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The new Residen Card (zairyu kado 在留カード) |
The "permission to work" is normally covered by your status of residence (i.e. instructor, engineer, etc.) but in the case of students, it will still be necessary to apply for a permission to work after receiving your Residence Card.
Another interesting addition is the inclusion of an IC chip imbedded in the card, much like newer Japanese drivers licenses. While this is officially to prevent easy duplication and allow the authorities to spot fakes, some commentators see this as a covert means of tracking your every move.
As far as making changes to the card go, changing addresses is as simple as going to your local village, town, city, or ward office. All other changes, including name changes, visa status changes, marriages, births, and deaths must be reported to an regional Immigration Bureau and a new card will be issued.
Good and Bad Points of the New System
Merits
- No more Re-entry Permits- Under the new system, alien residents will no long have to buy re-entry permits at the Immigration Bureau in order to re-enter the country. This applies so long as you are out of the country for less than a year and your Residence Card has not expired during that period.
- Immediate Issue- The Residence Card will be issued at most major airports once the visa inspection is complete. For smaller airports, it will be posted to your place of residence.
- Your Own Residence Registry- See last week's article.
- Seamless Moving- Once you change your address, your local services, tax info, and so on will be immediately updated. You no longer have to wait a week to get a copy of address registry.
- Maximum Period of Stay- The maximum period of stay has been extended from 3 to 5 years.
- Everything is Done at Immigration- Aside from address changes, all Residence Cards are issued and returned at immigration. So that means if you lose your card or need to make a non-address related change, you will have to make a rather long trek to get a new one, depending on how close you live to your regional bureau. In other words, this part will be a pain in the butt if you live in the boonies. In the event you lose a card, you'll need to pay for the cost of reprinting.
- Increased Penalties- Failure to show your Residence Card to the authorities can result in a fine of 200,000 yen with the possibility of up to a year penal sentence. Failure to update your card's information carries a similar penalty. Generally, it's assumed that anyone who receives a penal sentence will be deported.

Do you know if we need to have the new card issued to us in order for us not to need a reentry permit?