residence to that of permanent residence, or by a foreign national who applies to acquire permanent residence due to birth or renouncement of Japanese nationality (Article 22 of the Immigration Control Act) $ ^{*1,*2} $ .

## (4) Permission for Acquisition of a Status of Residence

If a foreign national who was born in Japan or renounced Japanese nationality to obtain a foreign nationality, or lost his or her status as a member of the United States armed forces as defined in Article 1 of the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement who is not required to possess any status of residence, seeks to continue to stay in Japan beyond sixty days, he or she will need to apply for permission for acquisition of a status of residence within 30 days of the day on which such grounds occurred and to obtain permission for acquisition of a status of residence (Article 22-2 of the Immigration Control Act).

## (5) Re-entry Permission

If a foreign national residing in Japan seeks to temporarily depart from Japan and re-enter Japan once again, he or she may depart from Japan and re-enter Japan with the status of residence and the period of stay currently possessed by him or her, without taking other steps to apply for a new visa as long as he or she receives permission for re-entry in advance (Article 26 of the Immigration Control Act).

In addition, from July 9, 2012, if a mid to long-term resident (see Section 4 Subsection $ \textcircled{1} $ below) re-enters Japan within one year of departure in possession of a valid passport and residence card, or if a special permanent resident re-enters Japan within two years of departure in possession of a valid passport and special permanent resident certificate, in principle, he or she is not required to obtain permission for re-entry in advance (Article 26-2 of the Immigration Control Act).

Moreover, from January 1, 2015, if a foreign national who entered Japan on being granted the status of residence of “Temporary Visitor” re-enters Japan on a cruise ship (designated passenger ship) within 15 days of the departure of the designated passenger ship whose route takes it from Japan to another country and then back to Japan, he or she is not required, in principle, to receive permission for re-entry (Article 26-3 of the Immigration Control Act).

In addition, with regard to the Embarkation Cards for Foreign Nationals which previously had to be submitted at the time of departure, since it is possible to confirm the identity of the foreign national using the passport, etc. presented by the foreign national, a revision was made so that from April 1, 2016, the submission of the card is no longer required except for foreign nationals intending to re-enter the country, etc. (Article 27, etc. of the Ordinance for Enforcement of the Immigration Control Act).

## (6) Permission to Engage in an Activity Other Than Those Permitted by the Status of Residence Previously Granted

A foreign national who is granted a status of residence according to the activities in which he or she is engaged must receive permission to engage in an activity other than those permitted by the status of residence previously granted in advance if he or she wishes to engage in activities “related to