply to the
Ministry of Justice (Regional Immigration
Bureau) for an extension of their period
of stay."

So what I understood was that although permission can be granted for up to 6 months stay on a visa exempt basis (for uk nationals), any longer than 90 days would require applying for an extension to the place mentioned above. Is this the way it works in practice, or is 6 months usually granted on a fairly casual basis, as long as the individual demonstrates financial ability and an acceptable itinerary? Thanks for your replies

 

[Glenski]

Ask your own Japanese consulate/embassy, or post your question on the LonelyPlanet.com/thorntree web site. I'm not British, so I don't know.

 

[cewong2]

For the most part out of my experience, of flying in and out of Japan for travel when I use to do it, they are pretty good on it. I had a trip where I flew in from the States, stayed about a week and a half wen to Hong Kong for another week then flew back to Japan, and was let back in without any questions. I flew in and out on a temporary visa just now as well, and recently returned from Australia after staying here for 2 months again without questions. YMMV but for the most part if it's just once or twice the immigration people should't really give you a hard time, if they ask just answer their questions and you should be fine.

When you leave they will stamp that you have departed and cancel your temporary visa, when you return they will issue another one.

Also when you pass back through are you exiting the airport? if not then you won't be going through immigration, just a security check again.