Foreign nationals are free to leave Japan at any time. Once their business in Japan is over, people normally return to their home country. However, when foreign nationals who have lived in Japan for a certain length of time leave Japan temporarily, they will not need to acquire a new visa when they return to Japan if they get a reentry permit before they leave Japan. Then when they return to Japan, they can continue to use the same visa they had before. They need to exercise some caution, however, because if they leave Japan without getting a reentry permit, then the visa they had been using will expire as soon as they leave the country.

Applications for reentry permits can be made at the nearest immigration office. To apply, a person should fill out the prescribed sections of the application form, obtainable at the immigration office counter, and present their passport and alien registration card. In individual cases, other documents may also be required. People with some visas, like training or school attendance, may not be able to receive reentry permits, unless there are special circumstances. Reentry permits are also not given to foreign nationals whose residency is thought to have undesirable aspects. Reentry permits are valid for up to 3 years. When a person's visa is valid for less than 3 years, however, the reentry permit is valid only as long as the visa is valid. There are two types of reentry permits- those that are valid for a single reentry and those that are valid for multiple reentries. A person with a valid multiple reentry permit can leave and enter Japan any number of times before the permit expires.