Can I Leave Japan While Applying for a Business Manager Visa Renewal?
Is it possible to leave Japan for business trips while applying for a Business Manager Visa renewal? Can I receive my new residence card while staying abroad?
A: Yes, you can leave Japan during the renewal process. However, you cannot receive your new residence card while staying abroad.
Traveling Abroad During a Business Manager Visa Renewal
For foreign business executives, frequent international travel is common. Even after applying for a Business Manager Visa renewal, it is possible to travel abroad. It is generally safe to leave Japan as long as you return before your current visa expires. However, if your trip extends into the “TOKUREI KIKAN” (a special grace period after your visa expires), it is advisable to return as soon as possible, as the timing of your visa approval may be unpredictable.
The review process for a Business Manager Visa renewal typically takes 4 to 8 weeks. If additional documents are requested by immigration while you are abroad, you need to ensure that you can be reached and can submit the required documents by the deadline. Failure to do so may result in a denial of your application.
If your visa is approved while you are overseas, you may not be able to return to Japan immediately to collect your new residence card due to your business schedule. You are generally required to collect your residence card within two weeks of the notification date. However, if you are unable to do so within this period due to your business trip, it is possible to consult with immigration authorities and arrange to pick up your card upon your return, as long as it is still within your visa’s validity period. It is still advisable to collect it as soon as possible.
Can You Receive Your New Residence Card While Abroad?
However, it is important to note that you cannot receive your new residence card while staying abroad. Since immigration authorities monitor your residency status, the card will not be issued if you are not physically present in Japan. Even if a legal representative such as a certified administrative scrivener (gyoseishoshi) applies on your behalf, the new residence card will not be issued if you are not in Japan.
Additionally, even if you delegate the application process to a gyoseishoshi, you must still be in Japan at the time of the application. Immigration authorities track entry and exit records electronically, so it is not possible to mail your passport or residence card to Japan for someone else to handle the process.
Therefore, when planning international business trips around the renewal of your Business Manager Visa, careful attention to timing is essential.
Learn more: Business Manager Visa renewal
Professional
Masakazu Murai
Immigration consultant, financial advisor
18 years’ experience in Investment Banking at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley. He had provided financial advisory more than 500 entrepreneurs and senior management.
Gyoseishoshi Immigration Lawyer
CMA (Japanese financial analyst license)
CFP (Certified Financial Planner)
Master of Business Administration in Entrepreneurship (Hosei Business School)
