If you want to leave Japan and return under the same status of residence, you need a re-entry permit. This must be obtained from an immigration office in advance, before you leave Japan. If you leave Japan without a re-entry permit, your visa and status of residence will immediately become invalid.

Your re-entry permit will be valid until your current status of residence expires, or for three years, whichever is shorter.

There are two types of re-entry permits:

• A single re-entry permit, valid for one trip overseas, costs 3000 yen.
• A multiple re-entry permit, valid for any number of trips, costs 6000 yen.

To obtain a re-entry permit, take a completed Application for Re-entry Permit (http://moj.go.jp/content/000050357.pdf), with your passport and certificate of alien registration to your designated (depending on your registered address) immigration office. Be prepared to wait a while.

If you have a re-entry permit, you can use the line for people with re-entry permits at Immigration at the airport. These lines are usually much quicker than the lines for foreign nationals.