Passport

[Question]I’m staying in Japan. What should I do if I have lost my passport?

[Answer]  

If you have lost your passport, you should file a report on lost property with the nearest police office and have the certificate of theft or loss of the passport. By submitting to your country's government agency in Japan the certificate, your photographs and identification card (driver's license or alien registration card), you will be able to have your passport re-issued. Since a seal indicating your status of residence should be affixed to your passport, you must bring your reissued passport to the Immigration Bureau in your area and have the seal transcribed to it. In some cases you may obtain a travel permission or a travel affidavit instead of a passport


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[Question]I have a resident status in Japan. During my overseas trip, I’ve lost my passport. What should I do because my newly issued passport does not have a re-entry permit seal?

[Answer]

If you are in possession of a Re-entry Permit, the first port of call is the nearest Embassy or Consulate General of your home country so that you can have a new passport issued. Of course your new passport will not have the Re-Entry Permit or Japanese visa stamps. Therefore on returning to Japan you will be unable to prove your residential status. If you wish to enter Japan with the same visa status, get in touch with a friend or relative in Japan and have them apply for a Proof of Alien Registration Certificate. They then need to take this to the Japanese Immigration Bureau and receive a stamp proving that you have the required Re-Entry Permit. If the person assisting in Japan is not a family member than a letter of attorney will be required. When reentering Japan present your new passport and Proof of Alien Registration Certificate to the immigration officer.  
   

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